Six foot three inch Ivorian central midfielder Yaya Toure has joined big Premier League spenders Manchester City on a five year deal from European club giants Barcelona. Toure joins older brother Kolo in the Eastlands setup and his signing pushes City’s spending to over £60 million pounds following the earlier captures of Hamburg and Germany international left back Jerome Boateng and ex-Valencia starlet David Silva.
The Ivory Coast international has joined City for a fee of around £27.5million, after three highly successful years with the Catalan giants, where Yaya won the La Liga twice and the Copa Del Rey. He also played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s Champions League Final success in 2009.
City chief Roberto Mancini told the club’s official website that Yaya Toure is “a another fantastic signing for Manchester City, and I am very pleased Yaya has joined us, he is a very good player.” He also added that he believes Toure’s “experience and ability will be very important for us.”
Toure will have competition for places at the City of Manchester Stadium, with Nigel De Jong, Gareth Barry, Stephen Ireland and Patrick Vieira all fighting to occupy the central midfield roles at the Abu Dhabi owned club. Expect more deals to pass through the chequebooks at the City of Manchester Stadium, as Roberto Mancini looks to strengthen his squad ahead of their forthcoming Europa League campaign, in which Toure will look to play a prominent and key role.
The question now on everybody’s lips is can the introduction of Toure help them win the Premier League, like so many City fans have been dreaming of since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi billionaires? In my opinion, no it can’t. The introduction of Nigel De Jong in the previous summer transfer window was supposed to have the same impact that Toure is stirring and City still finished outside the Champions League positions. They have done a shrewd piece of business by recruiting David Silva, as he will give the attacking flair and ingenuity that Manchester City have missed since the days of Georgi Kinkladze at Maine Road, but the signing of Toure shows their transfer market inexperience.
Yet again, Manchester City have wielded their financial muscles, without thinking of the club consequences. This move guarantees the exit door for Stephen Ireland and losing him is a massive blow to the club, as he is adored by the fans and I enjoy the way he plays and the variety he brings to City’s way of play. This signing also leaves either De Jong or Gareth Barry sitting on the bench, and with both of them progressing through the group stages of the World Cup with Holland and England respectively, they will feel they deserve a better chance than a midfielder who spent most of his time playing as a makeshift, although readily able, central defender. City will not want to lose the bite and feistiness that Barry and De Jong supplied in spades last season.
I understand the move on Toure’s behalf, as he wants first-team football at a rapidly growing football club both on the pitch and off. However, the conflict in midfield will again derail City and the fact that Mancini will have to juggle three top quality defensive midfielders into a team full of attacking flair from Tevez, Silva and Wright-Phillips will contribute to a low team morale and ultimately end up in another trophyless season and another Thursday night, Channel 5 job for the Manchester side. Whatever happens, City will make for interesting viewing when August comes.
they are signings many starlets but my question is there can be only 11 players on football pitch perhaps strategy has to do something with player so only starlets cant bring first premier league place for manchester city
Liverpool should try to sign Ireland
I think you’re dismissing Man City a little early. They missed out on a Champions League Place after changing Managers mid season, tying 7 games in a row. With Tevez barely playing in the beginning of the season and Adebayor not being there mentally after the Togo bus attack. I realize that every team has adversity, but for a squads first season together that is a lot to overcome. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and i think these are quality acquisitions building upon last years strong showing. Last year they played De Jong/Barry along side each other and while i think De Jong will probably move on. I think you’ll see Barry/Toure next to each other in the same fashion with Silva/AJ on the wings and Tevez/Adebayor up front. It’ll be a shame to see super Stevie move on but its probably best for him, he withered away last year even when given the chance he wasn’t the same.
tim, i agree with what you are saying, but you can’t underpin success on the amount of money that is spent. teams such as manchester united, liverpool and arsenal have built reputations on spending money on worthwhile players, not to show how much money they are sitting on. Also, you can’t honestly tell me that Stephen Ireland was given a fair chance last season. He was behind Patrick Vieira for most of the season and Vieira is a washed-up has-been, who would be better sat in the ITV commentary box with Marcel Desailly. I still predict City to have a fruitful season, but still miss out on the Champions League spots again. That’s just how I feel.
It brings me great joy reading post’s that right city off before a ball has been kicked ,its shows how nervous other fans are of what is going on at Eastlands
how many would honestly bet a decent amount of money on man city not being top 4 at the end of the season ?
i know i wouldn’t
Gareth Barry isn’t a top midfielder. I don’t think any City or Villa fan thinks that.
Bryan,
Behind Patrick Vieira for most of the season? Vieira didn’t make his city debut until Feb 8th against Hull, then he was suspended for three games almost immediately. Ireland who has been a favorite of mine for a few seasons had nearly seven months to stake a claim. Also, i haven’t verified this blog posts stats but it says that Ireland started 23 matches for City this past season to Vieira’s 9(see link below). Man City isn’t flexing their financial muscle just because they can are instead trying to add fortification to the what the new regime believes are its biggest weaknesses. Remember he only made two January signings (Vieira and A.J.).
I think your criticism has merit if Mark Hughes was still in charge. he bought players in January 09, then bought the same positions in the summer. He had no strategy, just big names.
http://man-city-issues.blogspot.com/2010/05/citys-0910-season-statistics-only-22.html
Absolute garbage. Firstly the cheque book will be out many more times before the end of the window. Kolarov next, then probably Milner plus two or three others in the next couple of weeks. Only when the full squad has been assembled can you truly asses City’s chances for next season. With the Europa and Cups we could end up playing a lot of games so everyone will get a run out at some point.
They look to just be purchasing what big names they can from the market. Crappy, bad policy imo. I don’t expect them to do much better next year. We’ll see though.
Really, Lyle? This seriously strikes you as seat-of-the-pants, impulse buying with no rhyme or reason?
The plan as laid out immediately after Sheik Mansour’s takeover called for Champions League-caliber players two-deep at each position. All three of this summer’s signings address those needs. Having depth will be critical this season, with City set to play a maximum of 69 matches between the league, domestic cup, and European competitions, making squad rotation extremely important. Unlike some of the competition, City showed last season they aren’t treating the Carling Cup as a chance to give youth players a run-out.
To wit, here are City’s current first- and second-choice teams:
First-choice:
——————————Given————————-
Boateng———–K. Touré——–Lescott(3)——–Bridge(1)
——————-de Jong———–Y. Touré————-
A. Johnson——————————————–Silva
—————-Tévez————–Adebayor(2)————
Second-choice:
——————————Hart—————————
Zabaleta——–Richards(3)———Kompany(3)—–Garrido(1)
—————-Vieira—————–Barry—————-
Wright-Phillips————————————Bellamy
—————–Santa Cruz(2)———–Robinho————-
Notes:
1. Garrido is certain to be sold. Bridge will become second-choice with likelihood of Lazio’s Kolarov signing this week.
2. Santa Cruz is very likely to be sold. If Wolfsburg’s Dzeko or Liverpool’s Torres are signed, Adebayor drops to the second-choice team.
3. With City looking to sign another left-footed defender (Benfica’s David Luiz being the likely target), Kompany would switch over to RCB on the second-chocie team, with Luiz and Lescott battling it out for first- and second-choice honors at LCB.
I still do not understand why ppl cannot mind their business. Leave Manchester City the hell alone. If they choose to sign 50 players, it is their money and their decisions. Meanwhile am a Chelsea.
Ya YaToure, Tevez, Adebayor, Robinho, Silva, Boateng,probably Balotelli and Zlatan. Man Utd are already shaking.
City’s main problem continues to be that their locker room is still explosive over egos and they have a LOT of talent at the SAME POSITIONS
Several players will be VERY angry very shortly as they are sat
It will happen and will cause tension yet again
bryan lad, your football knowledge is understandably awful. Ive seen old women with more knowledge on yaya toure and city. Biased? it seems so…
man city is the great club in english league. perhaps city will be the next league winner.but still needs to consider to sign player like play maker and defence.