Sam has bagged more than just an Okay deal
OKAY Yokuslu made his home debut in Albion’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the weekend.
The holding midfielder completed three-quarters of the game before tiring and being withdrawn by head coach Sam Allardyce.
This is how he fared at The Hawthorns...
The story so far
Yokuslu arrived on transfer deadline day along with Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but with the predictable fanfare surrounding the latter’s last-gasp announcement, the Turkish international’s introduction was understated.
In and out of the side at Celta Vigo this season, a loan agreement was reached with the Spanish club and, after a trip across Europe which involved a pit-stop in Barcelona to resolve the issue of his visa, Yokuslu joined in with Albion’s training and pre-Spurs preparation at the end of last week.
Allardyce was encouraged by what he saw in that brief glimpse of the player, enough for him to be included in the squad for the trip to London.
Eager to see his new recruit in action, and with the game lost, Allardyce gave Yokuslu a late taste of top-flight football.
It didn’t take long for him to leave his mark, Moura!
specifically
Style of play
on
Lucas
He has been described as being like Claudio Yacob, but with an ability to pass a ball. He is taller than Yacob, who was dogged and tenacious, qualities with which he endeared himself to the Albion faithful.
The Turk, though, looks a more rounded player, someone who is clearly able to take care of the unfashionable aspects of the game and then set Albion on their way in a more polished style than Yacob.
It is a position the Baggies have failed to fill since Yacob left in 2018 and Yokuslu could be a short-term answer to an issue that will need addressing again in the future. As Allardyce said, they simply don’t possess a player who relishes such a role, which, among other things, prompted him to act in the window.
How he did
Yokuslu kept things simple but that in itself was enough for him to stand out. Tackle, complete passes accurately, win headers, communicate, maintain your position as part of the collective shape – he did it all without any dramas and kept a cool head in a pressurised environment. He completed one crunching tackle on Edinson Cavani early on and his dribbling ability was on display too as he dodged a couple of red shirts to bring the ball out of Albion’s backline.
His tackling was firm but fair and his passing was simple but effective; he successfully completed 15 of his 20 passes and, considering the area of the pitch in which he operates, that was a decent rate.
Yokuslu had to be reined in by team-mate Kyle Bartley after the initial awarding of United’s ‘penalty.’ He furiously remonstrated with the officials and was perhaps rescued by Bartley, but it does at least show his commitment to Albion’s cause.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cut a frustrated figure post-match, as he rued his side’s long spells of possession without a finishing touch. Much of that was down to Yokuslu.
What Allardyce said
“He was very good. I think people saw the fact he likes that position. He introduced a bit of quality passing here and there, and did a lot of good work out of possession in protecting the back four and intercepting. “I think with Conor (Gallagher) and Ainsley alongside him, it looks like a good combination, it looks like it’ll work well. I thought the three of them worked extremely well together.
“He tired towards the end and that is why we brought him off. If we had kept him on he could have ended up with an injury or fatigue, having not played at a level as quick as this.’’
THE curious case of Ross Barkley is a debate raging among Villa supporters. The “marquee signing” has returned from a severe hamstring injury looking a shadow of his former self, with dazzling displays against Liverpool at Villa Park and Arsenal at the Emirates now a distant memory.
In north London on that November Sunday evening, Villa fans – as well as the watching world – witnessed a born-again Barkley oozing confidence, skill and swagger; from cheeky back-heels and little flicks around the corner to surging runs forward and that volleyed pass he played in to Ollie Watkins for his first, and only, assist of the season.
His injury followed just minutes into the next game and he missed the next seven with Villa doing alright without him – W3 D2 L2 – over Christmas.
Since his return to some sort of fitness, Barkley has yet to hear the final whistle in each of the last seven matches. He did, though, pop up with his second match-winning goal of the season at Southampton.
It was the same night that new £14 million signing Morgan Sanson was sat among the substitutes for the first time. Sanson, who has played six Champions League group games this season, is remaining patient but did come on for his longest stint in a Villa shirt at Brighton on Saturday and impressed.
Sanson’s signing three weeks ago has shone even more light on Barkley. They are similar in style but Sanson has more energy and workrate without the ball, something which was spotted during his 14 minutes at the Amex.
In October, when Villa persuaded him to sign on loan from Chelsea, during the first couple of weeks it was like watching the Barkley of old, the midfielder who ripped it up at Everton
and arrived at Villa Park with a point to prove.
He silenced his Chelsea doubters as well and played with the bit between his teeth as if to say, ‘I’ll show you, this is what I’m all about.’
Barkley soon found out competition for his place simply wasn’t there with Conor Hourihane not getting a sniff. Head coach Dean Smith also preferred Jack Grealish in a wider position, meaning Barkley’s No.10 role was a given.
However, that situation has changed following the shrewd addition of Sanson, a player with immense pedigree who is clearly snapping at Barkley’s heels. Marvelous Nakamba and Jacob Ramsey have also done well, which has further ramped up the pressure on Barkley. Smith was asked for his assessment on Barkley on Saturday and pointed to the fact he’s been unable to train properly since October, adding: “He’s been trying to get his sharpness in the games.”
Barkley’s speed of thought is one of his biggest assets and he’s lacking that at present, while his every move is now under the microscope given Villa’s added depth in midfield.
The 27-year-old’s injury came at a bad time and being in isolation away from home and away from the firstteam bubble during Villa’s Covid outbreak would have been tough.
“He’ll be back to his best, I’m sure of it,” was Smith’s judgement after the 0-0 draw at Brighton. He also issued the loan ace with a dressing-down after the 1-0 win over Arsenal for his poor reaction to being substituted.
Smith, though, sought a reaction from the player and reminded him how far he’s come as he played six games in 18 days, something he has not done in a long, long time.
Barkley is back to square one again. Smith has continued to back him and it’s time to repay the head coach’s faith, otherwise he’ll be in a position he grew tired of at Chelsea: watching from the substitutes’ bench.
Villa are back to playing one game a week for the time being, meaning Barkley can work on his much-needed sharpness, both with and without the ball.
He needs to return to the player who arrived in October when he silenced his doubters because the sceptics are back and, this time, they are making a lot more noise.
Barkley has got real competition at Villa now with Sanson and that should be a wake-up call in itself.