Since Yannick Bolasie’s outstanding display against Sunderland last weekend, and an 11 minute hat-trick that will go down in Palace and Premier League history, the skilled Palace #7 has been to the put centre of media attention. As excited as we all are for our ‘Yala’ the nerves are kicking in – that the larger clubs are going to try and poach him from us this summer, despite his contract not expiring until 2017.
Palace fans couldn’t be prouder of this increased media interest, and an “I told you so” attitude is ringing out amongst all Bolasie devotees – finally Bolasie is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Since watching the talent that he held from when he joined Freedman’s Palace in the Championship in 2012 from Bristol City, his rise has been exhilarating, quick paced and unpredictable. His goal scoring has lacked during his time at the club but nobody can argue how far he has become a player who can create chances and unnerve some of he biggest defenders in the Premier League with his dribbling skills.
The soon to be 26-year-old has made 29 appearances and scored just four goals this season, but has unsurprisingly hitting the crossbar and post on more than a few occasions, tallying a total of over 59 shots. His assist tally has doubled from three to six, while his take-on success rate has increased from 40% to 51% under Pardew’s reign.
Bolasie is a consistent trier and this has not only led to his recent success and growth under Pardew, but has given him a cap at international level with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yala was selected in the Congolese squad for the 2015 African Cup of Nations at the beginning of this year, scoring an equaliser in their first group game before reaching the semi-finals two games on and with his team finishing in third place, Yannick is becoming an international star.
Yannick started his career slowly at Palace and rarely started games under previous successors. Since scoring his first Premier League goal in a 3-2 win over Everton in September last year and then having the opportunity at international level, his confidence has taken him to new heights and it is evident that he is enjoying every minute of his football. The always smiling Bolasie has thrived since being given the freedom and confidence to try new things at Selhurst Park, making him a delight to watch.
In an interview after the game against Sunderland, Bolasie claimed that it was the extra work that he has done with Pardew on the training ground that has led to his recent stellar performances, including the hat-trick he scored against Sunderland. This highlights that Bolasie has the full support of fans, teammates and managers at Selhurst Park – aiding in his growth as a player.
There have always been question marks from pundits in the past in regards to whether he could reproduce this type of form in a more pressurised environment. It can be argued that sometimes he can be quite chaotic on the pitch – but after his recent form, determination and now his clear ability to score goals – he is not going to be kept under the radar as a Crystal Palace gem for much longer.
The tale of Bolasie is not unfamiliar with Palace supporters as there have been many star Premier League players that have created their reputation at Selhurst Park after being given the freedom to shine and grow their skills and talents as a player. This is clear to see in this case as when Bolasie joined from Bristol City in 2012, he was inconsistent with his weak passing and lack of defensive contribution clearly seeping through the holes.
Now though, his dribbling skills are being retweeted and replayed all over the work, gaining himself a title as the first Eagles player to ever score a hat-trick in the Premier League. If he can continue scoring goals for the remainder of the season against some of the biggest clubs, his worth is going to expand far beyond his estimated worth of £5million. Could we be looking at the next Victor Moses?
