Reading over the match report from our corresponding fixture versus Huddersfield at the start of the season, as well as eye-witness accounts, there was no doubt that Wagner's men came with the intention of roughing up Zaha and they were ultimately successful. They took every opportunity to injure him.

This coming Saturday, Wagner will WITHOUT DOUBT issue the same command to his players - and you could understand it. If we lose Zaha to another injury he will likely miss the remainder of the season and vastly increase our odds to get relegated, perhaps at their expense.

Knowing what we do about Roy - who was not in the hotseat at the opening fixture - he will play a strong team and likely start Wilf.

It seems inevitable that Zaha stands a BIG chance of injury and with referees disinclined to protect him, what do we do!?...

Edited by AppleSource (14 Mar 2018 11.17am)

What can we do. You xanr leave him out just in case they rough him up. Every team we play from now until the end if the seaDon will target him. Just got to hope he gets protection from the ref and avoids any serious damage.

I don't think he will start on Saturday.
He looked very unfit against Chelsea and they are not a dirty team so he didn't need protection.
I think he will come on with 30 mins to go unless we are losing heavily.
I expect his first full game to be Liverpool.

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Edited by Bullhorn76 (14 Mar 2018 1.29pm)

Very difficult situation as Wilf is a game changer and we need three points. . Regardless of whether Wilf starts or not, I think Roy needs to build in to his game plan the likelihood of Wilf being heavily fouled. . Maybe he can be used quite a lot as decoy with the ball going through the middle or through RLC or Townsend?

get Wilf to receive the ball when he is in a perfect spot for a free kick. They foul him. We get a free, and score.

Eze Peasy at Anfield....