Every week, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet soccer commentator James Sharman about the big stories and issues in the Premier League, and preview the weekend’s games.
What did you make of the Professional Footballers’ Association team of the year? Any picks you disagreed with? Anybody not on the list who you’d make a case for being included?
I didn’t have any major problems with the selections. Personally I had Laurent Koscielny at centre back beside John Terry, with Gary Cahill absent. I had Cesc Fabregas in midfield over Phillipe Coutinho, and Aaron Cresswell at left fullback instead of Ryan Bertrand. As I said though, it’s all pretty subjective and I haven’t gone to bed angry over the selections.
Quite honestly, the PFA awards carry less weight for me than the Football Writers awards. It really is a popularity contest with the players, and can often get political as they try and back their guys. It many cases, they don’t even take it seriously, leaving club staff to fill out the ballots for them. The Writers award has more integrity, and usually involves people who have watched ten times as many games as the actual footballers.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Liverpool vs. Queens Park Rangers on the four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET, West Ham United vs. Burnley on Sportsnet ONE at 9:30 am ET, Sunderland vs. Southampton on Sportsnet World at 9:30 am ET and Manchester United vs. West Bromwich Albion on Sportsnet ONE at noon ET. || Sportsnet World NOW || Broadcast schedule
Chelsea’s Oscar was injured about 15 minutes into the 0-0 draw at Arsenal last week when goalkeeper David Ospina collided with him. The midfielder continued playing after receiving treatment, but was substituted at halftime and taken to the hospital to have some scans. Should he have been allowed back into the game?
Absolutely not. I understand how difficult it is for medical staff and coaches, and that often this needs to fall on the player to be honest. However, how many times have you played sport, banged yourself up but said nothing is wrong? I know I made a career out of it in an extremely amateur and mediocre sporting life. In this case, though, it was absolutely clear that Oscar had his bell rung. Immediately after the collision he was out of it, and you don’t need a brain scan to show that.
Times have changed, and it isn’t because we are just softer now (although we are) it is that we are more educated on the subject of head injuries. The very fact that he was taken to hospital at half time is all the evidence you need to know that he should not have played on. Perhaps the referee should be allowed the use of video replay to assess a head injury. Watch the slow-mo replay seconds after that collision, and it is obvious he should have been taken off.
How great is it that Bournemouth has been promoted and will play in the Premier League for the first time next season?
I thinks it’s fantastic. The Premier League needs new blood every now and then, and Bournemouth have been superb all year long, and Eddie Howe is a young English manager that has earned his stripes. It might well be a short stay, but as the likes of Burnley, Blackpool and even Wigan have shown in recent years, these teams can bring a lot to the Premier League and provide some pretty special moments.
Sunday programming alert: Watch Manchester City vs. Tottenham on Sportsnet World at 10:30 am ET. || Sportsnet World NOW || Broadcast schedule
Manchester United hosts West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Can Robin van Persie still have a decisive roll with the Red Devils in the future? Should they look into possibly moving him in the off-season?
I would be very surprised if he is back next season. RVP has battled injuries all season, and even as far back as the World Cup it looked as if his slippery slope into decline had begun. If he is healthy I am sure he’ll still score lots of goals, but with his salary, a team with United’s ambition need someone they can rely on. It is probably time he either moved to a smaller club where he can still contribute, or move back to the continent, in a league that is perhaps a slower pace than the Premier League.
Having said all that, if he closes out the season in top form, then it might not take Luis Van Gaal much to give him another chance. LVG and RVP are tight; LVG knows how to use him, and might show some loyalty.
Tottenham visits Manchester City on Sunday. The Blues have been linked with Belgium winger Kevin de Bruyne and French midfielder Paul Pogba. Are these the kinds of players City need to rebuild in the off-season? What other positions do they need to retool?
With Yaya Toure likely on his way out Pogba would be a perfect signing, but then he would be a perfect signing for any club. City need some steel, they need some urgency, they need some swagger and Pogba ticks all those boxes. De Bruyne, too, would be a sound investment, as he has been nothing short of phenomenal for Wolfsburg, although it should be noted he failed to assert himself at Chelsea before moving to Germany.
City needs to get younger, and the core needs a shakeup. Add in these two players, a centre back and another striker, and now you’re talking. Easy right? Not so much as it used to be, as Financial Fair Play is restricting City somewhat, but they still have the means for a marquee signing or two I’m sure.