Mic'd Up: Costigan discusses the Alexander Isak saga and how early season shows 'Premier League is about entertainment'
Soccer's presence in America has grown dramatically over the past three decades, and Keith Costigan has been there from the start.
Costigan was one of the OG soccer broadcasters in this country, serving as a leading voice for Fox Soccer on Premier League, Serie A, MLS, among other leagues for nearly two decades. Now, working as a TV analyst and commentator for Apple TV's MLS Season Pass, he's seen enough to know that there are often multiple sides to a story – and multiple agendas, too. He pointed to the ongoing transfer saga between Alexander Isak, Newcastle, and Liverpool as an example.
"We don't know the ins and outs of," Costigan told GOAL. "And again, you have these reporters who work with the club, and they're like, 'Oh, that's obviously not true.' And I'm like, 'How do you know it's obviously not true? Because Newcastle said it?' And I would argue on the other side, how do we know it's definitely true because his agent said it? We don't know that element of the story."
Costigan discussed Isak's future, Arsenal's trophy hopes and where MLS needs to go next in 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 ImagesON LIVERPOOL
GOAL: Regarding Isak – looking at how Liverpool have played so far, do they really need him? Is this a case of the rich just getting richer?
COSTIGAN: He fills a need. I think the modern game now, you can't go in with the idea that "Well, [Hugo] Ekitike scored, so you have a forward." It doesn't work like that anymore. The best teams have multiple options. You look at Man City over the last couple of years and the money they've spent. Remember, Liverpool have lost Diego Jota through tragedy. They've sold Luis Diaz. They've sold Darwin Nunez. So three of the front group last year is gone, and Ekitike is the only one that's come in. The idea that Liverpool are now in a position for Isak?
Because it was only a few years ago when Liverpool were always shopping in the second tier to try to sign a player, who eventually becomes a 100 million player. The fact that Liverpool have got to this point, don't give me any bad vibes about it! Let me enjoy this moment that Liverpool can go out and get a Florian Wirtz and can go out and get, hopefully, an Alexander Isak. I think it's good, but I can understand the emotions of Newcastle too, because I've been there when Coutinho was leaving and Liverpool felt like "No, we're about to build something." I guarantee that's what Newcastle feel and their fans feel aggrieved, and their manager feels aggrieved as well.
GOAL: From your point of view, is there any way all of the sides, particularly Isak, could have handled this better?
COSTIGAN: No, this is the way players do it nowadays. This becomes territorial, right? If a player from my club does it, he's an absolute disgrace. A player from another club does it to get to my club, "Well, hang on a minute!" I don't hear Newcastle fans going crazy about Yoane Wissa and complaining about him taking down all the Brentford posts to get to Newcastle. I don't think there's a right way to handle it. I wish there were a way with clubs to do business the right way. I also wish the players who signed contracts would understand that they have to honor those if that's part of the agreement… So I'm not a fan of it. I wish players could just handle their business in the correct manner. Clubs play their part in this, too, because clubs try to push out players when they don't want them anymore.
GOAL: Based on what you've seen, are Liverpool the favorites in your book?
COSTIGAN: I think Liverpool are going to be there, or thereabouts… Liverpool are going to be in the top three this year. They're going to be one of those teams that challenge. But I've always said I thought last year's success for Liverpool was built on the continuity of the season before with the same group. They got off to a very good start and never looked back. So if I'm Arsenal, I'm looking at this and saying, "Let's hope Liverpool have that blip. We get ourselves a positive start because we almost have the same group. We've added a couple of pieces, but for the most part, we're the same." And then Liverpool have to play catch-up. But no, I think anybody writing off Liverpool is absolutely silly. They're going to be one of the most entertaining sides to watch this year.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportON ARSENAL
GOAL: It's funny you mentioned Arsenal, because they are always knocking on the door, but it never opens. Is this the year they to win the Premier League?
COSTIGAN: The game has changed, because you make Champions League, you go far, you bring in more money. It almost seems like that's the trophy for owners… The idea that Arsenal fans or Mikel Arteta goes "Well, we were finishing second, so we'll just take that extra jump now." It doesn't quite work like that. Often, the next step is the most difficult step to take. I think in Martin Zubimendi, they brought in a really, really good midfielder, I think a different profile, one that allows Declan Rice to be a little bit more active moving forward. And I think that's a part of his game that, particularly in the Premier League, he can, he can be really good at.
I think silverware is important this year. I think, you know, winning something. But if Arsenal have a run and are close again in the Premier League, nobody at the club is going to panic and say, "Arteta is not the guy." The banter between Arsenal social media and other other fan bases, social media might reach a boiling point. But within the walls of the boardroom, they'd be saying, "Look, we're right there. We're becoming an elite team." They were the Champions League semifinalists last year, and you could argue with a better team against PSG in those games as well, after beating Real Madrid…
So I have them as a threat in both the Prem and a real Champions League contender as well. That is how highly I rate them. I think Arteta is more Mourinho than Guardiola, despite the fact that he worked with Pep Guardiola. So it's going to be interesting to watch. But yeah, for the fan base, definitely a trophy is needed to kind of validate the progress that you're making.
GOALON CHELSEA
GOAL: Chelsea have bought what appears to be another dozen players, including more strikers, but still remain incredibly inconsistent. What do you make of them?
COSTIGAN: They dropped points against Palace, who are a really good team and have one of the best coaches in the league in Oliver Glasner. I do worry about Chelsea in the final-third. I did last year as well. I think Cole Palmer had a good Club World Cup, but no disrespect to the Club World Cup, the level of competition, week in, week out, in the Premier League is higher, in my opinion. And Cole Palmer's goal drought is a concern. I think Joao Pedro is going to be a great signing. I love him as a player. Very, very clever. Delap is a different kind of No. 9.
So I don't know. I wouldn't have gone away from Nicholas Jackson (who reportedly joined Bayern Munich on loan). I think Nicholas Jackson is a really good No. 9. I talked to a lot of people who will say, "He missed too many chances. He's wrecked." But I think he has great attributes. He gets in behind. He's a constant thorn in the center back side. Finishing remains my concern for Chelsea. They will probably be looking over the shoulders a little bit as well, because they got into the top four, the automatic assumption was they were going to challenge… Until they get that formula down in that final-third of what is the best group moving forward that that gets them the goals that they want. I do like Estevao, though, I think he's top class.
Getty Images SportON THE PREMIER LEAGUE
GOAL: Looking at the Premier League as a whole, what have you enjoyed the most at the start of the season?
COSTIGAN: I enjoyed watching Sunderland because I think over the last couple of years, we've talked about teams that come up automatically, go back down. And there's a great start. We had to wait till November of last year for two of the three promoted teams to win a game. Two of them won on opening weekend. Leeds beat Everton and deserved to beat Everton. Sunderland have spent big, and they absolutely hammered West Ham in Week 1. So I enjoyed watching that Sunderland. Sunderland and Leeds have incredible fan bases. The gameday atmosphere in those stadiums is electric.
One of the great things about the Premier League is that you can lose your position. It's not a given. So I like the idea that maybe a West Ham, who are like, "Well, we're OK, we can chop it up. We're not happy with Moyes. We'll make a move there." Well, guess what? You're jeopardizing your ability to stay in this league if you keep making the wrong decisions, because these clubs coming up will spend money and take your position. So I like that… we forget this is a show. The Premier League is about entertainment. They both really delivered that weekend.