An apology to Didier Zokora
- Thread starter chileanspursfan
- Start date
- Jun 5, 2004
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- #42
:lol:
... impressive if they all weren't to Hutton, sideways and backwards. Anything over 5 yards gets misplaced. I'm sorry but he's not a good enough central midfielder.
Put him at the back, however, and I'm an absolutely huge fan of him. It's so strange how him taking 3 steps back transforms him into a much better player.
To be fair though, from my perspective, I've always disliked him. I've never been fickle about it. :lol:
Beni
Well-Known Member
- Mar 3, 2004
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:lol: Fucking infuriates me, when anti Zokora posters counter act his stats with "There all (sideways, backwards, to ALAN HUTTON)" how original/bollocks/short sighted, whatever spin you want to put on it.
Its a stat that backs up what I and others see, in its called keeping the ball. You know, keeping possession, stopping the opposition from having it.
Its amazing, a defensive midfielder wanting to keep the ball, whats the world coming too!!
Get this aswell, keeping possession leads to chances, imagine that.
What Zokora does IS, keep it simple. You have to be completely blind or stubborn in your ways with Zokora, to think that he just plays it sideways or backwards.
He plays it forwards aswell, but always the simple ball to keep possession and give it to players that are on the field to create, and run at the oppsosition.
What you don't see him doing all the time, is wasting the ball with route 1 style football, giving the possession back to the opposition.
Like it or lump it, his stats for a defensive midfielder for interceptions, tackles and passing this season have been good.
Good enough for him to be a consistent starter under Ramos.
Now I don't know whether he is the answer to be in a top 4 challenging team, only Ramos can hopefully answer.
What I do know is, we will only be able to judge whether our midfielders are of being top 4 quality, when we actually do break into the top 4.
Zokora was average to say the least in his 1st season, and what I am seeing now, is people that were to hasty in his 1st season, haven't got the balls to admit that he isnt as bad as they 1st thought, and actually support a guy that wears the white shirt, its sad but true.
- Jun 5, 2004
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- #45
Careful Beni, I still "doo doo doo" along with the rest of them. I still cheer his name when he's announced. I still clap him off at the end of each half.
And yes mate, myself and young Daniel of talkshowhost fame made a point of noting the number of sideways passes to Hutton. That 95% figure crops up. :wink:
I know he keeps possession, but that's not the point of me countering the argument. People bleat that out as an amazing stat, one that should be lauded. But all I'm saying is that all those passes were to Hutton, or the odd one to Chimbonda. And the saddest thing is I'm not even exaggerating. If you really want to watch the game again and count them, I'll be more than happy to do it.
He's not a central midfielder mate, he really isn't. And his best performances for us have been at centre back. Can you argue with that?
I've backtracked enough times on this forum over him, but he's still not anywhere near Carrick's class, nor is he a Top 6 central midfielder. No way. No how.
And yes mate, myself and young Daniel of talkshowhost fame made a point of noting the number of sideways passes to Hutton. That 95% figure crops up. :wink:
I know he keeps possession, but that's not the point of me countering the argument. People bleat that out as an amazing stat, one that should be lauded. But all I'm saying is that all those passes were to Hutton, or the odd one to Chimbonda. And the saddest thing is I'm not even exaggerating. If you really want to watch the game again and count them, I'll be more than happy to do it.
He's not a central midfielder mate, he really isn't. And his best performances for us have been at centre back. Can you argue with that?
I've backtracked enough times on this forum over him, but he's still not anywhere near Carrick's class, nor is he a Top 6 central midfielder. No way. No how.
dannythomas
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- May 17, 2004
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I always find this 4-3-3 an odd idea for the players we have. are we going to play 3 strikers- Bent, Berbs and Keane ? Is that going to give us any width ? It seems to me to be a tactic we use when we fall behind and bring on a 3rd striker usually sacrificing Lennon. Playing Keane or Bent in a wide position is not a good use of their abilities. 4-3-3 as a variation of 4-5-1 can work with 2 attacking wide players as Chelsea proved with Robben- Drogba- Duff . So I suppose Lennon- Berbs- Bale is possible. But I'm not sure leaving out Keane effectively to accommodate Zokora makes any sense either. So to me it's a substitution tactic only.
Beni
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I disagree, it seems others on here, Ramos, Jol and other managers in Zokoras career do to.
Yet we finished 5th with him last season??
DFF
YOLO, Daniel
- May 17, 2005
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Yep, and that's all that matters in the end.
- Jun 5, 2004
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- #50
I dare say that was "in spite of" rather than "because of", Beni.
And ITK around the time (from more than one source) was that Jol didn't rate Zokora. We'll see won't we? If he survives the Summer then I'll fully accept that he's here to stay. If, which I think more likely, he gets moved on then I won't begrudge him a "cheers".
DFF
YOLO, Daniel
- May 17, 2005
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Don't confuse my above post for meaning we might as well not be here discussing stuff because it's out of our hands anyway. It is out of our hands, and when it comes to team selection they are all that matters. But it doesn't mean we can't discuss our opinions. If you're only getting involved in discussions because you think your opinion matters when it comes to team selection, then i want what you're having. :up:
Beni
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In Spite.......come on Stoof you're clutching now mate.
He played more times than not.
Whats that saying with those ITKs - BIG punch of salt needed.
- Jun 5, 2004
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- #53
Look, that's the most I'm not going to talk about it, and you still responded. I'm not clutching at straws. He wasn't even average in his first season. Words that you've just used. So how could he be the reason for us finishing there?
All I'm saying is that this is hardly a "cut and dry" he's a good player. He's probably the most discussed player, alongside Jenas on this forum. If it was that simple there wouldn't be such a horrific divide as there is. There is definitely scope for debate on his abilities as a central midfielder, and for me he's still not showing (18 months into his time here) glorious Viera-like performances. Or even Carrick-like. I know he's a different sort of midfielder to Carrick. He's also different in the sense that he's not a quality player. He's just not. He hasn't stamped his authority on our team and I think as with others we can do better - and I also think our central midfield is our priority transfer-wise.
Beni
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We shall just have to wait and see what happens in the Summer and next season.
I personally think he will be a feature next year.
AW?
Formerly known as *******Who?
- Feb 6, 2006
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I'm no Zokora basher, i can see his good points unlike the other player bashers who just declare a players shit and that's it.
He's good at running isn't he? erm... i'm stuck. He's good at giving away needless freekicks to the other team, wait, that's a bad thing isn't it? Damn.
He is a mid-table team player at best. Wake up and smell the coffee.
He's good at running isn't he? erm... i'm stuck. He's good at giving away needless freekicks to the other team, wait, that's a bad thing isn't it? Damn.
He is a mid-table team player at best. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Michey
New Member
- May 4, 2004
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Davey-O
is your hero
- Mar 16, 2005
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Mate its 2008 - your not allowed opinions like that!
idlepete
Imperfect modal meaning extractor
- Oct 17, 2003
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He's good at falling over and landing on top of the ball. It seems to be an unwritten rule that players who fall over and land on top of the ball always win a free kick. I'd go so far as to say he's the best in the Prem at it.
Er, yeah... that's about it.
