Manchester City Best Players Last 10 Years: The Midfielders

Man City Square are looking at all of the players Manchester City have had since the takeover on 1 September 2008 to try and select a best XI.

And now we have reached the section of the pitch where the most difficult decisions will need to be made. Choosing just three midfielders from the fantastic bunch I have been lucky enough to watch is almost impossible, but what is clear is that at the outset there is no room for sentiment alone.

Back in the 2008/9 season we were enjoying the return of Shaun Wright Phillips and the monumental signing of Nigel De Jong. The following year we supplemented our side with Gareth Barry and the vintage Patrick Viera. In 2010/11 season we started our push towards glory and signed Yaya Toure and David Silva.

In the years which have followed we have seen the addition of Samir Nasri, Owen Hargreaves, Fernandinho, Fernando Reges, Fabian Delph, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva. Somehow we need to whittle down this list to just three.

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There are two players in this list who I think are probably automatic selections for our best midfield of the decade. Kevin De Bruyne has been absolutely sublime in his vision and execution. He has seen passes before they happen and pulled them off. Genuinely one of the best. Added to this is David Silva who I still consider to be the best player I have ever had the pleasure of watching. Like a little magician who somehow manages to conjure space from nowhere.

At this point the remaining spot is a straight battle between two heavyweights – Fernandinho and Yaya Toure. Fernandinho is the fulcrum of our current success and so much can be attributed to his contributions. He silently breaks up the play and moves the ball. Toure however is the powerhouse who motored us through to close our barren spell and earn a first major trophy in my lifetime. His goals, took us to two titles and a Cup Final. On that basis my final midfield spot goes to Yaya.

I can forgive the cake gate situation and his rubbishing of the club and Guardiola because it is what he did for us on the pitch which is the critical factor and it felt to me as though Yaya changed my life.

Man City Square Best Manchester City Midfielders of the Last 10 Years

David Silva

Kevin De Bruyne

Yaya Toure

With an honourable mention for Fernandinho!