Replacing a legend is one of the most difficult and painful jobs for any club, no matter how big or small.
Looking around Europe’s elite we currently have the obvious examples of Liverpool with Steven Gerrard and Xavi at Barcelona. And even the biggest clubs can spend years trying (and failing) to find someone to fill the huge boots of a true titan.
You only have to look at Manchester United’s midfield, for example, to realise that they are still looking for the next Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.
But neighbours Manchester City are now in a similarly difficult situation with the wonderful Yaya Toure. Yes, he has had his run ins with the club. But this is a player who has such quality that, at his best, he would stroll into any side in the world. ANY SIDE. Even in their absolute pomp, Barcelona would have been a better team if Yaya had returned.
In short, he’s so good that Toure transcends the hatred of bitter rivalries as fans of other teams have to simply sit back and admire.
Yaya Toure – the sort of mythical creature you might see in Zack Snyder’s 2006 Film 300
It is an honour to have Toure in England. We think that he is the best midfielder The Premier League has seen – even eclipsing the aforementioned Gerrard and Scholes. He may not have contributed as much for as long as the others. But, pound for pound, even Scholes and Gerrard couldn’t touch Toure at his best – a one man battering ram who also, rather unfairly, has sublime feet. Sometimes, when he can’t be bothered to go around players, as if by magic, he just goes through them.
Whoever you support, and however fiercely, football lovers watch the game precisely because of players like Toure – forces of nature who somehow keep raising the bar. Just when you think you have seen his best he does something even more ridiculous.
soccersweep just loves him – plain and simple. And we will be gutted when he departs the English football scene.
But now Manchester City have to replace him with someone who can drive on the next great vintage. At 32 in May, other clubs are beginning to woo Toure, perhaps in the knowledge that he’s offski come the end of the season. The Daily Mail today quotes The Inter Director, Marco Fassone, as saying:
‘Who doesn’t dream of having a player like him? Toure would give our midfield line something that we are lacking,’
‘But his wages and City’s asking price might be a big obstacle.’
Manchester City will have to adapt their formation or try – rather improbably – to go like for like and replace the forward thrust, goals and outrageous wizardry that Toure brings to the team.
For our money, the only players who could aspire to this style and quality are Koke and Ross Barkley. It seems crazy to suggest the latter, on recent form, but we could see him doing a similar job in years to come for Manchester City.
But there is no obvious solution and, while the need for a replacement is becoming ever more immediate, this conundrum could boggle Manchester City for some time to come.
Let’s enjoy some Yaya Magic.
