Yates

[sainthelens]

I do feel for Yates, he has played in a front 2 his whole career. Thing is we havent been playing to his strengths and unless we do we would never get a tune out of him, as a result right now his confidence is shot and comparing that to a similar chance he had at the start of the season in preseason which he put away you can see that.

Our formation has always thrived with a Jason Scotland or a Wilfried Bony who can hold up the play and then release others while also knowing how to finish off the one chance that might come their way in the game. We look like we have that in Kukharevych and I desperately hope he sees some game time when he gets back from injury.

Yannick seems to like crossing the ball, having a fit kukorvich could be a decent weapon. Cos Yates looks like he couldn't jump outa bed.

 

[Swansea93]

When he plays it’s like having 10 men on the pitch.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

Serious question though. What are his strengths?

He has just been promoted to a level that is beyond his ability.

That’s all.

Happens with loads of players all the time. And he seems to be a likeable and honest player in terms of his application. He’s just not good enough in this division.

Personally I would think that the people we employ to watch players in lower divisions should be able to tell more accurately whether or not they will be able to step up, but I see no evidence whatsoever that we employ anyone with the ability to do that.

Still, if we carry on as we are, he may find his level again next season.

 

[sainthelens]

He has just been promoted to a level that is beyond his ability.

That’s all.

Happens with loads of players all the time. And he seems to be a likeable and honest player in terms of his application. He’s just not good enough in this division.

Personally I would think that the people we employ to watch players in lower divisions should be able to tell more accurately whether or not they will be able to step up, but I see no evidence whatsoever that we employ anyone with the ability to do that.

Still, if we carry on as we are, he may find his level again next season.

Agree with almost all that. What may save him is that Yannick seems dead keen on crossing it rather than us constantly checking up. Yates severely lacks a sprint so getting on the end of stuff coming in is the only saving grace I got for him.

 

[Niigata Jack]

Agree with almost all that. What may save him is that Yannick seems dead keen on crossing it rather than us constantly checking up. Yates severely lacks a sprint so getting on the end of stuff coming in is the only saving grace I got for him.

He can't jump and he certainly doesn't have the strength to beat off championship defenders, in fact I'm struggling to work out what he can do, he shit his pants on that one v one yesterday.

He probably loves his wife and is kind to animals though.

 

[A4Jack]

I know Yates looks pretty dreadful at the moment but it's no coincidence that he's consistently scored double figures at this level.

Especially in a relegated team last season. You don't become shit overnight. Perhaps it's the system? And his confidence being in bits

 

[Nocountryforoldjack]

I know Yates looks pretty dreadful at the moment but it's no coincidence that he's consistently scored double figures at this level.

Especially in a relegated team last season. You don't become s**t overnight. Perhaps it's the system? And his confidence being in bits

His confidence is totally shot, you could see that on his face Saturday. He's really struggling at the moment.

 

[A4Jack]

His confidence is totally shot, you could see that on his face Saturday. He's really struggling at the moment.

It can't be fun for him. Blackpool generally known for creating chances and he was loved there. And now? Barely any ball and expected to bang goals in from 25 yards like Piroe

 

[bakajack]

He can't jump and he certainly doesn't have the strength to beat off championship defenders, in fact I'm struggling to work out what he can do, he s**t his pants on that one v one yesterday.

He probably loves his wife and is kind to animals though.

At the start of the season when his confidence was high he was running the channels and was a nightmare for defenders consistently battling for and winning balls he had no right to, he was also following in shots and sniffing for chances. There's only so much though that a player that is ill suited to the football we are trying to play can keep those spirits up for, Duff's insistence on playing him alone up top with balls dropped onto him from orbit was never going to see us getting the best out of him.

As I said many times before he has never been a lone man up top kind of player, he likes to play on the shoulder with a second striker who DOES thrive on the aerial battles. Right now the closest fit we have to that in the club (and admittedly from the little time he has seen on the pitch he does look like a very good fit for that role) is Kukharevych.

 

[jasper_T]

I know Yates looks pretty dreadful at the moment but it's no coincidence that he's consistently scored double figures at this level.

He's only scored double figures at this level once.

 

[Niigata Jack]

At the start of the season when his confidence was high he was running the channels and was a nightmare for defenders consistently battling for and winning balls he had no right to, he was also following in shots and sniffing for chances. There's only so much though that a player that is ill suited to the football we are trying to play can keep those spirits up for, Duff's insistence on playing him alone up top with balls dropped onto him from orbit was never going to see us getting the best out of him.

As I said many times before he has never been a lone man up top kind of player, he likes to play on the shoulder with a second striker who DOES thrive on the aerial battles. Right now the closest fit we have to that in the club (and admittedly from the little time he has seen on the pitch he does look like a very good fit for that role) is Kukharevych.

If Duff goes down the root of two up top, it would be Bolasie and Lowe for me with Pato behind or out on the wing putting balls in one side and Key the other side.

People are putting to much expectation on Kukharevych in my opinion, he's still young and raw.

 

[SwansInTheLake]

If Duff goes down the root of two up top, it would be Bolasie and Lowe for me with Pato behind or out on the wing putting balls in one side and Key the other side.

People are putting to much expectation on Kukharevych in my opinion, he's still young and raw.

How are people expecting us to play 2 up top? Not knocking it, genuinely curious. Do we go back to 3 at the back? Play 442 (midfield is too light imo) or play a more narrow diamond midfield and sacrifice width?

 

[A4Jack]

He's only scored double figures at this level once.

Fair enough but 8 in his first season and 20 the one before in League One. It's not bad.

 

[bakajack]

How are people expecting us to play 2 up top? Not knocking it, genuinely curious. Do we go back to 3 at the back? Play 442 (midfield is too light imo) or play a more narrow diamond midfield and sacrifice width?

Our style of play is very difficult to play with a 4-4-2 formation, two up top would be feasible with a 3-5-2 but we have seen previously that our current back line is ill suited to the formation.

Trying my best not to hype up Kukharevych especially since we have only seen glimpses of him and he is returning from injury but of all the forwards at the club he seems the best fit for the lone striker up front role.

 

[jasper_T]

Fair enough but 8 in his first season and 20 the one before in League One. It's not bad.

Very streaky last season as well. Scored 7 in just 5 games last October playing off the wing rather than up front, and 5 in the last 6 games of the season 3 of which were penalties. Only 2 goals otherwise, so some long barren spells. The previous season another 3 of his 8 were penalties. Started half their games and came on in most of the others, 5 from open play in a side that finished just 1 point and 1 place behind us isn't much to get excited about. Ntcham had 4 from midfield that season playing fewer minutes.

Goals aren't everything but if all you supposedly provide is goals then his past numbers aren't encouraging.