What do Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard have in common? The answer is at one time or another each was considered the most indispensable player in the league. In recent weeks however a new pretender has emerged to the throne.
The colossal Yaya Toure has awed pundits in the last week with his game changing displays against Manchester United and Newcastle. He is now widely being championed has the most important player in English football, a player who eclipses not only his team mates (including the warrior Kompany and wondrous Silva) but also fellow luminaries Van Persie and Rooney. Is the Ivorian the most player in the country?
Certainly he has played a pivotal role in these last few weeks in dragging City from the brink of collapse to the cusp of glory. City sorely felt his absence when he was away on African Cup of Nations duty. This writer felt the squad should have coped better but injuries and suspensions to Kompany and the exhaustion of Aguero and Silva compounded the problem. The winning mentality and experience have been clear to see in Toure`s recent performances.
If you were to make a case for him being the most important player in the league, the most compelling argument would be his versatility and the devastating impact he can have at both ends of the pitch. Who else can provide a team with stability in front of the back four with the passing range to instigate attacks and then seamlessly move into attacking midfield and terrify teams with his running power and finishing ability? Toure is a force of nature in full flight and the most athletically intimidating player in Britain. Eyebrows were raised last Sunday when Nasri was taken off for De Jong but observers should have been familiar with Mancini ploy to unleash the rampaging Toure in advanced positions against tiring teams. It is a tried and tested tactic, which worked again to devastating effect.
Perhaps Toure reputation is down to his predilection for scoring defining goals. He was pivotal in last years F.A cup and seems to have been decisive in this year’s title race. He bears the hallmark of a player who will not blink in the spotlight and a player who can sense a key moment and step up accordingly.
It is worth noting the debate is focused on the importance of Toure rather than his raw talent. After all Silva remains the most technically gifted player in the league and his own importance to City cannot be understated, however his tiresome displays in the second half of the season have taken the gloss of his superlative early season form. Particularly as it is his more defensive minded colleagues have come to the fore as City have roared back to the top of the table.
So who are Toure rivals for the most important player? Perhaps Van Persie whose goals have carried Arsenal into the three and whose contact renewal is perceived as pivotal to the Gunners ambitions? Maybe Rooney whose goals have carried an average United to an inch of the title and who has shouldered the burden of expectation alone since the departure of Ronaldo and Tevez? Indeed Rooney importance was such he was allowed to blackmail his United and earn himself a record-breaking deal.
The argument is subjective, and in reality the above players are ever bit as important to their clubs as Toure. However it is the rangy African whose influence has proved most important in the trophy hunt. If there were a player to challenge him it would be his teammate and captain Kompany. The Belgian is now the finest centre back in England and as good as any in the league. But Toure unique ability to transform from a conservative holding man to thrilling attacker gives him the edge. City were derided for spending so much in wages and transfer fees on a player deemed surplus to requirements at Barca. However it seems in this case it was money well spent by the billionaires of City, very well spent indeed.
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