He'd need to be here bl00dy years and years to turn that into a success. I said on the Frank philosophy thread that unless the premier league change the rules and demand more British Isles players then it just doesn't happen. The big clubs don't help by stocking up on the best when they could get a chance at a lower half club but it's still a tough ask these days. Young foreign players learn abroad and then come here when everything is honed. It's just too demanding here to get that honing. Zaha first played in 2010. After 3 years he was at a high champ standard but nowhere near Prem standard. Think how much further back he'd be trying to get into a prem squad. Maybe he would never actually fulfill his potential. Not his fault, it's the system.

Frank could get better value on the continent though. Cheaper potential with resale value. I'd bet he knows of multiple more players and contacts than we do. The Europa League must be full of them. You just need to know what they offer and who can fit into your set up. It could do wonders for us if this area prospers. We must be getting to the point where we'd struggle to get anywhere near to paying 2 good enough players for each position at the rate we're paying, even if we could afford transfer fees, so perhaps it's a positive rather than a relegation in waiting.

And that's us contributing to the problem because of the system.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (22 Jun 2017 11.41pm)

After 3 years zaha was easily one of the best players in the championship and more than good enough for the prem.

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He played about 7 games for Cardiff in a car trash team having lost confidence and form with what happened at united , he also hadnt played first team football for months and not to mention if the rumours are to be believed that he didn't even want to go to Cardiff. I agree with the rest of the what you are saying with regard to his development , but there is no doubt in my mind he was ready for the prem when he moved , and that if sir Alex had stayed he would still be at united now.

What are your expectations if de Boer appointed ?

I say first target 40pts anything else a bonus in his 1st season .

From 'anti-football' to 'total football'. It will be an interesting transition. I'm looking forward to the next instalment.

(that is not my assessment of BFS's teams btw, before I offend anyone. I think it was Mourinho's).

absolutely pointless and irrevant. There's so much garbage being posted on this thread. Stick to the subject or is that too difficult for the many thickos on here?

Can't wait for this to be done and dusted. Exciting times ahead. Give de Boer time and we can have an academy to be proud of.

I couldn't shake off this feeling that Pellegrino was a one hit wonder who had done nothing much of note until he had a good season with an unfancied club then promptly left.

There was always something Pardewesque about his achievements so I'm glad that we went the Dutch route.

If the board back him with a couple of decent signings (especially a quality centre half) then I don't think that anyone can blame Parish if it all goes pear shaped

do you remember a 3-3 draw at Selhurst back in the 74-75 season in div 3 when the green army had about 2000 in the old Whitehorse and three argyle fans ran on the pitch at half time one with a leather jacket and a green and white striped scarf and dribbled the ball up to the Holmesdale end to all round booing before booting the ball into the goal at the Holmesdale end? us in our second season in red and blue stripes and Plymouth (with rafferty and mariner, and maybe david kemp?) in green and white stripes. interesting that argyle, Bristol rovers and Cardiff used to bring a big mob of nutters with them - nice that Cardiff have got up to the level the size of the club deserves, be nice to see the other two clubs yo-yoing between champ and league 1 rather than slumming it in league 2 - proper big city clubs with hard core fans.