Yacouba Sylla

[old man villa fan]

His performances in the second half of the season before last were instrumental in us staying up. I don't know why he fell away last season but I'll always be grateful for what he did when he did.

I put it down to a change in formation and players last season.  4-3-3 suited him far better but bringing in Bacuna and KEA last season altered the way we played too much for him, to the point he looked completely lost.  His ball control is not the best but he can play a fast 'pass and go' type of game.  Last season we were slow and laboured in moving the ball around.

[Pete3206]

Lambert brought him on and played him in wide positions in some games. He seemed to be operating on the left side against Newcastle for some reason.

[villasjf]

Nothing on the OS Beeb or Sky?

[olaftab]

Sylla will join Turkish outfit Kayseri Erciyesspor on loan for the coming season.

Good. Let's see how he develops. Hopefully in the right direction and then can come back here next season.

[Steve R]

How long was his original contract? Maybe going out on loan is merely a way of covering some of his costs until he pisses off into the blue yonder. Either way I doubt he's going out on loan to come back a better player.

It is a great shame, it seemed like we had unearthed a good player from nowhere. I doubt if he even got chance to continue the good work last season. I have read a couple of times that he enjoyed the recreational side of being a professional footballer, maybe that is why he found himself out in the cold and wasn't overly desperate to bust a gut and get back in the fold.

[N'ZMAV]

Sylla had the chance to really make himself a first team regular. No-one else at the club could play that defensive role, well... Herd could if his head was right. He had no real competition.... maybe that didn't help him?

[charleeco7]

He's posted a picture of himself having medical on his twitter feed. Along with this:
 @ Malifootball: Yacouba Sylla joined this season Erciyesspor Kayseri (Turkey) on loan. Good luck to him 91_yacou @ @ TMahamet http://t.co/oQAUnqkuli

Last we will see of him I suspect.

[brian green]

Adieu Yacouba.  Bon chance. If you need any advice on survival in Turkey listen to Darius's radio interviews on his time out there. Simultaneously funny and frightening.

[David_Nab]

http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2014/in-depth-interview-yacouba-sylla/

In Depth Interview: Yacouba Sylla
Get French Football News exclusively spoke with Aston Villa defensive midfielder Yacouba Sylla regarding his recent loan move to Turkish outfit Kayseri Erciyesspor.

 

What have you learnt from last season with Aston Villa?

First of all, I want to point out that I have not left permanently. I learnt a lot of things in six months in my first year. The club allowed me to enter into a new dynamic. We succeeded in remaining in the Premier League. That for me was an experience. Then, in my second season, it was a bit of a dark season for me, because I did not play a lot. I only keep the good moments with me even though I have come across certain difficulties. I only have good things to say about my time in Birmingham with Aston Villa.

Why did you choose this Turkish side to go on loan to?

I am not going to lie to you, Kayseri Erciyesspor was one of the only clubs to make an offer of the sides that were interested. It was the only club that was able to bring me in, because it was the only side that made a formal offer. Today, I am 23 years old and I want to participate in the African Cup of Nations (for Mali). Signing here gave me the certainty of game time and it does not bring that problem from Aston Villa here with me in that regard.

Is it possible that you will perhaps stay there after your loan?

At the moment, the principle aim is to get game time, and to start to feel those sensations of playing regularly again. I have a contract with Aston Villa and I will do everything to stay there and continue to play at the top level. We will see at the end of the year (season).

Was the decision to leave Aston Villa a personal one of one made by the club?

It was a personal choice. I have been thinking about it since last year: since December 2013, I wanted to leave on loan. It was not possible because the club and the manager needed me. We have spoken about it since last year and we agreed in a way that it would be possible to leave this season.

Are you annoyed at Aston Villa, considering your current situation at the time of writing?

No I have no bad feelings personally. I have always been serious and a hard worker. I respect the coach’s decisions. That is how it is. In football nothing is certain, we do not always get what we want. I must continue to persevere and work. I am not annoyed at all with them (Aston Villa). It is thanks to them that I was able to make myself known, it is they who took my from Clermont. One must adapt in order to attain and arrive at the very highest level.

What are your aims for the coming season?

Play as many games as possible, play in AFCON, find that feeling of playing regularly and to enjoy myself above all.

[pauliewalnuts]

Why did you choose this Turkish side to go on loan to?

I am not going to lie to you, Kayseri Erciyesspor was one of the only clubs to make an offer of the sides that were interested.

Well, I guess that's frank enough!

[KevinGage]

Reminds me of the Richard Dunne interview soon after he arrived at the Villa (with a face like a smacked arse).

Interviewer: Richard, why did you leave Manchester City?

Dunne:  Because they sold me

[frank black]

No Bull there just honesty. Refreshing

[mr underhill]

very refreshing in a coded 'I'm shit, the club's shit, so it's a perfect match' kind of way.

[Dave]

Being discussed in the transfer thread already, but as it's official:

Aston Villa midfielder Yacouba Sylla has joined French side Rennes on a four-year contract.

The 24-year-old's move to the Ligue 1 club ends his two-and-a-half year stay at Villa Park.

The Mali international joined Villa from Clermont Foot for £2m in January 2013 but made only 12 Premier League starts and spent last season on loan at Turkish club Kayseri Erciyesspor.

Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann have also left Villa this summer.

[KRS]

Good riddance. Cya.