Surely it's not directed at Yoshida. I like him. Just that if he plays it is because he is needed as reserve centre half, not taking the place of our proper right back.
One of those games where if we'd had more options available to us, I'd have liked to have seen Mane rather than Pelle as our main man through the middle. But given our lack of options, I have no qualms with not doing this.
Sadly Maya has become the target of the Boo Boys venum...I don't know why as he has done nothing but his best and has improved year on year. Having said that, why has RK dropped last weeks MotM for Maya? Strange decision
Is Ron expecting a high ball barrage, from Sunderland? Can't think of any reason why he would leave Cedric out, other than the possibility of him being sought out by Fletcher, at the back post, much in the way SRL used to get on the shoulder of small full backs. No tackling presence in midfield.
Ron obviously prefers Maya away against strong, physical teams. Whether that's correct or not, well that's questionable. But let's give him a chance eh?
Could be without Wanyama, he is concerned that if Cedric goes forwards none of the others would cover the gap, hence picking the less attacking yoshida. Not what I'd have done, but I'm not a highly paid football manager!
As we've been so poor in the second half recently Ron has learned from Bournemouths substitutions against us and is going for a frenetic defensive first half 0-0 followed by a crushing second half 0-4!
If this was the first time that Ron had replaced Cedric with Yoshida, then this would have been exactly my thinking behind the change too. But given that it isn't the first time, I'm not so sure.
Looking at twitter Yosh is getting almost as much abuse as Lovren at Liverpool which is weird. In truth the only mistake was against Man Utd - the stray back pass - that cost us a goal. Fonte nearly made a similar mistake in the same game but of course it would be impolite to criticise that. I think some fans just like to moan and picking one player introduces a small element of consistency to their lack of football knowledge. I agree with you. Yoshida has done little wrong and has improved steadily over the last couple of seasons. Cedric is the better player at right back without a doubt but Ron has obviously spotted a risk down that side - accentuated by the fact the Wanyama is absent to provide extra cover. So Yoshida could be an inspired selection. As for JWP, he has matured (physically and intellectually this season) and quite fancies himself as the long term replacement for Morgan I think. Not like for like obviously but remember how much he learnt from Morgan. When Morgan first dropped back he said he liked playing with JWP in front of him as he did all the running for him. JWP will have undoubtedly learnt something from the master during that spell.
Should just wait and see...the opposition, enforced changes due to loss of Wanyama, he wants something that he sees in Maya that he doesn't see in Cedric, something that happened during training....who knows?
Echo reporter saying Yoshida in, because fear of Fletcher getting one to one with Cedric, at far post.
I am sometimes in dispair of our negative, whinging fans. Win or lose today, there will be a reason why Ron has picked Maya. I wouldn't have done it, but here is one small possibility: We have a midfield three of JWP, Davis and Claise; hardly strong in the air. Maybe Ron feels that we needed an extra bit of height available for set pieces and general play. Maya isn't a full back but he is also not quite as disastrous as everyone makes out. He did a good job at home to Chelsea last season with the best player in the league at that time doing him once to score. The thing is I just know that one cross from our right side will create a melt down with the NegHeads and whingers. My view: come on Maya. Ram it down their throats!!
