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It might have been too much of a risk to start him in central midfield today, given his lack of game-time recently, but surely, given that that was where he made his name with Villa last season, that was where he should have been played when he was brought on
Which should have been to replace Ya Ya.

I don't know whether Mancini doesn't trust English players to provide flair and creativity at the hub of his team; the fact that he had the ageing Vieira partnering a Ya Ya who has major stamina issues perhaps would tend to suggest he does.
I missed the first half but Milner for me showed more drive and purpose, even from his marginalised position on the right wing, than 'Crazy Horse' Ya Ya ever looked likely to do for the entire second half.

In Silva's continuing absence for the Villa game I'd start Milner in the middle instead of Ya Ya; and perhaps have SWP as an option on the wing.
But we were totally lacking in midfield drive and invention today, and Ya Ya, if nothing else, looks like he badly needs a rest.

Milner and Barry should play in the game against these wanky teams who battle and wind us up.

Yaya and Balo etc, should be used most in the games against the top clubs and in europe too. I think we need to develop a battling midfield for the shitty cunt Fulham and Wigan teams, and a skillful midfield against the better teams and in European games too. I thought Mancini was actually doing that earlier in the season tbh.

I would just like our midfield to commit to attack more.To get alongside and past the striker making runs that stretch the opposition defence.Instead we seem to have 3 up front who are largely expected to do it on their own and the midfield sit there passing the ball around.Is that what Mancini wants them to do or would he be happy if they regularly took chances and got into the box to try to make things happen.Personally I would definitely have had Milner in there.I can understand a reluctance as he is just coming back from an injury but then get SWP on and tell him to attack

I doubt gives them that sort of licence as he doesnt trust the defence to look after themselves without the midfield cover of 2 or 3 players.

Milner is a good player and needs to be put in the middle to partner De-Jong when fit.

Barry and Toure are to slow.

It will not happen though because Mancini has paid a kings ransom for a player with a turning circle of a supertanker!

failsworthblue wrote:Milner is a good player and needs to be put in the middle to partner De-Jong when fit.

Barry and Toure are to slow.

It will not happen though because Mancini has paid a kings ransom for a player with a turning circle of a supertanker!

Are you suggesting Mancini will play the players he paid most for just because of the transfer fees and irrespective of the needs of the team?

yaya toure wtf is going on there he has been shite for ages now yet continues to start every game. how did this guy play for barcelona seriously his passing is atrocious. james milner EVERY time atm. has a better all round game and understanding of england than the cumbersome yaya.

Crossie wrote:Milner and Barry should play in the game against these wanky teams who battle and wind us up.

Yaya and Balo etc, should be used most in the games against the top clubs and in europe too. I think we need to develop a battling midfield for the shitty cunt Fulham and Wigan teams, and a skillful midfield against the better teams and in European games too. I thought Mancini was actually doing that earlier in the season tbh.

How many times do we need to see Ya Ya doubling over from being out of breath by the time he reaches the opposition penalty area, for Manc and his backroom team realise he's got a serious stamina problem which needs to be addressed.

Or at least we have to stop him performing these 'crazy horse'-style runs

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

failsworthblue wrote:Milner is a good player and needs to be put in the middle to partner De-Jong when fit.

Barry and Toure are to slow.

It will not happen though because Mancini has paid a kings ransom for a player with a turning circle of a supertanker!

Are you suggesting Mancini will play the players he paid most for just because of the transfer fees and irrespective of the needs of the team?

No it is not just about the fee.

Mancini wanted Yaya at any cost and that means our owners have had to pay probably the second highest wages in Prem history so he has to play because he is Mancini,s choice.
Looking more and more like a bad one imo.

failsworthblue wrote:

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

failsworthblue wrote:Milner is a good player and needs to be put in the middle to partner De-Jong when fit.

Barry and Toure are to slow.

It will not happen though because Mancini has paid a kings ransom for a player with a turning circle of a supertanker!

Are you suggesting Mancini will play the players he paid most for just because of the transfer fees and irrespective of the needs of the team?

No it is not just about the fee.

Mancini wanted Yaya at any cost and that means our owners have had to pay probably the second highest wages in Prem history so he has to play because he is Mancini,s choice.
Looking more and more like a bad one imo.

Hang on.So you are actually saying he is playing players just because he got them in irrespective of the needs of the team. ( the fee is sort of irrelevant even though it amounts to the same thing.)

I don't see why people think replacing Yaya with Milner would improve us.For me Yaya has been one of our best players and when David is back I think the relationship the two have together and their ability to find each other keeping us in dangerous posession is fantastic.
With Barry and Milner behind them I think we are more of a threat than when Nigel plays.There's no way I would drop Yaya for Milner.

The Original Special One wrote:

Crossie wrote:Milner and Barry should play in the game against these wanky teams who battle and wind us up.

Yaya and Balo etc, should be used most in the games against the top clubs and in europe too. I think we need to develop a battling midfield for the shitty cunt Fulham and Wigan teams, and a skillful midfield against the better teams and in European games too. I thought Mancini was actually doing that earlier in the season tbh.

How many times do we need to see Ya Ya doubling over from being out of breath by the time he reaches the opposition penalty area, for Manc and his backroom team realise he's got a serious stamina problem which needs to be addressed.

Or at least we have to stop him performing these 'crazy horse'-style runs

I think Yaya has played best when used in an attacking role & that we would have been a better balanced team with him playing in place of either Dzeko or Balotelli. He's a key figure in our best counter attacking moves when he plays there & it allows him to take a bit of a breather between runs.

I agree that he has a stamina problem & imo that currently precludes him from being the same quality player, in the same role, that he was at Barca. It's harder work playing in the Prem, as Barca would find if they had to do it every week. If he can improve his fitness levels then we may see a different player next season but currently he's only good for 1 game per week, working at his own pace. Milner may well have played there anyway but isn't he only borderline fit?

I would play Milner on Wednesday in the centre because I think Yaya needs a game off, not because I'm full of hope that Milner will be an improvement. Yaya is far better technically but as Ted says he can't do it twice a week, for whatever reason. Milner's best game was at Notts County in the centre but when he has played there he hasn't always shined. By the way I thought SWP was barely fit so he must be doubtful as a starter, I would have thought.