Stan's 5-Point Stance: Barca Rejects Shine, Austin and Kane on Fire, Spurs on Up

In this week's five-point stance, B/R columnist Stan Collymore addresses issues relating to former Barcelona players, Charlie Austin, Michael Carrick, Spurs and the fallout from Arsenal's draw with Liverpool.

1. Barcelona rejects making Premier League better

Take a look around at the ex-Barcelona stars having great seasons for Premier League clubs.

Alex Song is doing the business for West Ham, Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas for Chelsea, Yaya Toure for Man City and Bojan for Stoke—to name but a few.

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

What you have is proof that out of all the teams in the Champions League, Barca is the best-equipped as a finishing school for talent.

You go there, you learn and you're guaranteed to be a success wherever you go next. 

2. Charlie Austin and Harry Kane for England

Scoring goals hasn't come easy for the England national team in recent years, as the World Cup in Brazil showed us yet again.

Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling can both be converted to front-runners, but it's so encouraging to see Charlie Austin, Harry Kane and Andy Carroll all doing well for their respective clubs.

Eighteen months out from the Euros, I would put all three in the next squad—possibly dropping Rickie Lambert and Danny Welbeck to give them a chance.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

3. Fergie exaggerates Carrick's worth

Michael Carrick is exceptional when he has good players around him, but when he's playing in big Champions League games for Manchester United or for England, his lack of pace and influence tells.

As I've said in the past, Carrick will help you get into the top four and even win domestic titles, but he's not the man to take United or England to the next level. He's also not the best English midfielder, as Sir Ferguson suggested this week, as per the BBC. Several are better.

For United, that's why is so vitally important for Ander Herrera or Danny Blind to step up in the coming months.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

4. Pochettino is getting things right at Spurs

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino had a number of players passed to him who were bought with the Gareth Bale money.

What Pochettino has done well is balance his stars with the up-and-coming players from Spurs' excellent youth academy. He's picked Ryan Mason ahead of Paulinho, Harry Kane instead of Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor and has given Nabil Bentaleb his chance.

The fact Spurs are in excellent form and playing well is testament to the fact that trust in youth can bring rewards. Props to Pochettino for taking his Southampton model and making it work at White Hart Lane.

5. Liverpool and Arsenal are still streets behind

Liverpool and Arsenal enjoyed a great game at the weekend between two good passing sides with plenty of excitement to be had.

Liverpool can perhaps look to brighter days after a good performance, while Arsenal came alive after being 1-0 behind.

Jon Super/Associated Press

We learned everything we know about both from the encounter—both teams play well when the wind blows in their favour and both have great individual players, but they are miles away from the mental and physical abilities of Man City and Chelsea.

Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest striker Stan Collymore is in his second season as a regular contributor for Bleacher Report.