In the latest edition of Hinton Unleashed, Prost Amerika video columnist Alan Hinton shared his thoughts on this week’s UEFA Champions League matches, the disappointing early season for the Pacific Northwest’s Cascadia teams and Nigel de Jong’s tackle that injured Portland’s Darlington Nagbe.
The beginning time for each segment is noted below.
Champions League (0:50)
“I think the Champions League, frankly, is better in terms of competition standards than the World Cup…These are national team all-stars coming together.”
Hinton reviewed the quarter-final Champions League matchups that saw Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid progress to the semi-final round. He also noted the absence of Barcelona from the European competition.
The former English First Division winger identified poor officiating as playing a role in some of the games. He felt the timing may be right for soccer to implement a video challenge system similar to what the National Football League has in place.
Cascadia sides at bottom of MLS West standings (4:35)
Seattle, Portland and Vancouver occupy three of the four bottom slots in the Western Conference table. Hinton blamed the Sounders’ poor start to bad luck, while Vancouver’s talent level may not be as good as last year’s.
Portland may have difficulty regaining their winning form without the services of Darlington Nagbe (see below).
Nigel de Jong injures Darlington Nagbe (6:20)
“He (Nigel de Jong) kicks people. He does that for a living…His record of people he’s injured is long and extensive.”
The Timbers lost Nagbe to an ankle injury after LA’s de Jong’s harsh tackle in their 1-1 draw on April 10. Hinton noted the Dutchman’s long history of injuring opposing players.
