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 @JeffDSalisbury: I’m a Chelsea supporter, but I wonder how long it’ll be before they are found out as not being a top four club in the league. Thoughts?
Sharman: Hi Jeff, I have to admit I’m a little surprised by how many Chelsea supporters are writing off this season. This has been a team with the ability to boss a season, as they showed under Jose Mourinho, and then under Conte. But they also have the ability to toss their manager under the bus and struggle, as they showed with Mourinho and then Conte. However, the top four this season has one wide open spot, with Manchester United threatening to pull a predictable “third-year under Jose” capitulation.
Don’t forget that Maurizio Sarri said during pre-season that it will take three to four months to get his team playing properly. Yet here we are three games in, and Chelsea have been perfect, and with Bournemouth, Cardiff City and West Ham United on the horizon, Chelsea will be favored to be 6-0 to start the season. Not bad.
Sure, there are some wrinkles. Defensively they are some ways from where they want to be, but remember “Sarri ball” has replaced Conte’s 3-4-3, and even N’Golo Kante is learning a new position – at least three goals Chelsea has conceded have come from the spot where the Frenchman usually patrols.
My point is that this will take time, but the early signs are very promising. Oh, and Eden Hazard remains a Blue. I firmly believe the top four will include Chelsea this season.
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From @MartinOmes: Although West Ham had a busy transfer season, they seem mangled. This seems very similar to last year’s Everton. Do you think this team will be able to figure it out and finish top eight? Or is this start showcasing what we will see from them?
Sharman: Great comparison to Everton, Martin. I get what you’re saying. Last season Everton signed some big names, but they were all the same type of player, and in retrospect it looked short of being a formulated plan. West Ham spent a lot of money this summer, and it could be argued they have fallen into the same trap.
On closer look, I think there has been a better strategy at West Ham. Let’s go through the list quickly:
• Andriy Yarmolenko – Amazing, if this was 2014.
• Jack Wilshere – Amazing, if this was 2011. Okay, unfair, he can still be great… if he stays healthy.
• Lukasz Fabianski – I like him; an upgrade on Adrian and Joe Hart.
• Anderson – Promising so far.
• Ryan Fredericks – He was free signing; once he finds his feet he’ll be good.
• Carlos Sanchez – Still waiting to see why he’s so rated. Failed in the Premier League before.
• Issa Diop – Aside from the own goal last week, he looks like a good signing.
To answer your question, I think this might be a very similar year to Everton last season – a very poor start, but slow improvement. A win at home against Wolves this weekend would do the Hammers wonders.
From @ Pagmenzies: Which Premier League team will be the first to sack its manager?
Sharman: Is it firing season, yet? Of course, it’s always firing season. Truth be told this would be particularly early to fire a manager – last season the first sacrifice came on Sept. 11, when Frank De Boer (remember him?) was unceremoniously given the hump, only to be replaced by steady old Roy Hodgson. Roy, as it turns out, is an excellent manager, and he reversed Crystal Palace’s horrendous start, and kept the Eagles up.
Someone will get chopped though, probably within the next six weeks or so, so just who will Sam Allardyce replace? It would be odd, while at the same time absolutely brilliant, to see Big Sam roll up at Old Trafford, wouldn’t it? Sadly, this is unlikely, however Jose Mourinho getting fired is not. In fact, as of Monday’s loss to Tottenham, Jose is the favourite to get fired first. As I wrote last week, barring a major collapse, I don’t see Jose getting let go anytime soon, despite his ridiculous behavior, and his team’s many issues.
So, let me just throw a name out there: David Wagner at Huddersfield. He has done an incredible job with the Terriers, but this is shaping up to be a long, long campaign. Wagner is extremely ambitious, and would be near the top of many clubs’ lists to take over if a job becomes available. I just think his current club’s ceiling has already been head butted.
From @HockeyRockBeer: What players can Mourinho try to get more out of to pull Man United out of this nosedive they are in?
Sharman: Individual mistakes have crushed United so far this season, including an array from their centre backs. Perhaps it is too late to improve the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, but surely Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly can be improved through some good old fashioned coaching?
David de Gea has been arguably the best goalkeeper in the world in recent seasons, but he has been just average the last number of months. As unfair as it probably is to ask, if he can get back to his previous form, some of these mistakes will be covered up. Paul Pogba? Yes! Romelu Lukaku? Yes! Let’s be honest here, as much as Jose has become a bore, and has done himself no favours with his antics, his players have let the club down to start the season, so the buck cannot just stop with Jose.
From @LucaTonisSon: How will Benjamin Mendy fit in at Manchester City now that he is on the mend?
Sharman: Like a popular emoji on your iPhone’s screen. Every club needs a player like Mendy, and by that, I mean someone who is always smiling and keeping things light. Oh, not to mention bombing down the left flank and slapping in fantastic crosses for all those eagle-eyed forwards. Of course, it’s Pep Guardiola’s team, so maybe he’ll bomb his way down the other flank, or through the middle by season’s end. Hey, maybe he can be turned into another David Alaba? How cool would that be?
Of course, Mendy might be guilty of the occasional mistake, but Pep doesn’t mind such things, so long as you’re giving it a go. Mendy’s replacements last season were absolutely adequate, which is nice if you’re Southampton, but Man City demands more. Mendy is a difference maker, on and off the field.
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