Zokora has told of his reasons for turning down Arsenal to play for Spurs. Zokora stated that he believes that Spurs are the club for the future and was excited by Spurs' ambition and he wanted to be apart of it. He also said he wanted to play with Aaron Lennon, he said its a shame Carrick has moved on though.
'The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.' - Danny Blanchflower
Originally posted by CaptVimes: Weve already got too many african players:
quote:
However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said towards the end of last year that he was not interested in signing the Ivorian.
It must still hurt
What must, that we got him?
Zokora had an offer from Wenger, and wanted him at Arsenal, especially with his mates there as well.
'The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.' - Danny Blanchflower
It must hurt that he didnt get an offer from Arsenal...
quote:
The Ivory Coast powerhouse completed an £8 million switch to White Hart Lane last week, with Arsenal and Manchester United both also mentioned as strong suitors.
Zokora's stock rose considerably courtesy of an excellent showing in the World Cup and it was such performances, when coupled with a solid campaign for St Etienne, that led to interest from some of The Premiership's finest.
The 25-year-old plumped for a move to Spurs, but not without first discussing his future with Arsenal chief Wenger.
Zokora admits his new side are still some way short of the prestige bestowed on both United and Arsenal but he is confident he has made the correct choice in joining a club pushing in the right direction.
''Arsenal and United enquired about me and I even had personal discussions with Arsene Wenger,'' he told the Daily Star Sunday.
''But these two clubs confined themselves to talks and never put in a firm offer.
''The talks with Spurs began two months before the start of the World Cup but I hadn't made up my mind as there were other clubs in the hunt.
''It is fair to say they are less prestigious than Arsenal or United, but they want to lift themselves up to the same level.''
That was sunday 2nd July Sky sports World cup website...20 odd days later and after a talking to by the spud press officer and....
---------------------------------------------------- Touched by his noodly appendage - RAmen.
Originally posted by CaptVimes: It must hurt that he didnt get an offer from Arsenal...
quote:
The Ivory Coast powerhouse completed an £8 million switch to White Hart Lane last week, with Arsenal and Manchester United both also mentioned as strong suitors.
Zokora's stock rose considerably courtesy of an excellent showing in the World Cup and it was such performances, when coupled with a solid campaign for St Etienne, that led to interest from some of The Premiership's finest.
The 25-year-old plumped for a move to Spurs, but not without first discussing his future with Arsenal chief Wenger.
Zokora admits his new side are still some way short of the prestige bestowed on both United and Arsenal but he is confident he has made the correct choice in joining a club pushing in the right direction.
''Arsenal and United enquired about me and I even had personal discussions with Arsene Wenger,'' he told the Daily Star Sunday.
''But these two clubs confined themselves to talks and never put in a firm offer.
''The talks with Spurs began two months before the start of the World Cup but I hadn't made up my mind as there were other clubs in the hunt.
''It is fair to say they are less prestigious than Arsenal or United, but they want to lift themselves up to the same level.''
That was sunday 2nd July Sky sports World cup website...20 odd days later and after a talking to by the spud press officer and....
Zokora's agent let it slip "before" the world cup that he would join Spurs, but mainly at the time because of Comolli, who Zokora knew and wanted to work with again. Then during the world cup Comolli was talking to him, and it was the worse kept secret in football that Wenger had talks with him, but he had already decided he wanted to play for Spurs over them, thats fact, but if you believe paper talk, it changes whatever paper you read.
There is a great photo of Zokora with a Spurs fan, holding up a St.Georges Cross flag, with Tottenham written across it, with Zokora's agent looking on, during the world cup.
The only problem was St.Etienne and when they would let him go. Wenger later said that he didnt want Zokora, but scout Gilles Grimandi embarassed him by saying that Wenger was after him.
Zokora went into the world cup with those in the profession saying that Zokora was going to be one of the best midfielders in the tournament, he had a great world cup but was in a terrible group, and they were knocked out, had they of got through i think the Ivory Coast would of gone far. Only time will tell how good he will be, but with Zokora, Tainio(who played in Carricks place against Inter Milan, and was fantastic, scoring both goals, something Carrick would never of done), and Huddlestone(who Jol already thinks is one of the best passers in the Premiership), we should be very strong, if we got a r/back and l/winger.
'The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.' - Danny Blanchflower
Yes we were after him amoung other players but we signed Abu Diaby instead. After that we werent interested which is why they never made an offer. Other factors are that when theres a well known CL club involved the price asked goes up. There are reports that Yaya Toure is being sold for 4m to Marseille when we were told no less than 8m not more that 6 months ago. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth though as you say the papers swing it however they want for the time of the season. If we signed every player we were interested in then we would be broke.
As an example of what papers do...and it is a perfect example of why its called the crazy season. Here is what Giles Grimandi said to provoke the Zokora 'quote'.
quote:
"I have been travelling a lot these days," Grimandi said. "Nearly to every country! You know, there are a lot of great players in Ligue 1. We may propose a contract to a midfielder who plays there."
You have to laugh really. We were after Zokora before January last year, for whatever reason we went for Diably instead. I suspect it was because he was cheaper and European. We already have too many african players IMO.
---------------------------------------------------- Touched by his noodly appendage - RAmen.
Originally posted by CaptVimes: Yes we were after him amoung other players but we signed Abu Diaby instead. After that we werent interested which is why they never made an offer. Other factors are that when theres a well known CL club involved the price asked goes up. There are reports that Yaya Toure is being sold for 4m to Marseille when we were told no less than 8m not more that 6 months ago. Somewhere in the middle lies the truth though as you say the papers swing it however they want for the time of the season. If we signed every player we were interested in then we would be broke.
As an example of what papers do...and it is a perfect example of why its called the crazy season. Here is what Giles Grimandi said to provoke the Zokora 'quote'.
quote:
"I have been travelling a lot these days," Grimandi said. "Nearly to every country! You know, there are a lot of great players in Ligue 1. We may propose a contract to a midfielder who plays there."
You have to laugh really. We were after Zokora before January last year, for whatever reason we went for Diably instead. I suspect it was because he was cheaper and European. We already have too many african players IMO.
Yeah but Wenger is a genius at finding the good ones though. It must a pain for an Arsenal/English fan, with Campbell and A.Cole(maybe)gone, dont you wish he picked some English players? Wenger has saved his club a hell of a lot of money though, look at what Man Utd and Chelsea have spent over the past 5 years, its madness, Wenger has proved that, that sort of money doesnt have to be spent. The one player i think Wenger has paid out for, and has been a waste is Reyes, and look how much he cost.
'The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.' - Danny Blanchflower
I couldnt care less where our players come from as long as they are the best we can get. If the FA seriously want to do something about the English player situation then they shouldnt restrict clubs to recruiting youth players within one hour travelling of the club. Not every club has the best training facilities and coaches. Who knows how much that rule will hurt us in the future. I only mentioned african players specifically because they tend to booger off every 2 years right in the middle of the season. I never liked Campbell and we are hardly going to miss someone that nobody is interested in signing. A lot of fans are frustrated that we havent signed a couple more players at least though including me I like the excitement of new players.
Reyes didnt cost what everyone said he did. For the first time in years Arsenal revealed the whole deal with him to stop the stupid interpretation of it but yet people still believe what they want to. Real Madrid want to sign him and if we really wanted to cash in that deal we easily could with them. It was a fee based on performance and appearances which is the same as the Carrick deal. It is highly unlikely the maximum fee will be paid for him or anything like what the papers have said we would pay. He has done OK and his fee will reflect that.
Wooo that was a long post.
---------------------------------------------------- Touched by his noodly appendage - RAmen.
Originally posted by CaptVimes: I couldnt care less where our players come from as long as they are the best we can get.
Wenger has said this too, in not so many words which, fair play to him, he hasn't backed down from and has said he's the manager of Arsenal, and only has their best interests at heart. Good luck to the guy
Originally posted by Wot's 'is Face: The one player i think Wenger has paid out for, and has been a waste is Reyes, and look how much he cost.
Don't forget Walcott, Wot's
Yeah but only time will tell if he is a waste of time and money, although Harry Redknapp has already said he is because of his experience with him, but i am hoping he is going to be good(only for England of course )
'The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.' - Danny Blanchflower
