FA Cup quarter finals

[Rudo]

SWP is so so **** nowadays.

[Gibbo]

SWP is so so **** nowadays.

He always has been, very very inconsistent.

[Mattshark]

His pass completion and assists rate are both pretty good, especially for a defensive midfielder.

You would expect the pass completion rate in a DM, he has 6 assists which is good, but I still don't think much of him.
He hasn't play DM exclusively though, he has played more advanced at times.

[Pablo]

The nutjob is on

[Mattshark]

He always has been, very very inconsistent.

That is because he is nothing but a pace merchant.

[Gibbo]

1-0 Richards, good header.

[Rudo]

1-0 City. M.Richards

[Gibbo]

That is because he is nothing but a pace merchant.

Also why do Citeh do this backwards jump thing?

[Red_Polo]

You would expect the pass completion rate in a DM, he has 6 assists which is good, but I still don't think much of him.
He hasn't play DM exclusively though, he has played more advanced at times.

Well, that's just it for me. He's been played in more advanced positions than he's used to yet still done well. I take the point you are more likely to have a good pass completion rate if you're only making safe passes, but 6 assist this season so far suggests he's hardly a sideways merchant. Not saying he's world class, but he's a good player with good statistics to prove it, and whilst his physical attributes are what stand out he's actually pretty decent on the ball.

[Shaggy]

I think Elokobi pips him to the post, he is a machine

He's a bit wider but he doesn't look tall to me? Yaya must be 6'5 but is built like a wardrobe too.

[Shaggy]

Also why do Citeh do this backwards jump thing?

I love it ...looks ace. They nicked it off Lech Poznan fans after playing them in the Europa League.

[dww]

I always quite liked Yaya Toure actually. Haven't seen him much for City but always thought at Barca, Monaco and even Olympiakos aside from being a 'bruiser' he had a decent touch, close control and passing. I get the impression he'd do better sat deeper and without De Jong around, that his current role expects too much creative impetus of him.

Their central midfield always seems too destructive/not creative enough to me. I guess it is an extreme form of the `control the midfield and the rest will follow' doctrine and when Silva plays well then it does seem a decent enough tactic.

I like Toure too. Agree that he works best as a more deep lying player. In fact I think the way Barcelona played him at times, allowing him to drop back as a CB to allow the full backs to bomb on, looks to me like the best fit for his abilities.

[Red_Polo]

Their central midfield always seems too destructive/not creative enough to me. I guess it is an extreme form of the `control the midfield and the rest will follow' doctrine and when Silva plays well then it does seem a decent enough tactic.

I like Toure too. Agree that he works best as a more deep lying player. In fact I think the way Barcelona played him at times, allowing him to drop back as a CB to allow the full backs to bomb on, looks to me like the best fit for his abilities.

Their centre-mid lacks balance, definitely. Granted he was the other end of the spectrum, but they haven't had a central player whose main assets were creative since Elano left.