Manchester City’s season kicks off in the North East this weekend as Manuel Pellegrini’s men prepare to face Newcastle United.
It might feel like deja vu to some of you after last season’s opening game saw the Blues triumph over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium and Pellegrini will be hoping for a repeat of that performance at St James’ Park.
The Champions of England boast some of the finest talent in the Premier League and the acquisitions of Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando, Bruno Zuculini and Bacary Sagna have helped Pellegrini address the weaker spots that were present last year.
But which individuals will prove to be City’s talismans when it really matters next season? Here are the top five who I think will shine next year…
- Vincent Kompany
An obvious choice perhaps, but it is hard to ignore the presence that Kompany has when he is included in any team throughout his three years with the captain’s armband.
He is a natural leader and his ability to tackle makes him one of the best centre halves in Europe. He has suffered at times during his time at City thanks to a lack of top quality partner at the back but the addition of Mangala into Pellegrini’s squad means that we could see Kompany raise his level even further this season.
With Mangala more than capable of holding his own at the back, Kompany will not have to worry about covering for his partner as was often the case with certain predecessors and can concentrate on his own game. He will no doubt improve his game on the European stage for City this season and perhaps this could be an even greater years of success for the Blues if he stays away from any niggling injuries.
2. Yaya Toure
His hysterics during the post-season did not go unnoticed by the world’s media and his position did seem precarious with the Blues in all truth. However, after pledging his loyalty (for the short term at least) following his return from Brazil, Toure has the ability to reproduce the form that gained him a lot of credit last year.
The pure strength and power in his game means that he is arguably the best box-to-box midfielder in Europe and will always cause the opposition problems when in the mood. His solo goal against Aston Villa in May summed up everything about Yaya’s game and if he does replicate those sort of goals next season then we are in for a treat.
The recruitment of Porto midfielder Fernando could also prove beneficial for the Ivorian, with Pellegrini likely to give him a more advanced role in bigger games with Fernando and Fernandinho given the duty to protect the back four. The potential of this midfield is quite terrifying if it comes off as we all expect, and Toure could even surpass the 21 goals he scored last season.
3. Sergio Aguero
The main worry amongst City fans is Aguero’s injury record since he signed from Atletico Madrid three years ago, but the talent he possesses means that Pellegrini sometimes has no choice but to take a gamble on his fitness in the crucial games.
Whilst the Chilean does boast a forward line of unbelievable quality, it is Aguero who stands out from the pack and it would be a discredit not to name him amongst the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo as a world-class goalscorer.
His low centre of gravity means that he is nightmare for opposition defenders to face and if he does avoid a large chunk of time on the injury table, City would find themselves in a great position to defend their title and push on for potential European success.
4. Stevan Jovetic
At just 24, Jovetic has the potential to become a world class player at City. His dribbling and finishing ability is amongst the best that I have seen in the Premier League and his form throughout pre-season would justify his selection against Newcastle this weekend.
However, like with Aguero, Jovetic found himself plagued with injuries last year and will hope to make amends and justify the £22m that City spent on him 12 months ago. He has looked sharp throughout the summer though and if he does stay fit I see him as the perfect fit to play alongside Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri against weaker opposition.
That front four would be full of creativity, pace and I think all four complement each other with their strengths on the field.
5. David Silva
That leads me straight onto Silva whose performances in sky blue have meant he is widely regarded as part of the spine in Pellegrini’s team. Not many have justification to be an instant starter at City nowadays, but Silva’s ability to control a game effortlessly means that Pellegrini doesn’t have to think twice about starting him if he is fit.
It is just a pleasure to watch someone like Silva in the flesh. He plays football with a smile on his face and his performances mirror his attitude as he single handedly brings games to life. There were many a time last season when he turned games on their head – most notably the Liverpool defeat in April – and the Spaniard shows no sign of halting as this season approaches.
His performance in the Community Shield on Sunday wasn’t his best, but his introduction in the second half helped to swing Arsenal’s dominance into City’s favour before Olivier Giroud’s spectacular finish finished the game as a contest. Alan Pardew will probably be having nightmares as he wonders how to deal with Merlin this weekend.
