I have several bones to pick with Yaya. For someone so talented, and a player who I used to view as the most complete footballer in the world; it's disheartening to see him decline so much. It's not even a question of the natural way of things, in how professionals depreciate as the years go by because Biology is a biatch and we need to accept that. This is more to do with a man not trying hard enough, not giving more of an effort and performing well below his capabilities.
People will point to how it's Aguero or bust for City. That's true to a certain extent. He's their main goalscorer and has won them several games all through his grind. When he isn't in the team and they've had to rely on either Dzeko or Bony, the goals have dried up. So please, don't make it seem that I am disrespecting Kun's amazing abilities.
But a striker is not the heart of the team, and someone who plays that position is at the mercy of the service they receive. That comes from the mdifield where the core of a football team lies and it's where our dear friend Yaya plays.
The issue with City and how they've dropped points is their predictability. Almost all of their attacks are down the wing where Sterling can either be really effective or close to useless. Then there's Kolarov who's only use is power and accuracy of his left foot, but once that isn't even doing the job, a garbage bin can do more than him. With De Bruyne out injured and Navas forgetting how to play the position of a winger, it's meant Aguero has had to work triple time just to get his sniffs at goal.
All this wouldn't happen if Yaya Toure did his job and performed in the way that he should. You know, the guy that bursts from midfield and combines with Aguero and Silva to carve out chances. That dynamic in the middle where City can cut you up in a few passes straight through the center has been missing. The focal point for those attacks have been Yaya. Once he would put his foot down and drive through the heart of the enemy, it would be almost impossible to stop him at least getting his shot off. But we haven't seen that from him. Not even close.
Surely you would think no more motivation is needed than playing your title rivals at home in a crucial game. This would be the match where Yaya Toure, wearing the captain's armband, ought to have really shown his best face and dominated the midfield. Winning tackles, getting City going, demanding the ball and making Huth and Morgan have to work really hard to intercept the quick exchanges he'd have with Silva and Aguero. That's what we all expected to see, but instead we were treated to the Ivorian retreat. Kante completely owned his family and soul, shutting him down to such an extent that Pellegrni had to haul him off early in the second half.
This is also the same Yaya Toure who has complained about not being appreciated enough. Not having a birthday cake and all that. Sure, we all love cakes; strawberry is my favorite, but my dear Yaya, if you aren't really putting in the work and performing at a high level then the club ought not to remember any of your birthdays. Love goes both ways.
There's a title to be won, and a Champions League competition where Pellegrini would want to go out with a bang. For City to win either of those matches, it is imperative that the real Yaya Toure shows himself and starts to run things in the team. That's when City are at their best, and that is only when I can actually talk about them making a little noise in the Champions League and realistically getting their hands on the Premier League title. Because I'm not one for hype. There is no point of talking about what Yaya Toure can do when he doesn't even do it. He's got to start showing that he gives a sh*t, or not many people will be too bothered when Guardiola comes and tosses him out.
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