Mic'd Up: The former Premier League defender says City are the quiet favorites, is impressed by both Robinson and Chris Richards
The Premier League is back this weekend, but Nedum Onuoha says it's too early to make bold predictions. That's because the transfer window is still open and there are several clubs – such as Tottenham, Newcastle United and Manchester United – who are still potentially tied to big deals ahead of the Sept. 1 deadline.
"Once the window closes, you can really expect to see some quality football from teams who really know they can do well," the ESPN FC analyst said.
Still, the former Premier League defender, who played for more than a decade in the English top flight with the likes of Manchester City, Sunderland, and Queens Park Rangers, believes it's a wide open race – even if Liverpool, Arsenal and City all standouts
"I think that's credit for the league itself and the clubs, because in reality, very rarely do you start a season not knowing who it's going to be," he said. "Because you know that those three teams in particular have got all the quality in the world, and you add in a ton of teams behind them now who can beat them on any particular day. Because you can see a great [season] coming from Chelsea. You can see it from Aston Villa. You can see it from Newcastle. You can see it from resurgent Manchester United, maybe you know, resurgent Spurs."
Onuoha discussed Alexander Isak's future, USMNT stars Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards and all things Premier League in the the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
Getty Images SportON ISAK AND THE TRANSFER WINDOW
GOAL: The transfer window has two weeks left. Which club has you concerned?
ONUOHA: It's a good question. I think the big one is really Newcastle. The fact that they don't know whether their star striker, Alexander Isak, is going to be there or not. Like, you need to figure that out one way or another, with the season starting so soon. It's a shame they're not in a position to understand that. I think they probably feel they are one or two players short elsewhere as well, because all the other sides around them seem to have invested and invested quite well. I'd probably say they're the they're the biggest one in the story with Alexander Isak. He's he's probably the biggest available player remaining in the Premier League.
GOAL: What do you think is the final outcome with Isak? Do you expect him to go to Liverpool as has been rumored? Is there another club who can swoop in for him? Is there a scenario where he stays?
ONUOHA: I don't think he stays, to be honest. I think all the stuff which he said, and the way he behaved – to a certain extent, he was happy to burn that bridge with Newcastle. I think from when he went to train at his old club in Real Sociedad, that I think that was all they needed to hear from him, from his side of things. And Newcastle is in the driver's seat, because they have his contract.
They can say that you have to stay, and so on, but there's no value in paying a player who doesn't want to be there. So I believe he probably won't be a Newcastle player come the first of September. But I would say I'm not 100 percent sure it's going to be Liverpool, but it just seems like that's kind of inevitable at this moment in time. But with the way the football works these next two weeks, as the window starts to wind down, you just never know, because it takes one domino to fall for everything else to move into place as well.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportON ARSENAL
GOAL: Speaking of Isak, he was originally linked with Arsenal this summer. Are you surprised the Gunners didn't make a stronger approach for him?
ONUOHA: Yeah, stylistically, I think he would have been perfect for Arsenal. But if we're talking about, you're talking about 100 million pounds. And with that in mind, maybe Arsenal aren't in a position where they want to do that. So they've probably saw more value in like Viktor Gyokeres and Martín Zubimendi and other players, as well. But if money was available, and, you know, they knew that they could get him, then I'd have been surprised if they weren't interested. But there's a difference between interest and actual functionally of being able to do it. From Arsenal's perspective, they would have loved to have him, but they wouldn't be the only team that would think the same way. Because now you're looking at one of the top strikers, not just in the Premier League or around Europe as well.
GOAL: Staying on Arsenal, is thisfinally the year they win the Premier League? Or are there still concerns from your end with this squad? It seems as if they've been knocking at the door forever
ONUOHA: I'm not really concerned about them as such because I think they've been incredibly consistent over these last three years. But when it comes down to individual moments – not necessarily key times, but say, come the end of the season – you almost have to be perfect. And I think when you've seen Liverpool, Man City do it in years gone by, that's what they have been. Only three seasons ago, they had 50 points at the halfway point. You know, any team that can do that is going to be capable of winning the league title.
And then last year, they obviously had their injuries, which affected their momentum. And you know, it was a tough season for them, because these were key players that were out injured. So I think they are capable. This team finished second three years in a row. They were involved in the title race for at least two of those three seasons. So I believe in them. They believe in each other, and I think as every year passes, they try and use the experiences from the year before to give themselves an opportunity to win the league. And this year, they'll definitely believe that it can do it, because they know they can compete against the likes of a Manchester City, against Liverpool as well. Because they have played those teams and beat them in the years gone by.
GettyON EXPECTATIONS FOR MAN CITY
GOAL: I would be remiss if I didn't bring up one of your former clubs, Man City. Is it just me or does it seem as if expectations are tempered for this year? What are your thoughts, and how does this team get back to where it needs to be?
ONUOHA: Last season was obviously a disappointing year for them, and in the end, they finished three points behind Arsenal for third in the league, which you know – in the grand scheme of things – is not a horrendous season. You know, the last game was losing the FA Cup final, but the fact is, they still had a chance to try and win something from that standpoint. So they were almost unrecognizable last year compared to the years before. I think the fact that they did their business so early, and they played in the Club World Cup, means that people will speak about them in a different manner. Whereas from the Liverpool perspective, for example, you know you're seeing big-name signings
So I think, from a City perspective, the stories haven't been quite about them. But it's because their business was done so early. The fact is, with the players that they have – and the squad is probably too big at this moment in time, quality players who will be leaving – quality players will remain. They have a manager who will want to address what happened the year before, and a bunch of players who will as well. So I've got no doubt that they'll do very, very well. And I think the fact that people are kind of going quiet on them will probably add more fuel to the fire, which is probably not what many teams need.
GOAL: So, based on what I'm hearing, are you picking them to be your winners this year?
ONUOHA: Traditionally, I tend not to pick them, because I don't like being wrong and upset if it doesn't happen. But given how difficult it is to retain a Premier League title – for as good as Liverpool have been in terms of their recruitment and so on, I think it's probably gonna be quite something to do again. Then from an Arsenal perspective, if Liverpool and if Man City perform to their best, then I think they've got a real big challenge. So then I revert back to the team that knows how to do it, because they've done it so many times, for the last five or six years. So yes, I'm going to lean City. But the bigger point, which is the point that needs to be really emphasized, is that I could be convinced either way about who could win it.
Getty Images SportON USMNT'S PREMIER LEAGUE STARS
GOAL: Time to bring up two of the American defenders who are playing in the Premier League – Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards. Considering that you were a defender, what have you seen that you like about them? What do you think are areas where they need to grow?
ONUOHA: I love the fact that they're both very, very established in teams who have got a ton of respect for being teams who can win against anybody. Obviously, they're not teams who are pushing for the Premier League title as such. But their importance is such that you feel the difference when they're not there. I think for Antonee, he captains Fulham. I think that's a big statement in itself. And the talk was last year, you look at how many assists that he's bringing to this side, and how many people would have thought that that level of attacking power would be coming from, say, that left side, that left center for Fulham? But it's a big deal with that. And then even defensively, like he's as good as anybody in that league, because he's strong, he's physical, and reads the game well. And he's committed to not just winning the ball back, but starting the next attack. So that's impressed me.
With Chris as well, playing in that back three for Palace, that's one of the best back threes in the Premier League. You know what you're going to get from them. Defensively, very, very solid. They've got a threat in terms of how he attacks in the box, as well. It's actually both boxes – defensively and in attack – and he understands his role in his club perfectly, which is where I think he deserves a ton of credit. And I think for the two of them, the only thing that's sort of missing from them, I think, is a different sort of test.
Because the two clubs that they play for, there is a level of expectation, but it's more of a tamed one. So it'd be interesting to see if they ever make a step up to a team and, say, push for the Champions League, one that, like almost expects to be winning trophies every year. How would that affect their performance? Well, for now, I believe that the jobs that they're doing, they deserve a ton of credit for. Because they're key players in their teams. And when we talk about how big the Premier League is, as I say, that's that's amazing in itself.
GOAL: You brought up a really good point in terms of the fact that they could be challenged more. Jedi, in particular was linked with Liverpool, linked with Manchester United at one point. Has the window of opportunity for him to move to a bigger club passed? Or because he's 28, or do you think he should still be pushing for another move?
ONUOHA: No, to be honest. The push probably comes from how well he's playing, because he can end up being part of the conversation. So I don't think that the window has passed because to say that anybody at 28 can't have some of the best years ahead, I think, misses the point. There are a ton of players who you see the best football that they have, like post-30, you know? So I'm not hard on that whatsoever. And the fact is, for him, he can go to that next level when he's asked to go to that next level. So I don't think that window is closed, whatsoever.
Obviously, when it comes down to Liverpool, with Milos Kerkez and potentially other people in that position, that would be a difficult situation for him. But again, to give Antonee credit, his style of play is one that doesn't just suit the Premier League. You know, he can play anywhere, in my mind, and those challenges and those pressures can be matched up in a different league. If that's to be the case where, you know, he plays Champions League on a year to year basis, or, you know, he plays for a team that is keen to win leagues. Because his profile fits that down to a tee.