After a big few days in the Premier League, here’s who gets to wear the prestigious yet mysteriously sweaty and unwashed JOE five-a-side bibs this week.
There are still a few matters unresolved, of course, but the weekend just gone was one of the most important in the Premier League to date. The destination of the Premier League title, although we knew where it was going for ages, was finally confirmed and the battle to avoid the final relegation spot seems to have been narrowed down to two teams, Aston Villa and Wigan, who will meet on the final day of the season.
As far as the Champions League race is concerned, Tottenham showed that rumours of a late-season collapse were greatly exaggerated, Arsenal played dirty but finished the weekend with their Champions League prospects looking a whole lot cleaner and Chelsea’s hopes took a major dent thanks to a man who gave the FA plenty to chew over in the coming days and weeks.
Busy weekend then and after the expert JOE selection comm-it-tee put their heads together, here’s who they deemed worthy of a place in the five-a-side team this week.
Goalkeeper: Jussi Jaaskelainen (West Ham)
On paper, the Hammers victory over relegation-threatened West Ham was routine but the Finnish ‘keeper had to make a hatful of saves to keep the Latics at bay, including a brilliant effort in a one-on-one with Shaun Maloney.
Like the best ‘keepers, age is having little effect on his abilities and he’s still going strong at 38.
Defender: John O’Shea (Sunderland)
Stephane Sessegnon (more on him anon) has been stealing the headlines of late but the Black Cats rearguard deserve a mention after two clean sheets on the trot, with the Waterford man marshalling the back four impressively from his centre-half berth.
The likes of Victor Anichebe, Nikica Jelavic and Kevin Mirallas aren’t easy opponents at the best of times, but thanks to O’Shea and his colleagues at the back, Sunderland emerged unscathed with a result that will probably be just enough to secure their Premier League status.
Midfield: Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland)
Another week, another match-winning display from Sessegnon, who has profited most from Paolo Di Canio’s arrival at the Stadium of Light.
Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game in what could have been a very difficult home clash with Everton and is flourishing now that Di Canio has relieved him of doing the less glamorous tracking back business and allowed him to concentrate his attention on the attacking third of the pitch.
Midfield: Gareth Bale (Tottenham)
It was asking a lot of Bale to have a telling influence against an in-form City side in his first game back from injury but after a quiet opening half, he burst into life after AVB’s tactical re-jig with a brilliant delivery for Clint Dempsey’s equaliser and an exquisite finish for Spurs’ third goal to really put the icing on the cake.
Forward: Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
We gave him a tentative nod in the side after his return to scoring form last week, but he was the first name on the team sheet after his hat-trick at Old Trafford last night. RVP looked in the mood from the get-go and when he put United in front in under two minutes, you just knew that he wasn’t finished yet.
The second and third goals had a hint of offside about them and the first and third goals were scored from a combined total of about five yards, but the second goal was worth the entrance fee alone and will probably end up winning the goal of the season award.
If it does, for the combination of power, accuracy, the timing of the run and most of all, technique, there would be few who would dispute it as a worthy winner.
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