Yanga-Mbiwa called up by France

Not good enough for Pardew

but good enough to play for Roma in the Champions League, and to get an international call up with the French team

FFS

Then again, this is the man who benched Tevez and Maschereno....

 

Not this again.

MYM admitted himself that he wasn't suited to the physicality of the Premier League, so it's no surprise he's doing well in a less physical league.

Good on him for his call up though

 

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

Fair play to MYM.
Apparently a lovely fella but sadly Pardewed on these shores.

 

Remy Cabella is another one who looks like he's well out of his element in the Premier League, Graham Carr knows a good technical player when he sees one but knows fiddle all about the difference between Ligue 1 and the Premier League. I think we need to ask the manager (not Alan) to seek his own players from now or just continue to waste the little money we do spend.

 

NO just couldn't hack it in a more physical league, Italian football is just so dull now.

 

He has played six games mate. Maybe give him a little bit longer before judging him?

 

I don't buy this physicality thing, he was excellent against Man City the other night.

 

It is a myth being perpetuated with every game despite his own admission. I don't think it was just the physicality which he struggled with, I think it was the pace of the game here too. The languid pace of the italian league affords him a lot more time. Whether he could have adpated over time is debateable but maybe. The only problem is his comments since leaving suggest he had no real desire to. Every league is not for every player. Good for him that he has found a league which has allowed him to show his best form. Its good he has got the back up call for Kocielny. Personally I wish him well but I doubt we'll ever see him back playing in England for us or anyone else.

 

Did you watch that game? He just wasn't. Roma played well as a team. Set up well by a good manager but MYM looked like the one who was going to let them in all night.

He really struggled for us. The pace in Italy simply suits him better. International football is also more measured. He is technically good I think but found the constant intensity in the english game hard to deal with.

 

Yeah, at least BRS gave Shola the opportunity of 25 seasons of being ****e before really hating him!

 

Couldn't agree more, I've listened to all the crap about how good he was but I thought he looked a complete liability.

Whilst the slower pace of Italian may suit him (mask his shortcomings) I think he's very poor and can't see what we saw in him.

 

Agree. I think you're right about it being an issue of both pace and physicality.

I recall watching the YouTube clips (like you do ) when it was announced he was joining us. He looked classy, comfortable on the ball and great at bringing the ball out of defence to set up play, or even go on and score himself (reminded me a bit of Alan Hansen in the 80s).

Looking again, nobody was challenging him, no closing down, no tough tackles and he simply walked up the pitch taking on the odd player now and then. The Premier League is completely different. Not necessarily better, but certainly different. Almost like a classy rugby union player being expected to do really well by switching codes to rugby league and just getting pummelled each week.

 

I thought he did ok against Man City. However he was lucky to be on the pitch at the end as he hacked down Aguero multiple times. He was always on the cusp of getting caught out. He did get away with it that night and made some good tackles, over the course of a season here playing like that though he'd cost you goals. Its what Saylor does. I actually think moving abroad would be a great move for Saylor. He gets way too emotional and rushes around like an idiot. If the game slowed down for him I think he'd do well. MYM looked good in the Serie A game I watched him tough.

I remember watching MYM against Arsenal in the CL. They were linked at the time. Arsenal were putting them under pressure high up the pitch. He was absolutely awful. Wenger dropped his interest after that. Rugby is a good example. its like the difference being referreed by a southern hemisphere official to a northern hemisphere official. There is a just a difference in what is seen as foul play and it massively impacts on the game. In football, the pace, physicality and intensity of the PL is a culture shock for foreign players. Some adapt, some don't.

 

He really hardly put a foot wrong...and that's at the very top level of football

 

He was praised by people in football. He's been impressive since going to Roma, regardless of what football snobs think of the standard.

 

I have to say I think it was/is too early to write off MYM for British football.

Firstly, he has talent and is comfortable on the ball. Secondly, he hadn't been played a lot last year and quite often out of his preferred position.

He needed game time in his correct position to see if he would adjust to the quicker tempo here and the more physical nature of the game here.

I'm not saying he would have but he could have as he did appear to have the ability which is being shown in Italy. Yes Italian football is different to English football but he has shown he is capable of playing football at the top level there and clearly has the talent. What we haven't been able to find out is whether he would have had the ability and drive to show that talent at the top level here.

Unless he comes back to England in the future we will never know.

 

I watched the whole of CL game against Man City and Mbiwa hardly put a foot wrong. He was obviously told to disrupt the opposition forward's, get the boot occasionally and he did his job well imo.

On another note one joker of a fan has just suggested Joe Allen on totalsport for January. I want the drugs this man has been gorging on.

 

Obviously Serie A is not what it once was (mainly due to money), however I think it is wrong to suggest its a poor standard. Its still one of the top divisions. Its fallen behind the La Liga, PL and Bundesliga for sure, but its still a good standard of football. I don't think you can knock Mbiwa, he has gone in and done well. I think the football and pace of it suits his game. Certainly better than it did here. Over time he may have come to terms with the PL. Obviously it is difficult at centre back when they don't adapt immediately. Its tends to cost you goals and games, hence we used him a lot in his secondary role (one which he also knows well despite what some would have you believe). I think Pardew had a difficult juggling act with him. You can't just keep playing him and watch him struggle, but you also have to find ways of getting him on the pitch to adapt.

All in all I'm not convinced he ever would have found his way. However I'd probably have ignored his wishes and kept him around this season because we are short on numbers/quality there. Ideally though we'd have sold him and Saylor. Then bought two centre halfs who knew the game here and could do the job. Sadly we're run by a bunch of ****wits.

 

Going to have to agree to disagree on this one. DMW alluded to it earlier. Its all too late. Taylor is a classic example. I don't like Phil Jones at CB for the same reason either. Its an inability to read the game higher up the pitch. For me a quality CB display is one of the best things to watch in football, when its just effortless. They see everything coming miles off and no one is getting past...end of.