Despite his early withdrawal at Southampton,
Daniel Storey believes Fernandinho has breathed new life into Yaya Toure
at Manchester City.
Although Southampton made
things difficult for Manchester City at times during the first half of
their Saturday lunchtime fixture, perhaps the result of the match should
have been obvious as soon as the teams were announced, with both Yaya
Toure and Fernandinho selected by Manuel Pellegrini in midfield.
Whilst such a statement may be being slightly churlish, City's
record speaks for itself when Pellegrini's first-choice midfield pair
are available.
Over the 25 league matches in which the two have
played together City have won 20, taking 62 points at 2.48 points per
game. Over the course of a season that would return a total of 94
points, just one away from the Premier League record.
What's
more, in the six league games that City have played without both
Fernandinho and Toure, against Stoke (a), Sunderland (a), Crystal Palace
(h), Cardiff (h), Chelsea (h) and Norwich (a), not exactly the toughest
set of fixtures, they have slipped-up to the tune of 10 points - that's
43% of all their points dropped.
The most intriguing aspect of this season's title race has been
the evident defect that each of the teams at the top possess, with
Liverpool and Manchester City's defensive lapses and Chelsea and
Arsenal's striking concerns providing the obvious Achilles' heels.
For
the neutral at least, the enjoyment of watching perfection eventually
becomes tedious - the flaw within each title challenger has made for a
thoroughly entertaining spectacle.
Picking the strongest aspect of these sides has also been a
largely uncomplicated task, but whilst Chelsea have their creativity and
fluidity in attacking midfield and Liverpool have the goals of Luis
Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, Manchester City's strongest suit is perhaps
more open to debate.
The 70 goals shared between Sergio Aguero,
Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko acted as the basis of City's fight on four
fronts, the invention and pace of David Silva and Jesus Navas has
allowed the counter attack to be a hugely dangerous weapon and the
attacking intent from full-back areas has provided huge support for
midfield - Aleksander Kolarov and Pablo Zabaleta have over 20% of City's
Premier League assists this season.
However, for the real strength of Manuel Pellegrini's side one needs to look to central midfield.
Fernandinho: Manchester City paid £30million for a player who will be 29 in May
Last season, Yaya Toure's City career threatened to stall and
stutter slightly as the Premier League champions gave back their crown
to neighbours United in the limpest of manners conceivable (until this
season, at least), with Toure struggling to stamp his customary
authority on matches.
The Ivorian scored just seven goals and
registered seven assists in 32 matches, and in some quarters questions
were asked as to whether this was a temporary blip or a more long-term
regression.
Such thoughts have since been utterly eradicated, and a resurgent
Toure has responded emphatically. This is City's top league goalscorer,
18 goals in 30 games supplemented by five assists.
The
midfielder had never previously scored more than eight goals in a league
season but has more than doubled that personal record, and his
performances have been the driving force behind City's title bid.
However, whilst Toure obviously deserves credit, it is the
presence of his midfield partner that has allowed the Ivorian to
flourish once again. Fernandinho may have cost City £30million (and
there were eyebrows raised at such a fee for a player who will turn 29
in May), but his contributions have been crucial in allowing Toure more
freedom.
Whilst last season Roberto Mancini was forced to rely on
Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell and Gareth Barry in the role, Pellegrini has
been able to call on one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
Fernandinho's
presence allows Toure to make attacking his primary focus, rather than
consistently having to bear in mind his defensive duties.
As the
graphic below demonstrates, during the 0-0 draw at Carrow Road in
February (in which James Milner replaced Fernandinho in midfield) Toure
was forced to curb some of his attacking adventure, touching the ball 47
times in his own half, only 43% of his touches in the match coming in
opposition territory.
The effect on City's attacking threat was clear - they mustered just nine shots off target and two on target.
Yaya Toure's touches of the ball away at Norwich (left) and Manchester United (right)
Comparing this to the recent Manchester derby at Old Trafford (in
which Fernandinho and Toure both played 90 minutes against a better
quality opposition) highlights the difference.
Here Toure was
able to have 51 of his 71 touches in the United half, 71%. That's an
incredible increase from one match to the other. Put simply, Fernandinho
acts as Toure's cover, allowing him to roam at will and demonstrate his
now famous energising drives forward from midfield.
Against Southampton, Toure was expected to operate in a slightly
different role by his manager. Given the visitors' obvious
counter-attacking threat, Pellegrini chose to use Dzeko as the lone
forward with Silva, Navas and Samir Nasri providing support.
Toure
instead sat alongside Fernandinho during the first half, only pushing
forward with more freedom once the game was won. Toure made just 22
passes in the opposition half all match, and acted as the starter of
moves through short passes forward rather than a driving force.
It
was clear that his manager was wary of the Ivorian being caught
upfield, particularly with Kolarov's constant tendency to push forward.
Fernandinho was actually fairly anonymous before his half-time
withdrawal, but the cliché remains that if you don't notice the
Brazilian, Pellegrini is probably happy.
The fact that
Fernandinho had just 11 touches of the ball in 45 minutes further
highlights Toure's discipline in rarely straying too far from his side,
as shown on the graphic below, where the average position of both
players was almost identical (Fernandinho's no. 25 covers Toure's no. 42
almost entirely).
Manchester City players' average first-half positions against Southampton
Fernandinho's substitution was precautionary rather than
necessity, and an understandable move from Pellegrini. The Chilean
screams (or should that be gently announces?) order and stability, and
his team selections this season reflect that - no other Premier League
team have called on fewer players than City's 23.
Any chance to
rest players at this crucial stage must be taken, and Toure (94%) and
Fernandinho (81%) have played a higher proportion of City's league
minutes than every other player apart from Pablo Zabaleta. With his side
two goals up, Garcia was brought on instead.
Another victory chalked up for Manchester City and, despite
Liverpool's exceptional form, these are still your title favourites.
If
Manuel Pellegrini does indeed win his first ever league title in
Europe, he will know which two players to thank more than most. Whilst
Yaya Toure may take much of the credit, it is a Brazilian in his first
season in England that has given Toure the platform on which to
dominate.
