It’s time to trade penalties for a real shoot-out

“It would be interesting to see how good the modern-day player is at scoring when they’ve got five seconds to score from 35 yards.”

Everything has a shelf life.

So now might just be the time to look into an alternative to penalty-kick deciders.

If the powers-that-be are in need of another option, then I’ve certainly got one.

In my view, penalties should now be replaced by a different sort of shoot out, which I have first-hand experience of.

I’m confident it would provide a more entertaining way to separate two teams that have found stalemate after extra time.

It was back in 1978 when I first came across this particular way of providing a thrilling end to a game.

I was playing over in the United States with Detroit Express, and there were a lot of huge names playing over there at that time the likes of George Best, Franz Beckenbauer, Trevor Francis, Rodney Marsh and so on.

When a match ended on level terms, the result was decided by giving players five seconds to beat the goalkeeper from 35 yards out. There were various ways you could set about scoring.

You could hit the ball a fair bit in front of you and sprint to run on to it before trying to hit the target.

Or you could dribble it up towards goal at pace before deciding to shoot or trying to go around the keeper.

The goalkeepers would have a part to play as well, of course, and some would spring out at times to force you to try and chip them.

There can be no disputing this sort of shoot-out involves a lot more skill than simply stepping up and converting from the penalty spot.

The supporters loved watching these shoot-outs, and I enjoyed taking part in them more than the traditional penalty shoot-outs I was used to.

When I think back, the Americans were always great at finding ways to provide entertainment and they knew how to produce drama.

Some might look at Liverpool’s 14-13 spot-kick win over Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup in midweek as dramatic.

But when a shoot-out is lasting that length of time, you’ve got to ask yourself if it really is as entertaining as we make out.

I’m not so sure it was. It becomes a bit boring when you watch that many penalty kicks and the players are all stepping up and scoring.

Yes, the quality of the penalty kicks from both teams was unbelievable.

They were dispatching them at ease into the top corner, bottom corner and just about every effort left the keepers with no chance.

However, there are other options and I’d be hugely in favour of chancing the shoot-out format when a cup tie ends level.

A lot of clubs allow supporters to try and beat the goalkeeper for charity by starting at the halfway line.

Everyone around the stadium enjoys watching them, counting down from 10 so it generates a good atmosphere.

That’s what happened in the States back then. The crowd really made some amount of noise so hopefully it’s something that can be looked at.

It would be interesting to see how good the modern-day player is at scoring when they’ve got five seconds to score from 35 yards. It certainly involves more skill and that’s what we all want to see.