Oh come on. I get the anti-Maya lobby but that's just ridiculous. He joined the club mid week and came on when we were 4-1 down.
Wenger on Puel: “Puel was well known in training to be a good tackler. “Even on the morning of a Cup final he could tackle and even if it was the manager then no problem!” Wenger also insisted that Puel will be a big hit on the South Coast, adding: “He was a fighter as a player and he will be a fighter as a manager. “We had great experiences together, and great years together, so I believe that he will be successful at Southampton.”
If you reread my post you'll find that I'm agreeing with you. I said that Clyne looked far worse than Maya (so I can't see why Maya got any stick) - though Maya was definitely on the pitch for their freekick that took it to 2-0 if you look at those highlights. The only mistake I could see by Maya was one where he lunged the wrong way for their third goal whereas Nathan scored an own goal and ballsed up for another goal but apparently was let off. You'll find few people more pro-Maya than I am. Once he's match fit (normally his second game on the bounce), I genuinely think he's as good at CB as anyone in the league. He's also blessed with a magnificently professional attitude. I don't get the anti-Maya lobby at all. Vin
I agree about Maya always been a fan and like you say a great professional too. Doubt we'd we get anyone better happy to be back up at a club our size.
The thing about Maya is, if he cut out the one lapse he's prone to each time he part takes, he'd actually be a very bloody useful 1st-teamer. Like him, quality back up.....and loyal as a puppy!
The thing about that, is as CBK and some others (sorry can't remember who!) pointed out recently, how many lapses does Fonte make and get away with almost every game? Mayas tend to come in his first game too, once he has 2 or 3 in a row under his belt he's pretty solid imo.
Fair enough. It's just the way I read your post although you did say 'as much to blame as....' Seems we agree. Maya is a good servant and does not deserve the stick he gets. There aren't many players who come into and out of the side and maintain such a solid consistent level. I get the anti Maya lobby but don't subscribe.
You're not kidding. Always positive, never complains, has stayed with us with no comment about being on the bench, no agent agitations. Great guy. I genuinely feel that with a long run in the first team (he does take a game or two to get up to speed) he'd give José a decent run for his money. I think a lot of people who dislike him forget that most times they see him it might be a couple of months since his last competitive game and they fail to allow for it. Then again, my contempt for many of the people in the Northam is such that I believe they've just decided they hate him so that's that and nothing he ever does will be acceptable. Vin
Maya's not bad, but he does need to have the right things happening around him. If the overall defense is solid, he will be excellent. If things are more open, he makes some pretty poor decisions. That's true to some extent for all defenders, but he seems to explore the extremes more than most.
I feel his errors tend to be under moderate pressure. He makes occasional bad decisions, ie a backpass, which I think reflects the fact that he isn't put under pressure week on week. I actually feel if he had to have a long run in the team he wouldn't do too badly. But yes the defence around him must be performing.
Yoshida is great for Japan too. He always scores! When he scored a brace I had to go and check if there was another player in their ranks with the same name.
I'm not. I'm expecting us to get thumped so if we get anything today it will be a completely unexpected bonus.
