Whether it's due to a lack of effort, a lack of legs, or just that he's simply not very good at it, it is detrimental to the team when a central midfielder doesn't track runners off the back of them.
To be honest, even at his incredible peak this was a problem. I remember Didi Hamann saying Yaya was a liability and he got slaughtered for saying it. That season he scored 20 goals from midfield so the idea that he was a liability was ludicrous. Those 20 goals won us the league.
The problem is, teams have figured him out now. Teams deliberately target him, try to outnumber him in the middle and run off the back of him safe in the knowledge he's not going to track them.
His quality on the ball has never been in question. Neither has ability to score goals. He's a supremely talented footballer and against cannon fodder I think he's so good on the ball that we'll be able to get away with his short-comings off the ball. But against a decent side in a competitive game where we need to press to win the ball back, I just don't see him fitting in.
The second half against Barca as an example, is the best I've ever seen City play. The front 5 were all pressing so high, so quickly, so aggressively that we played Barca at their own game and beat them convincingly. I don't think we could have done that if Yaya had been one of those 5 players.
But against Swansea, Sunderland, Hull etc, he's so good on the ball that they won't be able to live with him.
It's great to have another option in midfield and I'm sure he'll chip in with some vital goals. But people expecting Yaya to come back in and play regularly and dominate games like he did 3 or 4 years ago, I just don't see it.
Spot onIt's a fair post that and like you say I can't see him starting against Chelsea or Arsenal for example but it is great to have him as an option and back in the squad.
He won us that match today no question.
I like to remember Yaya as the man who has been pivotal in everything we have won. Even in a poor season last season he had a good game in the league cup final.
He is experienced, can pass the ball, can keep possession and can score. He would have been a great option to bring on with 5 to go against Boro.
This will be his last season but if we can get 5/6 games like today out of him then it's big bonus for me.
Well put. Not often someone scores two goals but you categorize their allround performance as poor.
Did the haters have a little bit of sick in their throats as they cheered the goals ?
well said , made me sad at the time thinking I would never see him in a blue shirt again , now he can leave with his head held a little higher , is and will remain a legend for the clubEven if he never plays again at least he'll now have had a proper send off fit for an all time city legend
I think you will find convergence at the point of danger/ weakness, the name of the game, for Pep. If Yaya is at the the apex of the attack and the counter strikes through the middle, he cannot be there at the same time. This is why our full back, as well as Fern converge to the point of danger. Yaya also did this when in suitable position as did Sergio, KdB and everyone else.
Maybe it's you guys that should watch the game instead of trying to pick out fault for the man's first game of the season!!
ALL THE OUTFIELD PLAYERS CELEBRATED YAYA'S GOALS!!
Does that not say anything to you?? Do you think they thought he worked as well as they did or are finding fault in the manager's selection??
*smh*
Unbelievable...
I hope his goals doesn't make Pep play him too often because at the end of the day, for me, he is still a liability. For the break that led to Wickham's goal, he didn't track back. He was strolling upfield.
He's still the same old lethargic Yaya. Sure he has quality, but I can't wait for us to sell him.
I noticed that too, but he still has quality on the ball. We can use him at timesI hope his goals doesn't make Pep play him too often because at the end of the day, for me, he is still a liability. For the break that led to Wickham's goal, he didn't track back. He was strolling upfield.
He's still the same old lethargic Yaya. Sure he has quality, but I can't wait for us to sell him.
I think Pep has to take some credit here...
I hope his goals doesn't make Pep play him too often because at the end of the day, for me, he is still a liability. For the break that led to Wickham's goal, he didn't track back. He was strolling upfield.
He's still the same old lethargic Yaya. Sure he has quality, but I can't wait for us to sell him.