Player topic : Yaya Toure (2015/16)

[philiph20]

Last two games Yaya's work effort has gone up a level and long may it continue.

He was good yesterday, he isn't the player he was naturally but credit where credit is due, he gets plenty of stick when he doesn't perform so deserves praise when he does.

 

[ojeme]

There's a huge difference - they all work their bollocks off out of possession with the exception of Carzola where incidentally Arsenal have a similarly porous defence to us.

They used to but when age began to catch up on some of them, the teams found a way to get others who had 'legs' to do more on the defensive side whilst phasing them out of the team gradually. I'm talking about Xavi and Pirlo.
If Fern+yaya+delph won't help us so much on the defensive side, then fern+delph
may not be the messianic combination as we would in addition, loose that ability to somehow carry the ball from defence to
attack and recycle possession as is always obvious when he doesn't play.

 

[Marvin]

Jamie Jackson is worth reading on the Guardian's ten Premiership talking points:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/dec/14/premier-league-10-talking-points-mesut-ozil-Liverpool

I know he is quite critical of City, but on this occasion I think he gets it right. Basically he says that the game passed him by, and that City have to hope that the goal lifts his game.

 

[Rolee]

Jamie Jackson is worth reading on the Guardian's ten Premiership talking points:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/dec/14/premier-league-10-talking-points-mesut-ozil-Liverpool

I know he is quite critical of City, but on this occasion I think he gets it right. Basically he says that the game passed him by, and that City have to hope that the goal lifts his game.

WTF? One surging run? There was at least 3 or 4. I saw him win a few tackles including a sliding challenge which is very unlike him and he even won a header, that's practically unheard of, even in his pomp. He wasn't brilliant by any means but he was easily one of our better performers on the day.

Edit: just checked there, he had more touches than any other player on the pitch whilst on "the periphery" making such "little contribution".

 

[ojeme]

WTF? One surging run? There was at least 3 or 4. I saw him win a few tackles including a sliding challenge which is very unlike him and he even won a header, that's practically unheard of, even in his pomp. He wasn't brilliant by any means but he was easily one of our better performers on the day.

Edit: just checked there, he had more touches than any other player on the pitch whilst on "the periphery" making such "little contribution".

thumbs up!

 

[We're not really here]

Nope, he's done far worse and disrespected my football club on several occasions. He's welcome to the missus though, as long as he replaces her with a dishwasher and some device which can work a washing machine.

Love it mate! That's a great reply!

 

[sir baconface]

Off to China next summer for £24m. Who'd have thought?

Assuming a grain of truth in the rumour, how much of that is transfer fee?

 

[fatbloke]

They used to but when age began to catch up on some of them, the teams found a way to get others who had 'legs' to do more on the defensive side whilst phasing them out of the team gradually. I'm talking about Xavi and Pirlo.
If Fern+yaya+delph won't help us so much on the defensive side, then fern+delph
may not be the messianic combination as we would in addition, loose that ability to somehow carry the ball from defence to
attack and recycle possession as is always obvious when he doesn't play.

You're making a habit of manipulating discussions and making things up in hindsight pal. You didn't mention Pirlo once in the previous comment, despite naming Thiago, Xavi, Carzola, Veratti, Gundogan and Koke. I wonder why you've suddenly changed to Pirlo, haha!!

I understand your point about keeping and recycling possession and fully appreciate it's a huge part of the game but if you can't win the ball back off Swansea, how the fuck are you going to do it against Barcelona, Bayern Munich or even against anyone half decent in possession.

 

[ojeme]

You're making a habit of manipulating discussions and making things up in hindsight pal. You didn't mention Pirlo once in the previous comment, despite naming Thiago, Xavi, Carzola, Veratti, Gundogan and Koke. I wonder why you've suddenly changed to Pirlo, haha!!

I understand your point about keeping and recycling possession and fully appreciate it's a huge part of the game but if you can't win the ball back off Swansea, how the fuck are you going to do it against Barcelona, Bayern Munich or even against anyone half decent in possession.

i've always acknowledged that yaya is no more the complete CM that he was once. however, what i disagree on is that fabian delph woud successfuly fill his boots based on recent performances. the devil you know etc, etc.

 

[fatbloke]

i've always acknowledged that yaya is no more the complete CM that he was once. however, what i disagree on is that fabian delph woud successfuly fill his boots based on recent performances. the devil you know etc, etc.

You don't have to be technically brilliant to win games, just look at Leicester.

If we had the same work rate and battling qualities as they have which I believe Delph encapsulates as much as anyone in our current squad then we wouldn't be so easy to play against. The choice is Yaya or Silva for the third midfield place when everyone is fit, that's not even a contest.

 

[ojeme]

You don't have to be technically brilliant to win games, just look at Leicester.

If we had the same work rate and battling qualities as they have which I believe Delph encapsulates as much as anyone in our current squad then we wouldn't be so easy to play against. The choice is Yaya or Silva for the third midfield place when everyone is fit, that's not even a contest.

its easy to point to leicester because they have a fine run. however i put it to you that without mahrez and vardy all their so-called work rate and the likes would see them in 9th place at best

 

[PragueBlue]

Quite simply Toure is the only player we currently have that can dictate the game and link the defence with our midfield and attacking players. We were joint top last season and then when Toure went to the AFCON our struggles started. 2nd half against Spurs and Stoke showed us what our performances are often like without him.

It's certainly time to starting looking for the new Yaya and preferably one that can play a higher energy game. However, if we really want to play a pressing game, then we'll need to look at replacing quite a few other players as well.

 

[fatbloke]

its easy to point to leicester because they have a fine run. however i put it to you that without mahrez and vardy all their so-called work rate and the likes would see them in 9th place at best

I absolutely agree, I've never said anything different. I simply said if we had the same work rate and battling qualities we wouldn't be so easy to play against.

There's a reason players like Pirlo and Xavi have to play in America and Dubai and it's its certainly not a lack of technical ability. Yaya is twice the size of those two, the Premier League is twice as physical as the Italian or Spanish leagues and he's finished at this level. He's just lucky the rest of the team is good enough to carry him for the ever decreasing frequency of magic moments he produces. I think you always have to look to progress, with Yaya it's all declining. That's affecting the team now.

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

Quite simply Toure is the only player we currently have that can dictate the game and link the defence with our midfield and attacking players.

Well said, people wrote Yaya off way too quickly. He had a few poor games but the fact that people thought Delph was even on the same planet was laughable.

 

[bluezippy]

Quite simply Toure is the only player we currently have that can dictate the game and link the defence with our midfield and attacking players.

^^ This all day long.

Toure, and Kolarov are absolutely integral to the way we attack. There is nobody in our current squad capable of replicating what they offer us, and buying in January, and destabilising the current squad is just too big of a risk. Both are irreplaceable. Anybody who doesn't see this truly doesn't understand football.

The truth is that people are blinded to what they bring to the club, by these players past indiscretions and alleged 'disrespect' they supposedly levelled at the club!

The truth is simply that Toure has a gobby agent, and Kolarov gave it back to some clown who was giving him stick! How this is such a crime against the club, is a mystry to me! It is obvious that both give 100%, each and every time they put on the city shirt.

Some people need to seriously grow up.

This thread and the Kolarov thread are an embarrassment!

 

[BigOscar]

I know what people are saying when they say he's the only one who can dictate a game, but I just don't think he actually does that well enough. He's not a very good pivot at all anymore, more often than not when he picks it up off the defence he just gives it straight back to them, or at best plays it out to a fullback. He very, very rarely seems to turn around then look to drive or pass forwards in the way you'd actually want someone in that position to do. It's obviously an area we need a huge upgrade in, as we really can't keep playing someone who is so obviously flawed, just because we lack an alternative.

 

[ojeme]

You don't have to be technically brilliant to win games, just look at Leicester.

If we had the same work rate and battling qualities as they have which I believe Delph encapsulates as much as anyone in our current squad then we wouldn't be so easy to play against. The choice is Yaya or Silva for the third midfield place when everyone is fit, that's not even a contest.

I absolutely agree, I've never said anything different. I simply said if we had the same work rate and battling qualities we wouldn't be so easy to play against.

There's a reason players like Pirlo and Xavi have to play in America and Dubai and it's its certainly not a lack of technical ability. Yaya is twice the size of those two, the Premier League is twice as physical as the Italian or Spanish leagues and he's finished at this level. He's just lucky the rest of the team is good enough to carry him for the ever decreasing frequency of magic moments he produces. I think you always have to look to progress, with Yaya it's all declining. That's affecting the team now.

theres a huge difference between: 1) a player being able to play a role in my head and
2) a player actually having a succesful run in the same role
we often say Silva is beauty, silva is love, silva is.....(you can fill in the blank space), but unfortunately, he and yaya dont play the same role and even if we think he can, there's a reason why he's been hardly played in the hustle and bustle of the center of the pack both at international level and at club level

i still don not agree that the rest of the team carries him

 

[Jackson]

I know what people are saying when they say he's the only one who can dictate a game, but I just don't think he actually does that well enough. He's not a very good pivot at all anymore, more often than not when he picks it up off the defence he just gives it straight back to them, or at best plays it out to a fullback. He very, very rarely seems to turn around then look to drive or pass forwards in the way you'd actually want someone in that position to do. It's obviously an area we need a huge upgrade in, as we really can't keep playing someone who is so obviously flawed, just because we lack an alternative.

Tell us the player you want for replacement

 

[Jackson]

Hahaha, fucking classic line.

You explain what Yaya was doing in the first clip shown on MOTD of our game yesterday. He's goal side of his man on the halfway line who plays a ball out wide, Fernandinho goes across to cover so he slips it back inside - why is Yaya's man 5 yards in front of him under absolutely no pressure? He's just allowed him to walk, not sprint, walk past him to pick a perfect pass to split Otamendi and Mangala.

Again, second half. Fernandinho losses possession on the left, Yaya stands there, literally fucking stands still like a fucking statue with Delph having to cover two options and Mangala subsequently having to launch himself to try and intercept all because Yaya didn't drop back 4-5 yards into position next to his midfield partner.

Why? It's not just yesterday, its every single game without fail. Better teams will destroy us.

Silva doesn't drop back and you never blamed Silva for any goal. If you don't like Yaya go and hug transformer

 

[ojeme]

Have a look at these stats from the Swansea game:

...............................fern...yaya
tackles......................3/5....3/5
blocks.......................0.......0
headed clearances.......1/1.....1/1
blocked crosses...........1.......0
interceptions..............3......1
clearances..................1/1...1/1
aerial duels.................0/0...1/1
ball recoveries.............6.....9
take ons....................1/2...5/8
passes......................46/51...68/73
passes in attack. third..8/11...18/19
passes in mid. third.....34/36...44/47
passes in defensive 3rd..4/4....6/7

then the BMG game:

............................yaya....fern....delph
passes...................66/72....43/52..27/34
attacking 3rd passes..17/22....20/24..14/20
midfield 3rd passes....41/42....21/26..11/12
defensive 3rd passes..8/8.......2/2.....2/2
ball recoveries..........9..........4........6
take-ons.................7/7.......1/2......1/1
tackles...................2/3.......3/7......1/2
headed clearances....0/0........0/0.....0/0
blocked crosses........0...........0........0
interceptions...........2...........2.......0
clearances...............0/1........0/0....0/0
aerial duels..............0/2........5/6....1/1

going by the above figures, yaya is not far worse than his peers and thats if he's worse than them anyway. i guess people are content with observing his seeming languid movement and passing judgement instantly without bothering to dig deep enough.
these stats are mostly defensive in nature and i culled them out from http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone.
you'll do well to have a look.