The rebirth of Ghana’s Jeffrey Schlupp

“ It therefore came as no surprise when Schlupp beat Wilfred Zaha in the fans’ vote to pick up the Palace’s Player of The Month gong. ”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

The adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has an interesting way of playing itself out in real life. If Jeffrey Schlupp’s recent form is anything to go by, then Leicester City might have reconsidered offloading him two years back. The Ghanaian midfielder is certainly on a roll. Schlupp’s string of impressive performances have earned the in-form midfielder, the Club’s Player of The Month for February. The German-born Schlupp, who joined Palace from Leicester City in 2017, will hope to earn a Ghana recall ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in June-July, having last played for the Black Stars in 2017.

The 26-year-old has been a regular throughout the month and has impressed Roy Hodgson enough to command a starting berth in the middle of the park, holding off competition from Max Meyer and the fit-again Cheikhou Kouyate. Being back in the starting eleven has rewarded Schlupp handsomely, with the player scoring five goals this season in all competitions and topping that with a handful of assists. It therefore came as no surprise when Schlupp beat Wilfred Zaha in the fans’ vote to pick up the Palace’s Player of The Month gong. With Wilfried Zaha struggling to match his output for last term, and the likes of Jordan Ayew and Christian Benteke underperforming, Schlupp is emerging as an unlikely hero for Palace as they look to pull away from the hotly contested relegation zone.

Jeffrey Schlupp of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on August 11, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Christopher Lee/Getty Images Europe)

Interestingly, Schlupp was amongst the goals during Palace’s opening match of the season against Fulham. Nonetheless, the player was in and out of the side during the latter part of 2018. As was the case at Leicester, where he was often overlooked for Christian Fuchs, it appeared as though Schlupp had failed to convince another Premier League manager that he was a worthy, regular starter in the top flight. Ironically, that has changed over the course of the season as Roy Hodgson has heaped praise on the underrated midfielder. Commenting on the 26-year-old’s resurgence off late, Hodgson said “I believe in him as a left-back, I believe in him as a left-sided player and I believe in him as a left midfield player in a three because he has a lot of qualities.”

Many will remember Schlupp as one of the first players to leave the Foxes after winning the Premier League in the 2016/2017 season. During his two years with Leicester, Schlupp managed just four goals, but he has already surpassed that tally this season alone as he had five goals as of end of February 2019. Now, filled with loads of confidence, and clearly taking responsibility as some of Palace’s bigger names lose their way, one would be forgiven to think that Schlupp’s fine run of form is most likely to continue.

Do you think the versatile Ghanaian international is underrated?

Where is the ceiling for Wilfried Zaha?

“He has been commended for his fantastic dribbles that he completes with half steps, cutting inside from the wing and making defenders sweep the floor with any part of the body he chooses, regularly the limbs and hair on occasion. On top of that his speed on the ball electric, super sonic stuff.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

A few years ago, mentioning Messi and Zaha in the same sentence could have been treasonous, but now has being compared to the five time Balon d’Or winner for his dribbling abilities. That comparison on it’s own is quite an achievement, but the the 25 year-old  Ivorian striker is does not seem to be at the peak of his career yet. Is this Messi association the best he could do or is this just the beginning of the more he could do and become?

Crystal Palace’s “Messi”

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace jumps clear of a challenge from Federico Fernandez of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on September 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 21, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe

He has been commended for his fantastic dribbles that he completes with half steps, cutting inside from the wing and making defenders sweep the floor with any part of the body he chooses, regularly the limbs and hair on occasion. On top of that his speed on the ball electric, super sonic stuff. He has become not just a playful dribbler but an effective one at that, scoring important goals for Roy Hodgson’s men. At the start of the 2017/18 EPL season, he netted three goals in two matches for Crystal Palace take his tally to 24, an all time high for an Eagles player in the Premier League. The Selhurst residents really do miss his goals, hair and everything Zaha in periods injuries which has been quite a few in recent times. It’s not unfounded to say that Zaha is Crystal Palace’s playmaker, creating goals for teammates and scoring even more. Henceforth comparisons to Messi are not shocking, the Argentine has just however done the same thing for Barcelona in the La Liga for an extend period of time. Could it be that Zaha reaching such a level at mid-table club like Palace in the English top flight signals the commencement of even a bigger career rather than mere committed service and loyalty? It sure looks like Zaha, with no disrespect intended, has outgrown the club.  Actually, reliance on him might be more damaging than the perks of his brilliance.

The conversation around him moving to a bigger club?

As anticipated, discussions around him potentially moving to a bigger team like Tottenham, Dortmund, Real Madrid or Barcelona have been far from over, even though he recently renewed his commitment to the London club. An obvious argument to a move away would be exposure to other great players propelling him to concentrate on personal growth without the ‘pressure’ of carrying the team on his shoulders. Zaha did however play for a bigger club, Manchester United from 2013-15 managing just two appearances in two years. Some feel like he is play that feeds of the limelight and that he was overshadowed and got his light dimmed at United. Could it be that he was still young and a growing footballer who lacked someone who unequivocally believed in his abilities. Well, I would like to believe that no matter the challenge this time around or club, cannot be too big for Zaha. You do just become one of the most dreaded forwards in the English Premier League for no reason.

Protection and Winning

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace battles for possession with David Brooks of AFC Bournemouth during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace at Vitality Stadium on October 1, 2018 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 30, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

The Ivorian striker becoming dangerous defenders in the premier league has also seen the defenders arguably becoming a danger to him. He recently called out for more protection as the most singled out player, alluding that maybe he would need to have one of his legs broken before being taken seriously. Maybe he has indeed divided on some occasions but it goes without saying that being the centre of attention because of his abilities and threat he poses to any opponent, more protection would be required. Both from potential haters or shielding himself from naysayers.

On Monday evening, Crystal Palace lost their game to Bournemouth . As soon as the whistle blew, seemingly frustrated, Wilfried Zaha gave his coach a brief handshake and rushed to the dressing room. The fans who had been watching him for ninety minutes could have appreciated more, a custom applause for their unwavering support despite the result. With his abilities at an time high is his career and the desire to win more increasing with every performance, Zaha might possibly be seeing more and demanding more of himself than the entire world has ever seen. Most are already dazzled with what he has given so far, could words be coined to what else he can bring to the Africa and global football in general.

Liverpool making the right noises – Thanks to the Africans

The English Premier League is back with a bang, and some teams have already started looking promising. Manchester City shuttered Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in Matchday 1 and thrashed Huddersfield in a 6-1 win at home the following week. These results are not surprising at all considering how the Cityzens ended their season last year with a record-breaking 100 points after 38 games. Liverpool however went all out in the transfer market to beef up their squad after their bitter loss at the hands of Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League final a couple of months ago. Since then, there has been talk about them being ready to mount a title challenge in the league this year. Rightly so because they have already picked up wins in the first two matches they played against West Ham United and Crystal Palace. One thing that has been quite interesting though is their core of players who are of African heritage. Let’s look at what these players bring to the table.

Naby Keita of Liverpool is closed down by Andros Townsend of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 19, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Naby Keïta is the latest addition to the Merseyside team after he joined the club in a $67.6 million deal from RB Leipzig. We wrote earlier, about how the 23-year-old midfielder from Guinea was the missing piece of the spine of the Liverpool after they sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January 2017. We are starting to see the signs of a midfield general that dictates play when in possession and is not afraid to instigate the press whenever the team loses the ball. Keïta looks ready to emulate Steven Gerrard’s role in the team where the Englishman was the pinnacle of all the attacks in the team. Keita looks to have the engine to bomb up and down the pitch which has become one of the most significant assets of modern midfield players. Think of the likes of N’golo Kante.

Mo Salah. Not much needs to be said about him other than that he looks as sharp as ever. The Egyptian forward will bring the goals to Liverpool. That is certain after watching him bossing the best of defenders last season and scoring a record 31 goals in his first season in Liverpool. Although he could have a tough time this round now that the players know him and how he plays, still he poses a threat to any team with his blistering pace. Liverpool will be looking to pick another 3 points this weekend against Brighton, a match that will be aired at 12.30pm, Washington DC time, and you can bet on the African superstar to score.

Next up, there is the new Number 10, Sadio Mane from Senegal. The forward did not have the greatest time at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia tournament because his team was knocked out in the group stages but only just. He has since returned to the club that pays his bills, and he has been showing the hunger that Jurgen Klopp wants to see in all his players. His persistence can be seen in Liverpool’s most recent game, against Palace when he burst forward and kept going especially after some contact from Van Aanholt. He set his mind on the goal, and he saw to it when he rounded past the Palace keeper to score Liverpool’s second of the night. Mane’s creativity will be of great importance throughout the season and it is an added bonus for the club that he will not be leaving for the AFCON tournament in January like before because the tournament has been moved to September 2019. (Be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter where we keep you up to date with the build up to this tournament)

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool is fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Crystal Palace leading to a red card during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 19, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

In essence, these three players will be crucial to Liverpool’s fortunes if they remain fit because they have the quality and are delivering at the highest level. They are setting the bar high for other African players who wish to play in the best soccer leagues in the world. Do not be surprised if Liverpool wins it this year because their core of players is hungry and is willing to work tirelessly for that silverware that has eluded them for over two decades now.

Ivory Coast’s Zaha commits to Palace ending months long speculation

Many of you know him for the edgy haircuts,  some for the ear to ear smile, diving criticism and quite a number of you for the “stop it bro” captions on our FirstTouch Instagram page for embarrassing defenders.  Yes, the amazingly talented forward who has terrorised Premier League defenders in the Eagles colors has penned a new deal keeping him at Selhurst park until the 2022/23 season.

The 25-year-old has really become the backbone of the Crystal Palace side that survived a relegation scare in the 2017/18 campaign after a poor start that saw them lose all of their opening seven matches with scoring a single goal. The fans actually came for the eighth match wearing 007 shirts telling the story of their mishap, only for Zaha to return and break the curse by handing them a 2-1 win over the then Champions Chelsea. In total, he netted nine times in the 2017/18 EPL season and started of this campaign in the similar form, scoring in their 2-0 win over Fulham to become the club’s joint English Premier League top scorer. He has been a subject of speculation with the likes of Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea being linked to the forward whose reported price tag falls in the region of £70 million. It could be much more now because of this new contract.

Cyrus Christie of Fulham and Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on August 11, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Europe)

Here is what Wilfried had to say after putting pen to paper.

“I just wanted to get it over and done with, so I can focus on the season. I’m buzzing that we managed to get it sorted.”

— Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast

Even the club chairman admitted that the team is to be built around the Ivorian:

“It’s the last piece of the jigsaw in the transfer window. One of the important things for Wilfried is that we can compete at this level. It’s important that he stays, but we have to put a team around him. ”

— Steve Parish, Crystal Palace Chairman

For Crystal Palace's sake, hopefully Zaha can stay healthy. The Eagles were winless in Zaha's injury absences at the start of last year's campaign and will be hoping for a better start this season. With a 2-0 win on opening day against Fulham, it's safe to say they are on the right track.

Zaha influential in Crystal Palace’s 5-0 win against Leicester

The game started with Crystal Palace at 35 points and needing to beat Leicester to have a chance at survival in the relegation battle. The club has been lifted by Zaha’s return from injury who has been influential in some of their best performances ever since he rejoined the club from Manchester United. The Cote d’Ivoire forward opened the first goal of the game after receiving a brilliantly flicked pass from McArthur before slotting in the top right corner of the net. 1-0 up against Leicester at home, Palace were looking for the perfect night. But all this came after two chances that were cleared from the line by both teams. Iheanacho blocked Tomkin’s header for Palace while Joel Ward saved Vardy’s shot. Palace then gained control of the game and Zaha gave a slick through ball to McArthur who shot on the turn and watched his shot roll into the bottom left corner of the goal. That was it for the first half.

Marc Albrighton was sent off on the 56th minute for dragging down Zaha as the last man. The rest of the show was reserved for the last minutes of the match where Loftus-Cheek scored the third goal on the 81st as he beat the goalkeeper one-on-one after receiving a defense splitting pass from Mamadou Sakho. Patrick Van Aanholt scored the 4th of the night after Hamer’s failed attempt at clearing the ball gifted the Palace player the opportunity to curl into the bottom right corner. Benteke came off the bench to score a penalty after he was brought down in the penalty area by Maguire in stoppage time.

Salah soldiers Liverpool on in the battle for EPL second

Based on his current form, Salah’s name being named on the score sheet is not a surprise to anyone who watches football. Goals have become a norm for the Egyptian who has reached 29 goals already in the EPL and is leading the race to the golden boot. This time however, he had to come to the rescue of Liverpool and snatch a late win against Crystal Palace. Just these dramatic instances are what brings joy to the eye as this level of competition had been missed after the short international break. Milivojevic scored the opener for Palace from the penalty spot after Karius brought down Wilfried Zaha in the 18 area. Hodgson’s side were off to a good start and kept the Merseysiders at bay for the most part of the match until Senegalese forward Sadio Mane scored the equalizer just after the restart. It was not easier for Liverpool after that as Christian Benteke missed two glorious chances to bring back the advantage to the home side. Crystal Palace were left to rue their missed chances late on in the match as top goalscorer, Mo Salah calmly finished past Hennessy on the 84th minute. Once again, the Egyptian’s goals have made the difference, confirmed the win for Liverpool and put pressure on Manchester United on the race for runners up.

United also ended up winning 2-0 in their match against Swansea. Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez were on the score sheet and it was long overdue for the latter to contribute for the club in terms of goals.

Teammate Delaney talks about the importance of the Ivorian

Damien Delaney is lamenting on the injury woes that are keeping their star man on the sidelines. The 36-year old believes that Wilfried Zaha is the man to take Crystal Palace to safety. The Ivorian forward is currently struggling to remain fit but has dazzled the fans with some fantastic displays which have resulted in 4 goals and two assists. Delaney is quoted as having said, “Without him, we lose someone with the ability to release pressure.” Such is the dependence of a club on a young African forward who has a promising future. Palace is currently sitting on 16th position with a 2 point advantage over Southampton who are also in the relegation battle.  

Mourinho hits back at Frank De Boer

Manchester United boss has hit back at Former Crystal Palace boss Frank de Boer about his recent comments on how Jose Mourinho has been handling Marcus Rashford. De Boer praised the young forward’s impact in the Liverpool match as he scored a brace in a tough match. He went on to say that it is a ‘pity’ that Rashford is playing under Mourinho presumably because he is not allowing the player to progress by playing a lot of games. This might be due to the fact there are many players in front of him in the pecking order including the January signing Alexis Sanchez. However, de Boer’s comments brought about a fiery comment from Mourinho who is quoted to having said that Frank is the worst Premier League manager in history. He managed only 7 matches in the EPL with all of them defeats and scoring none in the process before facing the sack. Mourinho turned the conversation from the player to his record and ambition for winning. He stipulated that Rashford would be a failure if he was coached by the former Palace boss because that is what Frank knows how to do. Do you think Mourinho’s reaction is justifiable? Drop your comments below.