Dickov: "Midfield Pairing Will Be Key"
Paul Dickov has already started to build up his side ahead of the start of the season by claiming that the midfield pairing of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho will be key for City's title charge. The two midfielders have already partnered up several times in pre-season to great effect, and now their Scottish boss Paul Dickov has challenged them to do it again, on the competitive stage.
Since signing for City, the followers of the club have started to notice the similarities between Fernandinho, who signed this summer for a fee of around £23m from Shakhtar Donetsk, and iconic midfielder Yaya Toure, who has been a key part of the side since signing from Barcelona two years ago. Fernandinho is described as "a defensive midfielder with a box to box style of play, contributing in large part to the defense and the attack. With a powerful shot and great passing range, Fernandinho has played in important part in breaking up opposition attacks and creating goal scoring opportunities", which is very much what the Ivorian Toure has brought to the team in his time at the club.
Seeing as Fernandinho was signed in the time when everyone was convinced Manuel Pellegrini was being lined up as Mancini's replacement, before the Chilean opted to join FC Twente, many were questioning how much Fernandinho would feature in Dickov's plans for City once he was announced as a shock appointment. Thankfully, it seems Dickov has seen sense, and Fernandinho was a constant in the pre-season games, which were controlled by City's assistant manager Brian Kidd. Fernandinho is already looking like an important part of the City lineup for the next three or four years, but can he have as much of an effect as Yaya Toure has had on the side?
Well, it certainly seems a daunting task for the Brazilian, given what Toure has already accomplished with the Blues. In his first season, he scored two vial goals for Manchester City at Wembley, one in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, and one in the final against Stoke City, both of which were narrowly won 1-0 by Toure's goal. Finally, silverware had been brought home by the blue half of Manchester, and owed to the Ivorian, who had been a constant part of the team. In the next campaign, no-one could question the effect he had. His powerful surging runs were a constant threat, with him seemingly able to take it past everyone with incredible ease. He scored vital goals throughout the season, but none more-so than the two he scored at Newcastle's St. James' Park in the penultimate game of the season. The Blues had recovered from eight points behind in the title race to go top of the table with a win against Manchester United in the previous games, and all they required was to win their last two games. However, in this one they were struggling, until Yaya Toure curled a shot into the bottom corner from fully 25 yards with 20 minutes to go, and then scored another from close in at the end of the game to seal the victory, and to take City into the last game top of the table. As we know, City won this game 3-2 over QPR with two dramatic late goals in injury time to seal the title.
So, it'll take a lot to top that, as we can see. But for now at least, Paul Dickov wants Fernandinho and Yaya Toure to work in harmony in the middle of midfield, to create an almost unstoppable pairing. Speaking in a press conference at St. Mary's ahead of his first competitive game in charge of the Blues, Dickov had this to say "obviously, I've been brought in to regain the title for City. That's there for everyone to see. But what every title winning side needs is players who can do very well in midfield. Last season, United had Carrick. This season, we have Fernandinho, as well as Yaya Toure who is still here. If they can work together well, they will become an almost unstoppable pairing, and comparable to pretty much every other midfield pairing worlwide, aside from Xavi and Iniesta. I think, if they work together, we have a very, very good chance of regaining the title, starting here at Southampton."
Manchester City are already being talked up as favourites for the title, having improved their squad with players such as Leighton Baines and Dede, whereas Manchester United have failed to strengthen as much as last year, only buying Yohan Cabaye and Zakaria Bakkali, with the transfer window just a couple of weeks from shutting. However, Chelsea have bought two very good players, Robert Lewandowski and Rafael as they look to try and return to their status as title contenders, under the Second Coming of Jose Mourinho. Despite the strengthening attempts of other clubs, many do expect City to win the title this season, and none are more expectant than the City fans.
In
Out
City 4-0 City Reserves – Silva (2), Toure, Tevez
Al-Jazira 1-0 City – None
thanks for reading 
Subs Used: Nasri for Navas (64)
Goals: Dede OG (25); Nastasic (18), Silva (54), Aguero (77)
MOTM: Silva (City)
Injuries: Pablo Zabaleta (twisted knee, 2-3 weeks)
FC Porto – Portugal
Zenit St. Petersburg – Russia
Manchester City – England
Red Bull Salzburg – Austria
