Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa joins AS Roma then Lyon

[ExiledGeordie]

Excellent signing, if he plays to his potential will be the best centre-back we've seen at the club. Talent-wise he's better than both Woodgate and Colo.

 

Wow, hope you're right, best two CBs I've ever seen play for us.

 

He's good on the ball and reads the game well from those clips/reports but he's got the look of a hard no nonsense fucker too. Means business. The very fact it looks like he can match pacey strikers is something we haven't had for a long time.

[Skirge]

Love the new NUFCTV vid of him arriving and his medical and stuff.

 

Bigi "Where's my boy Mbiwa"

[LRD]

Debuchy Mbiwa Colo Santon

 

Years down the line we can look back and say we have seen one of the best Newcastle defence ever. 

[joeyt]

I reckon we'll just do what Sunderland did similar for Mart Poom and shout 'Mapouuuu' when he does something good

[Guest Roger Kint]

Debuchy Mbiwa Colo Santon

 

Years down the line we can look back and say we have seen one of the best Newcastle defence ever. 

 

Or spend those years wondering how the fuck it went wrong

[Ketsbaia]

On paper, there's not many better defences in the league.

 

Then again, on paper we'd be nowhere near the relegation zone.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

On paper, there's not many better defences in the league.

 

Then again, on paper we'd be nowhere near the relegation zone.

 

Is our manager not listed on the paper?

 

[Klaus]

On paper, there's not many better defences in the league.

 

Then again, on paper we'd be nowhere near the relegation zone.

 

Is our manager not listed on the paper?

 

Sounds far too RTG-ish too talk about how good we are 'on paper' like 

[Memphis]

From a scouting report on Yanga-Mbiwa from about a year ago - http://www.theelastico.com/2012/02/mapou-yanga-mbiwa/

 

Although physically defined, at 184cm (6’0) and 77kg (12stone), Yanga-Mbiwa is by some distance neither the biggest nor the broadest defender that Ligue 1 has to offer. However, blessed with pace, power and strength, the defender makes excellent use of the physical attributes that do fall in his favour to nullify the lost inches. As demonstrated in the videos below, the speed at which the Montpellier man can move across the ground makes a footrace fairly one-sided on most occasions, whist his powerful stride and toned physique mean that the man born in Central African Republic packs an impressive leap when it comes to aerial duels.

 

However, countless defenders worldwide can boast exceptional physical attributes, thus it is in both the mental and physical dimensions of the game that the 22-year-old has shown himself to be a class apart from many of his colleagues. Whilst there are some that make more tackles per match and there are others who make more clearances, Yanga-Mbiwa is not a defender who likes to leave his job until it is simply a case of  last-ditch defending. With an intelligent reading of the game that belies his age, the Montpellier captain is a master of the interception, making more than any of his colleagues and developing the artform into a defining feature of his game.

 

In this respect and physically (although more powerful than his English contemporary), the France Under-21 defender can be compared with Rio Ferdinand in his youth. Quick of both foot and mind, Yanga-Mbiwa can play the role of the last ditch saviour, but prefers instead to use his innate awareness to see-off danger before it has developed and as with Ferdinand, is trusting of his technical abilities under intense pressure. A good passer of the ball off both feet, although predominantly right-footed, the defender demonstrates great composure week-in week-out, a quality that no doubt helped draw the attention of several admirers.

 

In attack, these abilities come to fruition, as he is able to easily skip past opponents, creating time to pick out a team-mate ahead of him, or on occasion gallop forward to create the opening himself. Particularly when utilised in a full-back role, these attributes offer an added bonus to his side on top of his defensive abilities and in this respect, he has been previously likened to Les Bleus legend Lilian Thuram in the French media. Good ball control and raw pace are a lethal combination, negating the need for any real subtlety to beat even very experienced opponents. At times, as Thuram showed in his prime, these powerful drives down the flanks can prove nigh on impossible to defend.

 

As with all players, Yanga-Mbiwa does have faults and areas of his game to improve. For a player who has shown he can head the ball well and rise above opponents, the defender’s scoring record is poor and is an area he can look to improve. Four goals in 160 games is not the best return for such a talented player in many areas of the attack. At times the defender’s longer passes can be improved, with a little more refinement needed when picking out the run of an attacking colleague. However, when it comes to short, sharp passing under-pressure, it must be added that the Montpellier man is excellent (85.9% overall pass completion).

 

Besides those minor points, the player has generally been excellent in his work this season and needs simply to continue upon his current developmental path in order to succeed. By all accounts Yanga-Mbiwa is a well grounded character, with a dedication to improving himself that has been rewarded with the captain’s armband by manager Rene Girard. There is an ever-increasing maturity to his game, meaning the forward-charges from centre-back are somewhat decreased. Yet, they can be considered no less effective, as now they are in general better-judged than in previous years, giving maximum effect.

 

A good disciplinary record, demonstrated by the fact that to date, he has not received a straight red card in his career, is testament to both the temperament that so-impressed his manager and a fine technique in dispossessing opponents, aided by game-reading abilities that often mean the need to tackle an opponent is avoided. With a high-profile move on the cards, there is little doubt Yanga-Mbiwa has the qualities to succeed anywhere, although at just 22-years-old, he must be allowed time to make adjustments to a new style of play. There is room for improvement, but the Frenchman truly looks like a star in the making.

 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I just got far too excited reading that.

[LRD]

Love players who can read the game well and are masters in the art of intercepting the ball. Imagine a Mbiwa-Colo partnership mopping up balls all day long, opposition nary having a sniff at goal. Really looking forward to seeing this lad play.

[RodneyCisse]

We just need to start scoring!

[Disco]

Two potentially 'clean shorts/back foot' defenders, interesting - don't see that too often. Got a feeling we'll need this lad to be doing the more aggressive stuff when it comes to aerial duels etc.

[Klaus]

Sounds far to sexual that scouting report like, he must have an underlying heart problem or dodgy knee's 

[Smal]

Steven Taylor's pass completion rate is 90.4%

[LRD]

Oh, and 2 Thurams.

[Yorkie]

Got to say, by all accounts he sounds like a bloody fantastic player. Excited to see him play for us.

[LRD]

Two potentially 'clean shorts/back foot' defenders, interesting - don't see that too often. Got a feeling we'll need this lad to be doing the more aggressive stuff when it comes to aerial duels etc.

 

Reckon he'll be the more defensive of the two since Debuchy likes to roam forward (and is more effective in the final third) and Mbiwa can cover for him. Colo will also have more license to go forward too knowing there's a reliable partner at the back.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Steven Taylor's pass completion rate is 90.4%

 

He's a good passer.

[Klaus]

I just hope people give him time to settle, remember how much differently people thought of Colo after his first season here...

[Skirge]

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/114/9/8/i_am_aroused_by_iamarousedplz-d3etjcf.png

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I just hope people give him time to settle, remember how much differently people thought of Colo after his first season here...

 

Good point. Not that we have much time for him to settle!

[Mole_Toonfan]

Two potentially 'clean shorts/back foot' defenders, interesting - don't see that too often. Got a feeling we'll need this lad to be doing the more aggressive stuff when it comes to aerial duels etc.

 

Considering he's quicker, stronger and better in the air than Colo i would presume so. Both of them can actually charge into midfield with the ball which is f*cking class.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Steven Taylor's pass completion rate is 90.4%

 

What's Williamson's?

[arnonel]

Wow, those

From a scouting report on Yanga-Mbiwa from about a year ago - http://www.theelastico.com/2012/02/mapou-yanga-mbiwa/

 

Although physically defined, at 184cm (6’0) and 77kg (12stone), Yanga-Mbiwa is by some distance neither the biggest nor the broadest defender that Ligue 1 has to offer. However, blessed with pace, power and strength, the defender makes excellent use of the physical attributes that do fall in his favour to nullify the lost inches. As demonstrated in the videos below, the speed at which the Montpellier man can move across the ground makes a footrace fairly one-sided on most occasions, whist his powerful stride and toned physique mean that the man born in Central African Republic packs an impressive leap when it comes to aerial duels.

 

However, countless defenders worldwide can boast exceptional physical attributes, thus it is in both the mental and physical dimensions of the game that the 22-year-old has shown himself to be a class apart from many of his colleagues. Whilst there are some that make more tackles per match and there are others who make more clearances, Yanga-Mbiwa is not a defender who likes to leave his job until it is simply a case of  last-ditch defending. With an intelligent reading of the game that belies his age, the Montpellier captain is a master of the interception, making more than any of his colleagues and developing the artform into a defining feature of his game.

 

In this respect and physically (although more powerful than his English contemporary), the France Under-21 defender can be compared with Rio Ferdinand in his youth. Quick of both foot and mind, Yanga-Mbiwa can play the role of the last ditch saviour, but prefers instead to use his innate awareness to see-off danger before it has developed and as with Ferdinand, is trusting of his technical abilities under intense pressure. A good passer of the ball off both feet, although predominantly right-footed, the defender demonstrates great composure week-in week-out, a quality that no doubt helped draw the attention of several admirers.

 

In attack, these abilities come to fruition, as he is able to easily skip past opponents, creating time to pick out a team-mate ahead of him, or on occasion gallop forward to create the opening himself. Particularly when utilised in a full-back role, these attributes offer an added bonus to his side on top of his defensive abilities and in this respect, he has been previously likened to Les Bleus legend Lilian Thuram in the French media. Good ball control and raw pace are a lethal combination, negating the need for any real subtlety to beat even very experienced opponents. At times, as Thuram showed in his prime, these powerful drives down the flanks can prove nigh on impossible to defend.

 

As with all players, Yanga-Mbiwa does have faults and areas of his game to improve. For a player who has shown he can head the ball well and rise above opponents, the defender’s scoring record is poor and is an area he can look to improve. Four goals in 160 games is not the best return for such a talented player in many areas of the attack. At times the defender’s longer passes can be improved, with a little more refinement needed when picking out the run of an attacking colleague. However, when it comes to short, sharp passing under-pressure, it must be added that the Montpellier man is excellent (85.9% overall pass completion).

 

Besides those minor points, the player has generally been excellent in his work this season and needs simply to continue upon his current developmental path in order to succeed. By all accounts Yanga-Mbiwa is a well grounded character, with a dedication to improving himself that has been rewarded with the captain’s armband by manager Rene Girard. There is an ever-increasing maturity to his game, meaning the forward-charges from centre-back are somewhat decreased. Yet, they can be considered no less effective, as now they are in general better-judged than in previous years, giving maximum effect.

 

A good disciplinary record, demonstrated by the fact that to date, he has not received a straight red card in his career, is testament to both the temperament that so-impressed his manager and a fine technique in dispossessing opponents, aided by game-reading abilities that often mean the need to tackle an opponent is avoided. With a high-profile move on the cards, there is little doubt Yanga-Mbiwa has the qualities to succeed anywhere, although at just 22-years-old, he must be allowed time to make adjustments to a new style of play. There is room for improvement, but the Frenchman truly looks like a star in the making.

 

 

Click the link and watch the first video. Passing is brilliant ! and those surges from defence going forward. Wow