City Toure de force
Yaya’s masterclass launches season in style for Pellegrini
There was some disagreement over the identity of the f i rst Manchester City scorer. So with the second goal, Yaya Toure left nothing to chance.
While commentators were still debating whether the opener belonged to Toure, David Silva or West Brom’s unfortunate Craig Dawson, the Ivorian let rip with a shot that brooked no argument.
And that was it, the game was done. City two clear and in control little more than midway through the first half.
They did not maintain the momentum because they did not need to. What is certain, though, is this was a declaration of intent — City are back as title contenders.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: ‘It is very important to start the season with a win. I’m always pleased when my team scores.
‘I like attacking football. To keep the clean sheet is also important. We returned to see the Yaya Toure of a season ago.’
It is Chelsea on Sunday, so City conserved, but the first-half numbers told their own story: 11 shots to Albion’s one, 71 per cent possession, 417 passes, more than all but three Premier League teams made in the entire 90 minutes of the opening weekend.
At the heart of it all was Toure. he cut a troubled figure at times last season, but this was a return to form for a player who is close to unstoppable on his best days.
The first goal probably belonged to Silva — and if it does not right now, the dubious Goals Panel should right that wrong — but it was Toure’s drive and eye for goal that made it possible.
The second? Well, that was Toure’s alone. he started it, he finished it and you won’t see too many better between now and May.
Toure can take the game away from opponents like a great middle order batsman and that is what he did last night.
West Brom were understandably wary of City’s frontline and massed numbers in their own half, but Toure blasted a path through.
The first goal, after nine minutes, came after a pull back from Jesus Navas on the right. Toure marched onto it and shot, the l ow ball getting a direction-changing flick from Silva and a final hapless deflection off the boot of Dawson.
Its progress over the line was al most comically s l ow, but goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was so bamboozled by its pinball progress that he seemed powerless to move.
Was it going in before Silva’s intervention? Possibly not. Was Silva’s touch deliberate? Undoubtedly so. Was it on target then? Looks like it. So did Dawson’s touch make a difference? Only with the angle of entry, not the accuracy. Sounds like Silva’s goal to me, although it was announced as Toure’s (not much chance of Dawson claiming it).
With immaculate timing then, 13 minutes later, Toure claimed a goal that was most definitely his own.
It was his run and well- struck pass to Wilfried Bony that got the move going, the striker laid it back to him and Toure struck it, quite magnificently, from 20 yards out with curl but pace, Myhill grasping at air, utterly overwhelmed.
From there, City often coasted but they made sure of victory with a fine set-piece in the 59th minute.
Silva whipped in a curling inswinger of a corner, met by captain Vincent Kompany, who completely outjumped his former team-mate Joleon Lescott, the ball clipping his shoulders and going in at the far post.
There was no longer any debate about the outcome — although that could have been said once Toure arrived with his gander up. he is some player, when he wants to be.
It has been an underwhelming weekend for the title contenders so far. Manchester United at best efficient, Chelsea lucky to draw with Swansea, Arsenal defeated against all expectations by West ham.
This was different. here was a performance of pure class from a team that hit the ground running.
Pellegrini could even afford to keep his main striker Sergio Aguero in reserve for the match with Chelsea.
It might be argued that West Brom were ineffectual compared to some of the opposition faced by the elite this weekend, but it was more that City allowed them to be nothing more.
Albion retreated, 11 behind the ball, but it rarely looked an equal contest. There was always a sky blue shirt spare, wide, or hovering dangerously around the area.
Of course, all eyes were on raheem Sterling, City’s £49million acquisition from Liverpool — a young man who inadvertently came to encapsulate all that is wrong with english football for a brief period this summer.
Disloyal and greedy or understandably ambitious? The debate raged. It was possible to comprehend Sterling’s desire for improvement while rejecting the manner of his leaving.
his first touches were greeted by boos from those on the moral high ground — as was a deliberate trip by Craig Gardner after five minutes.
It was a nervy start for Sterling, not least in the 41st minute when a lovely angled pass by Fernandinho from the heart of midfield put him through on goal. Sterling had only Myhill to beat, but his finish was weak and too near, and was comfortably saved; James Chester swept in to mop up the rebound.
Pellegrini conceded: ‘Sterling had two clear chances to score but he is j ust starting with new team-mates. It was maybe not his best performance.’
emboldened by t he early, two-goal lead, City had several chances to put the game beyond reach before half-time.
In the 31st minute, a quite lovely cut-back cross from Aleksandar Kolarov found Bony, whose shot was deflected just wide.
With two minutes remaining before half time, Silva picked out Kolarov with arguably the pass of the night only for his shot to be blocked by the unlikely figure of Saido Berahino, chasing back and making a brilliant sliding tackle as expertly as any defender.
Maybe the locals feel so strongly about the Sterling issue because Berahino’ s future a t The hawthorns is under threat from the likes of Tottenham.
Berahino left Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, this summer which many interpreted as a good sign. It doesn’t mean, of course, that the saga ends there.
As the big teams assess their strengths and weaknesses with the season now unfolding, interest in Berahino could be rekindled.
he got the ball in the net here, late in the first half, well taken but offside.
It was the only time West Brom threatened.