Player Focus: Reinvigorated Touré Leading City's Title Assault
Just four games into the season one would not bet against Manchester City securing Premier League glory for only the third time since its 1992 inception. Manuel Pellegrini’s side sit pretty atop England’s top tier with four wins from four and are currently averaging 2.5 goals per game. The current title favourites are the only team in the Football League yet to concede a goal this season.
Having strengthened accordingly over the summer, bringing in Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Nicolás Otamendi and Kevin De Bruyne, City boast arguably the strongest squad in the Premier League. Sterling and Delph are yet to capture the form that made them such effective threats during their respective time at Liverpool and Aston Villa, with injury playing a part for the latter. Otamendi and De Bruyne, meanwhile, are yet to make a league appearance for their new team and it could be that the duo struggle to break into the starting XI initially, though it's fair to say the quartet have boosted Pellegrini's first team options. However, it's the current crop that have excelled in the early stages of the current campaign.
Eliaquim Mangala has impressed alongside Vincent Kompany at the heart of the backline this term, while Jesús Navas has performed above expectations on the right flank. The Spaniard is arguably the most at risk of losing his starting spot in Pellegrini’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, especially with De Bruyne widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest creative talents. However, in deploying him on the right, Pellegrini could limit David Silva’s impact, what with the Belgian’s inclination to drift inside.
Silva has started the season superbly. The Spain international has registered more assists (4) in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season than any other player, and Pellegrini would understandably be keen to prolong his excellent form, though the arrival of De Bruyne could hinder the 29-year-old. This, in turn, could have a ripple effect throughout the team, most notably on the seemingly unstoppable Yaya Touré. Reports of a move away from the Etihad Stadium were rife over the summer, with Inter a proposed destination and a reunion with former boss Roberto Mancini at San Siro on the cards, though City ultimately refrained from selling the Ivorian, and for good reason.
After four league games, only Riyad Mahrez (8.45) has gained a better WhoScored rating than Touré (8.08) in the Premier League this season. Following a somewhat underwhelming campaign by his extremely high standards, the Ivory Coast international looks back to his bruising best in the middle of park. The extra space in the final third afforded to him by Silva’s constant movement in the attack allows Touré to surge forward and provide a further offensive outlet from deep.
His lung-busting runs from the midfield allows him to ghost into the opposition box, available for the pull back from the widemen or the full-backs to score, an art Touré has nigh-on perfected over the years. However, it’s when in possession that the 32-year-old excels. With Silva creating the space, Touré’s driving ability has opposition sides quaking in their boots. Of the 107 players to attempt at last 10 dribbles, the experienced midfielder boasts the best dribble success rate (91.7%) in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season, accentuating his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’.
He's more than capable of successfully holding off pressure from the opposition, with his 3 league assists this season bettered only by teammate Silva. A total of 9 key passes thus far suggests the chances Touré creates are of a high standard, a much needed aspect when the attacking options consist of the likes of Sergio Agüero and Silva. Yet, as powerful a midfielder Touré is, it’s the way he strokes the ball around with consummate ease that endears him to fans and peers.
A player of his stature has the midas touch when in possession, reminiscent of a slight playmaker - a Silva or a Santi Cazorla, if you will. His hulking frame, though, suggests he should not be capable of such a feat, but Touré caresses the ball with exemplary quality. Only Cazorla (351) and Aaron Ramsey (268) have played more accurate passes in the Premier League this season than the City star (265), while only Ibrahim Afellay (93.5%) and Cazorla (92.1%) boast a better pass success rate than Touré (91.7%) of midfielders to make at least one top-flight start this term.
His ability to carry the ball forward and retain possession have always been two of the strongest facets to his game and he is maximising both in City’s bid to secure domestic glory once more. Any questions over Touré’s ability have been well a truly quashed after such a superb start to the current campaign and with no African Cup of Nations duty to occupy him in January, supporters should continue to see the best of the midfielder over the duration of the season.
With Fernandinho, Fernando and Delph each capable of sitting deeper to break up play - the former in particular excelling after a disappointing campaign last time out - Touré is given a greater license to break forward and support the offensive. This has helped him enjoy a more than impressive start to the season and there is no reason why the Ivorian can’t maintain his fine form. The new signings may have garnered plenty of interest, but it's the old guard who are leading the charge, none more so than Touré who is, without doubt, back to his best.
How big a role will Yaya Touré play in Manchester City's title bid this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
