Barnes
3rd August 2006, 04:36 PM
Clive Allen was suitably impressed with the performance of Didier Zokora when the midfielder pulled on the Spurs jersey for the first time last weekend.
The Ivory Coast international played half a game against Cambridge City in what resulted in a 2-0 win for our Spurs XI side. Clive looked back on his display and suspects there will be good things to come from the powerful Didier when the Premiership campaign gets underway.
"I thought he was excellent," stated the Development Coach. "What he has is great discipline in the way he plays. He is a good athlete, he is neat and tidy on the ball and you can see he is very experienced in his role.
"The way he conducted himself and went about the job was first class.
"I think he is very strong, he meets the physical challenges and people were bouncing off him. He has this allied with a lot of technical ability."
Martin Jol, who was taking in the game from the stand at the City Ground, was pleased that three of his World Cup performers got significant minutes on the pitch.
"Didier arrived on the Monday so to play 45 minutes on Saturday is probably a good thing - next time he will be able to play a little bit longer.
"Aaron Lennon was supposed to play 60 minutes, but he was enjoying himself and looked fine so he played the whole game. Lee Young-Pyo also came back on Monday and has now scored his first goal for the Club, so that was good.
"Didier is a typical holding midfield player. He tries to play the short one-twos and he has got good vision in his game. He moves well and is an excellent defensive midfielder."
Tottenham Hotspur's new defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto says he is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the competitive and free-flowing English game.
The Cameroon star moved from Lens to White Hart Lane at the end of last season, and is anxious to challenge current left back Lee Young-pyo for a starting role.
Spurs kick-off the new Premiership season against Bolton Wanderers live on Prem Plus on August 19 and the 22-year-old can not wait to get his first taste of Premiership football.
"There is more contact here than in the French league," he told the Daily Star.
"When there is contact in France there is very often a whistle straight away. In the English League you get more of a chance to play.
"It will be up to the coach whether I play. I have come here for the sporting challenge."
Boss Martin Jol will be happy with the player's attitude on the field, but he may not join in with the player's pastimes off the pitch.
"I don't watch football. Well, I play it enough don't I," Assou-Ekotto added.
"I don't talk about football away from the game either. I suppose that is unusual.
"My interests are my friends and music, especially hip-hop. I like Ice Cube and 50 Cent."
The Ivory Coast international played half a game against Cambridge City in what resulted in a 2-0 win for our Spurs XI side. Clive looked back on his display and suspects there will be good things to come from the powerful Didier when the Premiership campaign gets underway.
"I thought he was excellent," stated the Development Coach. "What he has is great discipline in the way he plays. He is a good athlete, he is neat and tidy on the ball and you can see he is very experienced in his role.
"The way he conducted himself and went about the job was first class.
"I think he is very strong, he meets the physical challenges and people were bouncing off him. He has this allied with a lot of technical ability."
Martin Jol, who was taking in the game from the stand at the City Ground, was pleased that three of his World Cup performers got significant minutes on the pitch.
"Didier arrived on the Monday so to play 45 minutes on Saturday is probably a good thing - next time he will be able to play a little bit longer.
"Aaron Lennon was supposed to play 60 minutes, but he was enjoying himself and looked fine so he played the whole game. Lee Young-Pyo also came back on Monday and has now scored his first goal for the Club, so that was good.
"Didier is a typical holding midfield player. He tries to play the short one-twos and he has got good vision in his game. He moves well and is an excellent defensive midfielder."
Tottenham Hotspur's new defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto says he is looking forward to the challenge of playing in the competitive and free-flowing English game.
The Cameroon star moved from Lens to White Hart Lane at the end of last season, and is anxious to challenge current left back Lee Young-pyo for a starting role.
Spurs kick-off the new Premiership season against Bolton Wanderers live on Prem Plus on August 19 and the 22-year-old can not wait to get his first taste of Premiership football.
"There is more contact here than in the French league," he told the Daily Star.
"When there is contact in France there is very often a whistle straight away. In the English League you get more of a chance to play.
"It will be up to the coach whether I play. I have come here for the sporting challenge."
Boss Martin Jol will be happy with the player's attitude on the field, but he may not join in with the player's pastimes off the pitch.
"I don't watch football. Well, I play it enough don't I," Assou-Ekotto added.
"I don't talk about football away from the game either. I suppose that is unusual.
"My interests are my friends and music, especially hip-hop. I like Ice Cube and 50 Cent."