As we come to an end of the proceedings regarding the winter transfer window, Manchester United have strengthened their wings with the recent acquisition of Wilfried Zaha who’ll be joining them after this season. Possessing the credentials of being one of the best players in the Championship, he will be a notable addition to the illustrious category of wingers that United employ in their attacking domain. He’s a youngster who will improve down the years is a bright prospect for the Red Devils in reinforcing their mark on their characteristic wing play.
At this stage, there will be different views/remarks from different set of people. However, what Zaha brings to the plate will be only visible after his footballing displays on the field in the years to come.
Here’s a SWOT analysis of this potential exuberant talent, giving a glimpse of what to expect:
Strength:
Wilfried Zaha has the necessary attributes which are associated with wingers. He has the skills, strength and most notably, the trickery to unlock defences and storm forward with blistering pace to provide the essential final ball. The pronounced characteristic of Zaha’s play involves his dribbling skills and he’s really fast in pulling out that occasional wizardry.
Additionally, he can also play as a striker which is an added benefit for any side as teams can wreck havoc by shifting players’ positions while playing on-field. Thus, versatility is an advantageous aspect in this regard.
Weaknesses:
Predominantly deployed on the right wing with a lethal right foot, Zaha’s first touch is average in comparison to other wingers. The negative point to be noted here is that he is pushed off the ball very easily and also disappears from the game for larger parts of the match. Another drawback is that the end product or the final ball which he delivers isn’t that great. It’s as if he does a few nice step-overs and then over he goes, tripping over the ball during his runs!
These aspects are visible considering the inexperience levels of the youngster. However, a youngster with great potential can turn these cons into pros on the basis of his development in the coming years.
Opportunities:
Taking into consideration that Wilfried Zaha got a full England debut at the age of 19, surely it means that the youngster does have something about him. Having played in the competitive Championship previously along with other teams constituting very good youth set-ups, it is an outstanding feat to be one of the best players among them and provide that promise coupled with raw talent. It is expected that at a young age, there are players who lack the abilities of an end product but eventually maturing with age, they develop into better players. Judging all the facets, it is a great opportunity for the youngster as there aren’t many better places to improve than at the Theatre of the Dreams.
Under the watchful eyes of Sir Alex, the lad has the potential that can explode in the forthcoming years. Also, if Zaha performs well in the limited chances he will get initially, Valencia may find his spot up for grabs if he continues his recent displays. Additionally, Sir Alex will want to get Zaha going the Manchester United way as soon as possible.
Threats:
The main concern for United will be that Zaha shouldn’t prove to be a magical prospect on Youtube only. Spending money on an unproven teenager for an important position, considering how Manchester United’s attacks flow, is the risk the team management has taken. Zaha is a gamble for United who’ve paid a hefty price on a talent with scarce technical ability (which is a traditional aspect of the English wingers). Unfortunately, inflating prices are the nature of the transfer market and signing a risky player is a viable option than missing out on him and later seeing him turn his raw talent and potential into a very good player for an opposing team.
As we lay a closure to the analysis, it will be really unwise to make concrete conclusions on such a talent based on just his performances at Palace. Let’s reserve our judgement on his talent until we see him get a run of games for United.
