[halifax_baggie]

He is the best defensive midfielder we have, brilliant at closing down the opposition and protecting the back four. Our record with and without him is stark in terms of average points per game. We dropped off last season when Livermore replaced him. He should be one of the first names on the team sheet. Not sure why we signed Barry, Livermore and Krychowiak to effectively replace Fletcher! Over-loaded in the middle now and short of a quality of striker up-front. Manager is responsible for that. Be interesting to see if Yacob finds a way back.

Best defensive midfielder without doubt, with Barry &  Krychowiak we don't need to pick Livermore, slot Morrison in front and we become more mobile - games a good un

[iwastherein68]

For goodness sake, get him back in the team. Our current midfield setup is not working. Claudio has his limitations, but is better than the ineffective Livermore, the aging Barry, and Gregorgz who has brought nothing to the table. Boufal would not have scored his "wonder goal" if Claudio had been on the pitch. No "after you Sofiane" from Yacob.
 

[NathWBA]

For goodness sake, get him back in the team. Our current midfield setup is not working. Claudio has his limitations, but is better than the ineffective Livermore, the aging Barry, and Gregorgz who has brought nothing to the table. Boufal would not have scored his "wonder goal" if Claudio had been on the pitch. No "after you Sofiane" from Yacob.

you’ve been watching a different grzegorz to me if you think he’s brought nothing to the table since signing, he’s looked composed, won the vast majority of his challenges and plays forward, Barry has also looked solid. The only player I wouldn’t want to see near our midfield is Livermore.

[albion59]

Everyone knows how I feel about Yacob should be the first name on the team sheet every game get him back in! Pulis out.

[iwastherein68]

you’ve been watching a different grzegorz to me if you think he’s brought nothing to the table since signing, he’s looked composed, won the vast majority of his challenges and plays forward, Barry has also looked solid. The only player I wouldn’t want to see near our midfield is Livermore.

I must admit i should have written "he has brought nothing to the table to substantiate his reported £108,000 per week payment". Furthermore if that salary is true, then the Chairman needs to sack himself. 

[Dexy]

 Easy to forget how much Yacob gives us overall when his trademark bad pass happens , needs to be back in the side in front of that back four.

[alex1]

Maybe Yacob would have got his foot in yesterday to stop the goal, but that's not our main problem at the moment. It's about setting up chances at the other end, which is where our problems are. It's no good Pulis going on about missing a single chance. Any other side with the talent we have available, should be setting up many  more chances. Every team misses chances.
 

[Adder]

I'd pick Barry every time over Yacob for his better use of the ball and ability to slot a telling pass and I don't think we want to pick both. Barry wasn't on the pitch when the goal was scored yesterday. OK we may not be keeping clean sheets mainly through errors but it's the offensive side of the team that's the biggest problem.

[albion59]

I'd pick Barry every time over Yacob for his better use of the ball and ability to slot a telling pass and I don't think we want to pick both. Barry wasn't on the pitch when the goal was scored yesterday. OK we may not be keeping clean sheets mainly through errors but it's the offensive side of the team that's the biggest problem.

We can't score and we can't stop the other team's from scoring! That is a recipe for disaster.

[Adder]

We can't score and we can't stop the other team's from scoring! That is a recipe for disaster.

I have noticed - but we are not shipping a crazy amount of goals....could say that only in the Brighton game did we have a notably bad day defensively.

[B_H_Baggie]

Yacob should be one of the first names on the team sheet in my opinion. We all know his limitations with a lack of pace and his questionable passing ability if he tries to knock it more than 10 yards but no one protects the back four like he does. We always look more solid with him in there shielding the back line and it is surely proven now that a central midfield three of Barry, Livermore and Krychowiak simply doesn't work so one if not two need to be dropped.

[TheBrom]

Think we'll see him start against city with greg and Livermore. Afraid it'll be more of a holding 3 though rather than a more dynamic setup with one getting further forward.

[LiamTheBaggie]

If we're going to prat about with our midfield on top of our back four then we may as well have Yacob in there actually breaking up the play. I keep hearing people say he is in poor in possession but the whole bloody team is! And what's the point in playing possession when your sole purpose is to hoof the ball own the channel.

I'd rather see Yacob next to Barry with Polish Greg playing further forward. The current set up with Livermore who offers absolutely nothing does not work. At least you can see the redeeming features of Barry and Greg and the quality they have.

[vrabbit]

Livermore should only see minutes from the bench as needed and Barry's form seems to be a bit down. I wouldn't mind seeing Yacob and Greg paired in the 4231. Play true fullbacks, true wingers, and Chadli as a true attacking midfielder behind Rondon or whoever you want up front. There's absolutely no need to be playing three central midfielders.

[SmethDan]

Livermore should only see minutes from the bench as needed and Barry's form seems to be a bit down. I wouldn't mind seeing Yacob and Greg paired in the 4231. Play true fullbacks, true wingers, and Chadli as a true attacking midfielder behind Rondon or whoever you want up front. There's absolutely no need to be playing three central midfielders.

Might not have to worry about Barry's dip in form over the short term.

He's reportedly got a back strain and is a slight doubt for Saturday.

Meanwhile, Evans and Dawson are rated as major doubts.

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c22

[Albionic]

A certain Mr Irvine chose to relegate Yacob to the bench, look at how that worked out.
Midfield should have Yac and Greg as defensive pairing. We shouldn't play 3 DMF

[Adder]

Greg is a box to box CM

[Albionic]

Greg is a box to box CM

He has played DMF and CH, from what I have seen he would work well as a partner for Yacob

[Adder]

He has played DMF and CH, from what I have seen he would work well as a partner for Yacob

Well maybe but depends if you think Yacob is better than Barry...I don't personally. I'm a bit bemused about why Yacob is getting pushed so much since Saturday. Leaking goals through the centre is the least of our problems...one wonder goal on Saturday when Barry wasn't on the pitch.

[geoff]

If we're going to prat about with our midfield on top of our back four then we may as well have Yacob in there actually breaking up the play. I keep hearing people say he is in poor in possession but the whole bloody team is! And what's the point in playing possession when your sole purpose is to hoof the ball own the channel.

I'd rather see Yacob next to Barry with Polish Greg playing further forward. The current set up with Livermore who offers absolutely nothing does not work. At least you can see the redeeming features of Barry and Greg and the quality they have.

Good post & one i 100% agree with, Jake isnt firing on all cylinders

[albion59]

It's a crime that he doesn't start

[baggie82]

I've just spent 20 minutes going through the stats since the start of 2016/17 to date, including all the games this season.

Yacob has started 28 games from which we have got 36 points. Average of 1.29 points per game which is 49 points per season with him.

Compare that with 20 games he hasn't started from which we have got 19 points. Average of 0.95 points per game which is 36 points per season without him.

That's a huge 13 point swing based on the last 48 premiership matches. Bearing in mind Yacob has only started once this season and we have played only 2 clubs from the top 5 the difference is probably a bit larger than that as the kind fixture list of 2017/18 swings it further.

49 points last season would have got us 8th as well against 45 points and 10th place finish. Whereas our average without him of 36 points is just 2 points above relegated Hull 

[Standaman]

I've just spent 20 minutes going through the stats since the start of 2016/17 to date, including all the games this season.

Yacob has started 28 games from which we have got 36 points. Average of 1.29 points per game which is 49 points per season with him.

Compare that with 20 games he hasn't started from which we have got 19 points. Average of 0.95 points per game which is 36 points per season without him.

That's a huge 13 point swing based on the last 48 premiership matches. Bearing in mind Yacob has only started once this season and we have played only 2 clubs from the top 5 the difference is probably a bit larger than that as the kind fixture list of 2017/18 swings it further.

49 points last season would have got us 8th as well against 45 points and 10th place finish. Whereas our average without him of 36 points is just 2 points above relegated Hull 

Correlation does not prove causation. For what it's worth if our 3 in the midfield are mainly there to block off the channels rather make any attacking or creative contribution Yacob does that better than any of the current 3 and while they all have a better range of passing than Yacob if it isn't being used we lose nothing going forward and gain something defensively.

[Adder]

Correlation does not prove causation. For what it's worth if our 3 in the midfield are mainly there to block off the channels rather make any attacking or creative contribution Yacob does that better than any of the current 3 and while they all have a better range of passing than Yacob if it isn't being used we lose nothing going forward and gain something defensively.

even if it's not being used as effectively as we might like, Barry had a big hand in both goals yesterday and has slotted some nice balls through in previous games.

[stubba]

You could make the same case for Brunty & G Mac we won more games when they play.