Today marks the first live EPL match shown on major network TV in the US, a remarkable development and one that recognizes the growing popularity of the beautiful game, particularly the Premier League, in the States.
Today also may signal the end for one of the most successful managers in the EPL history, as Arsene Wenger’s outdueled by Sir Alex yet again and the pressure mounts in North London.
But before analyzing this match, let me digress about Fox Sports for a moment.
On this lovely day, where you don’t need an expensive cable TV package to watch live football from England, the brain wizards at Fox decide to turn the game’s build-up into NFL-light, with a ridiculous voice-over more fitting for a pre-programmed, classic rock station than a footy match. Even my wife, a non-sporting-type, found the build-up comical in the extreme.
Next, why is Piers Morgan replacing Warren Barton in the commentary chair?
Just because he’s got better name recognition in the US doesn’t merit his inclusion on this set, as he’s a hyper-biased Gunner season ticket holder who whines incessantly about his beloved (?!) club, especially his lobbying for Wenger to get sacked. Not exactly the contribution you’re looking for to grow your audience in this hemisphere.
Yet, as much as it pains me to write this, I totally agree with the former head of Hackers of the – err, excuse me – NEWS of the World.
Wenger’s substitution of Oxlade-Chamberlain – arguably Arsenal’s best player – for Arshavin proved the biggest tactical blunder of the match, with Valencia blowing by the half-hearted Russian to create United’s game-winning goal.
Those boos directed at Wenger, this time, may point the Frenchman toward the exit door, given the reaction of Van Persie to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s substitution, who’ll leave Arsenal in a nanosecond if they fall out of Champions League contention. We may all look back at the losses to Swansea and United as Wenger’s tipping point.
Ah, but enough about the Gunners woes and on to three reactions to the Red Devil’s performance.
First, it’s the same story yet again for Sir Alex’s men, as goes the Red Devil wide play so goes the United attack. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that United were brilliant yet again on the flanks, with North Londoners missing their first- and second-choice full backs and Wenger deploying four center halves across the back.
Repeatedly, United played lovely diagonal balls across the pitch to the left wing, where Nani and an overlapping Evra toyed with Djourou and company mercilessly. THE only thing lacking in the Portuguese’s play was his final ball, which was unable to pick out the correct scoring connection time and again.
Thus, it took an overlapping Giggs to pick out Valencia on the far post with an inch-perfect cross for the Ecuadorian to nod home emphatically to make it one-nil United just before half. Which provides a nice transition to my next point.
Once again, Valencia is my Man of the Match with his goal and assist leading the Reds to victory.
Antonio was wonderful, albeit in a more patient role today, with much of the menace coming down his opposite wing. Credit to the number twenty-five, who held his shape, tracked back, and surged to the far post repeatedly without good service much of the first half. But, when the cross finally came, he pounced on it.
Similarly, when the chance came to run at the inept Arshavin, Valencia took full advantage to bypass the elf-like winger on the simplest of faked crosses to cut inside to the box and create the decisive goal, an absolutely brilliant performance from January’s Player of the Month candidate.
Finally, you could look at the contributions of Carrick, Giggs, Welbeck, and the entire backline, any of which deserve mention in this blog. But, it’s the inclusion of the big Dane in net that warrants a closer look.
I can’t recall Lindegaard making any show stopping saves in this match, yet his assuredness, without Rio or Vidic to calm matters, should not be underestimated.
His command in the air, his distribution, and his willingness to chew out anyone - including Giggs today – that does not close down an opponent demonstrates his complete authority in goal.
United’s young defenders need a strong, vocal keeper to provide an extra measure of confidence that comes from clarity. United’s young defenders need Lindegaard between the pipes at this particular moment.
Thus, here we sit on January 22, 2012, only three points out of first place despite all the injuries and European disappointment.
In the future, we may very well look back on the events of this day as a seminal moment for soccer in the US, United’s 2012 title aspirations, and Arsenal’s eventual slide out of the top four.
And hopefully, it’s Piers Morgan’s final appearance in a soccer commentator’s chair.
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