by PrezIke » Tue May 17, 2016 2:49 am
Became my favourite player with those runs down the middle that caused defences nightmares, brushing aside tackles like a swashbuckling tight end or running back in American football or rubgy player. His performance in our 2nd title winning season was other worldly, where it felt like every time he would take a free kick he would score, and probably has more goals in important matches throughout his tenure than anyone else during this era, and that also includes Agueeeerrooooo. He was also the ignition key to our attacking engine with his masterful build up play, vision only bested by Silva, one-twos, and capacity to switch play via those curling cross pitch passes.
I genuinely love all of the key and cult players that came in or played for us during these years, so it's always hard to pick one.
I think part of the change in attitude came after he felt slighted, and justifiably so if you ask me, after he came in 3rd behind Gerrard in some Player of the Year awards in 2013-14, when really only Suarez deserved to be ahead of him, and only slightly I'd say. He was the definition of beast that season. Losing a step in Pellegrini's second season, and another one or two this season, along with a massive ego hurt his standing with a number of fans. What some seem to forget may have been the effects of the loss of his brother that summer and how it may have led to his poor decision to react about his birthday, which his agent decided to pray upon further not thinking how he was hurting his client's standing with the fans.
Will miss the man mountain, and wish him the best wherever he goes. I hope over time fans warm up to him as I have seen in other cases of similar memory because the positives far outweigh the concerns. Yaya Touré. City Legend. Full stop.