Simone Zaza (27 Viewers)

How many Goals will Zaza score this season?

  • 0-5

  • 5-10

  • 10-15

  • 15 +

  • All of them


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Osman

Koul Khara!
Aug 30, 2002
61,501
I agree with the first bit, especially if Allegri and management don't see Zaza as a regular contributor going forward...

But I don't know how we could determine that last bit. Lapadula is 26 and this is basically his first season even playing in Serie B... He looks good there, he looked good in Lega Pro too... but it's still not top flite football.

Zaza is 24 and has been playing in Serie A for 3 years now, has a phenomenal goal-minute ratio this year. He's improved by leaps and bounds all 3 of his years in Serie A, and I don't see why that wouldn't continue next year. Just the fact he has 3 years of Serie A experience places him head and shoulders above Lapadula as things currently stand. A 26 year old terrorizing Serie B really isn't all that impressive in my books.
Its all true, I just mean based on first impressions of both players, I saw footage of Zaza at Serie B and later in A (which btw I dont find impressive in A based on not scoring so much IMO), Lapadula might fail and not re-live his current goal frenzy, but in overall qualities he seems to have more on his arsenal and scores goals in various ways. Seems like a weird blend of Inzaghi opportunistic hungry positioning and MOntella type of runs/skill on the finishing.
 

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zizinho

Senior Member
Apr 14, 2013
51,816
I think people are disregarding the fact that in order to be a top team you just can't have the 50 mil starting striker. You need depth.

It's all fine and dandy having that 50 mil starting striker, or even a pair of starting strikers but if you have sacrificed the depth on the bench for it, what happens if they get injured, go through a stretch of poor form, late game subs when they tire, and so on.

If we have Cavani-Dybala say, and then two 5 million rated strikers coming of the bench, we're in trouble. You want a 15-20 mil rated striker(s) off the bench, as impact subs and rotation options... so you don't fall off a cliff in terms of quality at the position any time your first choice isn't available. Especially if you play in a 2 striker system like we do.

Zaza is a perfect rotation striker, at the price and salary he is at. If he's happy here, wonderful. Sure we could replace him for cheap and it wouldn't be the end of the world. But we're going to be hard-pressed to find a player with his impact for any cheaper than we paid for him.

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So sell Zaza... and spend over 20 mil on a replacement option? :sergio:
Yeah, look at Bayern vs Atletico. They had Lewandowski-Muller starting but no striker on the bench to come on and change things around. With Mandzu/Morata and Zaza we have 2, and were about to get Berardi too. Would be stupid to sell just because someone offers us more than we paid
 

Post Ironic

Senior Member
Feb 9, 2013
42,253
Its all true, I just mean based on first impressions of both players, I saw footage of Zaza at Serie B and later in A (which btw I dont find impressive in A based on not scoring so much IMO), Lapadula might fail and not re-live his current goal frenzy, but in overall qualities he seems to have more on his arsenal and scores goals in various ways. Seems like a weird blend of Inzaghi opportunistic hungry positioning and MOntella type of runs/skill on the finishing.
:tup:

I haven't watched enough of Lapadula to know his qualities so I'll take your word for it. I'd just be cautious of placing our eggs in that type of basket given his lack of relevant experience at age 26 already.

Zaza, for all he lacks, has shown he can be pretty decisive. His goal against Napoli as just one single example. Pretty much all his goals have been decisive as well. He seems to thrive in big moments and pressure situations. He's also improved each year... From 9 goals to 12 goals for Sassuolo and then 8 goals here but at a top class 106 minutes / goal ratio. Has he peaked? It's hard to say... He seems to understand what he needs to do to improve. I'd like to see him here for another year to see what he can do.

I wouldn't sell him for under double what we paid. 35 to 40 mil and it'd be crazy not to sell, anything under that and I'd like to see what he can do next year. Wonderful attitude and so much drive to improve. I think we'd regret losing him for anything less.
 

Hydde

Minimiliano Tristelli
Mar 6, 2003
38,987
I feel he has been impatient but is putting a brave face and behaving like a pro. I just dont know how much more he will edure in this conditions. he is in an age that he needs to play as much as he can, and is not like has not earned it...the guy has scored alsmot everytime he came on and some clutch goals too.

Im also hesitant to sell him because of this... because we didnt have an impact sub like him in aeons. Quags was kind of that but was too hot and cold....Zaza on the other hand delivers almost everytime he is called upon, and with good workrate. We need to take that into account.

If Zaza stays, the only way i can see him getting minutes is if Mandzukic is sold, because if mandz stays...Morata (or the dude who replaces morata)...and mandz will always be in front of him.

Unless we are planning to not bring any CF forward after the Morata sell and stay with Mandz and Zaza...and maybe bring berardi as dybala back up
 

MikeM

Footballing Hipster celebrating 4th place with Tuz
Sep 21, 2008
12,849
We got a good year out of him and he managed to crush Napoli's soul. It's a good time to cash in for 30M.
 

swag

L'autista
Administrator
Sep 23, 2003
84,779
From Borriello to Matri to Simone Pepe to Zaza... we always seem to have a pivotal goal of the season scored by a critical bench player.
 

Bianconero_Aus

Beppe Marotta Is My God
May 26, 2009
81,113
I agree with the first bit, especially if Allegri and management don't see Zaza as a regular contributor going forward...

But I don't know how we could determine that last bit. Lapadula is 26 and this is basically his first season even playing in Serie B... He looks good there, he looked good in Lega Pro too... but it's still not top flite football.

Zaza is 24 and has been playing in Serie A for 3 years now, has a phenomenal goal-minute ratio this year. He's improved by leaps and bounds all 3 of his years in Serie A, and I don't see why that wouldn't continue next year. Just the fact he has 3 years of Serie A experience places him head and shoulders above Lapadula as things currently stand. A 26 year old terrorizing Serie B really isn't all that impressive in my books.
:tup:

I still hope we sign Lapadula though. Maybe send him out on loan to another Serie A team and see how he handles the big leagues. He certainly looks interesting, and has scored some very good goals this season in Serie B. Typical Italian late-bloomer.
 

italiacalcio10

Senior Member
Mar 3, 2014
3,866
Honestly, we should just sell. We could probably get a decent sum of money for him from an EPL team. EPL teams love quick, strong strikers with workrate. I'm sure he could be sold and replaced with a Serie A striker on a typical loan + option deal. I'd be totally ok with replacing Zaza with Graziano Pelle who should be very cheap. The only thing is is that if we did that deal, we'd need to retain Morata because Mandzukic+Pelle without Morata would mean our counter attack would be useless.
 

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