yaya...

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

In my opinion the most fluent football we've played this season were the opening 15 against the Rags and the first half against Newcastle. Yaya and Nasri played in both.

You might well be right but just when Nasri looks as if he might finally get his act together he goes and acts the dickhead.
Instead of mouthing off to Gooner fans at the cameras, he needs to show them what they're missing in the proper way

[Mase]

Instead of mouthing off to Gooner fans at the cameras, he needs to show them what they're missing in the proper way

When was that?

[TheReturnOfTheSpecialOne]

Instead of mouthing off to Gooner fans at the cameras, he needs to show them what they're missing in the proper way

When was that?

Immediately after the title-winning game

[Mase]

Immediately after the title-winning game

Eh? I think when you've been verbally abused by Arsenal fans for a year you'd be well entitled to celebrate winning the league by shoving it down their throats!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Lovely isn't it that a thread sort of suggesting Yaya isn't all that and we play better without him goes on to tell us that Nasri is rubbish as well and Milner was crap yesterday....I think the whole team is garbage and should be given free transfers.

Great things opinions and forums like this.

[zuricity]

Lovely isn't it that a thread sort of suggesting Yaya isn't all that and we play better without him goes on to tell us that Nasri is rubbish as well and Milner was crap yesterday....I think the whole team is garbage and should be given free transfers.

Great things opinions and forums like this.

Stiff upper lip Douglas.... stiff upper lip

[Dameerto]

We keep or regain the ball better with Milner rather than Nasri in the team (with a much better chance of getting the ball back in the opponent's half) - add a few players coming into their best form of the season, plus Zabba's continued benchmark game-for-game performances and basically it's coincidence it's happened without Yaya (it was already starting to happen with him in the side anyway).

[blues2win]

As Ted rightly said Milner had a mixed match yesterday. I remember one splendid covering tackle on the left latish in the game. Defensively he was good and covered acres of ground as usual. His final balls were pretty shite though.

[Swales4ever]

Lovely isn't it that a thread sort of suggesting Yaya isn't all that and we play better without him goes on to tell us that Nasri is rubbish as well and Milner was crap yesterday....I think the whole team is garbage and should be given free transfers.

Great things opinions and forums like this.

Stiff upper lip Douglas.... stiff upper lip

+1
cheers to both, Gentlemen.

[dazby]

The only difference I can see is that we aren't reliant on one player to create the play. When Yaya plays EVERYTHING goes through him, and he's got the passing stats to prove it. Now that he's gone it seems that everyone else is picking up the slack with no one player being the focal point. Perhaps on occasion this is allowing us to get the ball forward faster but I don't think we are playing better or worse without him.

[aaron bond]

Lovely isn't it that a thread sort of suggesting Yaya isn't all that and we play better without him goes on to tell us that Nasri is rubbish as well and Milner was crap yesterday....I think the whole team is garbage and should be given free transfers.

Great things opinions and forums like this.

So are we just supposed to all smile and say everyone is brilliant?

- Yaya has shown himself to be both brilliant and completely anonymous in games, and his inconsistency is frustrating
- Nasri generally hasn't played well for us since joining, apart from the odd game here and there where he has shown great ability
- Milner wasn't great yesterday, but generally has been excellent this season

What is wrong with saying that? It doesn't mean we want to get rid of the players, but there is nothing wrong with debating a player's flaws. If someone is playing well, then obviously we will point that out. Equally, we are allowed to comment when we believe a player underperforms.

[Wonderwall]

I just want to know why yaya is unmovable from our team, he's had some great games, but some right shitters too but never gets subbed.
I think we have looked better also without him in the team.
I bet he walks back in the team, he should be sub when he comes back.

Purely for his defensive cover at set pieces, this is why Dzeko played the whole game against stoke. We couldn't afford to lose that physical presence and height when defending set pieces.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Lovely isn't it that a thread sort of suggesting Yaya isn't all that and we play better without him goes on to tell us that Nasri is rubbish as well and Milner was crap yesterday....I think the whole team is garbage and should be given free transfers.

Great things opinions and forums like this.

So are we just supposed to all smile and say everyone is brilliant?

- Yaya has shown himself to be both brilliant and completely anonymous in games, and his inconsistency is frustrating
- Nasri generally hasn't played well for us since joining, apart from the odd game here and there where he has shown great ability
- Milner wasn't great yesterday, but generally has been excellent this season

What is wrong with saying that? It doesn't mean we want to get rid of the players, but there is nothing wrong with debating a player's flaws. If someone is playing well, then obviously we will point that out. Equally, we are allowed to comment when we believe a player underperforms.

Nothing wrong with opinions of course if you think someone is crap and/or had a crap game no problems at all.Just made me laugh that a thread on Yaya started to turn into a free for all against other players as well.

For me Yaya is a world class player who sometimes doesn't always play to his best but the latter part you could say about 100% of all players.Never have I seen him completely anonymous.He is the focal point of our midfield when he plays and even when he doesn't have his best game because he is always available and has a great touch and awareness.I think it showed massively in the fUlham game where they had so much of the ball that we missed Yaya's dominance of the middle.

Good to hear you didn't say Milner was crap on Saturday but "wasn't great" I thought he was great at his team and defensive role but on the day his attacking work was far from his best.Nasri was playing much better when he got injured and then suspended so it's a shame that happened but I think Mancini sees him as an integral part of his best team. A little inconsistent maybe if you expect him to score and have assists all the time but he moves well with good control and retains possession well which is what Mancini is looking for.

[john68]

Just picking up on the point regarding Yaya, everything going through him and his emphasis on ball retention, even if that means the ball goes sideways or backwards.

I don't watch much Spanish football but it was pointed to me out that this season; though Guardiola's mantra of keeping the ball remains intact, Vilanova has changed the emphasis at moving the ball forward much more, making them even more dangerous.

Can anyone confirm this?...and is a change of emphasis the next step forward for City?

[Swales4ever]

Just picking up on the point regarding Yaya, everything going through him and his emphasis on ball retention, even if that means the ball goes sideways or backwards.

I don't watch much Spanish football but it was pointed to me out that this season; though Guardiola's mantra of keeping the ball remains intact, Vilanova has changed the emphasis at moving the ball forward much more, making them even more dangerous.

Can anyone confirm this?...and is a change of emphasis the next step forward for City?

that's an interesting one.
Unfortunately I don't fancy much Spanish games of late, but in case, I can only guess that Vilanova has hired Ted.

As per Yaya and midfielders in general, I honestly can't think of anything, not even a comma, to be added to the last, perfect assessment by DH.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Just picking up on the point regarding Yaya, everything going through him and his emphasis on ball retention, even if that means the ball goes sideways or backwards.

I don't watch much Spanish football but it was pointed to me out that this season; though Guardiola's mantra of keeping the ball remains intact, Vilanova has changed the emphasis at moving the ball forward much more, making them even more dangerous.

Can anyone confirm this?...and is a change of emphasis the next step forward for City?

I try and watch all the Barca games and can't say I can see anything different although like you , I have heard a few saying they are seeking to get the ball forward quicker and even a few more long balls thrown in.

[john68]

Cheers Doug,
Appreciate it if you could keep an eyelid or two on this and let us know....Ta.
I enjoy the pass and move possession game and when we do it quickly and accurately, it is a joy to watch.
My one criticism of Yaya is his emphasis on possession at all costs, regardless of direction,which can slow us down and make our game seem a little too contrived.
Maybe him being at the ACON has allowed us a more positive approach.

Just a thought.

[Tokyo Blue]

I just want to know why yaya is unmovable from our team, he's had some great games, but some right shitters too but never gets subbed.
I think we have looked better also without him in the team.
I bet he walks back in the team, he should be sub when he comes back.

Purely for his defensive cover at set pieces, this is why Dzeko played the whole game against stoke. We couldn't afford to lose that physical presence and height when defending set pieces.

There have been serious problems with his marking at set pieces this season. Ajax springs to mind.

[Ted Hughes]

I just want to know why yaya is unmovable from our team, he's had some great games, but some right shitters too but never gets subbed.
I think we have looked better also without him in the team.
I bet he walks back in the team, he should be sub when he comes back.

Purely for his defensive cover at set pieces, this is why Dzeko played the whole game against stoke. We couldn't afford to lose that physical presence and height when defending set pieces.

There have been serious problems with his marking at set pieces this season. Ajax springs to mind.

Garcia defends set pieces, Yaya doesn't.

With Mario gone, Yaya could be 4th striker on occasions.