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.