No Yaya in the team...

[nellyonthewing]

We cannot afford sentimentality if we also want success. Watching Yaya reminds me of a David Attenborough wildlife programme where the old bull gets brought down by a pack of hyenas. Magnificent but tragic at the same time.

 

[Jimbob]

Why do people automatically feel the need to come in to a thread that's discussing Yaya and claim anybody that isn't 100% positive about him is slagging him off? The op hasn't slagged him off he's raised a valid point and one that is becoming increasingly apparent the more games we play without Yaya.

Yaya changes our entire style, for certain games it may be beneficial to play that way but the main complaints when we fail to win have been there's a lack of tempo, movement and urgency on the ball and a lack of mobility or trackers in midfield off the ball. These are all strongly linked to Yaya. I'm not saying it's entirely his fault but seeing as the team is pretty much built around him when he plays it's fair to say he's at the heart of it.

With the players we've got, i think we're fair more suited to a quick tempo, pressing and countering game than a more methodical possession based game that involves us trying to break down walls of 10 players just for the opportunity of a shot. You can't take too much from yesterdays game as Villa clearly weren't arsed in the slightest but every time we've played without yaya we've looked a much better side. His role should now be primarily on the bench and to come on for the last 30 minutes to get on the ball and dictate the play either to control the game when winning and see it out or to look for a killer pass or one of his trademark goals if we're in need of a goal.

I don't think pellegrini is willing to do that though.

Cheers for that, as I say, it wasn't a slag Yaya off thread, just that I preferred this different style we have adopted in the last couple of games without him in the team. He's been amazing for us and one of my favourite players but I feel as a team we seem to set up better without him these days.

 

[Dribble]

You beat me to it(must type quicker)

You must do better mate! :-)

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

I think what it is showing is that rather than yaya not being good enough to start, that the rest of the squad are good enough to start games on a regular basis and do the business. It is promising for the rest of the season and Pellegrini is managing him and the squad better than he has done all season.

It could also be argued that we have been better with Clichy in the side rather than Kolorov and anyone rather than Mangala but I don't see anyone suggesting this.

Mangala actually has the best pairing stats, with Kompany, and Ottamendi.

It is Demichelis whose stats are shocking. Anyone he plays with, he brings their average down

When we had Vinny and Mangala together we haven't conceded a single goal in the Premier League

 

[Marvin]

Unfortunately, I am not awre of a sight that publishes ball recovery stats for the whole league but I suspect that you would find that Yaya's figures compare favourably with most players, regardless of their role in a team. I do know that at Watford he made more ball recoveries than anyone else on the pitch and a West Ham, Song and Noble made 3 and 1 more respectively; whilst Delph for example, made 7 less than Yaya. Delph did exceptionally well the Saturday before though.

Anywat let's not let facts get in the way of your crusade against Yaya.

That's poor OB1. I was responding to your points.

 

[blue ranger]

Then don't make comments like Yaya cannot defend. FFS just go back to the Leicester away game and check the stats or watch a recording of the game. It is absolute flaming nonsense to say that Yaya cannot defend. There are some things he is less good at defensively and he is not a shuttle run kind of player but he is far from useless at defending when he really needs to do it. And you will probably find that he leads or is close to leading the team in ball recovery stats.

Think you are wrong. From a defending perspective Yaya is a liability which has been exposed a number of times this season. But his quality on the ball is second to none and his pass completion rates would be right up there with the best in the world. Without Yaya toure we wouldn't have 2 Championships and 2 Cups in our trophy room.

Onto yesterday I don't believe any lack of possession was down to Yaya not playing. Watching the game it appeared to me City sat deeper than usual and counter attacked at speed which was fascinating to watch.

Regarding Yaya? I think Pogba would be the ideal replacement in the summer but Yaya still has a huge part to play until the end of the season. But for me not in a midfield 2 against the better teams.

It's all about opinions though

 

[hilts]

Think you are wrong. From a defending perspective Yaya is a liability which has been exposed a number of times this season. But his quality on the ball is second to none and his pass completion rates would be right up there with the best in the world. Without Yaya toure we wouldn't have 2 Championships and 2 Cups in our trophy room.

Onto yesterday I don't believe any lack of possession was down to Yaya not playing. Watching the game it appeared to me City sat deeper than usual and counter attacked at speed which was fascinating to watch.

Regarding Yaya? I think Pogba would be the ideal replacement in the summer but Yaya still has a huge part to play until the end of the season. But for me not in a midfield 2 against the better teams.

It's all about opinions though

I think pogba is bound for Spain personally if pep can alter this I'm not sure

 

[ninjamonkey]

Cheers for that, as I say, it wasn't a slag Yaya off thread, just that I preferred this different style we have adopted in the last couple of games without him in the team. He's been amazing for us and one of my favourite players but I feel as a team we seem to set up better without him these days.

I think the majority of people that go to the games would agree with you mate. That's not a "his opinions are more valid because he goes to the match" jibe before anyone starts, it's just very easy to see Yaya's deficiencies live as they are mainly without the ball and it's not something as easily picked up on on the tv. Above anything else right now, i think the central midfield needs to be solid and energetic to allow for our attackers to play to their best. Sadly those are things Yaya doesn't give us, or at the very least, there's other players in the team that do it better than him.

In my eyes Fernando, who has been superb all season automatically should start for most away games and a few of the trickier home games with a choice of Dinho/delph or both partnering him, and at home it would predominantly be Dinho and Delph with Yaya replacing one midway through the second half

 

[yankcitizen76]

I know Yaya is getting older but he seems to have a lost a couple of steps at least going back. Sitting him is probably a good thing, but for all I know he could just be indifferent. He's talented enough to get away with it.

 

[OB1]

That's poor OB1. I was responding to your points.

I know, bloody terrible spelling but I have fixed it on the original.