West Brom 0 Manchester City 3
Manchester City Toure 9', 24', Kompany 59'
Man of the match David Silva (Manchester City)
We need to talk about Kevin. We need to talk about Raheem, too.
But while Manchester City’s prospective signing and record buy could form a futuristic creative axis, assembled for the best part of £100 million (Dh572.6m), they were upstaged by the product of a previous spending spree.
Kevin de Bruyne wants to join City. Wolfsburg believe his head has been turned and, on the day it became apparent the Belgian is likelier to end up at the Etihad Stadium, the £49m acquistion Raheem Sterling made his debut. Their array of expensive, expansive attacking midfielders is increasing. If Sterling’s appeal lies partly in his potential, De Bruyne’s is evident in the statistics.
He contributed 16 goals and 27 assists to Wolfsburg’s cause last season. Yet Yaya Toure’s two goals against West Bromwich Albion served as a reminder that City already possess a statistical marvel of a midfielder. It is only 15 months since he concluded a 24-goal campaign.
Such players are rarities. They are also match-winners.
Read more:
– Wolfsburg chief expects Kevin De Bruyne to ‘entertain’ offer from Manchester City
– Raheem Sterling will be an instant success at Manchester City, says Manuel Pellegrini
An often obdurate West Brom team were overwhelmed 3-0. City were slick and classy, producing a performance of elegant authority. Toure gave them incision.
While Arsenal lost, Chelsea drew and Manchester United scarcely impressed in victory, they made much the most convincing opening statement of any of the title favourites.
First impressions count. Toure began last season under a storm; a summer of speculation, prompted by comments from his preposterous agent, Dimitri Seluk, brought questions about his attitude.
His body language was deemed evidence of a lack of commitment. The personal tragedy of the death of his brother Ibrahim was overlooked. He was criticised for failing to replicate the superlative form he showed in the 2013/14 campaign. Without impetus, he did not have the same influence.
After a summer of tranquillity, Toure has started this season rather better. Two goals inside 25 minutes, the second curled with expert precision in familiar fashion, represented the ideal opening.
His first strike required a double deflection, and David Silva is certainly entitled to claim it. If the Ivorian’s luck may be changing, his profile certainly is. Sterling’s controversial, drawn-out transfer enabled Toure to blend into the background. His May vow to stay silenced the transfer talk.
This year offers a chance to revert to being the amiable, laid-back character off the pitch, and the productive powerhouse on it, that he was in each of City’s title-winning campaigns.
Sterling may not be finisher or finished article just yet. A capacity to spring the offside trap should have brought the 20-year-old Englishman a debut goal. Instead, his shot did not have the required accuracy and Boaz Myhill extended his left hand to save.
Yet his pace brought signs of a promising understanding. Silva appreciates speedy runners. The Spaniard likes to thread passes between centre-back and full-back, looking for colleagues to dart in behind defences to then supply the crosses. Sterling obliged at times.
He has to do the running, but the Spaniard ran the game. West Brom found themselves chasing shadows. Clean-sheet specialists found their record dirtied from the off.
Tony Pulis had to change his tactics inside half an hour. Manuel Pellegrini belatedly discovered the perils of playing 4-4-2 last season. The West Brom manager reached the same conclusion when City outnumbered his side in midfield. He resorted to bringing on Claudio Yacob to man-mark Silva.
Set pieces afforded Silva some breathing space. He duly delivered the corner that Vincent Kompany headed in.
The captain, like vice-captain Toure, may have a point to prove after an underwhelming campaign last year. Each began with the air of a man determined to do just that. This may be a new era for City, but the old guard illustrated that they are not ready to be swept away by a wave of change.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at NatSportUAE
