Does Yaya still have a role?

[FanchesterCity]

I think with any great player, they are very hard to replace and that tends to lead to teams clinging on to them for longer than they should. LIttle glimpses of old also don't help, as they tend to prolong the whole affair longer than necessary.
I find myself almost arguing that he could still have a role as an impact sub, but that's my heart speaking.
My head says the best way to move forward is make a clean cut and let him go. As long as he's 'available' there will be a temptation to use him, and that will only hinder things.

That's not to say there can't be a role at the club, just not as a first team player.

If we could go back in time and have all the same choices available to us, I think we'd buy him again without blinking. He helped us progress significantly. A City great. I wouldn't want to see a City great die a slow death. Time to let go.

 

[BigOscar]

I'm just hoping Pellegrini doesn't decide to start him against Real as we will get murdered. Can't play in the deep two and nowhere near as good as Super Kev at anything as the one in the hole, so I don't see what role he serves here other than providing the worlds worst cheerleader.

 

[fatbloke]

Out of those three you mention, I can say Zabba is finished. He would struggle as a squad player in a top eight side.

Legs have gone.

I agree on Zabaleta to some extent, his legs are going. I wouldn't be too upset (in a footballing sense) if he left, although he'll leave a big hole in the dressing room and around the club but we have to move forward to progress.

 

[Blue Smarties]

Well, you can say in your opinion his legs gave gone and he's finished. I think he still has a role to play.

Your username suggests no sense of bias at all.

 

[Phil1]

Your username suggests no sense of bias at all.

Correct. I'm called Paul and lived in Tenerife for 10 years where I was known as Pablo.

 

[FanchesterCity]

I don't think Zab is in the knackers yard just yet. Managed decline now, but if we are looking at how to improve, it's not a bad idea to weed out the weakest links. Zab isn't the weakest link. There are probably at least 4 ahead of him.

 

[Blue Smarties]

Correct. I'm called Paul and lived in Tenerife for 10 years where I was known as Pablo.

Calm down, Escobar.

 

[Phil1]

Calm down, Escobar.

Did that last post come across as me being agitated? My apologies.

 

[ZZmaestro]

I'm just hoping Pellegrini doesn't decide to start him against Real as we will get murdered. Can't play in the deep two and nowhere near as good as Super Kev at anything as the one in the hole, so I don't see what role he serves here other than providing the worlds worst cheerleader.

Knowing Pellegrini, i am adamant Yaya will start. There is not the slightest doubt of it in my mind.
He will play his usual three-man midfield of Fernando-Fernandinho-Yaya. with Silva, KDB and Aguero upfront, only uncertain of Sterling over Navas.

 

[BillyShears]

Half time oranges?

He'll be gone. With each passing week he becomes less relevant, just like Kompany, just like Silva, just like Zabba, just like Kolarov.

They've run their race and deserve to be thanked and waved off into the sunset.

The degradation whether mental or physical startling. Only Vinny has a hope. The rest need urgent upgrading this summer.

I'm sure Pep's monitoring the performances at the end of the season along with Txiki. Gonna be a big summer.