Wilfried Zaha has been ‘Mr Crystal Palace’ for the better part of a decade. Each transfer window, Palace fans are cursed by frequent rumours of Zaha leaving Selhurst Park, whether that be to Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Everton, or as this transfer window rumours suggest either Roma or Chelsea.
For many Palace fans and non-fans alike, it is often stated as fact that without Zaha Palace would be looking relegation down the barrel. However, since Vieira has taken the reigns in South London, a Crystal Palace post-Zaha does not seem so bleak.
With the introduction of young talented attackers into the squad such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Odsonne Édouard, the team do not rely solely on Zaha’s goals, assists, attacking threat, hold up play, skills, positioning and so on (and so on and so on).
So if Zaha was to leave, where would Palace find a replacement? With the success of our scouting, especially Dougie Freedman’s superb scouting and persuading of players to come to SE25, Palace fans will have more than enough faith that Vieira and his team can find a suitable replacement for Zaha on the pitch.
Zaha offers so much more than just goals and skills, and determining a suitable replacement should reflect as such.
Wilfried Zaha
Premier League Statistics 2021/22:
Goals: 14
Assists: 1
Dribbles Completed per/90: 2.38 – 98th Percentile
Progressive Carries per/90: 7.47 – 98th Percentile
Progressive Passes per/90: 3.78 – 96th Percentile
Pressures per/90: 20.28 – 91st Percentile
Tackles per/90: 1.57 – 99th Percentile
Interceptions per/90: 0.78 – 94th Percentile
(Stats from fbref.com, Percentile statistics calculated from forwards across the Top 5 leagues over the last 365 days)
The statistics show Zaha’s influence all over the pitch, both in his attacking output and influence on the rest of the team. ‘Percentile’ stats are a good indication of how good a player is at a certain attribute compared to other players.
For example, as stated above, Zaha’s Progressive Passes per/90 puts him in the 96th percentile for that statistic, meaning his dribble rate puts him in the top 2% of all forwards in the Top 5 leagues – an attribute where the likes of Kylian Mbappe are below the Ivorian.
While stats are never the be-all-and-end-all of determining the quality of a player, they certainly help when trying to determine a replacement for a player. Using these metrics, as well as more common-sense factors, we hope to identify four potential replacements for if Zaha leaves.
Hamed Junior Traore
Serie A Statistics 2021/22:
Goals: 7
Assists: 2
Dribbles Completed per/90: 2.48 – 87th Percentile
Progressive Carries per/90: 8.72 – 89th Percentile
Progressive Passes per/90: 4.77 – 84th Percentile
Pressures per/90: 20.64 – 80th Percentile
Tackles per/90: 1.77 – 78th Percentile
Interceptions per/90: 1.27 – 76th Percentile
(Stats from fbref.com, Percentile statistics calculated from Attacking Midfielders/Wingers across the Top 5 leagues over the last 365 days)
Hamed Junior Traore plays for Sassuolo in the Italian Serie A. He’s a pacey and skilful winger who loves the ball at his feet as he runs at players before attempting a devastating shot – sound familiar?
Still only Twenty-two years of age, Traore excels not only in the winger position, but also carrying the ball from deep during a counterattack, maintaining possession and laying off the ball to another player while he gets into a dangerous attacking position.
His range of passing also adds to his attacking threat, notably a pin-point cross for (new West Ham signing) Gianluca Scamacca to nod it into the goal against Inter Milan last season. Traore scores very Zaha-esque goals, notably wriggling between two Salernitana defenders before curling the ball into the bottom right corner.
He also takes up many of the same positions as Zaha while also covering even more of the pitch and influencing the game. Statistically, Traore and Zaha are very similar and Traore has many years to improve his game.
The likes of Leeds United and AC Milan have reportedly been interested in the young Ivorian, but nothing has materialised. One drawback Hamed would be, is his injures, with the player set to miss the start of the Serie A season. TransferMarkt value Traore at nearly £20 Million, and with only 2 years left on his contract, this is a player Palace would be smart to keep an eye on.
Sofiane Diop
Ligue 1 Statistics 2021/22:
Goals: 6
Assists: 4
Dribbles Completed per/90: 2.56 – 90th Percentile
Progressive Carries per/90: 6.72 – 64th Percentile
Progressive Passes per/90: 4.80 – 84th Percentile
Pressures per/90: 21.11 – 87th Percentile
Tackles per/90: 1.76 – 76th Percentile
Interceptions per/90: 1.88 – 88th Percentile
(Stats from fbref.com, Percentile statistics calculated from Attacking Midfielders/Wingers across the Top 5 leagues over the last 365 days)
Sofiane Diop is a 22-year-old Frenchman plying his trade in Monaco. Who wouldn’t want to trade the French Coast for Croydon?
Diop, like Zaha, excels at keeping the ball at his feet and progressing the ball up the pitch. While his ability to beat his opposition 1v1 is not on the same level of Zaha currently, his dribble success rate per/90 are higher than Zaha himself, showing him to progress the attack and advance the rest of the team up the pitch.
He appears to be a very instinctual finisher who can be very mobile in the box, allowing for neat finishes that trick defenders and goalkeepers alike. His 6 goals last season also show him to be a regular scorer even at his young age.
Diop even has Europa League game time as well as playing for the French youth set-up, showing experience beyond his years and many other players in the Palace squad. His composure under pressure is also excellent, seen against Bordeaux last season when a ball was slipped into his path between the opposition defence, which Diop coolly finished.
The Frenchman also has better defensive statistics than Zaha, producing more interceptions and tackles per/90 that Wilf, showing his influence in creating the type of counterattacking opportunities that Vieira’s team thrives from.
Newcastle United reportedly have an interest in the young Frenchman, so it is not inconceivable for Diop to make the jump to a mid-table Premier League side. The French connection with Diop and the numerous French personnel in the squad, including of course manager Patrick Vieira, Odsonne Edouard, Michael Olise and JP Mateta.
The French Revolution continues?
Dwight McNeil
Premier League Statistics 2021/22:
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Dribbles Completed per/90: 2.17 – 78th Percentile
Progressive Carries per/90: 5.76 – 44th Percentile
Progressive Passes per/90: 2.06 – 15th Percentile
Pressures per/90: 19.70 – 73rd Percentile
Tackles per/90: 1.97 – 88th Percentile
Interceptions per/90: 1.94 – 98th Percentile
(Stats from fbref.com, Percentile statistics calculated from Attacking Midfielders/Wingers across the Top 5 leagues over the last 365 days)
Dwight McNeil’s statistics from last season don’t make for hopeful reading, especially compared to Zaha’s statistics.
However, McNeil was playing in a very defensive minded Burnley team who ended last season relegated in 18th place, so McNeil would not have had the chance to express himself and his attacking attributes in the same way as Zaha and the aforementioned players.
What Diop and Traore lack is Premier League experience, and for a twenty-two-year-old, McNeil has bundles. League experience can be invaluable, especially for younger players – there is no guarantee that the likes of Traore and Diop would fit the Premier League straight away, while McNeil offers a more reliable option for Vieira.
He can be very tricky with the ball at his feet and often beats his man. One of his more individual attributes that the other players lack is his frequent crossing, often shifting the ball to his left foot on the edge of the box before floating in a teasing ball. In a squad with the likes of Christian Benteke and Jean-Phillipe Mateta, McNeil could add a new dimension to Palace’s attack.
As you would expect from a Burnley team, McNeil’s defensive statistics are very impressive with McNeil often breaking up the opposition counterattack and spring boarding one himself. Palace are reportedly contemplating McNeil as well, while Everton and West Ham are also sniffing around the Burnley man. McNeil could do with a career revitalisation, and maybe Selhurst Park is the place to do that.
One day, Crystal Palace Football Club will not employ Wilfried Zaha. I and most other Palace fans hope he retires in South London, but football can be a folly business and not always as romantic we’d hope. But legends will come and go and following the footsteps of this particular legend will be no easy feat.
