Not really sure what all the fuss is about Yoshida. For starters; we do not know if Cedric is fully fit. There is some sense in having some height at the back - we're facing a Big Sam team after-all. Gives us more options at set plays too - defending and attacking for that matter. We know Big Sam likes his set plays too. My only 'eye-brow raising' is no Romeu for VW. Thought that would be a 'given' but maybe saving him for later when his guaranteed yellow card will have less impact! Time to relax all and watch a vintage Saints performance
Yeah, seriously. I would have played Cedric and not sure why he was dropped. But it's not like Yoshida is completely incompetent. He's not really done much wrong at fullback except to be less of an attacking threat. People are acting like he will leak 8 goals or something.
I don't get the furore either. People may have different views, but we certainly don't know what Ron knows. He's paid to make these decisions and Yoshida isn't exactly a rabbit...we all know he can play.
and there it is - you said it. Maya is not a full back. It's all I'm complaining about. 1 decision being repeatedly made that doesn't work. Sick of being accused of hindsight so stating before the game. When we lose, you will claim that it was nothing to do with Koeman's decision. I will say blah blah blah. I'm a totally positive supporter and am always 100% behind the team. It does not mean that I am not allowed to voice a well founded opinion (that pretty much everyone including you agrees with). It is simply frustrating that we have such a great team, a brilliant manager but the team selection puts us on the wrong foot. Have just seen it too many times.
I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but for me my disappointment and annoyance at the change has absolutely nothing to do with how it will affect us defensively. In fact, if anything it might us defensively with regard to set pieces. As you say, Yoshida has done little wrong. He's a miles better defender than he was two or three years ago. For me, it is 100% about that reduced attacking threat. For me, it's a massive loss having a RB who is all about the defending. (PS Any abuse towards Yoshida is totally unwarranted. It's Ron who has chosen to play him there).
That's perfectly reasonable. And I don't disagree; like I said I would have played Cedric as well. But I think the abuse Yoshida is taking on twitter, and some posters here saying we will now lose this match simply because of this switch is a bit too much. We are in seventh, Sunderland is relegation fodder. Surely the difference between the sides does not hinge on us having Cedric at RB.
THANK YOU! It's very, very. very easy to criticise after the event. Why should we wait until then? Yes it might work, but for me all the evidence to date suggests it wont. We all know that Maya is a CB, not a RB. We all know that offensively it hasn't worked this season playing him at RB. We all (more or less) know that Maya is a perfectly competent CB.
Exactly. Past attempts to play Yoshida at RB have failed as we looked so disjointed going forward. Why should it work now?
1. Thanks for the foresight on what I'll say after the game. I am sick of people saying what I'll say before I've said it... Touché 2. Just chill. Nothing's happened yet. Ron feels he wants Maya playing, for whatever reason. I'll add to my "Maya is not a full back" by saying I think he can play there. I have no issue if Ron is worried by a lack of height. 3. What can you do about it? Nothing. Just enjoy the game and fingers crossed we get a good result. 4. You are perfectly entitled to an opinion. I haven't quoted you or mentioned you. No need to be feeling guilty
Because it's a silly notion in the first place. Yoshida is a right back, not a #10. How many teams have offenses that hinge on their right back? If we look disjointed going forward it's on the midfielders/wingers.
My final comment on our RB today. If we think playing the wrong RB is destructive to our team, we are not as good as we think. Now, in at a hockey match. Has Maya scored yet?
