As a child, I used to watch numerous videos that had been passed down to me from cousins, uncles and so on. There were all sorts. Videos that reveled in the 'hilarious' humiliation of professional footballers such as Own Goals and Gaffes. Then there were documentary-like videos of individual players, and coming from a family which is inundated with reds, there was a hefty number of these things that pontificated about, quite rightly I'll admit, George Best, Cantona et al. My favourites, however, were the Football Italia videos, often just recorded episodes from Channel 4, but it made them by no means less holy.
There were some fine imports; Ronaldo, Batistuta and Rui Costa, and of course some stupendous defenders. Nevertheless, none were as pure, nor as loved by myself than the Italian number 10. Le fantasiste. Baggio, Mancini, Zola and then a little bit later, Del Piero and Totti.
As a footballer, Totti is an idol of mine, even now at the age of thirty-six he takes control of a game like I used to think only the said type of player can. Like only a genius can. For quite a long time I hoped that I'd see an Italian certified genius such as Mancini, such as Baggio pull on City's number 10. If we are to see one, it won't be for a number of years as they currently don't look like producing any, unfortunately.
Nevertheless, we need not cry. Spain have duly taken over the attacking-midfielder-mass-production duties from Italy and added their own blends and spices. Italians, of course, have impeccable style, and the way their 10s played football is not excepted here. They also, as individuals, have a lot of substance in their games. These Spaniards are a little bit different. They're all "diminutive" or whatever your adjective of choice maybe to describe the lovely, short-arses. However, individually, they're not as productive in terms of statistics as one may like. Stick them together though, and they're very much the immovable force. That's not to say they can't function unless together though, as all City fans know all too well.
You see, we've got a Spaniard who possibly doesn't chip in with as many goals as he should do. In fact, for one so talented, it amazes me how much his arse can go to pieces in shooting positions.
Many journalists seem to have convinced themselves that Yaya Toure is City's most important player, maybe because he's a big force in midfield. Others may be inclined to say that Kompany is as he's a fantastic centre-back and the captain, the leader in the team. Make no mistake though, it's David Silva.
Silva brings a calming influence to the side that only a Spaniard can. Some people would like him to shoot more which confuses me a little. Generally, exceptional players are exceptional players for a reason and more often than not, this reason is decision-making. I won't do him an injustice though by labelling him as only a calming influence because he is so much more than that.
He is as skilful anyone in the Premier League. he's shown this on so many occasions since joining in 2010. I'm not talking individual pieces of skill but truly masterful displays which included wizardry that you can only find in novels in England. Fulham, Real Madrid, United, Tottenham. I'm certain there are more performances at the end of which I've sat back and thought "Christ, that was so close to a ten-on-ten performance."
When he's out of the side, often due to some nasty swines having snapped at his poorly ankle weeks previously, the difference in quality and purpose is remarkable. The play is slow, lethargic and lacks direction. Nasri is incompatible alongside Silva and often doesn't step up when needed should Silva be out. Yaya can step into an attacking position but, while "he's got good feet for a big man", he has nowhere near the guile, coolness or scheming nature that Silva possesses, nobody at City does.
I' said for a while that I'd love to see Silva behind Aguero, almost like a number ten. A lot of fans might take a skeptical approach towards such a move because of Silva's lack of goals, but what's the point in having arguably your best and certainly your most important player out wide? He doesn't mind doing the dirty work, but I think a player of his magnitude is above that. He's the type you build a side around. He's the piece not a piece.
Sven-For Eriksson once said that there was no point in giving tactical instructions to Mancini,a s he was too good for them. He defied them. Well, it's time that Mancini takes took similar approach with Silva. I don't care if it means leaving three strikers on the bench, even from a purely selfish point of view, I want to see it happen, I desperately want to see Silva in a free role with the defensive shackles off and taking control of games every week. I don't think opposition fans appreciate how good he is, but believe me, he's that good. He could be to Aguero what Mancini was to Vialli.
At last, City have got a genius within their ranks and our formation is limiting him. You don't need to take the shirt, David, just the role, por favor.
