There are often debates among City fans regarding the importance of players and their value to the current squad. David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany; the three names that perpetually surface. Many rate David Silva as being our best player, and it is easy to see why. Since joining Manchester City in 2010, Silva’s attacking flare has flourished and he’s arguably become the best attacking midfielder in the league. Consistent, yes. Technical ability, yes. Intelligent, yes. He ticks all the boxes.
It is true that Silva has a remarkable influence on the pitch; the most recent example, last week in the FA Cup fixture against Sheffield Wednesday when he was substituted on in the second half. His intelligence, vision and incredible technical ability bring a completely different dynamic to our attack — a defender’s nightmare. In the midst of Silva’s brilliance, though, I feel that Touré often goes unnoticed for the influence he has on a football match. In his central midfield role, Touré is often able to speed up, slow down and regulate the tempo of a game. His range of passing and ability to pick a pass play a big part in this; whether a simple exchange between him and a centre half, a quick 1-2 in midfield or a 40 yard lob up to the striker, he has it all.
The two graphics above absolutely typify the role that Yaya plays, as well as illustrating his range of passing. The Ivorian is as central to every City move as David Silva or Samir Nasri, and his link-up play with these two is pivotal to City’s forward play.
What makes Touré a special player is the fact that he is not only a powerhouse; he possesses remarkable technical ability too. For such a big player, he has surprisingly quick feet and is able to bail himself out of tight situations. We’ve become accustomed to watching him successfully play a delicate chip, flick or through ball to cut open a tight defence. This above mentioned combination serves our midfield so well and when on top form, his holding of the ball is second to none. He is unplayable when on a run – often the only way for opposition to stop him is to foul him. All this is capped off by his quality in the final third. Touré finished the 2013/14 Premier League season as the highest scoring midfielder. Direct free kicks, finessed shots from inside and outside the box and long range worldies; it was Yaya Touré at his peak.
He has often been slagged off this season for shirking his defensive duties as a central midfielder, leaving either Fernando or Fernandinho to do twice the work. Let us remind ourselves that Touré went through a difficult period after losing his younger brother to cancer. Footballers are also humans like us, and off-pitch events can often have an effect on their performances. His form has since improved, and more recently we have seen glimpses of his 2013/14 form. Touré is a core member of the team, and central to Manuel Pellegrini’s possession philosophy. For me, he is the most influential player in our squad. He is a game-changer, and has often been the difference in tight games where something special has been needed.
It is great to have a player like Touré in the squad, but at the age of 31, is it time to start moulding a replacement?
