Yaya & a Midfield 3 in Away Games

[PrestwichPeteMcfc]

We can’t play Yaya as part of a midfield 2 in away games.

We’re too easy to play against away from home if Yaya plays in a midfield 2 - he’s too lazy.

Why won’t Pellegrini learn from his mistakes and play a midfield 3 away from home.


I have been hearing this a lot recently, it seems to have been repeated so much that it’s taken as Gospel by some. Last night, a lot of people were fearing the worst after seeing us line up with a 2 man midfield, even though we were playing a team who bypass midfield and hoof straight to their striker.


I think that Yaya helps out defensively much more than he’s given credit for. He helps us to keep possession in the opposing teams half, and provides an important link in the transition from defence to attack, which we missed in the Villa game, for example.


Our away results in the league and the midfield that played are:

West Brom: 3-0 Win. Midfield 2 of Yaya and Fernandinho.

Everton: 2-0 Win. Midfield 2 of Yaya and Fernandinho.

Palace: 1-0 Win. Midfield 2 of Yaya and Fernandinho.

Spurs: 4-1 Loss. Fernando and Fernandinho in midfield. Yaya behind the striker.

United: 0-0 Draw. Fernando and Fernandinho in midfield. Yaya behind the striker.

Villa: 0-0 Draw. Fernando and Fernandinho in midfield. No Yaya.

Stoke: Arsenal: 2-1 Loss. Midfield of Toure, Delph and Fernandinho

Leicester: 0-0 Draw. Midfield 2 of Toure and Fernandinho.


Different games require different set ups and formations, and Yaya as part of a midfield 2 isn’t always the best option - like Sevilla away. But I think it’s a popular fallacy that we are a worse team away from home when Yaya plays as part of a midfield 2, and I don't think people should worry - like many were doing last night - we we see him lining up next to Fernandinho in a 4231 formation.We’re often a much more balanced side when Yaya plays DM with Fernandinho.

 

[I'm no cynic but...]

Here's an idea to accommodate him for this season. We are short up top because of Kun's injury problems and because of Bony's inability to fit into our style, but looking back to last season when we were having similar problems yet actually caught up with Chelsea for a short time, perhaps we could revisit the tactics of that time when Milner was played as a ghost CF,and similarly we could play Yaya as a deep lying CF in the manner of a present day Revie Plan. It would fail if our tactics were that of lesser clubs which might rely on booting the ball up to a big lump, but in a team like ours which is made for quick variation of play, Yaya could fall back as we advance and take CBs with him while Sterling and KDB are racing past him, and this tactic will keep Yaya in the final third for much of the game and from where his best work is done. It could cause havoc for a few weeks to come yet would only be needed while Kun is short of fitness. After that, normal service could be resumed and this plan could be forgotten.

 

[franksinatra]

There is no doubt on occasions it could be argued Yaya does get exposed in a midfield two but what fails to get mentioned is the negatives of adding an additional midfielder.

From watching the United and Spurs game what became apparent is how the team played a lot more direct when Yaya was pushed forward.

Yaya is the conduit which links the defence to midfield to attack . When we go direct we negate the talents of Silva, Aguero, De Bruyne. The two fernandos, delph do not have this passing ability and although they maybe better from a closing players down perspective, losing possession more often makes us less effective offensively and invites unnecessary pressure.

Additionally this year by adding an extra midfielder we have had to sacrifice an attacking player. For me it is a sacrifice too many.

 

[BillyShears]

Very good OP. I was wondering when I saw the thread title why it had so few replies. I know now. Doesn't fit the narrative. :)

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

We can’t play Yaya as part of a midfield 2 in away games.

We’re too easy to play against away from home if Yaya plays in a midfield 2 - he’s too lazy.

Why won’t Pellegrini learn from his mistakes and play a midfield 3 away from home.


I have been hearing this a lot recently, it seems to have been repeated so much that it’s taken as Gospel by some. Last night, a lot of people were fearing the worst after seeing us line up with a 2 man midfield, even though we were playing a team who bypass midfield and hoof straight to their striker.


I think that Yaya helps out defensively much more than he’s given credit for. He helps us to keep possession in the opposing teams half, and provides an important link in the transition from defence to attack, which we missed in the Villa game, for example.


Our away results in the league and the midfield that played are:

West Brom: 3-0 Win. Midfield 2 of Yaya and Fernandinho.

Everton: 2-0 Win. Midfield 2 of Yaya and Fernandinho.

Palace: 1-0 Win. Midfield 2 of Yaya and Fernandinho.

Spurs: 4-1 Loss. Fernando and Fernandinho in midfield. Yaya behind the striker.

United: 0-0 Draw. Fernando and Fernandinho in midfield. Yaya behind the striker.

Villa: 0-0 Draw. Fernando and Fernandinho in midfield. No Yaya.

Stoke: Arsenal: 2-1 Loss. Midfield of Toure, Delph and Fernandinho

Leicester: 0-0 Draw. Midfield 2 of Toure and Fernandinho.


Different games require different set ups and formations, and Yaya as part of a midfield 2 isn’t always the best option - like Sevilla away. But I think it’s a popular fallacy that we are a worse team away from home when Yaya plays as part of a midfield 2, and I don't think people should worry - like many were doing last night - we we see him lining up next to Fernandinho in a 4231 formation.We’re often a much more balanced side when Yaya plays DM with Fernandinho.

Great to hear. Amazing how some 'facts' are based on hearsay. I need to be more careful who i listen too.

 

[PrestwichPeteMcfc]

There is no doubt on occasions it could be argued Yaya does get exposed in a midfield two but what fails to get mentioned is the negatives of adding an additional midfielder.

From watching the United and Spurs game what became apparent is how the team played a lot more direct when Yaya was pushed forward.

Yaya is the conduit which links the defence to midfield to attack . When we go direct we negate the talents of Silva, Aguero, De Bruyne. The two fernandos, delph do not have this passing ability and although they maybe better from a closing players down perspective, losing possession more often makes us less effective offensively and invites unnecessary pressure.

Additionally this year by adding an extra midfielder we have had to sacrifice an attacking player. For me it is a sacrifice too many.

Agree with all of that. In the United game we were playing a more direct style which we're not suited to and never looked like scoring