Fellaini completely outshone by Yaya Toure…
1) Marouane Fellaini is good, but he’s no Yaya Toure…
Fellaini has done well in a red shirt ever since his £27.5m from Everton this summer, but today he was outclassed by a truly world-class operator. Toure bossed the midfield, and didn’t let the normally dynamic Fellaini get into the game at all.
Toure’s physicality was impressive, but it was ability to dominate the midfield by driving through the heart of the pitch that really stood out. The Ivorian has started this season brilliantly, and along with Vincent Kompany, is the first name on City’s team sheet.
It’s the meekness that really stands out for United, which is surprising given Fellaini, even if this is his first league start.
Yaya Touré celebrates his goal for Manchester City on #DerbyDay http://t.co/zhedGbfbs9 pic.twitter.com/A1ZkvP8gwJ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 22, 2013
Is there a more complete midfielder than Yaya Toure? The guy can do anything. He bossed that first half. Type of player #LFC need. — AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) September 22, 2013
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) September 22, 2013
2) United are a different team without Robin Van Persie
The prolific Dutch striker had to watch the 4-1 drubbing from the stands, after pulling out late with an injury. United badly, badly missed him…
His ability to spearhead the the side, his brilliant finishing and his excellent ball retention essentially won United the title last season. Rooney and Welbeck did not offer the same option in behind the defence as RVP does, and if United had the Dutchman playing from the start, his ability to regularly score from half-chances could have dramatically changed the result.
United without RVP are very average…. #Justsaying — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 22, 2013
3) City have the attacking talent to tear any team in the world apart…
At times, City were simply breathtaking today, and tore United apart seemingly at will. They had the luxury of leaving Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic on the bench, starting with the ultra-impressive Sergio Aguero partnering Alvaro Negredo up top, with Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas playing on the wings.
David Silva, the brilliant Spanish playmaker, wasn’t even fit enough to make the match day squad, which shows the outstanding depth available to Manuel Pellegrini. Aguero was brilliant, as was Negredo, and the pace and directness of Navas down the right offers City an entire new attacking dimension.
Virtually no side in Europe would be able to live with City in this kind of attacking form.
HALF-TIME Man City 2-0 Man Utd. The hosts dominate with a stunning Aguero goal & Toure just before the break #MCIMUNpic.twitter.com/C2eBKtOcZW — Premier League (@premierleague) September 22, 2013
4) Vincent Kompany completely transforms City’s defence…
Kompany is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, and on today’s showing, we can see why.
Not only is he a brilliant centre-half, but he installs confidence in the players around him. Joe Hart looks like an entirely different goalkeeper when he’s on the pitch, and Matija Nastasic looks like a composed defender, instead of a nervy one.
In short, City’s entire defensive approach is transformed when Kompany leads the side.
City badly missed their Belgian skipper when he was injured at the start of the season
Jamie Carragher describes Vincent Kompany’s display against Utd as one of the best by a centre-back he has ever seen. Some compliment, that. — Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) September 22, 2013
5) David Moyes is still finding his feet at the elite level…
After United’s brilliant midweek Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen, many thought David Moyes had finally stumbled on his best team.
Today though, Kagawa was dropped for the entirely ineffectual Ashley Young, which proved to be a poor decision.
United have now picked up just seven points from five matches, although they have played Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool already.
The upcoming fixtures for United look far friendlier, and will give Moyes another chance to find out what his best team is – as long as RVP returns soon.
“We didn’t play well and they were better. They started much stronger and quicker, but we’ll get better,” @ManUtd boss David Moyes #MCIMUN
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 22, 2013
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