Cellar dwellers fighting relegation
New Swansea manager Bradley feels the heat while Sunderland puts together win streak
There’s a big battle of cellar dwellers on Saturday in the Premier League as last-place Swansea hosts Sunderland.
It’s a huge game for both clubs as they look to claw their way out of relegation territory. Sunderland has been doing a better job of clawing its way up in recent weeks, as it has managed to get out of last place thanks to wins over Bournemouth, Hull and Leicester.
Young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been a key figure in the team’s recent success. Manager David Moyes described the 22-year-old’s form as “incredible.” Also key has been striker Jermain Defoe, who continues to do well at Sunderland since leaving Toronto FC last year.
Swansea, meanwhile, is struggling, and the pressure is building on new manager Bob Bradley, the first American to coach a Premier League side. Swansea has only one win since Bradley took over two months ago, and that was a wild 5-4 victory over Crystal Palace. If Swansea fails to get a result against Sunderland on Saturday, Bradley will face even more criticism.
The big game
Toronto FC hosts Seattle Sounders on Saturday in the Major League Soccer championship final. For local fans, it’s a case of who do you hate the least, as these are Vancouver’s two biggest rivals. I’m definitely going Canada all the way and cheering for Toronto. I think this game will be great for the sport here.
It’s the first trip to the final for both these teams. Toronto has home advantage and the scoring prowess of Sebastian Giovinco in its favour. Forward Jozy Altidore is also doing well, and was key in Toronto’s amazing 7-5 aggregate win over Montreal in the semifinals.
The Seattle player to watch is attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro. He’s really helped the Sounders turn it around since he arrived mid-season. For the longest time it looked like Seattle wouldn’t even make the playoffs, but it went on a late tear and has been tearing it up ever since. It should be a good game.
Mr. Nice Guy
In France, champions Paris Saint-Germain host surprise league leaders Nice in a key game on Saturday. Nice is four points up on PSG, which sits in third place, a point behind runners-up Monaco.
Nice is hoping that star striker Mario Balotelli will be available for this game. The Italian international was scoring a goal a game for Nice, but has missed the past month through injury. The bad boy of Italian soccer seems to have found a home in France after bouncing from club to club. Another key player at Nice is young French winger Alassane Plea, who is enjoying his best ever season.
PSG, meanwhile, is finding life not so easy now that it is without Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goals and team leadership. Forward Edinson Cavani is now the unquestioned star, and tops the team and league with 14 goals in as many games.
The big bucks
A recent study analyzing the highest-paid players in soccer found some interesting results. Conducted by a Norwegian financial consultant, the study looked at all players making US$140,000 or more per week, considering where they are playing, and what their background is. It found that 43 per cent are in the Premier League, while Spain’s La Liga and the new Chinese Super League come next at 15 per cent each. The German Bundesliga is at 10 per cent followed by France’s Ligue 1 at nine per cent and, surprisingly, MLS next at five per cent, ahead of Italy’s Serie A at just three per cent. That shows how much the game in Italy has declined.
Manchester City has the most high earners of any club with 18, followed by Chelsea, Manchester United and, surprisingly Bayern Munich, just ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Most of the players are from Brazil, with England, Spain, and France also well represented. Barcelona’s academy is by far the most successful at producing star players according to the study, with Southampton and Leeds United having done the best in England.
Midfielders dominate the list at 58 per cent, while 23 per cent are forwards. The peak age for peak salary is apparently 29. The analysis also shows there are much fewer long-haired players and Pisces in the list compared with the short-haired and Aquariuses. I’m not sure that’s helpful.
Bob Lenarduzzi is the president of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Tickets: visit whitecapsfc. com/tickets