Yaya Toure - 2017/18 performances

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jimharri said:
Couldn't believe it when I read it. Yes, Yaya was a vital cog in the machine. But to claim that he, and he alone, got us to where we are now is laughable. Joe, Zabba, GazBaz, NDJ, Merlin, Kun, Carlos, Vinnie, Mario, Alex, Joleon etc etc; they ALL played a part in the rise of MCFC post 2008. No one player got us to where we are now on his own.
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Spot on mate, Yaya was an integral part but there were more players we missed during that period like Tevez, vinnie and Silva when injured or unavailable.
 
citytilllidie said:
He's still a handy weapon when you need to close a game out. Never gives the ball away and extremely difficult to disposess
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Take it you didn't watch/see the Swansea game when he gave the ball away 90% of the time? Or was it tongue in cheek? If so then fair play. I concede that 4 years ago under Mancini he very rarely gave the ball away, as we were much more defensive than we were/ are under Pellegrini and Pep.
 
Like all good players, with time their influence fades. Zabaleta a prime example. He had a v poor last season and the one before that wasn't much better. Kompany has been zero use for 3 seasons due to his injuries. It happens to them all Sadly. At the moment I would be more concerned with Kompany taking up a squad place.
 
Tricky Dickys Right Foot Shot said:
Take it you didn't watch/see the Swansea game when he gave the ball away 90% of the time? Or was it tongue in cheek? If so then fair play. I concede that 4 years ago under Mancini he very rarely gave the ball away, as we were much more defensive than we were/ are under Pellegrini and Pep.
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So you're saying he only had a 10% pass success rate?
Are you fcukin sure!
 
Shirley said:
So you're saying he only had a 10% pass success rate?
Are you fcukin sure!
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Alright maybe I was being facetious, but the majority of forward passes he made were unsuccessful, he can pass sideways and backwards but forward passing isn't his strong point..... it's why when he plays now our build up play slows down, because he lacks that cutting edge that Fernandinho possesses.
 
Tricky Dickys Right Foot Shot said:
Take it you didn't watch/see the Swansea game when he gave the ball away 90% of the time? Or was it tongue in cheek? If so then fair play. I concede that 4 years ago under Mancini he very rarely gave the ball away, as we were much more defensive than we were/ are under Pellegrini and Pep.
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Yes I saw it. He came on and we closed the game out, with him and Silva doing their short pass thing. He defo didn't misplace 9/10 passes.
 
KS55 said:
Remember Newcastle. Remember Stoke.
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That's what I always say, spot on..

Yaya is a legend and its good to see him return now and again rather than trying to have him as a key player hanging on. He is still valuable, can still change a game and lay on that pass.

What you do notice when he plays is how we have moved on from needing his type of inspiration in the game. Its a different style and work rate now that I think yaya doesn't suit to. But still can come in at any needed time and fit in well. In order to maintain runs like we have had you need to be right on the pitch and in the dressing room for inspiration and team bonding, yaya is priceless at this and a key figure even when not on the pitch.

Vinny / Yaya / Zabba we all know wont and cant last for ever, good to see the players how have stepped up have took over well...
 
Tricky Dickys Right Foot Shot said:
Alright maybe I was being facetious, but the majority of forward passes he made were unsuccessful, he can pass sideways and backwards but forward passing isn't his strong point..... it's why when he plays now our build up play slows down, because he lacks that cutting edge that Fernandinho possesses.
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I must of imagined that 1st time forward pass to Aguero for the 4th goal...
 
FlyingKiwi said:
I'd like to put my two cents in regarding what is perceived to be a lack of effort from Yaya.

There are two versions of Yaya: The young industrious Yaya, and the old "lazy" Yaya. First of all, we need to forget about the first version. The guy is 34, he can't be the effective box to box midfielder of the past. What he can be is an experienced, technically imperial maestro, and I don't use the word maestro lightly. The common sentiment I feel from this thread is that you need to defend to be a "proper" midfielder. One example that destroys this argument is Pirlo. Pirlo was never a defender. In fact, he barely moved in either direction whether its offensively or defensively, and he was arguably the best midfielder of this century. Does anyone here in his right mind question Yaya's technical ability and understanding of the game?

Now I agree entirely that Yaya can't slot in a KDB-Ferna-SIlva dynamic, his current style of play is very different. But he can definitely dictate play with minimal physical effort in his own slow style. Yes he won't play the Guardiola way, but he is at least an above average player by this league's standards if used correctly.

People also tend to underestimate what a cl winner gives to the team by simply existing. Make no mistake, this guy is more important off the field than on it.
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I'm going to talk his perceived lack of effort and for starters I'd say no one will ever truly know if this is a case of physical limitations as a result of ageing or just outright sabotage by the player. Now I'm an African and usually when a footballer born in Africa says he's "x" years old, in my mind I'm thinking maybe he's actually "x+5 or more" (I'm actually being lenient adding 5 years, sometimes it's a lot more). "Football age" and "actual age" are common terms used in this part of the world basically due to poor record keeping on our part (not proud of any of these, I literally forced myself to do this post). I'm not for one moment saying Yaya is older than 34 but I think we need to have some perspective so that when we criticize him we can have a view from all the sides rather than adopt a straight jacket approach.
 
Sorry but shouldn’t be starting games anymore. Every time he starts we play bad and can’t find our rhythm.

Pains me to say it but Yaya is finished. He should only be brought on for maybe 20 minutes to give our other midfielders a rest but starting games let alone a quarter final whatever cup it may be, is out of the question for me.

Doesn’t have the energy to press and this effects how the whole team presses obviously. Every club knows this and exploits it.
 
I thought the Swansea game was a marked improvement over previous performances this season, but the bar was set so low I'm not sure that's a compliment.
 
domalino said:
I thought the Swansea game was a marked improvement over previous performances this season, but the bar was set so low I'm not sure that's a compliment.
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I think all of his cameos when we were already up by a few were very good, it's just that when he starts in a team which anyway has been heavily rotated, then you can immediately sense it. Still, I think he has to start today.
 
mccity said:
Remember 2010/11 Yaya? Remember when he'd run from one box to the other knocking to the ground anyone who dared get in his way? Immediately to be followed by a 5 minute nap in the opposition penalty area? Only to be rinsed and repeated?

The good old days..
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I'll never forget his naps :)
 
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