Yacouba Sylla

[Clampy]

He did ok. Took a while to get into the game which was understandable but he got better as the game went on.

[MonsXI]

He did a lot of running closing down players always made himself available when we had the ball and used the ball simply. A decent performance from a player who could really grow into this team.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Obviously very nervous. But so were the rest of the team. He could be very useful in the next few games. A little bit of confidence and he might become a suprise "find". Did Viera not recommend him to Man City ?

[supertom]

He's the sort of presence we need in midfield. We look better playing 3 in mid too, more solid. It allows Westy and one of Delph or BB to play a bit more too. It's early days yet, and indeed it's only Reading, but we've got to get some presence in our team and help out the backline more. Sylla can do that.

Would he have played if Delph wasn't suspended? Probably not.

For me, we should play 4-3-3.
Though N'Zog did quite well last month in an attacking mid role. Often our system didn't look good, a bit disjointed and teams carve through our midfield too easily. As some mention, it looked like a 4-2-4 at times.

The way Delph has been playing I'd like to see him playing with Sylla and Westy. If Sylla sits, it will allow Delph more freedom to burst forward and use his pace. I want Delph attacking more and defending a bit less. He can't tackle. Lambert seems to be playing him as our defensive mid, which isn't his game. He's been our best midfielder in recent weeks certainly, but we could be getting more from the Fab. Sylla should help that happen.

[Ozzjim]

Delph in for Bannan in the system yesterday would be fine. NZogbia has to fight with Gabby and Weimann for one of the front 3 spots realistically. I thought Westwood and Sylla were excellent tackling and closing yesterday, but also thought the Robson Kanu fella found space really well between them and our back 4, to the extent if they drop I would not mind him at Villa, if we stop up of course.

[Mister E]

He's the sort of presence we need in midfield. We look better playing 3 in mid too, more solid. It allows Westy and one of Delph or BB to play a bit more too. It's early days yet, and indeed it's only Reading, but we've got to get some presence in our team and help out the backline more. Sylla can do that.

Would he have played if Delph wasn't suspended? Probably not.

For me, we should play 4-3-3.
Though N'Zog did quite well last month in an attacking mid role. Often our system didn't look good, a bit disjointed and teams carve through our midfield too easily. As some mention, it looked like a 4-2-4 at times.

The way Delph has been playing I'd like to see him playing with Sylla and Westy. If Sylla sits, it will allow Delph more freedom to burst forward and use his pace. I want Delph attacking more and defending a bit less. He can't tackle. Lambert seems to be playing him as our defensive mid, which isn't his game. He's been our best midfielder in recent weeks certainly, but we could be getting more from the Fab. Sylla should help that happen.

100% agree with this. Whislt the defence is so fragile, 4-3-3 makes sense.
Perm 3 from Westie, Sylla, Delph, Bannan and Herd and ensure that their is plenty of energy to cover the fullbacks when required.

[supertom]

It's especially key in the next 2, winnable (and must win) games that we don't revert back to a really lightweight 2 in CM. We look so flimsy like that. 3 in mid. It has to be done. We need as much presence in midfield as we can. Take as much pressure of the backline as possible. It helps in keeping the ball too and will then aid our attacking play.
We've tried the 4-2-3-1 (or 4-2-4 it often seems like). Have we scored more goals? Not really.

[citizenDJ]

It's very early to be making a definitive judgement on Sylla, but I was impressed with him yesterday, too. He does seem to have the physical attributes that we've been looking for for our midfield, and although Reading aren't the most difficult test he'll face, he did his job really well. He screened left and right in front of the defence and made some good tackles. Added to that, he didn't appear to give the ball away often, and actually seemed well aware of his limitations (as they might be) in that he frequently played a very simple pass to a team-mate.

In fact, it struck me yesterday while watching that he looked like a player who had been well coached, to be honest, to make the best of his attributes and to play a certain role very effectively.

For what it's worth, I'd be inclined to play him with Westwood and Delph at this point, although given how his presence seemed to 'free up' Westwood for his best game in a while yesterday, it will be interesting if he can do the same for El Ahmadi (who I think is struggling with the role of Defensive/Deep-Lying midfielder, but looks decent enough as standard central midfield player).

Still, as I say, too early to cast any aspersions about him, but it was a promising debut.

[maidstonevillain]

He did ok. Took a while to get into the game which was understandable but he got better as the game went on.

But that's what impressed me. As I said on the other thread, he played himself into the game sensibly. Kept it simple and tidy, did not make any mistakes, and did more and more as he got up to speed.

[Des Little]

I was impressed with him yesterday. He worked hard and didn't look out of place in the Prem - a long way to go but I think we may have ourselves a good player in the making. As others have said, I'd like to see him in there with Delph and Westwood long term. Or even Gary Gardener with any luck.

[dave.woodhall]

So far he's done two of the three things our French midfielders do - look tidy and keep it simple. All he needs to do now is vanish and he'll be another Makoun and that one O'Leary signed.

[eastie]

I was impressed with him yesterday. He worked hard and didn't look out of place in the Prem - a long way to go but I think we may have ourselves a good player in the making. As others have said, I'd like to see him in there with Delph and Westwood long term. Or even Gary Gardener with any luck.

The return of gardner will be like a new player next season and I think he will be a great asset, with Westwood and Delph finding form and gaining experience if sylla can establish himself as well it will give us several options - i think the likes of Ireland and kea will be surplus to requirements - the vital thing is we must avoid relegation and our home form will be crucial in the run in .

Hope springs eternal and the qpr game will be a huge test - win that and confidence should soar.

[Clampy]

I can't see KEA leaving just yet. It's his first season and while he has'nt set the place alight with some of his performances, some foreign players always take a while to anyway. We may see a better player next season, let's hope so anyway.

[eastie]

I can't see KEA leaving just yet. It's his first season and while he has'nt set the place alight with some of his performances, some foreign players always take a while to anyway. We may see a better player next season, let's hope so anyway.

I hope you are right clamps, the same applies to Holman although I'm not sure either are good enough to be anymore than squad players .

[Dave]

I can't see KEA leaving just yet. It's his first season and while he has'nt set the place alight with some of his performances, some foreign players always take a while to anyway. We may see a better player next season, let's hope so anyway.

I hope you are right clamps, the same applies to Holman although I'm not sure either are good enough to be anymore than squad players .

But then given the threadbare state of our squad, I wouldn't say that having some squad players is a bad thing.