Yaya Toure’s Commitment To Manchester City In Question

By Adam Clifton @adamdclifton on October 17, 2014

Yaya Toure has been a staple at Manchester City since his arrival in 2010. In his time at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City have won the Barclay’s Premier League twice in Toure’s time at the club. His contribution to the club is without question, but many have noticed a difference in his play in the early part of this season.

In seven games, Toure has contributed only a single goal and zero assists. Although the season has just begun, there has been a noticeable difference in the play of the Ivory Coast midfielder.  hen in full flight, Toure is one of the most spectacular players to watch in the Premier League. Pairing his long strides with his silky smooth touch can mesmerize defenders. Toure is well known for his calm demeanor in possession and the relaxed way he plays the game. At his best, Toure is one of the best players in the world and is viewed as the straw that stirs the drink for Manchester City.

This season has been different for Toure. His calm and relaxed demeanor has appeared to be lazy and unmotivated. There have been several occasions when Toure has failed to maintain his defensive duties. Following poor passes from teammates, Toure has outwardly expressed his frustration. These are things Manchester City fans have not been used to seeing from Yaya Toure.

There could be several reasons for the drop in play. Most notably, Toure had expressed disappointment with the club during the summer when they failed to recognize his birthday. This led many to speculate Toure was looking for an excuse to leave the club. Following transfer rumors, Toure pledged his allegiance to Manchester City and the problem appeared to be over. However, recent rumors are hinting toward Toure not renewing his contract with Manchester City.

Another possible reason for the drop in performance could be the death of Yaya Toure’s brother, Ibrahim Toure. His brother passed away while Toure was representing the Ivory Coast at the 2014 World Cup.Following the death of his brother, Toure expressed frustration with Manchester City and the way they handled the entire situation. Toure claimed he was not allowed time off to go see his ill brother. There still could be lingering frustration on Toure’s part with regards to Manchester City.

Regardless of the reason, Yaya Toure is a vital piece of the puzzle at Manchester City. City are going to need their star midfielder playing to the best of his abilities if they want to have any chance of accomplishing their Premier League and Champions League aspirations. At his best, Yaya Toure looks poised and confident on the pitch. At his worst, he appears lazy and unmotivated. The success of this team will depend greatly upon which version of Toure shows up this season.