One Two Podcast

This week on the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert are back to break down a very consequential weekend in the Premier League title race. The first thing the pair do is eat their words from last episode and admit that what Tuchel is doing at Chelsea may be working, albeit only against Sheffield. Michael talks about the new positional role for Werner that helped him put in a more comfortable performance and Albert praises Mason Mount's consistent ability to put in a shift for Chelsea. Breaking down the Man City-Liverpool match, there is plenty of praise for Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden, as well as a general hatred of the attacking and defending depth City possess. On the Liverpool side, we ponder a positional change for TAA and Alisson's shocking performance in the loss. Finally, some thoughts are given to Man United's de Gea problem and Spurs' reliance on Kane. On the Arsenal segment, Michael laments VAR and how hard-done by the Gunners have been with it. In addition, with Arsenal in a bit of a rut both Albert and Michael take a realistic look at the squad and admit this is where Arsenal should be. They do have praise for Martin Odegaard, the newest creator in the squad. We hope you're staying safe and enjoy our Stripes of the Week picks!

This week on the Pod, Michael and Albert break down how the Premier League is looking as January comes to a close. The pair talk about beautiful midfielders, as they breakdown the 3-1 Liverpool victory over Spurs as they heap praise on Thiago and Ndombele as the standout players of the match. They break down the issues that Spurs are running into this season while praising Liverpool's resilience in the title race even as they are rocked by injuries. Both Michael and Albert have no words of positivity for Chelsea's appointment of Thomas Tuchel though, calling it at best a "lateral move". In Manchester, they are afraid of the defensive prowess of Man City and their wealth of scary attacking options while they are excited to play a suddenly stuttering Man United. In the Arsenal segment, they break down the shock loan move for Martin Odegaard as well as the busy activity that Edu has been pulling off in the winter transfer window. While breaking down Arsenal's recent form, praise is given to unsung players like Rob Holding and Pablo Mari, as well as Nicolas Pepe's new role in the side. We hope that you're staying safe and healthy and that you enjoy this week's Stripes of the Week recommendations.

Happy New Year Everyone! On this episode of the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert ring in 2021 with a bit of cheer and analysis of the Festive Fixtures Period. The duo talk about Chelsea's recent struggles and the players/tactics that could help them turn things around. For the Spurs fans, Albert talks about the predictability of Spurs' attack, so Son and Kane focused, but Michael reminds everyone that the pair are having a record-breaking season. Finally, the pair bemoan the fact that Manchester clubs are figuring things out and being Manchester clubs. In the Arsenal segment, the pair discuss the recent promotion of young players to the starting XI and just how that has helped Arteta and Arsenal collect 9 points in the past week. Michael declares his admiration of KT and Albert talks about the contributions of veteran players like Xhaka and Lacazette and the context behind them. Finally, as it's January transfer window time, we got to make a plan for what Arsenal need to do and what to expect from other top clubs. 

This week on the pod, it's a special holiday edition with Jason Lee. Michael and Jason team up to talk about some of the big stories in the Premier League. They talk about the issues plaguing Man United and how this led Jason to decide it was best for him to focus on supporting Spurs, even if this weekend wasn't their best moment (Jason isn't worried at all). As Chelsea finished off a 3-0 win on Monday over West Ham, the duo talk about just how stacked a team Chelsea has and how their depth in all positions means that players can struggle for form without the entire team suffering. Finally, Jason and Michael tackle the real problems that Mikel Arteta is facing at Arsenal and give some real advice on what needs to be done at London Colney (hint: it's not going to be an easy thing to do). As always, we have some Stripes of the Week to recommend you as you hopefully stay safe and healthy this holiday weekend.

This week on the One Two Pod, Albert is back with Michael to break down another week of Premier League action. The duo talk about the ramifications of all the draws and losses that the "Big Six" clubs suffered over the weekend. They dig into just what Liverpool need to do about their growing injury crisis, looking towards the January transfer window and the players that clubs are going to be looking at. In addition, the consistent strong praise for Spurs is hard for the pair to do, but warranted. Finally, in the Arsenal section Albert and Mikel have some strong words to say to the section of Arsenal fans asking for Arteta to be sacked. We hope you enjoy this episode and also get a chance to check out our Stripes of the Week. Please stay safe and healthy in these times.

This week on the One Two Pod, Michael welcomed in Liv and Bennett, the two most passionate Spurs fans at Fighting Stripes, to break down their 2-0 North London Derby win. We broke down some of the tactical battles that led to Spurs being able to win comfortably, whether it was the Sergio Reguillon run that allowed Sonny's worldie to happen, or the continued defensive excellence of Hojberg. In addition, Bennett puts Michael on the hot seat and asks just what Mikel Arteta needs to do in order to stop this Premier League poor form.  In other stories, the crew discuss the return of fans and break down a bit of what happened with the Millwall fans and just why it was so disappointing to see them booing the players for taking a knee in support of the "No Room for Racism" campaign. We also talked a bit about the title race, getting the dreamer Liv to predict a title run for Spurs while Bennett tempered expectations a bit. We had a fun conversation and we hope you enjoyed a very Spurs-focused episode this week. As always, we have some Stripes of the Week to recommend for you and we also hope you are staying safe and healthy right now.

On this episode of the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert are back to break down the latest developments in the Premier League. They start with a look at the big Chelsea-Spurs draw and assess each club's title credentials. Heading over to Manchester, the duo breaks down the resurgence of both Manchester clubs as it seems that the early season struggles are abating somewhat. Both City and United remain a bit inconsistent but even with that, they're climbing up the table. Before getting to Arsenal, Michael and Albert conclude their big club roundup with their thoughts on the new-look Everton and where this team is going. In the Arsenal segment, a reality check is needed as Arsenal continue to struggle and lose on a regular basis now. Michael talks about his newfound love of Europa League football and Albert reiterates that even if the Gunners are struggling, Arteta is the right man for this job. As always, we began with some Stripes of the Week recommendations for you. In this pandemic, we wish you will stay safe and healthy!

On this week's One Two Pod, Michael and Albert bring on Josh from the FCFC Pod to diagnose the current issues at Man United. Josh provides his analysis of Ole's struggles to coax some consistency out of his talented squad, why Paul Pogba is so unfairly criticized, and what will happen to improve Man United's play. On the Arsenal section of the pod, Albert and Michael get some help from Josh as they break down exactly what Arsenal did right to come away with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. We've also got a lot of recommendations for you on our Stripes of the Week. We hope you are staying safe and healthy during this time.

On this week's episode of the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert talk about another interesting week in the Premier League. North London was a place of contrasts, as Sonny and Kane combined again to help Spur grind out a tough win at Burnley. However, Michael and Albert shared frustration with just how much trouble Arsenal had creating chances against an organized Leicester defense. Some other topics include Sonny's Golden Boot quest, what is wrong with Man City, which high flying teams will drop off by Christmas, and whether Arsenal must beat Man United on Sunday to regain momentum. As always, we have some Stripes of the Week to recommend for you and remember to stay safe and healthy. Thanks for listening!

This week on the One Two Pod, Albert is back with Michael to discuss just what is going on with this wild Premier League season. The duo discuss Tottenham's unfortunate meltdown against West Ham, a Merseyside Derby rife with controversy, and also the Man City-Arsenal game that may have underdelivered on the hype that was felt prior to the match. Some big discussions are whether Liverpool can defend their title without VVD (best wishes to Virgil on a healthy recovery from ACL surgery), what is going on with the form of the Manchester clubs, and just how wild this Premier League will be. Also, watch out for the new Brighton ambassador Albert and listen in for Michael and Albert's dream Arsenal signing. Finally, we have our Stripes of the Week recommendations for you as always (surprise for the Potterheads). Please stay safe and healthy out there and for our American listeners, please vote. 

This week on the One Two Pod Steve Han fills in for Albert for a special Korean National Team episode. Michael talks with Steve about the recent friendlies between Paulo Bento's senior national team and Kim Hakbum's Olympic national team. They discuss some of the K League veterans who stood out for Team Bento, the rise of young Ulsan players Won Dujae and Lee Donggyeong, and what happens next month in Austria against Mexico and Qatar. On the Olympic side, Steve digs into just how cohesive this squad is and how difficult Kim Hakbum's roster construction for next year's Tokyo Olympics will be. To highlight this, Michael plays a little game with Steve, giving him players that are on the bubble and asks Steve whether they go to Tokyo or could be cut from the final roster. As always, check out our Stripes of the Week, with a certain NBA flavor this week to celebrate the Lakers NBA Finals victory, which Steve is ecstatic about. We hope you are all staying safe and healthy out there.

On the Transfer Deadline Day Special, Michael and Albert are joined by the Korean Spur, Bennett, to provide analysis of Transfer Deadline Day. They go through the Big Six teams and dissect the ins and outs for each team. They give grades to each team's business, with some disagreements and discussion along the way. Find out which transfer deal stuck out the most to Albert, Michael's take on West Ham's improved play, and listen for the most positive vibes Bennett has ever had about his Spurs. Also, we've got our Stripes of the Week as always. We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. 

On this week's episode of the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert break down another weekend of Premier League action. They realize that storylines are developing and some clubs are on a high while others are on a low. Teams discussed as on a high are Arsenal (even with a loss at Liverpool), Liverpool, and Leeds United. Teams with some work to do after puzzling performances are Chelsea, Man City, and Man United. We also got into a little bit of talk about the weird handball calls, transfer market rumblings as the deadline approaches, and sent positive vibes to Sonny after a hamstring injury. Be sure to check out our Stripes of the Week recommendations as well. We hope everyone is continuing to stay safe and healthy in these times.

On this episode of the One Two Pod, Michael Welch and Albert Ghim recap another exciting week of EPL action. Some of the topics they discuss include the Liverpool victory over Chelsea and the positives Chelsea can take from the performance, a Sonny/Kane masterclass against Southampton, and a nervy but important victory for Arsenal over West Ham. In a recurring segment, Albert professes his love for Granit Xhaka as part of a larger discussion about Arsenal's midfield needs. Finally, the pair finish off the pod by recapping another weekend of interesting stories for the Korean players in Europe. Don't forget to check out Albert and Michael's recommendations on this week's Stripes of the Week. We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. 

On this episode of the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert get together to talk about the opening weekend of the Premier League season. They discuss Tottenham's disappointing loss to Everton, the new-look midfield for the Toffees, Arsenal's commanding victory, and a look at the competitive nature of the Premier League, with Wolves and Chelsea also winning comfortably. In addition, they get into the exciting weekend that Koreans had in Europe, as the DFB Pokal saw sparkling performances from all 4 Koreans in the Bundesliga, a brace for Lee Seungwoo in Belgium, and 2 assist performance for Lee Kangin. Finally, Michael recommends some music and Albert has a movie and TV show for the Stripes of the Week. Please stay safe and healthy and we'll see you next Tuesday. 

In the season premiere of the new One Two Pod, Michael Welch and Albert Ghim get into the 2020-2021 EPL season. To start off light, they do a quick Hot or Not kit review of the new EPL kits. Then, they dig into all 20 EPL clubs and put them into tiers to measure each team's prospects for the season. Finally, they dig into some of the latest transfer rumors as the transfer window will remain open until mid-October because of the COVID19 pandemic. On the Arsenal segment, Albert and Michael discuss Arsenal's ceiling this season, the rumors of exciting incoming midfielders, and what to do about players who may be sold. Finally, the Stripes of the Week are in and Michael and Albert have some recommendations for you. We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. 

On this episode of the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert dig into the transitional nature of this Premier League season. As they break down a drab 0-0 draw between Chelsea and Man United, the pair realize that all of the "big" Premier League teams are going through transition, whether because of injuries, new managers, or squad overhaul. In the end, only Man City have everything together to make a title run and Champions League push. However, Albert reminds Michael that Man City could just go and buy up even more talent this summer, scaring the league again. When talking about Spurs, neither of the pair understand why Bale isn't playing more when his class is so evident.  On the Arsenal segment, a rotational victory over Leicester gives the pair a real surprise, as they realize they are now so used to Arsenal's struggles that any positive thing surprises them. They talk about Lacazette's future and the need for striker upgrades, some more praise for Granit Xhaka's continual growth in Mikel Arteta's side, and the big areas of upgrade needed after this difficult season.  We hope you're staying safe, warming up, and want to thank you all for listening.

This week on the One Two Pod, Michael and Albert dive into just why Man City are so dominant right now, including the MVP-level play of Gundogan and the defensive mistakes forced through the dribbling prowess of Sterling and Foden. Responding to Spurs' lack of ability to create and control the match from midfield in their loss to City, the pair suggest some players that could remedy this deficiency. Michael uses some time to air his gripes with how frustrating it is to watch Man U play poorly against relegation sides with the amount of talent they do have while Albert gives overdue credit to just how consistent West Ham have been this season. On the Arsenal segment, the new-look Arsenal attacking trident finally debuted and defeated Leeds, leading Michael to be especially excited. In addition, the pair discuss just how Arsenal will take a "solid" team and turn it into an "elite" team again.  We hope you enjoy our Stripes of the Week and are saying safe and warm this winter.

In this special Tavern Interview, our very own Tavern Contributors Bennett Hogendorn and Kevin Kim got together for a very thought-provoking conversation. In this conversation, Bennett and Kevin dig into the identity struggles they faced growing up in Wisconsin and Miami, FL. They gave a relatable conversation about the realities of bullying and how they personally came to terms with it and responded to it. They talked about the reasons why they struggled to learn Korean as children and what they do now to be more in touch with the Korean culture. Finally, they dug into the Korean national team, the reason that these two football mad men were brought together in the first place. It's a conversation you won't want to miss. We hope all of you are staying safe and healthy in these uncertain times. 

In this special episode of the Tavern of the Taegeuk Warriors podcast, our Tavern Contributor Joon Park hosts a conversation about Korean immigration with Namu Yoon, who's been on this podcast before. Namu discusses living in both the US and Canada during his life, the reasons he moved from Korea to North America, and his thoughts on the Korean-Canadian community that he knows so well. In addition, the pair discuss the similarities and differences between the Korean-American and Korean-Canadian communities, bring some nuance to the model minority conversation, and talk about how soccer has shaped Namu's immigrant experience. We hope you enjoy this conversation and are staying safe and healthy.