Stan's 5-Point Stance: Chelsea Must Shed Racist Fans, Sherwood Can Be Villa Hero
In this week's five-point stance, Stan Collymore visits topics related to Chelsea supporters involved in the Metro-racism incident, Tim Sherwood, Wayne Rooney, Romelu Lukaku and the FA Cup coverage of Bradford City.
1. Chelsea right to act quickly over racist incident in Paris, but clubs must eradicate right-wing links
I was delighted with the way Chelsea reacted so quickly to the incident on the Paris Metro this week.
In Roman Abramovich, Chelsea have a Jewish owner, and the club employs a multi-cultural playing staff.
For their next game I'd like to see the players come out with one long banner in the centre-circle saying, "We absolutely abhor racism and don't tolerate it at Chelsea Football Club."
The club have made the right statement, but there are certain clubs who have bigger minorities of fans than others who relish right-wing links.
I'm glad Chelsea are doing something about it. There should be banning orders, and UEFA should sanction and strongly warn the club over their support.
The thing which upsets me is that we are more than willing to throw Spanish, Italian and Eastern European football under the bus over it as if we are some kind of moral guardians of fair play.
But we still have plenty to do. Certain songs are still sung around the country and there is still a right-wing element we need to get rid of.
If the fans in the Metro were season-ticket holders, it needs to be dealt with.
2. New manager Tim Sherwood must hit the ground running at Aston Villa
There is no doubt Aston Villa's appointment of Tim Sherwood is a huge gamble by the club. He has managed around 28 Premier League games.
It is a very bold move to bring in a young English manager who is hungry and passionate. But for a club the size of Aston Villa in the perilous situation they are in, I would have preferred to see a more experienced man such as Tony Pulis or Sam Allardyce.
But Sherwood has a very good reputation as a coach, and he has already intimated he will rattle a few cages and try to get them more confidence moving forward.
There are two huge games coming up against West Brom next month, including the FA Cup quarter-final, and he will automatically become a fans' hero if he wins both of them.
I'm prepared to give him more than a chance, but he needs to hit the ground running and that means he needs to get six points from the Premier League games coming up against Stoke, Newcastle and West Brom.
He has targeted six wins before the end of the season, but four is more likely which would see it go to the wire.
3. Video evidence would resolve 'diving' disputes such as Wayne Rooney's at Preston
The rule should be that a foul is something which physically diverts somebody from what they are attempting to do.
Instead we are given so many ambiguities around the rules that Wayne Rooney could, legitimately, get up and say he thought it was an attempt to trip and he had the right to take evasive action.
For me, he has pushed the ball past the goalkeeper with no attempt to get the ball, and he has left enough of his leg to suggest legitimately there was contact.
It was the classic star-shaped dive, arms and legs out. It was a dive, it's that simple.
I'd like to see the fourth official able to quickly review video evidence and then take action. It would clear things up very quickly.
4. Romelu Lukaku displayed petulance but will stay to become a resounding success at Everton
I think Romelu Lukaku was a little frustrated when he made those comments about wanting to play for a big club again.
All the raw ingredients are there for him to be a world-class striker. I just think he has reached the stage where people expect the real deal because we know what he is capable of.
His comments were just a bit of frustration, and we need to remember he is just a young boy, who has 10 years at least to learn his trade.
Most Evertonians will be patient with him and he will stay at the club. It was just a bit of petulant frustration and that comes with young people in general.
He will be a resounding success. Everton is the right club for him and he is the right man for Everton. I don't think he should be looking elsewhere to play.
It has been a difficult season for Everton, so it's just a bit of petulance.
5. Bradford City deserve free-to-air television coverage after FA Cup heroics
It was wrong of television not to screen Bradford's FA Cup tie against Sunderland, but the reality is they could have played Fulham and ratings rule.
But the Bantams have scored the most goals in the cup this season, and they are great entertainment.
Bradford are one step from a Wembley semi-final, and who's to say they couldn't go all the way with the luck of the draw?
Television should have shown the game, but from a broadcast executive's viewpoint, I can understand it was always going to be Aston Villa vs. Leicester to be shown because they're both Premier League clubs.
The Premier League is its own business, but I'm a big fan of all broadcasters putting more free-to-air games on. It sets the right tone and it's not all about the numbers.
It encourages the next generation of football fans and serves everybody's purpose very well.
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