Toure on the Portsmouth win

The returning captain - and my man of the match - on today's victory:

"It was an important win for us. If we want to be in the top four then we know that we need to win these kind of games. This League is really tough - it doesn't matter who you play, you have to raise your game and try your hardest to win. That's what we had to do against Portsmouth.

"At the start of the season we dropped a few points to the lower teams. But we are strong as a team and we defended well today after the two goals that we scored."

"We've got Hull next week and then Bolton. They are really important games for us. We need to take the points against the teams who are in the lower part of the table."

Would we have lost earlier in the season playing as we did today? Possibly, but although we were not particularly good today one thing that was noticeable was that the team retained their focus and concentration, particularly in defence.

Earlier in the season, what was hurting us throughout the run of draws was poor decision making and a lack of concentration which led to crucial goals being conceded.

Kudos then to Roberto Mancini for the way in which he has focused on this area - an aspect that will also be key in our next two fixtures, that we realistically have to take six points from.

Toure returns

Our captain is back following his exit in the African Cup of Nations, and there is the possibility that he could go straight into the side on Wednesday evening:

KOLO Toure will come back into contention for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against United at Old Trafford after Ivory Coast were knocked out of the African Nations Cup.

Blackpool striker Hameur Bouazza scored in injury time as Algeria went into the semi-finals with a 3-2 win in Cabinda.

Toure, who had a late goal ruled out for offside, may now come straight back into the Blues side with his experience bound to come into boss Roberto Mancini's thinking.

It is perhaps a measure of the impact that Dedryck Boyata has made in the main alongside Vincent Kompany and Micah Richards since coming into the side during Toure's absence that it is generated a real talking point as to whether he should retain his place even with the possible availability of Toure.

There is also of course the possibility of Micah Richards lining up centrally given the option of a fit again Nedum Onouha at right back (as we saw on Sunday).

My hunch though is that if Toure is ready to go fitness wise that Mancini opts to play him alongside Vincent Kompany as the central pairing.

Toure available for Wolves

Captain Kolo Toure will play at Wolves on Monday night.

The central defender will lead the side out at Molineux before heading off to Angola for the African Cup of Nations.

The news is a boost for the Blues who are currently thin on the ground for central defenders as both Joleon Lescott and Nedum Onouha recover from injury.

Ivory Coast stalwart Toure will though fly out for the tournament before the FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

“Kolo will be in the team at Wolves,” confirmed boss Roberto Mancini who is still wrestling with a miserably long injury list. “But it will be too early for many of the other injured players to return.”

>>mcfc.co.uk

Toure praises squad depth

Tough talking from the skipper:

“We have to make sure we build on the result from Saturday,” declared the skipper. It is no good beating Chelsea with all the emotion that entailed and then coming home from Bolton with nothing.

“We have got to make sure we remain mentally tough, it is not enough to beat the best sides we have to produce the same against everyone.”

“What is encouraging is the depth we have in the squad. We lost both full backs during the game and Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland before it but we still deserved our win over a team that was five points clear at the top of the table.”

Toure makes an important part about the depth in the squad and with players like Johnson, Kompany, Robinho and (to a lesser extent) Santa Cruz returning to full fitness the squad has a very strong feel to it, with some quality players likely to miss out on a place on the bench, let alone the starting eleven.

As much as anything, this depth will likely build competition rather than divisiveness (as we were told by some in the media prior to the season) and there does appear to be a strong unity within the squad at present - evidenced by goal celebration and in particular the reaction at the final whistle on Saturday.

The depth in quality is something that will also likely be utilised over the next couple of months during the busy Christmas and New Year period and throughout January with the Carling Cup sem-finals and FA Cup tie(s), when Toure and Adebayor will be absent on international duty.

Toure and Adebayor to miss significant time in January?

According to the Mail today, we could be set to lose the services of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure for upto 10 matches in January:

But they have learned that star players such as Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure at Manchester City, Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, plus Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue, of Arsenal, could be made to leave England as early as December 26 – even though the tournament does not start until January 10.

FIFA rules state clearly that countries can ask players to report a full two weeks ahead of a major tournament, meaning that key English-based players could join training camps as early as December 27.

No official word on their departure date as yet, and I'm certain that the club will negotiate to ensure both players are available for the two league fixtures before Christmas and New Year.

If so, it will only be four league games the duo miss (perhaps less if their countries are eliminated at an early stage - more likely for Adebayor than Toure), but there will be the added possibility of them missing a potential Carling Cup semi-final (both legs) and the FA Cup 3rd and 4th round ties.

Of course, this shouldn't be a surprise to the management and you do hope that the usual disrespectful moaning from certain managers about the tournament isn't something we are going to hear again throughout January.

Toure - 'Time to impose'

After a run of draws, we see the first rallying call from our new skipper, Kolo Toure:

"We need to impose ourselves as we have some gifted players in this dressing room," he told the club's website. "We can enjoy our football by passing it and controlling games. That's what we need to achieve now. The team needs time but as time goes by we need to improve.

"City is not the team it was before, a lot of things have changed and our mentality has to change as well. We cannot be happy with a draw or drawing four games in a row. Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool would never be happy with that, which is why they have been at the top, so neither can we."

He is right of course. Our form at home is going to be the key driver for our ambition at a shot at the top four. Whilst 'must win' is a phrase thrown around far too easily, Saturday's game at home to Burnley is one we need to be winning on a consistent basis this season.

Talk is one thing of course, but the squad has an air of determination about it and I maintain we will return to winning ways this weekend.

Toure named captain

Confirmation of the new captain to replace the departed Richard Dunne:

“He has all the attributes you need to be a good captain – great enthusiasm for the game, and is nice and vocal in the dressing room and before, during and after games. And he wants to drive the club forward.

“We are very lucky to now have that mentality in our dressing room with a lot of the lads, who could all carry the mantle of being a football team captain. But Kolo is the better option for us.

“You see those qualities from afar but until you work closely with a player you don’t get inside the way he conducts himself, and how he is as a man and as a footballer.

“Having worked with him for a couple of months, he has shown good qualities on and off the field, and the qualities he has shown are the ones you can use to the benefit of everybody."

No surprise with the choice given Toure had been given the armband the past couple of games, with the official announcement delayed until the sale of Dunne.

There were other candidates touted of course, Kompany surfaced as a long term option during the latter stages of 2008/09, whilst Gareth Barry emerged as a candidate following his signing in the summer.

I posted recently about the lack of 'City' experience in the squad so it was always likely that whoever was appointed would not be a long term 'clubman', and whilst he does have a strong profile and stature he is not hugely experienced and had issues at Arsenal.

Of course, Toure is slated to be away for during the start of 2010 on African Cup of Nations duty, so a replacement for him will be needed then.

My money would be on Gareth Barry.

Toure signs

Confirmed by the club earlier today.

Mark Hughes on the signing:

"I am delighted to welcome Kolo to Manchester City. It is no secret that we have been looking to strengthen our defence, and in Kolo I feel we have recruited a world class player. He brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his seven seasons with Arsenal,” said City boss Mark Hughes.

“Kolo has been a central figure in a very strong Arsenal team for many years, and I have been an admirer of him for a long time. He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room.”

And Toure himself:

"It is always difficult to leave a place where you have spent the last eight years and had good times but I felt the time was right for a new challenge and I am still at an age where I feel I am at my peak and will play my best football."

"For me it was time to move but only for the right club and I feel that Manchester City is that club. The ambition here is clear to see and is big. Everyone knows this club is moving and that is really, really important".

And so Hughes finally lands the first defender of the summer spending spree as he continues to overhaul the squad from the one he arrived to just over twelve months ago.

Despite some of the protestations from Arsenal fans who have commented on previous Toure posts, I don't think we are landing ourselves a player who is over the hill. And certainly not a mercenary. Far from it.

Toure is still only twenty-eight years of age, with plenty of mileage left. As far as Hughes is concerned, he fits his player prototype perfectly. Strong, athletic and possessing pace, he also has Premiership experience.

Wenger has spoken of having seven centre-halves which is why he could afford to let Toure depart, but Toure is not at the bottom of that pile. Not if that list includes Djourou, Senderos and Silvestre.

That is not to say Toure is John Terry though. Whilst the players we have added follow a pattern, they are what I would describe as 'second tier' players. Good, or very good players, but lacking that real top quality. However, our squad is virtually unrecognisable from when Hughes took over and every position has been strengthened (both from a talent and importantly a mental perspective) from what was inherited.

A key point to note though is that Toure undoubtedly strengthens our squad, and he will step straight into the starting line-up. At the same time (and crucially) his arrival does also weaken Arsenal's squad.

With all at the club appearing to be making a concerted push for the top four this is an important point, as of the sides currently with a hold on those positions Arsenal are undoubtedly the most vulnerable.

Toure to undergo medical

As expected, the possible transfer of Kolo Toure has progressed since news broke this afternoon that we were in talks with Arsenal and The Guardian reports that Toure is set to leave Arsenal's training camp this evening to ahead of undergoing a medical:

Touré is expected to fly directly into Manchester to take a medical examination tomorrow and finalise the personal terms of a contract that will see him join the growing band of players at City who earn in excess of £100,000 a week.

He will become the second Arsenal player to move from Arsenal to City this summer, following Emmanuel Adebayor for a combined outlay of £39m.

This follows earlier comments from Arsene Wenger, in which he conceded that Toure is set to move:

"We will see what's happening in the next 24 hours, nothing is decided yet.

"We have seven centre-backs and I am in the position where I have to play some in midfield but of course Kolo is a very good player and we will see what will happen in the next 24 hours."

It seems all but confirmed that Toure will join, to possibly create a partnership alongside Nedum Onouha. Whilst Toure is a good player, he is not a great player, belonging (I believe) in that second tier of players and whilst a good addition he is obviously overpriced and you do have to question just how much of an upgrade he is over Onouha or Kompany in that role.

His loss will be felt by Arsenal (as will that of Adebayor) and to dismiss his potential departure as selling on a player who is on the slide is stretching matters somewhat, and whilst Wenger is confident he will be easily replaced, I'm not so sure.

Looking at Arsenal's options, whilst the capture of Vermaelen is a potentially good one, it is still potential and there is a big risk involved with such a move. His loss and the experience he brings will clearly benefit us, whilst weakening Arsenal at a time where they do not appear to making the progress sides around them are doing.

Club in talks with Arsenal over Toure

BBC Sport are reporting as breaking news that we are now in talks with Arsenal regarding the signing of Kolo Toure.

More to come no doubt before the end of the day.

Who next?

Dusting himself off following the rejection by John Terry, it seems that Mark Hughes has picked himself back up and got himself back in the game if today's reports are anything to go by.

Attention appears to be focusing back on both Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure, with Toure the stronger rumour and the suggestion seems to be that a bid either has, or will shortly be lodged.

Jack has mused over the merits of adding one or both of the pair, and whilst Toure seems the likelier in terms of current progress, my own preference would be to add the one player - Joleon Lescott, namely because Nedum Onouha is a better player than either. A partnership between Lescott and Onouha also looks a stronger one than Toure and Onouha, two players of similar styles as opposed to the more rugged, defensive qualities of Lescott.

A point to make about bringing in multiple defenders is, that whilst strengthening is required, the rotation in defence is not as prevalent as in other areas (which is why we can carry half a dozen attacking players) and looking at the top sides in the Premier League, they are built on a solid, consistent partnership at the back, so carrying too many defenders is by far from an ideal situation.