Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
Villa have gem in ‘Zidane’
Tuesday 6th November 2007, 2:41PM GMT.
Curtis Davies reckons Villa may have a real gem on their hands in Togo international midfielder Moustapha Salifou.
Dubbed the “Togolese Zidane” for his dazzling footwork, the recent signing from Swiss outfit FC Wil played his second reserve game last night as Villa’s second string came from behind to beat Tottenham 3-1 at the Banks’s Stadium.
Playing in central midfield, he was again impressive and left the field to a standing ovation as he was substituted seven minutes from time.
On-loan Albion defender Davies, who has figured in both games Salifou has played, was highly impressed and said: “I’ve seen how he’s developing in training and I know what he’s got.
“Once he adapts more to the pace of the game here in England, he could do well.
“Playing for the reserves is different to the hustle and bustle of Premier League football, but he looks a good addition.
“We saw in the last game he can pass and he doesn’t mind shooting from any distance.
“He’s very strong – desceptively strong actually. People look at him and think he’s small, but he doesn’t get pushed off the ball too easily.
“He’s got an eye for goal and hopefully he can do that soon for the first team. He’s certainly impressed the lads over the last few weeks.”
Sponsored Links
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Lets hope that this guy does fulfil what seems to be a lot of initial promise. Unearthing a gem for little or nothing would help O’Neill to offset criticism that he wasted £8 million odd on Harewood and Knight, and also counter the argument that he’s only got his eye on home-based players. Good luck, Moustapha!
Report abuse
I find it bizarre the signing of Knight is being criticised still. He’s been a quality addition so far, and has played a big part in a couple of the clean sheets we’ve had this season. Sadly though, if a group of fans don’t want to like you for whatever agenda they have, they will go out of their way to slaughter you for any slight slip-up. You’d never see Laursen get the criticism Knight gets when Laursen goes in sometimes for those unwinnable challenges and gets shrugged off. Quite rightly so, because Laursen is a quality player. So is Knight, in my opinion. Anyway, lets hope Moustapha can provide more strength in depth for the Villa side, and if he can break into the first team, all the better. Even if he doesn’t, perhaps the pressure will serve to make our other midfielders work a little harder for the places up for grabs.
Report abuse
Imhotep
I totally agree. Knight played a big part in the clean sheets that enabled us to get home wins over Chelsea West Ham and Everton and made another fine contribution in yet another clean sheet and 3 points against Derby on Saturday.
Report abuse
2,3 Have you both forgotten the ManYoo game?
Report abuse
Professor, I am not saying Zat Knight should play every game, some games are made for his qualities and some definitely are not. But he deserves to be recognised for what he has contributed to the points we have chalked up.
And Zat is not the first big defender to struggle against Rooney, Tevez and co. this season and he won’t be the last. He made the two mistakes but as a team we left him exposed to the most potent and cleverest strikeforce in the League.
He grew up in Birmingham and was a Villa supporter as a kid and the look on his face was a picture when he scored that goal on his debut against Chelsea. He is just one of five local lads in the first team squad and you never know that might just give us the edge on Sunday.
Report abuse