Yacouba Sylla

[eastie]

First half- Isaiah Osbourne.
Second half- Nigel Reo Coker and Patrick Viera's baby (somewhere in the middle of them).

Heading in the right direction.
No seriously. His movement and use of the ball in the first wasn't great. His tackling and energy was good but he seemed nervy in possession.

However, 2nd half he gained in confidence and rarely wasted it. Made some nice runs too. I hope he keeps it up.

How harsh? Nobody is that bad!

I thought he was decent in the first half and outstanding in the second half - ive been impressed with him so far .

[Concrete John]

He's improved as he's had more time with the coaches, his team mates and minutes on the pitch.  Exactly what you'd expect from a young player coming to England for the first time.

And that's what makes him and our other young players so exciting - who knows how good they will be? 

[Jon Crofts]

First half I thought he was a poor mans Reo-Coker, he flattered to decieve, looked a yard off the pace at times & every ball was backward.  Can't fault his second half performance I thought he was outstanding.

[Chris Smith]

I like him, he's a proper footballer. Does the simple things well, doesn't try to over complicate it; wins tackles, plays the way he's facing and is always moving.

[UK Redsox]

After twenty minutes, I was asking people around me what the point of Sylla was and bemoaning the absence of Herd.

Second half he was superb

[PaulWinch again]

Sylla is a much better option than Herd.

[saunders_heroes]

After twenty minutes, I was asking people around me what the point of Sylla was and bemoaning the absence of Herd.

Second half he was superb

Same here. He frustrates me because most times he gets the ball he turns his back to goal and passes sideways or backwards. Second half though he was immense. Broke up Sunderland's attacks and kept hold of the ball. Great stuff!

[Lastfootstamper]

Fantastic performance from the lad. Really didn't see it coming! After OT, I reckoned KEA had bagged the start. Just hope he continues in the same vein.
I do think Lambert said something to him at half-time about using his right foot, as a couple of moves in the first half broke down with his insistence on turning back onto his left. A lesson for Delph there, he could've bagged himself a goal if he'd trusted his 'swinger'.
Glad when he got up after the sessegnon challenge, I was sat right above it, and it looked nasty at the time.
Finally, I'm glad Lambert resisted any temptation to pull him off towards the end. He's played a full 90, and that can only do his confidence the world of good, give him the self-belief that, considering where he came from, he can play at this level.

Onwards and upwards.

[myf]

He played very well against Fulham as well when he came on late.  Still think him and Delph are too similar though - need an attacking midfielder alongside one of them.

[Leighton]

Sylla Back.

But joking aside, considering he's new to the league and the size of the step up that he's taken, I was very impressed last night. Extremely encouraging. I think Lambert may have found another gem.

[Merv]

I like him, he's a proper footballer. Does the simple things well, doesn't try to over complicate it; wins tackles, plays the way he's facing and is always moving.

Yep. What that midfield was lacking, I think. Gives us drive and energy. When he's started games, we've tended to do well, so while Sylla's still pretty raw it suggests we get the blend right with him involved.

Potentially, another great spot by Lambert (and his scouting team).

[eastie]

Sylla Back.

But joking aside, considering he's new to the league and the size of the step up that he's taken, I was very impressed last night. Extremely encouraging. I think Lambert may have found another gem.

Indeed sometimes the unexpected hits you between the eyes

[eamonn]

Is he left-footed too?! Guzan, Vlaar, Baker, Clark, Bennett and Delph also do it like Ziggy, don't they?

[adrenachrome]

As I have stated before, I like the way he gives his longer passes a bit of zing. 

[ozzjim]

Sporting life have a stat that in his 8 appearances, we have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 1, suggesting he was a pretty shrewd signing really.