Ahead of every weekend this season, I will answer questions from Sportsnet.ca readers on a variety of topics on the Premier League. If you’d like to ask me a question, hit me up on Twitter at @jamessharman, and be sure to use the hashtag #SNAskSharman.
Let’s dive into this week’s mailbag…
From @brendanlowther: Will Manchester United continue on winning or will the international break have killed their momentum?
Sharman: Let’s quickly recap. Manchester United’s most recent crisis aversion came in the form of a 3-2 win over Newcastle United after going down 2-0 early on. Of note, Paul Pogba was key to the comeback in an excellent second half performance, and both Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez removed themselves from the dog house with the tying goal and the winning goal respectively. Add in the Old Trafford faithful throwing their support behind Jose Mourinho, and there was a lot to like about the performance following the early disaster.
Maybe even more promising was that Pogba didn’t use his usual trick of making inflammatory comments during the international break, although Romelu Lukaku did, suggesting a move to Juventus would be to his liking. All that said, there is still plenty wrong about this team, and the upcoming schedule is a stark reminder that a crisis is always around the corner. It is Chelsea this weekend, followed by Juventus in the Champions League (gulp) then a couple of tricky ties against Everton and Bournemouth, before it is Juve again followed by, ahem, Manchester City.
United still has gaping issues on defence, as Mourinho’s desperate selections and substitutions against Newcastle proved, and all of their upcoming opponents are attack oriented sides who can feast upon such insufficiencies. This might well be a nightmare run that might force change at the top.
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From @tdob1927: I am highly biased as a Cardiff City supporter, but I feel like they are being written off too easily. They were really unlucky not to get anything out of the Arsenal, Tottenham and Burnley matches. We’re staying up, right?
Sharman: Hey, what’s the point of being a fan if you can’t be highly biased, right? Let’s take a look at those matches you mention: Arsenal squeaked three points with a late Alexandre Lacazette winner after Harry Arter had a couple of great chances, and before Sean Morrison missed a scoring opportunity at the death. Fair enough, Cardiff deserved a point. Tottenham managed to eke out a 1-0 win over 10-man Cardiff after Joe Ralls was sent off early in the second half, a red card that seemed a little harsh to me. Cardiff played well in that one, so sure, I’ll give you that one, too. As for Burnley, agreed again, Cardiff was the better side only to lose by a goal.
I really want to see Neil Warnock succeed, just because I like him. However, looking at the squad, it just isn’t good enough. Last season was a surprise to win promotion, especially automatic qualification, but there was not enough investment in the summer. Goals keep teams up, and I don’t see them arriving, especially if the reported January war chest is only 10 million pounds. Cardiff was written off by most before the season kicked off – you can’t get written off earlier than that, but sadly it looks to be prophetic. Many a relegation side defends quite well, and puts in the effort, but eventually you need quality.
From @bigkeeper13: Your thoughts on the Chelsea board member who said he is very happy to have only six teams with a realistic chance of winning the Premier League every year?
Sharman: I’d love to know who the six are because before the season I only thought there would be one, but now a couple of months later you could probably convince me that there are three. If it really was six, the Premier League would be delighted. Just imagine the battles and the drama with six contenders.
I imagine he is being a tad liberal here, but he is perhaps suggesting that he’d rather have fewer teams competing. Big clubs want cost-certainty, and that comes with top four finish and Champions League qualification. If there was parity then it would cause mayhem to the “haves” business models. Parity is what “salary cap” leagues dream off, but personally I like to see dynasties, and big markets dominating. Of course, it is easy for me to say, as the team I tend to support, Liverpool, is a big rich club.
From @CITY_CFFC: Why do you continue to deny Manchester City is the best team in the world?
Sharman: Huh? I don’t think I’ve even been asked the question before. I do know I spend a lot of my time on various media platforms waxing lyrical about the brilliance of Pep Guardiola and his troops. I just can’t win can I? Such is being in the media, I suppose.
I will say just this, last I remember Manchester City haven’t yet won the Champions League, right? As far as I am concerned, the title of “best team in the world” is reserved for the winners of Europe. So, as it currently stands, despite a few wobbles so far this season, Real Madrid currently holds the title as best team in the world.
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