Every week, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet 590 The FAN commentator Greg Brady about the big stories and issues in the Premier League, and preview the weekend’s games.
How many games should Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew be suspended for butting heads with Hull City midfielder David Meyler?
Alan Pardew shouldn’t manage another game this season. It’s that simple. His actions were despicable, dangerous and beyond inappropriate.
I know others have made the argument that Pardew’s a role model, because millions of kids watch the Barclay’s Premier League every weekend. Yes, there’s an element of that. But head-butting in any circumstance is a cowardly and immature act. Pardew was already banned for a pair of games two seasons ago for pushing an assistant referee during a match with Spurs, so this makes this ugly incident impossible for Pardew to shrug off as an isolated mistake.
To the Newcastle manager’s credit, he’s taken responsibility for his actions, has been contrite and accepts he’s facing a lengthy ban. There’s never a good time for an incident like this, but perhaps even for a club like Newcastle, chasing a Europa League spot for next fall, Pardew’s absence could spur them onto a strong finish.
There are 10 matches left. He shouldn’t manage any of them, and Newcastle does have to decide whether he can set the proper example for his players and urge control and discipline for them going forward.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Crystal Palace vs. Southampton (Sportsnet, 9:30 am ET), Norwich City vs. Stoke City (Sportsnet World, 9:30 am ET) and Chelsea vs. Tottenham (Sportsnet ONE, noon ET). Also, watch Arsenal vs. Everton in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup (Sportsnet World, 7:45 am ET). | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky signed new contracts with Arsenal this past week. How important are these two players to the Gunners’ long-term future?
They’re older players, sure, but they’re definite pluses for the Gunners. Rosicky’s deal is only 12 months and a little more tenuous for the 33 year old, but offers important depth for the club.
Arsene Wenger knows what his core is, to be certain, and building around Walcott, Giroud, Ozil, Jack Wilshere is going to be the key to being able to compete on a level playing field with Manchester City and Chelsea.
Rosicky, especially, can thrive under the right situation, and his conditioning for his age is excellent. He’ll have the summer off as well, as the Czech Republic drew a tough World Cup Qualifying group and fell short of a spot in Brazil.
As for Mertesacker, he probably has to fight to feature for Germany in all their World Cup matches, but he’s sure to see action. But he’s the main man at Arsenal. Early season injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta forced the six-foot-six centre back to carry more of the load early on when Arsenal were punching up results, and he fared well.
They’re important players on reasonable finanacial deals and, for the most part, that’s how Arsenal has to play it.
There are 10 games to go in the season. Right now, which three teams do you think will go down and why?
Cardiff City, Norwich City, and Fulham are all headed south, and it took until only a couple weeks ago to be sure that Fulham was.
Brutally tough fixtures for Fulham in four of their last five matches, but they needed to make up ground, and the 1-1 draw at West Brom probably sealed their fate, especially given they were leading in such a crucial away match until the 86th minute.
I don’t think they’ll be 20th, but they’re going to run out of matches, unless they can win at Cardiff City this weekend, and then take advantage of an absentee Alan Pardew when Newcastle come to Craven Cottage next week.
Cardiff City had their moments, didn’t they? But those timely goals that earned them points before Christmas are long gone, and they’re not coming back. The legendary Vincent Tan and his team have been clean-sheeted in four straight matches, with just the one win to show for the past dozen Premier League games. Some nice players, yes, and the likes of Peter Whittingham, Fraizer Campbell, and the somewhat long-in-the-tooth Craig Bellamy might find gigs in the top flight next season, but it won’t be in Cardiff. They’re simply playing out the string now.
Norwich City are the surprise pick here, but I do think Sunderland has some momentum, and maybe they’ll get some carryover from playing decently in the League Cup against Manchester City. If Norwich can hold off Sunderland next week at home and beat them, they may survive, but to me, a loss spells doom. Their last four matches are killers: Liverpool, at Man United, at Chelsea, and home to finish against Arsenal, and the Gunners may very well need the points for Champions League seeding going into next year. If the Canaries are going to build a nest of points, it better be in the next few matches.
Chelsea hosts Tottenham on Saturday. André Schürrle netted a hat trick last week in only his eighth start for Chelsea. Will his performance against Fulham be enough to earn more playing time from Jose Mourinho?
Mourinho needed more scoring from the midfield, and the Schurrle’s hat-trick (in 16 minutes, no less!) was like a siren directly to the Special One’s ear. If Chelsea are going to win the title, they’ll need more goals from Schurrle, and of course, more offensive flair from Eden Hazard, who’s been excelling and especially so since the Juan Mata departure, not that Mata was taking up his playing time.
Schurrle looked more aggressive last week he did at the start of his Chelsea tenure, and many noticed he looks stronger and faster, too. Whatever was simply coming naturally at the age of 23 to the German, he may been advised to augment with conditioning and strength. It seems he’s heeded that advice.
Chelsea’s title hopes aren’t going to cave with an injury and no one player is as important to their team balance as, say, Sergio Aguero or Yaya Toure are to fellow contenders Man City, but Schurrle must be convinced now he’s at Chelsea for years to come, and will play a key role in the BPL from here out, as well Europe if they can squeak past Galatasaray.
Sunday programming alert: Watch the quarterfinals of the FA Cup live on Sportsnet World: Sheffield United vs. Charlton Athletic (8 am ET), Hull City vs. Sunderland (10 am ET) and Manchester City vs. Wigan Athletic (noon ET). | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
Wigan visits Manchester City in an FA Cup quarterfinal on Sunday. Yaya Toure is coming off a great performance in the Sky Blues’ League Cup final victory over Sunderland, and has league 13 goalsthis season. Where does the Ivorian rank among the top players in the BPL?
Of all the players in the Premier League I’ve watched since really digging in and following the league (because games were actually on television here!) 20 years ago, I’m not sure there’s a player in his 30s who honestly looks and plays like he’s 22 or 23. Except Yaya Toure.
It’s not even because of his speed, (though it is amazing watching a six-foot-three man sprint as he does, and be as fast with the ball as he is without is). It’s his deft touch, his cockiness, and the fluidity that just screams a much younger player
There’s lots he has yet to accomplish but Toure is easily one of the three best midfielders in England right now and though English fans may blink at the comparisons, no, not yet has he accomplished what Lampard, Vieira, or Gerrard have. But if you discount international achievements, and if City can win a few more trophies thanks to Yaya Toure, he’ll finish his career in the same category as those men. High praise indeed given he still looks so much in his prime.