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Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard
World Cup Defenders from the EPL| Unfiltered Soccer
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- [00:00]
Tim
Foreign.
- [00:05]
Co-host
This bonus content is brought to you by Virgin Atlantic.
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Tim
We're breaking down some of the English Premier League's most talented players and how we think they'll perform at this summer's World Cup. LD Today, we're going to focus on the defenders, and we have three categories, right. So we have the headliners, those are the stars. We then have the breakout stars. Who do we think will kind of come into this tournament and all of a sudden make themselves more of a household name? And then question marks. And question marks can be a variety of things. Right. Players who are experienced, who we don't know if they'll see the pitch or if they're on the downside of their career or there's injuries. So question marks are surrounding them. But let's start with the headliners.
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Co-host
Okay, so these are your people, Tim. Defenders, the ones you love to yell at and make sure that they help you keep a clean sheet.
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Tim
Correct.
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Co-host
All right, so we're going to go with a pair of Arsenal center backs, Gabriel and Saliba, and then Virgil van Dijk. So let's start with Gabrielle. So obviously they're both having a phenomenal season with Arsenal. How does this play out in the World Cup? Do you continue? Do you consider that maybe long season, end of the season, they're tired, or do you think they come into this flying? And we'll start with Gabriel, with Brazil. Does he give them a real chance to win as well?
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Tim
Yeah, I mean, you know, in a world. In a World cup year, which we'll discuss at nauseam between now and the kickoff of the World cup. You don't. You're very rarely tired in those, in those years. It's just the buzz and the excitement of the World Cup.
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Co-host
Yeah. The adrenaline just keeps.
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Tim
Yeah. But Gabrielle. Gabrielle, for me, is incredible. I actually used to think he was really rash and sort of like, he was so emotional. Everything was like a big deal. Every tackle, every pass out of the back, every header was like. It was. It was so much on it. He's obviously settled into that a little bit more. Again, that's maturity and leadership. Yeah. Brazil's an interesting one. I don't think this is the best Brazil team we've ever seen, but he, you know, I think if you look across the Premier League, he's probably the best. Best defender in the Premier League.
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Co-host
You probably have to say so.
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Tim
Yeah. So do I think he can. I mean, listen, if he, if, if Brazil. Brazil play well, he'll certainly be one of the reasons for that.
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Co-host
If you had to pick Today, who goes further of those two center backs? Saliba with France or Gabrielle with Brazil?
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Tim
I, I'm. I'm a believer in French football, man. They, since they've had, you know, they had one or two years where, where they've been low, man, French football is good.
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Co-host
So good and so many good players.
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Tim
They've proven that they, and not only like good, but they've proven they can do it in big tournaments consistently. Not always win, but be within a shout. The thing about Saliba is this. Watching them week in, week out, maybe this is blasphemous. I almost prefer him to Gabriel. He just, man, he's smooth. He doesn't get the headlines because Gabrielle takes those and he plays next to him. But that partnership and the things. His ability to glide out of the back with the ball, but still somehow be like a head it and kick it defender. Like he's not afraid to do that, right? He's not afraid to go. This ball needs to go. He's a really tight marker. I kind of would pick him ahead of Gabrielle again. I know people will say that that's blasphemous, but I like, I like him. I like his style. And again, with French football, where it's at, probably, I think Saliba and France go further. I think.
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Co-host
Yeah, I think you're probably right. I think it's just not the best Brazil that we've seen. And he's certainly good enough to carry them far, but probably not. All right, let's move on to Virgil van Dijk. So you were a little hesitant to put him as a headliner, understandably. So he's moving on in age and this has to be probably his last hurrah, certainly his last World Cup. Can he pull it together and figure out who his partner is? And we'll talk about that in a minute at center back. But he. Does he still have it? Does he have enough in the tank to really be a star?
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Tim
Yeah, it's so difficult with players like him who, who they don't get enough credit. Like when you're at the top ld for so long, when you're the best at anything. Like he's been considered the best defender in the world, right, For a number of years. Yeah. A long time. I don't know, six, seven, eight years, whatever. Right. And you're playing at a club that's consistently challenging for European titles, for Premier League titles, and then you got, then you go into your national team, which is one of the most famous shirts in the world, and you're asked to lead that team, you don't get enough credit. There's. There's not many of those around. Right. I know. Mess. We talk about Messi and Ronaldo, but, like, from. From a overarching team standpoint, like, Virgil Van Dyke is one of those. He's the best in the world, but it comes quickly that like. Like, you go from being that to all of a sudden, you're like, whoa, he's been. He's been doing that for eight years. Is. Is there still enough in the tank now? Do I. Would I pick him every. Sure. Of course I would. But does that mean that. That he still has what it takes to be a headliner at the World Cup? I think so, but I'm not sure it's gonna.
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Co-host
He's gonna be an interesting to watch. I was at the Euros and watched the Dutch team, and it was. He can still be. He can be the best player on the field when he's really at it. And it's hard because we can pick apart days where we go, he wasn't that good today, but when he's really at it, man, he can be the best player on the field. So he's gonna be an interesting one to watch, as is the whole Netherlands team. All right, breakout stars. So we've got a few here. So, guy, not a lot of people know about Colombian Daniel Munoz, who plays for Palace. You're really high on him.
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Tim
Yeah, well, he plays in Oliver Glassner's system. So Glassner came into Crystal palace, right. And one of his first signs, I can't remember exactly was. Was Daniel Munoz, right? Not. Not. Not a name loads of people have heard of. Right. But he's attack. He's an attacking wing back. Defends well. But ultimately, a lot of good things in the forward areas for Crystal palace came from Daniel Munoz. Munoz. And you just watch him week in, week out, and you think this. Like, he's underappreciated, and then all of a sudden, he's like. He's just one of the. One of the top wing backs in the league. And so if he has the ability to sort of have that freedom in a World cup setting, I think he'll shine. I think. I think you'll. You'll. You know, if Columbia, you become the darlings and get out of the group and win a couple games, he. He will be one of the. The guys who sparkles. Right. And so therefore you'll be talking about him. Yeah, he's. What. He's certainly one to watch. Definitely falls. Falls firmly into the breakout category for me.
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Co-host
And they're. The Columbia are a good team. A lot of people have them making some waves in this World cup. And it's been fun to watch too with Chris Richards, our US national team center back, and the partnership they've developed. And that's been really fun to watch too. So he's going to be a really fun one to keep an eye on. We put Mark Gahey in here and it's an interesting one. Again, a guy I saw at the Euros and he had some moments, Tim, where you would say, man, he is a top, top guy. And he's kind of gone from strength to strength, both with his club teams he's gone to in his country and this could be a big moment for him if England do well in this World Cup.
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Tim
Yeah, he is, he's sort of. What I, what I said about Saliba. You don't notice Martin Gahey a ton, do you, when you watch him? He does, he does things that he's supposed to do. You know, he's one of these guys, like you're paying me to defend and play well. Okay, I'm going to defend and play well. Like there's not, not a lot of flash with him. The reason I have him in the, and you as well, we have him in the breakout category is you sort of see this rise, right? Like he's at palace week in, week out, he's a top performer. So Liverpool are after him and City are after him, right? And then the move doesn't happen for various reasons, not because of talent, but because of business. And he goes to the Euros, right, which is the next step. He's got 26 caps for England, goes to the Euros, then the big move comes, right, and City pounce and he's there. So sort of in the progression of climbing the ladder, the World cup is the next step. And that's sort of why I have him in the breakout category because I just think he's, he's done well at every level that he's been asked to perform at and he has the steps almost make sense. And not to say that he hasn't had setbacks, but when you just sort of think about his progression, it's just like this steady climb to the top. And the top is the World cup, right? Well, the top is Man City and then the World Cup. So.
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Co-host
Yeah, yeah, I've said the same about Alex Freeman. Like every challenge he's been given, he just meets and meets and meets and exceeds and keeps going. So he'll, he'll be he'll be fun to watch. The last one here is Jurian Timber, outside back with Arson, has had a phenomenal season and again with that Netherlands team and so it's going to be interesting to see how he progresses. But this could be, this could absolutely be his breakout.
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Tim
Yeah, I think it could because. Because of again, the, the Netherlands. They make noise, man. I got. Which team is going to show up? I don't know, but they travel well. That Orange army that, that goes 100,000 deep in any city that they play in. Again, it's a heavy shirt to wear because of their history, but if you know any Dutch football players, they are arrogant in the best way possible. I've got some Dutch friends who played in World Cups and let me tell you, they know a lot about football, according to them. I'm thinking of Johnny Heitinga.
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Co-host
I knew that was coming.
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Tim
Love Johnny. I know. And, and I, I just sort of think when I. Urian Timber got injured early in his Arsenal career, right. So he, I think he tore his knee early on in that first season so we didn't see a lot of them, but he was like sort of hyped and then he came back and because you don't know enough about him in the Premier League, you know, he can play right back, he can play left back. Oh, sometimes he can play as like a left center back. You know, Mikel Arteta was sort of tinkering with him now. Now you watch him and you're like, oh, he's one of the most important players on Arsenal and he's got this bravado and this pizzazz and I listened to his post match interview yesterday and it just, he sort of oozes class and confidence. So yeah, again, if. In that famous orange shirt, if they're doing great things. I mean there's so many top players on that team, by the way. So many top players.
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Co-host
I know they're all over the place.
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Tim
They are, yeah. And, and you know, he could, he. It's hard to say that a defender can be that sort of star, but he, he commands the ball. He's one of these fullbacks who can invert, who can get high up on the front line. He affects the game in a really way.
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Co-host
Scores goals, he's. He's in on assists, he's Aaron Timbers. He's been a top player at Arsenal. It'd be fun to watch him progress. All right, last category. The question marks. So a pair of center backs that are teammates at the woeful and I mean woeful Tottenham Hotspurs right now, not
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Tim
been great, nothing great.
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Co-host
Mickey Van de Fen and Christian Romero and for their respective teams, again, another Netherlands player. We're heavy on the Dutch here, but going to be interesting one. I don't know that he gets in the team, you know, between Matthias De Ligt and. And Virgil van Djk, maybe plays as a left back. He's play played as a left back for the Netherlands. But this guy Tim is oozing talent. I mean you. Some of the plays he makes, you just like there's very few players that athletic in the world and it'll be really interesting to see if he gets on the field and I guess. Do you think he will?
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Tim
Yeah, it's a tough one. You know, I think, I think Matthias Delict has sort of. This is weird to say because of how great Virgil van Dijk is, but Delict has sort of been the golden child of Dutch football, you know, in terms of the, you know, he's a massive move, by the way. Like it. It's laughable the moves he's had since he left Ajax and you're just like, you know, they don't all work out, by the way. But he sort of is that. That poster boy. And I don't know if he's getting the rub of the green because of that. I personally would play Van Devan next to. Next to Virgil Van Dyke because again, not that Virgil's lacking in speed and all that. I mean, Mickey Van Devan's the fastest human being in the Premier League. It's frightening. It's frightening. And his ability to defend and tackle and use the ball and drive forward, he could almost be sort of like Virgil Van Dyke's little, little pet project. Like, you cover for me, you get out there, drive forward. You know what I mean? Like, I think it would be a good partnership. But he can play left back, right? And so, you know, Nathan Aki's been playing left back out there. Do. Does he get a run in the team? Like, I think he'll play, right. Like the Dutch have enough where they'll. They'll chop and change their squad, I think in the first round, right? And then do you play well? Is the team winning? Do you get consecutive wins? How does that work? So he could get a run on the team, but it's question mark because I think he's. I think he's one of the best defenders in the Premier League. And you know, when you play for a massive country that has players all over Europe at top clubs, sometimes you miss Out.
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Co-host
Well, this will never happen because it's the Dutch, but they could also play with three in the back. Right. And, like, so that'll never happen, but can you imagine? I mean, it would be probably pretty smart. All right, let's move to his counterpart, his center back, Chris Romero, for Argentina. And just with both of these guys, I feel like you're just not seeing close to the best of them because of the spurs seasons that have happened now in the past few years. But this is a big player, World cup winner. Like, this is an important player. And it's. It's crazy to say, question mark, but just because of his club performances, they've been so bad at times. Sure.
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Tim
I think. I think he. I think his performances have sort of been a byproduct of the chaos that ensues at the club. Like, I'll give you an example. I don't think Christian Romero handles the chaos at Tottenham very well as the captain, because being a captain is different, Right? You're losing managers, you're chopping and changing managers, and you're having to get messages across. I'll give you an example of the other side, and I gave him so much credit yesterday, is Bruno Fernandes. I think he has been exceptional. His leadership ability was questioned and maybe even by me at times and everybody. The fact that he has produced the way he's produced, that he's handles himself with class week in, week out, that he cares about Manchester United in the shirt and that he's what he's willing to play for and take on board. The message of. I'm probably going to say he's played for six managers at Man United, which is crazy.
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Co-host
Maybe more, maybe.
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Tim
Yeah, like, that's brilliant. Go. Go back to Romero. I don't think he's handled that well. Right. So he's a bit. He's a bit of a henchman. You know, he's got to go in hard and physical and gets himself sent off. And he's always in. You know, you like that fire, but sometimes it's unbridled and. And I think that's not been the best for him this season. But then it's also different. And then that's where the question mark for me comes in. You know, these. You know, some of these play with so many South Americans, so many Brazilians, and, like, they're so quiet and to themselves, right? And then they go back and, like, going back to the national team is like their family, their party. They're playing the guitar on the bus. It's like they absolutely love it. So he might be sort of re energized once he gets back amongst that group, you know, and if that's the case, then, then he's clearly a question mark because then I think he can turn his form right around.
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Co-host
Yeah, well, it's, it's interesting because, you know, spurs, every player has had pretty much a horrible season. And as we know, on the field, every player matters. And when it comes to their guests, Virgin Atlantic sees it exactly the same way.
- [16:10]
Tim
Exactly. No matter which cabin you're flying in, you're treated like a vip. And you'll notice it in the details.
- [16:15]
Co-host
Yeah, you really do. Their cabin crew gives you personalized one to one service on a sleek Moodlet plane designed to help you relax and unwind.
- [16:22]
Tim
I always look forward to their British classics, especially their very own Mile High Tea featuring warm scones, jam and cream.
- [16:29]
Co-host
Sounds like my kind of hat trick.
- [16:31]
Tim
And like any smart team, Virgin Atlantic knows that preparation matters.
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Co-host
Yeah, that's right. Which means you can check the lineup early and pre order your meal before you take off.
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Tim
No need for extra time.
- [16:41]
Co-host
And none of that dull chicken or beef either. Just lots and lots of choices.
- [16:45]
Tim
I'm back in the ricotta ravioli.
- [16:47]
Co-host
I knew you would. Pan seared cod for me.
- [16:50]
Tim
Solid choice.
- [16:50]
Co-host
So if the UK is on your
- [16:52]
Tim
schedule this season, fly with an airline that's in a league of its own.
- [16:55]
Co-host
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