- Oct 19, 2004
- 39,837
- 50,713
OK This is my biggest ever stat attempt. I've done it to highlight what I think is an injustice and miss perception by many on here about the viability and ability of Zokora. I can remember fighting what seemed (apart from a couple of others) a lone stand for Lee a couple of seasons ago. I don't know why some players who are valuable and very competent seem to attract scorn which is then jumped on by lemmings (Stalteri, Davids, Lee, Zokora, even Atouba who was actually a better footballer than Edman or Ekotto for example). Now I know these stats don't cover all the bases but I've included a good smattering of the great and good in similar positions or sometimes more attacking just to give perspective. I haven’t included assists for example because Zokora is primarily our DM and would be unfair as this is primarily not the job he is given.
PPM Passes per min = Highest score best
SP% Successful passes and rate = Highest score best
Min PerTackle = Lowest score best
----------------Min------AP(PPM)--SP(%)------T(MPT)
Zokora---------373------270(0.72)--232(90)------17(21.9)
Gerrard---------473------260(0.54)--203(78)-----17(27.8)
Alonso----------438------265(0.60)--206(77)-----16((27.3)
ReoCoker--------540-----207(0.38)--163(79)------40(13.5)
Dunn------------543-----240(0.44)--176(73)------23(23.6)
McCann---------519-----166(0.31)--122(73)------2(20.76)
Carsley---------464------131(0.28)--107(81)-----6(77.3)
Arteta----------629------232(0.36)--182(78)-----19(33.1)
Hamman-------720-------476(0.66)--393(82)-----37(19.45)
Butt----------630-------300(0.47)--218(72)-----31(20.32)
S Davis(Por)---781-----333(0.42)---264(79)-----38(20.5)
Noble-----------459----295(0.64)---240(81)------26(17.6)
Lampard--------450----317(0.70)--274(86)------13(34.6)
Makalele--------243-----224(0.92)--189(84)------10(24.3)
Flamini----------528-----396(0.75)--337(85)------22(24)
Carrick----------400-----392(0.98)--326(83)------19(21)
Fabregas-------521------469(0.90)--368(78)------17(30.6)
What we can see is that he has the best pass completion (inc Fabregas/Gerrad/Alonso/Lampard/Makalele) in this comprehensive premiership comparison.
Now couple this with the fact that he also has a higher passes per minute ratio than all except Makalele, Flamini, Fabregas & Carick.
So he is not only the most accurate passer but also the 4th productive behind some pretty impressive candidates playing in better teams.
As far as tackling goes he has a very similar tackles per minute ratio to McCann, Hamman, Butt, Carrick and is only really bettered meaningfully by Noble and Reo Coker.
Is it time, like Lee, that we start to accept that while he may not be the new Viera/Hoddle highbred some had hoped for, that he is at least a pretty decent footballer who does not deserve the slagging he’s had from some.
PPM Passes per min = Highest score best
SP% Successful passes and rate = Highest score best
Min PerTackle = Lowest score best
----------------Min------AP(PPM)--SP(%)------T(MPT)
Zokora---------373------270(0.72)--232(90)------17(21.9)
Gerrard---------473------260(0.54)--203(78)-----17(27.8)
Alonso----------438------265(0.60)--206(77)-----16((27.3)
ReoCoker--------540-----207(0.38)--163(79)------40(13.5)
Dunn------------543-----240(0.44)--176(73)------23(23.6)
McCann---------519-----166(0.31)--122(73)------2(20.76)
Carsley---------464------131(0.28)--107(81)-----6(77.3)
Arteta----------629------232(0.36)--182(78)-----19(33.1)
Hamman-------720-------476(0.66)--393(82)-----37(19.45)
Butt----------630-------300(0.47)--218(72)-----31(20.32)
S Davis(Por)---781-----333(0.42)---264(79)-----38(20.5)
Noble-----------459----295(0.64)---240(81)------26(17.6)
Lampard--------450----317(0.70)--274(86)------13(34.6)
Makalele--------243-----224(0.92)--189(84)------10(24.3)
Flamini----------528-----396(0.75)--337(85)------22(24)
Carrick----------400-----392(0.98)--326(83)------19(21)
Fabregas-------521------469(0.90)--368(78)------17(30.6)
What we can see is that he has the best pass completion (inc Fabregas/Gerrad/Alonso/Lampard/Makalele) in this comprehensive premiership comparison.
Now couple this with the fact that he also has a higher passes per minute ratio than all except Makalele, Flamini, Fabregas & Carick.
So he is not only the most accurate passer but also the 4th productive behind some pretty impressive candidates playing in better teams.
As far as tackling goes he has a very similar tackles per minute ratio to McCann, Hamman, Butt, Carrick and is only really bettered meaningfully by Noble and Reo Coker.
Is it time, like Lee, that we start to accept that while he may not be the new Viera/Hoddle highbred some had hoped for, that he is at least a pretty decent footballer who does not deserve the slagging he’s had from some.