West Brom's summer signing of Claudio Yacob might not have been the most celebrated arrival of the summer. But, as Adam Bate explains, the Argentine midfielder has had a significant impact at the Hawthorns.
Monday 12 November 2012 13:33, UK
How the summer signing of Claudio Yacob has helped West Brom make an impressive start.
There were plenty of big-name transfers in the Premier League this summer. Two months into the season Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has selected eight of those who have made the best impression so far. There are several newcomers to these shores that are predictably included - Santi Cazorla and Eden Hazard among them. Michu has received plaudits too. But the name of West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob remains a mystery to some. There's little cause for Premier League fans to be ashamed for not knowing too much about the 25-year-old signing from Racing Club in Argentina - even his own team-mates were nonplussed. "He's amazing but I must admit I'd never heard of the bloke," Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster told the Birmingham Mail. "I'm not disrespecting him but I didn't know anything about him. I'm not the biggest football fan in the world anyway - but he's not someone I'd come across." His Albion team-mates know all about him now. Yacob was named man of the match on his Premier League debut in the 3-0 opening-day win over Liverpool and his colleagues have quickly come to rely on his tidy work on and off the ball in front of the back four. "His game is getting the ball back, winning it and playing it simple," defender Gareth McAuley explained to the Express and Star. "He is a great player and a great find for the club. I'm delighted to have him in there because he does a lot of hard work to break up play and makes our job at the back a little bit easier." Baggies boss Steve Clarke is not surprised by the manner in which Yacob has adjusted to English football. "He's settling in very well," Clarke told the Birmingham Mail. "But the Argentinians have a great mentality. They're a strong nation and the players tend to settle in well. It's a similar game - a tough, physical league over there. I think he's shown in training and the games that he's played that he is what we thought we'd get - he's an Argentinian No.5, who breaks up play and keeps the ball for his team. That's the characteristics for that position and it's what he's done." Protection from midfield had been an issue for West Brom last season and was evident from their lack of clean sheets. Prior to a strong finish to the campaign, Albion endured a period of just five shut-outs in 61 Premier League games. While Paul Scharner had experience at centre-back, he curiously seemed to struggle with positional discipline in midfield. As then boss Roy Hodgson searched for the right mix in the middle, stability became an issue and that flexibility occasionally felt like a compromise. Now the dual shield of Yacob and fellow midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu has provided clarity. "He's that guy in front of you that if they break on us, and we look like we might be a bit exposed, he'll be the one getting the tackles or blocks in," added Foster. "He and Youssouf have got that central midfield nailed down. They are so calm and know how to pick passes out. Youssouf will do his usual, stick his big backside out so everyone has to roll around him but it's great to watch - both are so calm under pressure. And Claudio's passing is brilliant."Player Surname | Team | Total Passes ( Excl Crosses & Corners ) | Passing Accuracy ( Excl Crosses & Corners ) |
Arteta | Arsenal | 658 | 93.77% |
Allen | Liverpool | 530 | 92.64% |
Cole | Chelsea | 336 | 92.26% |
Britton | Swansea City | 421 | 92.16% |
Scholes | Manchester United | 381 | 92.13% |
Skrtel | Liverpool | 388 | 91.49% |
Mertesacker | Arsenal | 304 | 91.12% |
Chico | Swansea City | 315 | 91.11% |
De Guzmán | Swansea City | 328 | 90.85% |
Cazorla | Arsenal | 501 | 90.82% |
Williams | Swansea City | 392 | 90.56% |
Mikel | Chelsea | 433 | 90.53% |
Yacob | West Bromwich Albion | 321 | 90.03% |
Mata | Chelsea | 386 | 89.64% |
Player Surname | Team | Total Passes ( Excl Crosses & Corners ) | Passing Accuracy Final third |
Osman | Everton | 335 | 85.00% |
Arteta | Arsenal | 658 | 84.97% |
Yacob | West Bromwich Albion | 321 | 84.91% |
Cazorla | Arsenal | 501 | 84.82% |
Allen | Liverpool | 530 | 83.62% |
Rafael | Manchester United | 313 | 82.47% |
Hazard | Chelsea | 372 | 82.46% |
Gibbs | Arsenal | 351 | 82.00% |
Mata | Chelsea | 386 | 81.71% |
Cole | Chelsea | 336 | 81.43% |