This weekend the voice of soccer on NBC Sports is back in action as the Premier League returns following the recent international break.
When watching soccer on TV, have you ever sat there and wondered what the man behind the microphone really thinks? Maybe this will go someway to helping with that.
In the latest edition of “View from the Booth” NBC Sports’ lead soccer announcer Arlo White talks about Everton vs. Chelsea on Saturday as Jose Mourinho squares off with Roberto Martinez. Arlo also discusses the U.S. national team and their chances in Brazil and how Liverpool can keep their fantastic early season run going.
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With four live games on NBC and NBC Sports Network this weekend, and every single games available live online via NBC Sports Live Extra, you have no excuse to not get back into the Premier League spirit.
Okay let’s get to it with this weeks questions, over to Arlo.
Well Arlo, the international break is over. It seems like an age since we had some Premier League games to talk about. You will be at Goodison Park for Everton vs. Chelsea on Saturday, who do you expect from this game?
Firstly, it’ll be great to be calling games again after the International break. This match-up is fascinating on so many levels.
Everton need a win. It’s simple. They weren’t handed a horrible start to the season, but they’ve only managed three consecutive draws against Norwich, West Brom and Cardiff. Now Everton fans, is your glass half full (it’s an unbeaten start, you haven’t conceded a goal in the last two games, no team has had more possession this season than your 64% and you’ve still got Leighton Baines)? Or is it half empty (we haven’t scored for 205 minutes, we haven’t won a game yet and we lost Felliani to Manchester United)?
It’ll be fascinating to see how Everton fans react tomorrow. They’ve enjoyed some big wins against Chelsea in recent years at Goodison Park, earned through good play and ferocious spirit. Will they be patient if all is not going well and their team aren’t getting the ball forward quickly enough for their liking?
I’m sure they will. They know their Football, and they know it’s a process. Everton wasn’t nicknamed the ‘School of Science’ for nothing.
As for Chelsea, who is going to start up front? Will it be Torres? Will it be Eto’o? Will Juan Mata feature? Will there be a debut for Willian? Will Frank Lampard feature? Will my question mark button still be working next week? It’s been a big week for Frank after earning his 100th cap for England, but he’s played 7 matches already this season for club and country. He only played 45 minutes for England v Scotland but then played all 120 minutes for Chelsea v Bayern Munich. He may be due a rest in this one, especially given that Chelsea start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.
And then on Monday your back in South Wales to see if Liverpool can keep their good run going against Swansea. Do you see another 1-0 win coming up for Brendan Rodgers’ men against his former club?
What are the odds on another Liverpool win, with Daniel Sturridge scoring the only goal? Does lightning strike four times? Rodgers will be desperate for Sturridge to be fit as he’s on an incredible run. It’s hard to believe after Liverpool dug their heals in so doggedly to keep Luis Suarez from the clutches of Arsenal, that a debate has started about whether the Uruguayan will actually get his place straight back when his ban ends.
Liverpool have been superb defensively. Mignolet has been fantastic in goal. Between them, Toure, Agger and Skrtel have been solid at centre back. But the engine room for Liverpool is the axis between Lucas and Gerrard at the base of midfield. They dictate the pace of the game, and have done so to great effect so far. Ahead of them, they have the likes of Sturrdige, Coutinho, Aspas and Henderson, who you’d back to nick a goal. It’s the solidity of the back seven that protect those slender leads. I’m sure Liverpool will be more expansive as the season progresses, but right now, a controlled approach based on possession and pressing is working very nicely.
I’m sure Rodgers will get a decent reception back in Swansea. For the home side, Michu needs a Premier League goal. He’s failed to find the net in the league so far this season, and only has one one in his last 7. I’m sure it’s just a blip, and the Swans will be hoping to build on that cathartic and nerve settling away win at West Brom.
Talking about 1-0 wins, would Manchester United take that scoreline against Crystal Palace at home on Saturday? That opening day win against Swansea must seem like a long time ago for David Moyes’ side.
Of course he would. This is an important game for Manchester United. If they slip up, they will take that disappointment to Manchester City next weekend for the Derby. I’m sure David Moyes and United fans everywhere would love a thumping 6-0 win at Old Trafford, but I bet secretly he’d be delighted with a relatively routine 2-0 victory, and bank the three points.
I have a couple of questions re United. If they weren’t interested in Mezut Ozil because they already have Shinji Kagawa, are we going to see the Japan International start a game? And now that he’s signed a new long term deal, is it time that Nani stepped up and fulfilled that attacking potential?
As for Palace, their manager Ian Holloway was in typically great form when the NBC team spoke to him on the telephone the other day. He said, “I’m down here in the gutter but I’m looking up at the stars.” The man is a pure quote machine! I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Selhurst Park for the Sunderland game two weeks ago. It was a golden sunlight evening in South London and Palace played a vibrant brand of Football and got their fans jumping with a 3-1 win. The atmosphere was brilliant. In Midfielder Mile Jedinak, they have a player who may turn a few heads this season. Ollie may face a fight to keep him in January.
An intriguing battle will take place up at the Stadium of Light this weekend, with Sunderland desperate for their first win and Arsenal rolling into town with new superstar Mesut Ozil set to make his debut. Do you think it’s too early for Sunderland fans to be worried?
No. I suspect they are a little concerned already. There is no doubt that Paolo Di Canio is an excellent coach, but his challenge will be to mesh together a disparate group of new signings in spite of his somewhat idiosyncratic methods. It was a tough night at Selhurst Park last time out, but one positive was the return to the field and then the goal scoring charts for Steven Fletcher.
After he ducked out of heading a Stewart Downing cross at Palace, will we see Jo Dong-Won in a Sunderland shirt in the near future?
After all the celebrations in the United States following World Cup qualification, how far can Jurgen Klinsmann’s men go at Brazil 2014? Many are suggesting that qualification is only the start for Klinsmann’s squad.
The USA were so impressive on Tuesday night in Columbus. They completely bossed that game game against Mexico. The players knew the tactical plan and they executed it with authority.
Having watched England labor to string two passes together in Kiev earlier that evening, it was refreshing to see the US possess the ball with such confidence. It gave them a great platform in the game but it also further demoralized Mexico, who stumbled around looking bewildered and thoroughly beaten for most of the 2nd half. It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Jurgen Klinsmann, but he has broken this team in now, like a very good drill sergeant. The personalities that are in his squad now are the ones who have embraced his methods and philosophy, and they are an infinitely stronger team for it.
The result against Mexico was thoroughly deserved, and was achieved without Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Geoff Cameron, so they will be stronger still. I wonder if Mix Diskerud has a bigger role for the national team in his future? He looks to the manor born in International Football, so maybe a move from Rosenborg is on the cards soon.
The Finals are still a long way away and we are still months away from the draw, but on current evidence, I’d be shocked if the USA didn’t make it out of their group. From then onwards, who knows? (ps - Ghana can still quality, eeek!)
Staying with World Cup qualification, what do you make of England being lambasted for their negative approach in the 0-0 draw with Ukraine?
A point away from home, in a hostile environment like Kiev, when the home side have a massive incentive to win the game, is a very good point, and one that Roy Hodgson would have been satisfied with before the game. However, the method through which that point was achieved was, I’m afraid, deeply concerning and not very surprising.
It’s one thing to gain a point on the road by controlling the game. Keeping the ball for periods frustrates, and extracts the sting from the opposition and quietens a crowd. It’s quite another to completely fail to retain possession, repeatedly hand Ukraine the ball, and hope that you can defend successfully for 90 minutes. There is no doubt that the England team have spirit and tenacity and are difficult to beat (which is something to celebrate), but I just don’t understand why some very good Premier League players struggle to play together in a cohesive manner. Sure, they were missing key attacking players like Rooney, Sturridge and Welbeck, but the likes of Gerrard, Wilshere, Lampard, Milner et al, should be able to keep the ball for periods shouldn’t they?
England got away with it in Kiev because Ukraine are fairly average.
So far, they have only beaten Moldova and San Marino, yet they still lead the group and control their own destiny. I’m confident that with their stars back (fingers crossed) and two big Wembley crowds behind them, they can get the 6 points they need against Montenegro and Poland to qualify for Brazil, but my word it’s been a painful journey.