It is always exciting to see a good penalty shootout as they do not happen too often. However, I got lucky this week and witnessed two.
First up was the Malaysian FA Cup clash between Perak and Pahang. It certainly took me back to when I was a player – I was always eager to step up and take the first penalty in a shootout.
The great Welsh goalkeeper Neville Southall would testify to that – I sent him the wrong way at Merdeka Stadium one week before the 1989 Sea Games.
Enough about me, but the shocking penalties missed in the English League Cup semi-final between Manchester United (MU) and Sunderland was beyond me.
Oh, okay, there is pressure on the penalty takers, more so if you happen to be wearing an MU jersey these days. If the goalkeeper pulls off a brilliant save, hats off to him. But if the striker and central midfielder fire the ball into Row Z, who shoulders the responsibility?
Composure is the most important factor when it comes to spot kicks and the highly paid professionals, who missed horribly on the night, will only have themselves to blame.
Unless, of course, the manager selects the penalty takers.
Which brings forth an interesting question: as a manager, do you pick the five players you want stepping up to the spot, or would you rather they volunteer for the responsibility?
I would have more faith if my team-mate tells the gaffer he wants to take a penalty kick instead of having to wait for the manager to point at someone and demand they step up.
On that note, I was a guest on Formasi Extra midweek and the presenter said something that really hit home, Manchester City are the new Devils!
Most certainly, the devilish approach from the team once dubbed as the noisy neighbours is now letting their football and goals make all the din. Granted, it is still the first season into post-Fergie MU, but in terms of the business of football, one year is a very long time to make up.
This Manchester United team could spend a £100 million (RM550 million) now, or attempt to bring Sir Alex Ferguson out of retirement to rejuvenate the defending Champions.
In a purely fictional exercise, let us say we spend 100 million quid on the current MU starting line-up, as money makes the world go around. (Note: The player valuations do not include miscellaneous costs involving "third party" individuals.)
The goalkeeping department is safe, we can forgive David de Gea the blunder in midweek. Two solid stops in the shoot-out attest to that.
At right-back, Gregory van der Wiel (valued at around £10 million) would bring a complete performer no matter which half of the pitch.
The left-back slot would be nicely filled by Fabio Coentrao (valued at around £12.5 million) who needs game time and would be welcomed by the large Portuguese community in Manchester.
We have decided to retain Chris Smalling at centre-back as he seems to have the fight and know how to make it big as a composed sweeper. Alongside Smalling, we will entice Giorgio Chiellini (valued at around £25 million) from Juventus.
A readymade world class no nonsense centre-back, he would put fear into opponents and his team-mates alike.
Oh, before that, we will play a 4-1-4-1 formation with Michael Carrick as the holding midfielder. His ability to retain possession and composed passing is invaluable. Rumour has it that Brendan Rodgers has given videos of Carrick to Steven Gerrard to watch as Rodgers tries to reinvent the wheel. Sorry, Gerrard.
The four man midfield will be unlike any that Manchester United fans have ever seen before, in terms of style, pace and class.
Hugging the right touch line will be the most exciting player at Old Trafford since Cristiano Ronaldo, young whippet Adnan Januzaj.
A combination of the hips of George Best, the slaloming of Ryan Giggs and arrogance of Ronaldo has made Januzaj the most mature teenager in world football.
On the left of midfield, the German wonder, Marco Reus (valued at around £30 million) from Borussia Dortmund.
He would replicate Januzaj on the left wing with more steely determination and a sweeter eye for the killer ball.
The two central attacking midfielders would be Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa. Do not underestimate their ability to work back and yet have the eye for space or the defence-splitting pass.
Would Robin van Persie complain of a lack of service?
We have decided to buy another striker who will bring different qualities that will enable MU to vary their game.
The signing of Fernando Llorente (valued at around £20 million) will not only provide cover, too, but his strength, dominance in aerial duels and incredible link-up play would offer this midfield (made up entirely of willing "give and go" runners) plenty of space to attack as defenders will be scrambling to mark him tightly.
And there you have it, we have spent about £100 million and boy, does this team not look ready for Barcelona (or West Ham, depending on the expectations currently set at the club)?
This is all done assuming...
1) these players are interested and willing to come and play for David Moyes;
2) Their respective clubs find the offers too good to refuse; and,
3) David Moyes is interested in varying his style of play and attempting (God forbid!) exciting, attacking football.
Regardless, Manchester United have a very interesting week ahead, let alone months, as they look for some positives in what has been a disappointing first half of the season. – January 25, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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