Maya appreciation thread.

Thought that Maya deserved his own thread.

Was motm last night for me and it's not the first time this season where he's been one of our best players in a match.

Now, I've always liked him anyway and thought he got undue stick but he has come on leaps and bounds this year.

Funnily enough it's been said plenty of times on here how many of his mistakes/dodgy performances came when he was rusty, and that once he got a couple of games under his belt he was generally pretty solid.

So the rotation has definitely benefitted him immeasurably. His passing, composure and even intelligence has improved a hell of a lot this season.

On the intelligence 2 things stuck out for me last night - the foul he got booked for, which he needed to make imo. And the moment a bit later in the half where a high ball came into our half and everyone was screaming for him to clear it and he calmly took the Arsenal player out of the game with a simple chest and still had composure to simply find a team mate. Superb.

Anyway I've rambled on a bit.
. but well done Maya (and Claude!)

 

Don't forget his Virgilesque (a new term to describe top-quality play) cross-field pass to Ryan (I think) that led to Clasie's goal.

 

I'd just say that he hasn't necessarily come on leaps and bounds this season... I get what you mean, but he has always been a good CB. Some Fans made him a scapegoat which was sad and short sighted.

 

Thought I'd mentioned that... was supposed to

Obviously didn't ramble enough

 

I'd agree to an extent.

Like you, I've always been a big fan of his and hate the hard time he's been given.

Maybe leaps and bounds is a tad strong but he's certainly gone up a notch imo. Just seems so much more composed on the ball and less rash. Must be coming from Virgil

Who knows though, maybe it's just confidence?

 

Mrs S has just instructed me to add our support to this thread. He always got the blame when things went wrong and it was often unjust. He has been a rock in Europe and was a shoo in for MOTM v Sparta. As you say regular games have improved him.

Needs a song ...
#Maya Maya Maya Maya Maya Yoshee-eedaah, He's not so bad, He's not so ba-a-a-ad
(Tune of Karma-Chameleon)

 

Under the thumb, Shoot?

 

He's a player I've always had a soft spot for and one that I've always respected for his efforts. He's far from error free but he's not error prone. Most importantly he seems to really love playing for us and I like that. A lot.

 

Song? Did someone say song?

"I think he's turning Japanese
I think he's turning Japanese
Maya Yoshida"

 

If you look at one of the replays to Jordy's goal, Maya hits the 50-60 yard pass and Virgil stands in the foreground applauding it on its way.

 

I really think so.

 

That's very good TSS

 

Well I had to hang the next line of Turning Japanese on something that made it relevant.

 

Maya is a good defender, often his mistakes would be made when he was playing at full back, in my opinion you cannot ask for a better number 3 centre back. He never moans when hes benched and enjoys playing for the club. Glad to see him getting more games and i hope it continues

 

He is the ready made replacement for Jose at the end of the season. Always liked him and it's not his fault he's often been made to play out of position in the past. This season he has come into his own.

 

Love the guy and he has been a great servant to the club. He has also been brilliant this season, however I would not be comfortable with him as first choice.

 

I love Yoshi.

He's clearly a very popular member of the squad and at 28, he could be around for another 4-5 years. I hope he is.

Good to see a lot of fans acknowledged his performance on Wed...

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/11/3...ct-on-twitter-to-maya-yoshidas-excellent-dis/

 

He's really grown in confidence this season. Suggests good man management from Puel. That pass on Wednesday was superb! I had to do a double take - I assumed it was Virgil!

 

I agree with feelings behind this thread and feel Yoshi , who has always been a good CB, has cut out the silly mistakes and is looking very solid.
I don't think The Dutchman helped by regularly playing him at RB rather than playing any youngsters. Not an easy transformation I would suggest
Sadly a lot of Saints fans like a scapegoat and poor Yoshi appeared to be their target despite his 100% effort and IMHO pretty damn good performances in the toughest league

 

That song is about masturbation though, you do know that, right!?!