It’s been a disappointing season for both Burnley and Newcastle as both sides have struggled to match their exploits from last season.
Amid a season of poor performances, Jonjo Shelvey has been one of the better players for Newcastle and has been a constant in Rafa Benitez’s side.
Burnley too have found it hard to live up to their pre-season hype, following a season where they managed to get into the Europa League and despite having solid players such as Jack Cork, Sean Dyche’s men look like they’ll be looking at a bottom 10 finish.
Jonjo Shelvey
Signed for £12 million from Swansea City side two years ago, Shelvey has always shown talent but never quite put in a good run of form for any side he’s ever played at.
At times, Shelvey looks like a pass master for Newcastle but at others, he plays as though he couldn’t really care and is a complete liability. In a Newcastle side that has a strict structure and can’t afford to have a midfielder that doesn’t pull his weight in the side, his performances can be incredibly poor.
However, just for his talent to be able to play any long-range pass, he still presents a key quality to Benitez.
Due to his quality with the ball and the relatively low transfer fee Liverpool paid for him, it seems as though Mike Ashley may have actually pulled off a good bit of business.
TT Grade: B-
Jack Cork
A constant at Southampton and Swansea City, Jack Cork has always been a reliable midfielder albeit not spectacular.
Burnley signed him from Swansea two years ago for just £10 million and like his time in Wales, he’s become an integral man for Sean Dyche. Last season he played 38 games in the league and with him in the midfield, Burnley achieved European football.
He may not excel at anything but what he does have is a very well-rounded game and he’s a reliable player who can fit into most sides. He’s a solid, no-frills player that fits in perfectly with Burnley’s style of play.
TT Grade: C+
The Verdict
A fairly close battle to call but due to his ability in comparison to the transfer fee, Shelvey wins this one. At times he may be a midfielder that you can never rely on and is a constant liability but he also has that rare ability to start an attack from deep.
Cork is a solid player and one that provides great work ethic and reliability to Dyche but Shelvey’s talent just gets him the win in this one. Indeed, it’s hard to believe Southgate once opted for Cork over Shelvey in his England squad!
