As much as you may think they are different, American Football and 'our' Football are, in many ways, quite alike. Take Paul Scholes as an example - he'd fit right in as a Quarterback for any American Football team, writes Alan Hui...

  Report By: Alan Teo Cheng Hui, 12:25am

In the 2010 World Cup, one interesting development is the emergence of the 4-2-3-1 formation used by most teams; especially the more successful ones like Spain, Netherland, Germany and even Brazil (successful ?). This formation is essentially an adaption of the 4-3-3 system with various strands as seen used by Uruguay, Mexico and Portugal. 

It's advantage is in its fluidity and adaptability - you can play the classic 4-3-3 (Uruguay); 4-2-3-1 (Netherland) or 4-3-2-1 (which I will be advocating). This formation may look defensive on paper but it is anything but. As mentioned above, the benefits of this system is in its fluidity and adaptability. So intelligent, versatile, mobile, technically-gifted and tactically-aware player is needed in order for the system to work.

So how can United implement this system ? - The system I have in mind is borrowed from American Football tactics - especially the supreme role plays by its 'Quarterback'. The Quarterback is the heart and brain of the team as he directs play; determines tactics and formations as the play develops, marshaling and cajoling his teammates to render their all in the pursue of victory. He will be freed from defensive duties which will distract him from the more important task of envisioning and engineering offensive moves or when the situation demands, go for goals himself.

So where will his position be ? - He will be sitting just behind the two defensive midfielders and in front of the back-four. What is the advantages of having a Quarterback in the team as compare to the normal midfielders ?

The biggest advantage is the confusion that will cause opposite team as the Quarterback is essentially a very deep-seating attacker that will by his movement change the patterns of the team play - at one moment it can be 4-3-2-1 then when he moves forward it will be 4-2-3-1 and even 4-2-4. When he moves backward, it can be 4-5-1 with him sitting at the apex of the formation directing play from the opposition-half. The opposite team will be constantly caught in a fix as the team pattern will be changing by the minutes.

So does United have the player for such a role... my nomination will be Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs (as back-up). The responsibilities of the Quarterback is immense as he is essentially the conductor and orchestrator of the team. Everything goes through him - from organizing defensive play to offensive moves !

He must be able to read the game well, have the imagination to produce defense-splitting moves, the intelligence to run into space and mobility to move around the pitch (not necessary in break-neck speed) to provide options to team-mates and lastly the experience to remain cool under pressure.

However, for the system to work well the Quarterback must be freed from defensive duties and thus the two midfielders in front of him must work tirelessly not only to protect the defence but also shouldered the added responsibility of freeing the Quarterback from any assigned marker out to thwart and curtail him. Thus, the importance of United signing another defensive midfielder if Owen Hargraves failed to recover from his injury.

Just imagine the team; Edwin Van Der Sar in goal; John O'Shea, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic comprising the back-four. Just ahead of the defence, 'Quarterback' Scholes sitting in the hole. Further upfield, Owen Hargreaves or Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher prowling the midfield. 

Further forward, Luis Nani and Antonio Valencia stretching the defence through their direct running. At the very top, the unplayable Wayne Rooney will be constantly moving to lead the line. The characteristics of this team will be pacy, high-energy and penetration augmented by defensive solidity. 

Of course this is all in paper and the success of the system depends on the availability of players and their on-field performance to execute the tactics. But I like to think the introduction of a very deep-seating attacker, here classified as Quarterback will pose a few problems for the opposition teams; at least tactically...