5 to Watch This Weekend
After Mexico Mishaps, All Eyes Are on Geoff Cameron
This weekend is jam-packed with World Cup-relevant soccer action, beginning with Geoff Cameron's unofficial job interview for a central defense gig with the United States national team.
BY
Christopher McCollum
Posted
April 05, 2014
8:40 AM
Saturday
Chelsea vs. Stoke City
12:30 p.m. (all times Eastern)
NBC
After Omar Gonzalez’s shoddy defensive performance against Mexico, there appears to be job opening alonside Matt Besler in the U.S. central defense. Has Geoff Cameron submitted his resume? We believe he has—and his
high rank in the ASN 100 qualifies as a reference. (The fact that Cameron is the best American outfield player in Europe doesn't hurt either.) A strong game against Chelsea, the reeling title contenders, will only add to Cameron's C.V.
Columbus Crew vs. Toronto
6 p.m.
MLS Live
From the best American field player in Europe to the best American field player anywhere,
Michael Bradley and Toronto FC travel to Columbus to take on the Crew. In this still-young season, Columbus is playing surprisingly well, holding the only perfect record in the league—
Michael Parkhurst deserves at least some of the credit for this. After Bradley’s performance on Wednesday, in which he thoroughly bossed around some of the best that Mexico has to offer, there’s even more reason to watch every single minute that he’s on the field.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Real Salt Lake
8:30 p.m.
MLS Live
After The Bradley Show, stay with MLS Live to watch what could be the best game of the week. Like Bradley, Kyle Beckerman also enjoyed a solid game against Mexico, once again showing how valuable a role player he can be. RSL is poised for another strong season, and with Tony Beltran and Luis Gil as outside candidates for the World Cup roster, there’s even more reason to watch as they prepare for the biggest summer of their careers.
Sunday
Everton vs. Arsenal
8:30 a.m.
NBCSN
This is The Big One for Tim Howard and Everton—a win here lifts them to within one point of a sliding Arsenal side as both clubs battle for the fourth and final Champions League spot. With a game in hand over the Gunners and six to go altogether, the Toffees have destiny in their own hands. There are few middling opponents left though, so Howard will have to be at the very top of his game to backstop Everton to its first Champions League appearance in nearly a decade.
Hertha Berlin vs. Hoffenheim
11:30 a.m.
GolTV USA
It’s hit or miss for John Brooks, who has been in and out of the lineup for the struggling and sinking Hertha Berlin. Having gone 90 minutes in back-to-back games a few fixtures ago, he was on the bench last week as the team took another loss. The club is now winless with only three goals scored in its last six. Jurgen Klinsmann continues to talk about Brooks in a way that hints at his involvement in Brazil, and the door could indeed still be open despite a poor showing against Ukraine. On the other side of the field, Fabian Johnson has been performing well for Hoffenheim, which has amassed seven points in its last three games to go over Hertha for 10th place. Hoffenheim grabbed a rare point from Bayern Munich last weekend, one of only three teams to do so in 28 Bundesliga games this season.
So what are you watching this week? Let us know in comments section below.
Christopher McCollum is a New York City-based writer and an ASN contributor.