Zaroury !!!

[Vegas Claret]

The bad news for us is that this brings AFCON into play in future years, the next one being January 2024.

That said he might not be our player by then!

yes unfortunately this

[ClaretFelix]

I haven't seen anywhere that he's agreed to play for them or that Belgium had ratified it as yet? Most media outlets still report Harit is in the squad

[RVclaret]

I haven't seen anywhere that he's agreed to play for them or that Belgium had ratified it as yet? Most media outlets still report Harit is in the squad

https://twitter.com/sachatavolieri/stat ... 5KbLHC-Jog

The Belgian journo who broke the story of him (and Benson) joining us tweeted before that the Belgian FA had just submitted the final paperwork:

(translated from Twitter)

‘ The Belgian Football Federation has just transmitted the missing paper concerning the change of sporting nationality of Anass #Zaroury !
The Belgian-Moroccan designer must join the selection of Walid #Regragui today!’

[dsr]

Maybe he thinks Morocco are more likely to win the African Nations' Cup then Belgium are to win the European Nations' Cup, and neither are going to win the World Cup.

[Commy]

From Twitter:-

The coach of Belgium, Roberto Martinez did everything to convince Anass Zaroury until today, to play for the Belgian selection, he REFUSED and will represent Morocco!

[claretspice]

Seems to me the question of whether to represent Belgium or Morocco given his family heritage would be an intensely personal one. Whilst football considerations might play a part, I'm sure it's much more than a transactional decision. Not sure it's for anyone to second guess it.

[MancunianClaret]

Hopefully he comes back fitter than Cornet did after AFCON

[Belgianclaret]

Personal choice by the lad, so no complaints.

Would certainly have added to the ageing Belgian team in the near future.

However, if this is the first attempt at convincing Anass, then Martinez' reaction is far too late...

[dsr]

Seems to me the question of whether to represent Belgium or Morocco given his family heritage would be an intensely personal one. Whilst football considerations might play a part, I'm sure it's much more than a transactional decision. Not sure it's for anyone to second guess it.

With some players it's entirely transactional, nothing to do with family heritage. Tony Cascarino, for example.

[boatshed bill]

With some players it's entirely transactional, nothing to do with family heritage. Tony Cascarino, for example.

HaHa, Cascarino. He just chose to be Irish

[wilks_bfc]

HaHa, Cascarino. He just chose to be Irish

He thought he qualified via his maternal grandfather but it was later found out that he wasn’t her father

[Stayingup]

Thing is, who’s to say Belgium will always be the better bet? They’ve had a “golden generation” for the last few years, but the like of de Bruyne, Hazard and Drogba are all past 30 now. Belgium is a small country and they won’t always be a shoo-in for the World Cup finals.

If I was Zaroury I’d be inclined to take the bird in the hand.

See your point but he might regret it. However he is a very good player and will surely get better and he will now be in the eyes of thw world. Good for us???

[claretandy]

Confirmed by the man himself !

https://twitter.com/zaroury_/status/159 ... eYn8-OXcyg

[Milltown1882]

For anyone worried about AFCON he will be long gone before that’s an issue for us the way he’s going.

[Vegas Claret]

what a cracking point in terms of attracting players in the future

[RVclaret]

https://youtu.be/Ga4o9T2w2ok

Looks like someone has created a highlights reel on YouTube of his time so far with us, now that he’s joined Morocco.

Imagine we were linked with him and checked out these clips!

[Vegas Claret]

https://youtu.be/Ga4o9T2w2ok

Looks like someone has created a highlights reel on YouTube of his time so far with us, now that he’s joined Morocco.

Imagine we were linked with him and checked out these clips!

we couldn't afford him now !

[Duffer_]

His time with us has been one continuous highlight reel - all thrillers, no fillers. Don't ever believe a YouTube compilation, unless it's Anass running down the wing for...us!

[NewClaret]

His Instagram followers are going crazy. Looked an hour ago and he had 87k, looked just and he had 107k!

Club have also now tipped 500k having sat 3k below it for years. Don’t ask me how I notice these things!!

Great for him and the global appeal of the club.

[forzagranata]

Mixed feelings about this.

Its up to him who he plays for of course but I always find it a bit wrong when someone accepts all the support of a country throughout their youth development and then goes elsewhere. But his choice. Hope he doesn’t live to regret never playing in a Euros and having to travel so far for World Cup qualifiers etc.

From a Burnley point of view this increases the risk of us losing him in the January window.

[David44]

With the turnover in the squad in such a short time period after Kompany was hired, I figured it would take some time for Kompany and Co to meld the 12 new signed players, 4 loanees, and the retained established players into a cohesive team. But you could see the change to a possession-based, passing team playing attractive attacking football from the first game, and the team has only gotten better as the first half of the season progressed.

The way the team has developed this football style with Zaroury, Benson and Tella up front who can beat any defender one-on-one, two fast wing backs in Maatsen and Vitinho, THB and Beyer in the center back positions, a game controlling midfield in Cork, Cullen and Brownhill and a striker like Jay Rod who can put the ball in the net has been a revelation. Even Barnes on his Rovers showing seems to have bought into the new style of play, getting himself into the right position umpteen times in the 6 yard box for the passes and crosses he knows are coming in. Plus we still have Peacock-Farrell, Roberts, Taylor, JBG, Bastien, Dervişoğlu, et al in reserve, with Churlinov, Westwood and Twine almost ready to play.

All-in-all, we have probably the strongest squad in the Championship, and it's amazing that Kompany and Co have managed to achieve this level of play so quickly. Even though we dropped 6 to 8 points due to last minute equalizers, we are still 3 clear with the best GD. I haven't seen the Turf Moor crowd so excited about a team since the late 1950s-early 1960s when Jimmy Mac and Co were one of the best first division sides.

Unless the wheels come off I can't see us not making promotion. And if we do, I think there's a good chance we will be able to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tella, Maatsen and Beyer on as permanent players, like we did following that one season loan of Ben Mee and Kieran Trippier from Man City, when we were first promoted to the EPL under Dyche. It will be a big attraction to them to be ensured of regular playing time instead of part time players in a squad of superstars.

[Clive 1960]

First and foremost what a opportunity for the lad to showcase is skills in the W.Cup and I hope he enjoys it whatever the results as it was a welcome surprise for him . Good luck ZAROURY.

[claretonthecoast1882]

He has done ok to say only the loan signings we made this summer are any good (or so the nonsense goes)

Good luck to him hope he gets game time and does well. Daft to start worrying about potentially losing a player as going forward this is what we will be doing. It isn't that long ago we had numerous comments on how we should have cashed in on Tarks.

[Bordeauxclaret]

He has done ok to say only the loan signings we made this summer are any good (or so the nonsense goes)

Good luck to him hope he gets game time and does well. Daft to start worrying about potentially losing a player as going forward this is what we will be doing. It isn't that long ago we had numerous comments on how we should have cashed in on Tarks.

Who was saying only the loan signings were any good?

[arise_sir_charge]

Who was saying only the loan signings were any good?

Quite a few people.

I recall making the point that the loan players likely settled quicker because the majority had played at this level before where as the signings were but n general from far and wiser and would need longer.

[AlargeClaret]

Main thing is he’s adding a million quid to his value every month ,so he can get us promoted and we cash in big , everyone’s happy .

[Bordeauxclaret]

Surprised anyone was in a position to make any sort of judgement.
I’d be amazed if the vast vast majority had seen more than four of the new signings play before.

[longside72]

I was at a talk given by the head of scouting before the Rotherham game, about the way the club goes about its business recruiting players . His words about Zaroury - "a stocking filler", he was available, wasn't going to cost much and VK thought he could be one for the future !!

[CrosspoolClarets]

Crazy really, he has had 9 starts and from memory 4 of those were average performances, against the better teams, Norwich, Sheff Utd etc.

Great potential but we have to guard against his head being turned before he is ready.

[arise_sir_charge]

Surprised anyone was in a position to make any sort of judgement.
I’d be amazed if the vast vast majority had seen more than four of the new signings play before.

Come on Bordeaux, you’ve been around these parts long enough to know that no prior knowledge of a player and maybe a half of football is enough to form a solid judgement on any player.

[arise_sir_charge]

Crazy really, he has had 9 starts and from memory 4 of those were average performances, against the better teams, Norwich, Sheff Utd etc.

Great potential but we have to guard against his head being turned before he is ready.

He was sensational first half against Norwich.

[Loyalclaret]

https://youtu.be/Ga4o9T2w2ok

Looks like someone has created a highlights reel on YouTube of his time so far with us, now that he’s joined Morocco.

Imagine we were linked with him and checked out these clips!

Is there a version with the Heartbeat tune over the top

[CoolClaret]

Mixed feelings about this.

Its up to him who he plays for of course but I always find it a bit wrong when someone accepts all the support of a country throughout their youth development and then goes elsewhere. But his choice. Hope he doesn’t live to regret never playing in a Euros and having to travel so far for World Cup qualifiers etc.

From a Burnley point of view this increases the risk of us losing him in the January window.

There is no chance we will lose him in January.

The kid has gone from basically an unknown in Belgium, to working with Kompany sitting on top of the 11th league in the world, with a very good chance of making into most viewed/best league in the world as a starter WHILST making a World Cup in the process.

The offer would have to be astronomical and I don’t think he’d leave - how’s that Wolves move looking for Nathan Collins & his future prospects ?

[Bordeauxclaret]

Come on Bordeaux, you’ve been around these parts long enough to know that no prior knowledge of a player and maybe a half of football is enough to form a solid judgement on any player.

Yep. It’s a fair point.

[martin_p]

Zaroury has certainly made a great start with us and the timing of that start and a slice of luck with a player getting injured has earned him his World Cup call up. But is is just a start, not even a dozen games yet, so while there’s certainly great promise it’s a bit early to be hailing him as the new messiah yet.

[Hipper]

With the turnover in the squad in such a short time period after Kompany was hired, I figured it would take some time for Kompany and Co to meld the 12 new signed players, 4 loanees, and the retained established players into a cohesive team. But you could see the change to a possession-based, passing team playing attractive attacking football from the first game, and the team has only gotten better as the first half of the season progressed.

The way the team has developed this football style with Zaroury, Benson and Tella up front who can beat any defender one-on-one, two fast wing backs in Maatsen and Vitinho, THB and Beyer in the center back positions, a game controlling midfield in Cork, Cullen and Brownhill and a striker like Jay Rod who can put the ball in the net has been a revelation. Even Barnes on his Rovers showing seems to have bought into the new style of play, getting himself into the right position umpteen times in the 6 yard box for the passes and crosses he knows are coming in. Plus we still have Peacock-Farrell, Roberts, Taylor, JBG, Bastien, Dervişoğlu, et al in reserve, with Churlinov, Westwood and Twine almost ready to play.

All-in-all, we have probably the strongest squad in the Championship, and it's amazing that Kompany and Co have managed to achieve this level of play so quickly. Even though we dropped 6 to 8 points due to last minute equalizers, we are still 3 clear with the best GD. I haven't seen the Turf Moor crowd so excited about a team since the late 1950s-early 1960s when Jimmy Mac and Co were one of the best first division sides.

Unless the wheels come off I can't see us not making promotion. And if we do, I think there's a good chance we will be able to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tella, Maatsen and Beyer on as permanent players, like we did following that one season loan of Ben Mee and Kieran Trippier from Man City, when we were first promoted to the EPL under Dyche. It will be a big attraction to them to be ensured of regular playing time instead of part time players in a squad of superstars.

Good first post nicely summarizing our current situation.

Welcome to UTC!

[1882Clarets1882]

I wish him well in the WC but for me I just hope he comes back in one piece.

[Hibsclaret]

Average against Norwich! Just watch that highlights reel. He was incredible against Norwich. Very few players have his ability to take players on both ways and cross and score with both feet. This guy could be absolutely anything with that ability. Incredible find by Kompany, and coaching.

[Sleeping Cat]

Very happy for Zaroury to be selected for the World Cup and proud that he has done this whilst playing for our club. It's only a good thing for players to be recognised for form and achieve their career goal (in this case an international call up and playing at a world cup) whilst at your club.

Goodluck Anass!

[Tricky Trevor]

Morocco at home to Georgia @ 4pm today. Late call up might stop him getting a trot out, on the other hand the manager could want to check him out live.

[Mala591]

https://youtu.be/Ga4o9T2w2ok

Looks like someone has created a highlights reel on YouTube of his time so far with us, now that he’s joined Morocco.

Imagine we were linked with him and checked out these clips!

That’s a brilliant video of his outstanding skills. Please watch it.

[Tricky Trevor]

That’s a brilliant video of his outstanding skills. Please watch it.

Bit meh!! for me. Far to jerky and doesn’t show enough conclusions, some of them deliveries could have ended up in row Z.
Probably my age, the young uns would love it. He’s a fantastic talent.

[claretgoss]

Morocco at home to Georgia @ 4pm today. Late call up might stop him getting a trot out, on the other hand the manager could want to check him out live.

Has come off the bench replacing Ziyech for his debut. Whirlwind few days for the lad!