An apology to Didier Zokora

[chileanspursfan]

I have been a consistent critic of Zokora, making weekly emphasis on how overrated he was and how some aspects of his game were totally below par and may never ever become a quality or even a decent player for us.

It is my firm belief now that, despite my comments being fair and objective, Didier Zokora has being showing evident signs of improvement after his return from African Cup of Nations duty.

It is true that he had a couple of low points, specially against Chelsea at the Carling Cup, but his tenacity and determination helped him to overcome those moments even during the development of that very same final.

Spursking has been a devoted fan of him over the time, claiming that given the right guidance and the selection confidence by the manager he should turn into a quality holding midfielder no matter what. And I think time has proven him right.

Against Pompey, I saw a Zokora with an impeccable sense of position, running the field as no one else did, so fast and prompt to cover if a teammate lost a man. Recovering numerous times possession and distributing the ball with intelligence and pulchritude, nearly always safely to a winger or Huddlestone to redistribute.

Even more, when he goes forward he does it with so much energy and pace, he usually does it after stopping an incoming raid so he really exposes the opposition on the break. He is clearly failing with his final delivery, but I guess Aaron Lennon isn't much better in that area either.

He is getting his confidence back and if Jol and Juande constantly played him ahead of the numerous other options available, it must have been because they witnessed something impressive during the training sessions. I am glad that Didier has bounced back as a useful squad member as his holding role and athleticism are really helpful for the other players. I hope sometimes he just kept on trying long distance shots instead of giving the ball to Lennon, because in the end he will have to score his much needed goal and that would just turn him into a world class box to box midfielder.

Good on you Didier, you have really proved many wrong here and you deserve your first XI condition.

 

[si_yidarmy]

same!

but he was branded as 'our viera' when he first joined

 

[Blue_Mauvey]

He's a headless chicken, and will be shifted out at the first opportunity.

Imagine your incontinent uncle having a brief dry spell...

 

[chileanspursfan]

same!

but he was branded as 'our viera' when he first joined

If there were over inflated expectations about his arrival (including a ridiculous price tag), I'm pretty sure it could be anyone's fault but his, so fair play to him. Same with Bent. And it is happening to world class stars as Shevchenko and Henry as well, so as long as they end up reaching a decent standard and performing according to club requirements, that's good enough for me.

 

[si_yidarmy]

If there were over inflated expectations about his arrival (including a ridiculous price tag), I'm pretty sure it could be anyone's fault but his, so fair play to him. Same with Bent. And it has happened to world class stars as Shevchenko and Henry as well, so as long as they end up reaching a decent standard and performing according to club requirements, that's good enough for me.

always inconsistant tho! One game he wld be amazing, the next he wld give the ball away all the time and make bad timed tackles....not to mention his scoring ability! Need better than him realisticly....

as for shevchenko and henry, they are NO WAY playing to a decent standard. Shevchenko plays like Postiga did for us... except Postiga actually tried!

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

I hope sometimes he just kept on trying long distance shots instead of giving the ball to Lennon, because in the end he will have to score his much needed goal and that would just turn him into a world class box to box midfielder.

uh, what?

Zoko scoring a goal will not turn him into a world class midfielder. Confidence is not the problem .

He's been playing alright lately though, that's true. Although he was awful against Birmingham.

 

[chileanspursfan]

always inconsistant tho! One game he wld be amazing, the next he wld give the ball away all the time and make bad timed tackles....not to mention his scoring ability! Need better than him realisticly....

as for shevchenko and henry, they are NO WAY playing to a decent standard. Shevchenko plays like Postiga did for us... except Postiga actually tried!

Yeah, that was what I meant, that they are actually playing pretty badly at the moment.

 

[stemark44]

He's a headless chicken, and will be shifted out at the first opportunity.

Imagine your incontinent uncle having a brief dry spell...

You are so wrong,on Saturday Zokora had a pass success rate of 95% and that is brilliant by anyones standards!

 

[Kyras]

I agree, wasn't impressed, but feel that he and Hudd bring the best our of each other, he doesn't need to try and create so much, when he and jenas played, one would get forward and one would sit and sometimes it would be Zoko getting forward, getting lost and losing the ball.

But he is clearly oen of the best at playying simple stuff and ball-winning, fair play to him because he has had some abuse since he joined and things are finally looking up for him.

 

[arthurgrimsdell]

You are so wrong,on Saturday Zokora had a pass success rate of 95% and that is brilliant by anyones standards!

It is not brilliant by my standards. It is very efficient. His passing was generally very conservative, as was the rest of his game, which was all to the good because it is when he gets too full of himself that he fails.

He has played so much better in the last few weeks than before because he has shown discipline, while retaining his drive. He has still employed his driving runs when appropriate, but has done so with his head up, being aware of his team mates, and has laid the ball off sensibly to continue the move, rather than aiming for Row Z. He has also laid the ball off sensibly in defence and run on to make himself available for the return pass. He has defended well both in midfield, where he covers a great deal of vulnerable positions, and also in the back four, though he is a little vulnerable in the air to a tall forward.

Up until recently, I would cringe when I found out Zokora was in the team, because to my mind he was an obstacle to the team playing well, playing for himself rather than the team, as Chimbonda is also prone to do.

Zokora, and to a lesser extent Chimbonda have both become better team players under Ramos.

 

[mariom]

I agree that Zokora had a much better game on Saturday but look at the room he had on the pitch especially in the first half.

Portsmouths midfield wasnt much of a threat

 

[justfookinhitit]

He has been better since the ANC, but I still think he needs to step up to another level if he is to stick around and be a permanent fixture in the side next season. He shows tremendous energy throughout the game, but gives away daft free kicks in dangerous areas, plus doesn't give us anything in attack which is something we should have from every midfielder. We can do better and should look to do so if we want to progress next season.

 

[chileanspursfan]

I remember a while ago a discussion regarding Pedro Mendes and even Sean Davis as better players than most of our current midfielders and that we should have hanged to the Portuguese at least. I agreed as well that Zokora was by no means better than Mendes, but after watching them face to face last weekend I must say that they are different players. While Zokora might lack some of Mendes' passing ability and skill, he is a superior defensive midfielder in a 442 system mainly because of his athleticism, multiple positional functionality, tenacity and his forward runs and pace fit the Premiership much better.

Summarizing, he might be less classy and composed than the Portuguese or Sean Davis (his chipping lob wasn't bad), but I feel Zokora could become a bigger asset to the team as a whole. That midfield of Kranjcar, Davis, Mendes and Hughes could have been something similar to what we had 4 years ago and our current players proved that they are better than that.

We can be confident that the club is moving in the right direction and that youngsters such as Hudd or Lennon or new acquisitions such as Zokora or Malbranque prove to conform a better midfield than the old school we had and which peaked with the team reaching an 11th place, not like now in which it is under performing at the same league position.

 

[si_yidarmy]

i reakpn any player who isnt playing well, ramos will make sure they do by the end of the season.

I have seen an improvement from Zokora, Huddlestone
Jenas is good when he wants to be but cant play with zokora...
Chimbo is playing like his first season for us again.

 

[Michey]

He's a headless chicken, and will be shifted out at the first opportunity.

Nah, you've got it all wrong. It's Jenas that is the headless chicken.

Playing with Jenas gets Zokora fuckin frustrated....as usual nothing happens and he tries to contribute in supporting our attackers.....that can make us open at the back sometimes....but I DO understand his frustration.

Send Jenas to Fulham and we'll be FINE! :dance:

 

[Mornstar]

Let's go easy on Zoko. Afterall, he is playing alongside Jermaine armando Jenas.

If berba was made to play alongside Carl Cort, I bet his performance levels would drop a notch or two.

 

[Evolution]

I have been a supporter of Zoko throughout and can see the guy has the ability to do a great job as defensive midfielder for us.

His only flaw for that role seems to be his lack of concentration which can lead to silly fouls given, bad control or a stray pass....failing that I think he's a great defensive midfielder.

What he does not offer however is anything in the final third which is a real shame

 

[chinaman]

He is finally adjusting to the pace of the game in England. We'll be seeing an improved player in him next season and I can see him scoring after one of his upfield bursts soon.

 

[Real_madyidd]

He has played well a couple of times, but is this thread serious?

He has to improve so much still. Just hoping he keeps up the hard work and becomes a better player, since he has the touch of a rapist, can pass over 5 yards and can't shoot for shit.

 

[AW?]

Like i've said before... he's improved on being fucking terrible. Wow!

He is not good enough. Could you imagine him playing consistently in one of the top four teams and holding down a place?

He's a liability and we should sell him to West Ham or somebody equally deserving of his recklessness.