Slaven Bilic was thrilled with Simone Zaza’s display against Palace declaring: “That’s the Zaza I know from Italy.”
The manager made a point of congratulating the 25 year old after the game and said: “He was different class. I told him after the game that this is the Zaza I know from Italy. The goals will come.”
And he added: “‘Zaza, you won more balls in the air than you did in four or five games so far.’ Without him we wouldn’t have won, simple.”
The manager also praised Jonathon Calleri who came on just before the end saying he looked composed and made an important contribution.
However, the manager refuses to go over the top about the club’s position adding that he “hopes” we have now turned the corner.
He simply said: “It’s just important that we continue to play that way but it was much better.”
I was so impressed with Zaza Saturday. He did everything but score a goal. He looked so shaky in front of goal but to be fair thats confidence. Once the first goal comes I am sure he will come good.
His hold-up play was good but I just wish he stayed on his feet a bit more, he’s always going down from challenges looking for free kicks or a pen, and in this league he’s unlikely to get much from the ref
He put in a good shift for sure, but is it enough.
He did work hard and laid off some good balls,but I never felt he was a goal threat.I don’t know where he is going to fit in,when everyone is fit.He is improving, but for 20 million you expect the finished article. COYI
Agreed, but Hugh – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t start resorting to the link-baiting headline style of HITC, with the whole “this player” thing… It’s beneath you.
So many base their entire reaction on a headline this is an occasional attempt to have them read it. Tbh however Buddy I don’t understand what is wrong with what is derisively termed click bait. We are here to entice readers like newspapers.
Click bait is a term used by snobs from another site hehe
This click bait stuff is funny.I mean its not like you have to pay £1 to click on an article & if its not what you expected you have been done out of a quid .All its cost is about 20 secs of your life to read it.Big deal.
Rick Thank you – perfecty put. It’s like calling newspaper headlines story bait. Crazy. We charge nothing to anyone and the ads give us a few quid so what?
He worked tirelessly, he is still learning how to fit into the team and those players like Lanzini and Payet are learning how to play and create for him, our football couldn’t be any less like Italian football, so long as he can adjust and the team adjust to him he will score goals, I do think he would benefit from playing with a second striker such as Sakho, Fletcher or Callieri or maybe it will be Ayew when he is fit but even as a lone striker he did an excellent job and linked the play a lot better than our previous strikers, he has had a metaphorical shot in the arm, let’s now see what he does against Sunderland.
Agreed No 32 – Much Improved performance by Zaza so credit where credit is due. The whole team was much improved and we should celebrate that for now. After all, if he is poor on Saturday, plenty will let him know, me included!
Yes, it was an improvement but Slaven is clearly clothing at straws. This is a player Juventus want more than £20 million for and people are impressed because he won a few headers and put in some effort. He’s still slow, lacks movement, often poor control and his shooting is atrocious. At leafs he got a tame effort on target this week but the hyperbolic reaction to his performance on Saturday is crazy.
*clutching at straws
I think all any are saying he was better. There more to come too probably
Maybe some fans & Bilic are trying to take some positives from his performance.
I dont,i cant see how a player who represents Italy & was signed by Juventus is a bad player.Conte saw something in him,Allegri at Juve must have seen something,same with Bilic.I learnt that when Nolan was playing in his last season lol
Rads – But it was thanks to your Stirling efforts That Nolan left! Lol
Lol jimbo.Nah i was out of order with Nolan,i ripped him to shreds in his last season.But he honestly did my head in.If i hadnt of screamed about him i would have become a demonic stalker with a meat cleaver looking for his house lol
Hold on with the love-in, alright he worked hard and put himself about but there was virtually end product – one weak shot into the keepers arms, a couple of mis-controls, a drive across goal trying to get the ball onto hus dominant left foot.
More effort definitely, but when Carroll, Sacko or Ayew are back fit sgain I can’t see him getting near the First Team.
£20 million – you’ve got to be joking or have more money than sense – not for me!
Well i aint having no love in but it was an improved performance by him.
What we think dont really matter does it.Im sure that him or Bilic couldn’t care less about the armchair assassins views 😉
Love in? Just a discussion