Yaya Touré's ingenious 82nd minute strike sent Manchester City on their way to a vital 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday evening, but it was David Silva's heroics that sustained City's hunger in attack throughout the 90 minutes and eventually shrugged off Paul Lambert's stubborn Villains.
City's attacking play had a leisurely undertone and the midfield decomposed under the agility present in the Villa counter-attack, but what the blues lacked in speed, David Silva made up for in imagination.
(Image via http://outsideoftheboot.com/tactics-creator/)
Silva keeps striking gold.
Manchester City relied heavily on the pace and physique of their forward players for goals last term, but the blues' attacking play has acquired a comparatively placid undercurrent so far this season. Pellegrini's men are finding it more difficult to break down resolute defences, and creativity, rather than agility, has become their main mechanism of penetration.
Accordingly, David Silva's role in the side is now even more imperative. The Spaniard is the league's most gifted footballer by a stretch and has acted as a monotone for City's play ever since he joined the club from Valencia in 2010, but with Yaya Touré's legs now teetering under nearly 32-years of age, Silva's innovation around the 18-yard-box is even more crucial in unlocking defences.
On Saturday, Silva completed 87% of his passes and created three of City's 19 chances, but it was the direction of those passes that will encourage the Etihad faithful. The 28-year-old always looks to penetrate and his assuredness in possession, especially in heavily populated areas of the pitch, affords Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko the time to find the space that Silva then sprays the ball into. The Spanish international didn't register an assist on Saturday evening, but his ability to hold onto the ball allowed City's midfield to move up the pitch and occupy dangerous positions around Aston Villa's penalty area.
(A graphic of David Silva's completed passes against Aston Villa - via @Squawka)
Before Manchester City's 2-0 victory, Silva had completed 199 passes in his opponent's half in the Premier League this season, with only Mesut Özil (214) and Eden Hazard (206) completing more. The statistic illustrates his desire to move City forward, command the possession and permeate opposition defences - and that could be Manuel Pellegrini's key to retaining the Premier League title this term.
Silva's immaculate display was applauded by a number of the game's famous faces yesterday evening:
(Manchester City legend Paul Lake, QPR midfielder Joey Barton, and BBC pundit Phil Neville all took to Twitter to show their appreciation for the Spanish maestro).
Was Nasri's injury a blessing in disguise?
Samir Nasri was ruled out for a month after picking up a groin injury in September, but his absence has facilitated the impressive form of James Milner who has been tremendous for the league champions in their last five games.
Nasri endured an underwhelming start to the campaign and often fades out of games characterised by physicality. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, the Premier League is famous for its 'rough and tumble' nature.
The 27-year-old certainly improved under Manuel Pellegrini last season and almost hit the form he consistently exhibited at Arsenal, but generally, Nasri has disappointed in the sky blue of Manchester City since joining the club three years ago.
Much more suited to the expeditiousness of the league and City's game plan this term is James Milner, a player who has long been hideously underrated. The Englishman was instrumental in the 2-0 win over his former club on Saturday, creating seven chances, completing four crosses, and assisting Sergio Agüero for his side's second goal.
(Milner created seven chances against Aston Villa, one of which was an assist - via @Squawka)
Milner offers the pace, energy, tenacity and enthusiasm throughout the 90 minutes that Nasri sometimes lacks, and his versatility makes him one of the most important players in Manuel Pellegrini's squad.
That new contract has to be signed soon.
Go with your Hart, Manuel.
Robbie Savage criticised Manuel Pellegrini's decision to drop Joe Hart to the bench following two confident displays against Chelsea and Bayern Munich - and I whole-heartedly agree.
England's No.1 was excoriated for his poor display against Stoke City in August, but since then, the 27-year-old has commanded his area with authority and has produced a variety of stunning saves to suggest he is still Manchester City's first choice goalkeeper.
Hart has successfully claimed 95% of crosses into his box this season, and along with Swansea City's Łukasz Fabiański, has produced a league high of six punches. He's a much more secure option than his Argentinian counterpart.
By no means is Hart the finished article, but rotation in the goalkeeping department will only hinder his development.
