Article
David Silva: Is Yaya Toure, Really, The One To Make Way For The Spaniard
The size and quality of the current Manchester City squad is such that, a long-term injury to David Silva has not hindered them from staying atop of the Barclays Premier League table and progressing to the R-16 of the UEFA Champions League. It does not, however, mean that Silva’s significance to the City squad has been lost. Disappointing results against Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and most recently, Aston Villa, are classic examples of the difficulties a team can face when playing without their main creative man.
The likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling – City’s two expensive summer recruits – shone in the 0-0 draw at Villa Park before the ongoing international break. But, with Yaya Toure not making the desired impact in the game and Wilfried Bony, the team’s focal point of the attack, forced off with a hamstring injury, City needed someone with a calm head and ability to retain possession of the ball. And one of Silva’s strongest assets is his wherewithal to maintain possession and play those incisive passes in high-pressure circumstances. And the visitors missed him massively that day.
The Manchester Evening News recently came up with the suggestion that Toure, City’s midfield colossus, would be the one to make way for Silva, once the Spaniard returns to action. Silva, like Toure, is irreplaceable, and no way will Manuel Pellegrini sacrifice Toure who has the ability to single-handedly change the course of games.
As much as Fernandinho and Fernando Reges have shone as a double pivot or, in the recent Champions League game in Seville, where the latter played as the solitary pivot and former Shakhtar Donetsk man played alongside Toure in City’s 4-3-3, they do not carry the threat of Toure. With all due respect to the Brazilian pair, they are technicians in their own right and City have benefited, more often than not, when the duo has started together. But it is difficult to expect them to stamp their authority and run a game as Toure can. With the Ivorian, you probably do not get the desired work-rate, but his experience and ability to control games and make those penetrating, lung-bursting runs from midfield, are simply unparalleled.
The question, therefore, is: where does Silva fit in, in City’s starting XI?
Suhith Kumar began writing in July, 2013, first contributing articles to Sportskeeda that was crucial to his development as a writer. He has since gone on to write for manunitedonly.com and justarsenal.com, writing on Manchester United and Arsenal everyday till not so long ago. Suhith currently works as a content writer for tambulya.com. However, his unparalleled passion and a good understanding of Cricket and Football mean that he remains bloody keen on covering Team India, Mumbai Indians, World Cricket, Manchester City FC and other big boys of the English Premier League. You can follow him on Twitter @suhithtweets_92.