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THIS IS THE SAINTS
Yo could have been a Gunner!
31-03-04
Yoann making his debut against Spurs
NEW Saints sensation Yoann Folly could have been playing for the mighty Arsenal.
The Gunners were closely monitoring the progress of the 18-year-old midfielder who so impressed on his Premiership debut for Saints last weekend.
But Saint's European scout Terry Cooper has today revealed the secretive two-year mission behind the capture of French midfield sensation.
The 18-year-old had been closely tracked by Arsenal - who have close links with Folly's former club St Etienne.
Folly, who made a great impression on his Premiership debut against Spurs last weekend, had been regularly watched by Gunners scouts in France and was invited to London for a short trial spell last year.
But Folly eventually headed for St Mary's last summer after Saints swooped with perfect timing to secure the player in a deal worth around £250,000.
Togo-born Folly is rated among the brightest young midfield talents in Europe and shone on his Premiership debut last weekend.
He has also represented the mighty French at under-16, 17, 18 and 21 level.
Former England left-back Cooper said: "I had been following him for two years and first saw him for the French under-17 national team.
"You remember the ones who do well and keep an eye on them, but you tell absolutely no-one and have to be discreet about it.
"I think I saw him about seven or eight times for France and St Etienne, but we had to be quite patient.
"He was under contract at St Etienne, but they had a few problems money wise and we had a tip-off that he might be available.
"We then made the move as quickly as possible as the competition for players is fierce.
"Teams such as Arsenal and Manchester United have tie-ups with some of the smaller European clubs and Arsenal have a full-time French scout who I had seen at St Etienne. But we have to be up there with these sort of clubs."
Arsenal signed a five-year 'partnership' deal with St Etienne back in 1998 after making a £500,000 swoop for youngster David Grondin.
The aim of the move was for both clubs to exchange players on loan, ideas and coaching methods.
Cooper, meanwhile, says the vast majority of his job involves travelling around Europe to watch players who will never make it at Premier League level.
But in Folly, and Saints' other teenage Frenchman Leandre Griffit, he believes the club have discovered players with the potential to reach the top.
"If the ladder is 12 rungs, Yoann Folly is now on about the third rung," said Cooper.
"When I first saw him he was quite slight, but he was mobile and played the ball nice and simple.
"He has that French mentality and is used to the pressure of playing in tournaments with the national team.
"I'm delighted he did so well on Saturday, but not surprised.
"He seems to be very calm and I think there is plenty more to come.
"At the end of his time at St Etienne he was playing as a centre-back and he can also play as a box-to-box man.
"He has all the ingredients to be a top player."
Griffit, 19, is in the French under-21 squad with Folly and has played in three Premier League matches this season, scoring on his Saints debut against Blackburn.
Cooper, brought to Saints by pal Graeme Souness back in 1996, added: "He was a bit different as Amiens is a smaller French club. I watched him three times and he has two great feet.
"I hope he gets his chance because I feel a bit sorry for him that he has only played against Chelsea and Arsenal after doing so well against Blackburn."
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