Debating whether or not to sell at £40m is perfectly reasonable , as is contemplating the effect of retaining a player who so desperately wants to play for a bigger team whilst he still can.

My point is twofold; firstly, and without attributing this argument to you personally if you haven't made it, the idea that Zaha is some kind of malignant influence, sulking about the place downing tools is plainly wrong on the statistical evidence alone. He's wanted to move for years, but has always produced for us when the move doesn't happen. Secondly, he is very simply and quite plainly our best player, and I cannot fathom the logic in selling your best player unless you are absolutely certain that your side will be better for it. Yes we could re-invest the money, but in who? Who will carry the weight Zaha has? That's my point about Eze, who we have all warmed to greatly, but who is miles and miles away from being as effective a winner of points as Zaha.

When Eze scored at Sheffield United the number of posts attributing significance to Zahas (evidently insufficiently exuberant) celebration was in double figures within half an hour. I wasn't trying to come across all superior to anyone, but to be honest nonsense like that needs to be given the appropriate short shrift.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (26 May 2021 2.33pm)

ambrose7 makes a good point though, in that the last 6 months he hasn't been performing that well and really hasn't been our best player. At the end of the season Eze was starting to show more of an influence while Wilf just repeatedly ran down blind alleys, lost possession and got frustrated. It was also noticeable that teams stopped doubling up on him like they used to.

Personally, in an ideal world, he'll change his mind with a new manager and commit the rest of his days to us. I never doubt his effort, but when he isn't happy it really does seem to show in his performances. If he isn't committed to us though then I want him to go as for me personally I don't want a player who believes he is being held against his will.

With you 100% on this.

Edited by doombear (26 May 2021 3.20pm)

The Zaha conundrum hasn't really changed, and probably won't: His value to us remains higher than the fee anyone will pay.

Even if we all agree (and I don't really) that his performances have declined that, along with his increasing age and reducing contract length, simply means that the fee we could get reduces too. That leads him back to where he started - his value to us is greater than the fee we would get, even if both have reduced in line with each other.

It remains very, very risky to take the money and lose the player. £40m can disappear like a puff of smoke in this league. West Ham spent nearly that on Haller. Newcastle spent it on Joelinton. Even if you come down a step to around £25 - £30m you are not getting Zaha quality very often. Ayoze Perez, Pablo Fornals and Alex Iwobi for instance are all decent, but cost the bulk of the £40m we'd get for Zaha without touching the sides of his influence.

Southampton, Wolves, Everton, Arsenal, Sours, Leicester, Villa, West Ham

Basically middle to upper middle table teams, especially where an extra bonus of hurting us exists

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

Athletico Madrid
Lille
Everton
Spurs
Arsenal
Liverpool
Wolves
Leicester
PSG