There is an old habit you and I are probably guilty of. But I am sure we always find a convenient excuse by blaming it on our subconscious.
Wait! Don?t check out just yet, indeed you are still on your favourite football page and not a psychology forum.
It is just that, in the lead up to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between Ghana?s Black Stars and Malawi?s Flames at the Accra Sports Stadium, that old habit kicked in again; the tendency to use names or pedigree to evaluate people or groups.
That is why my first instinct was to dismiss Malawi?s Flames as minnows whom the Stars should not have trouble dispatching with a basket of goals.
But on this occasion, I rather made a conscious effort to profile the Flames, pick up useful information and attempt a winning line up.
Of course Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah, would have his own ideas, but if I were him I would line up audaciously.
That, I would do in little while but only after doing a quick introduction of the Flames.
How hot are the Flames?
Malawi, currently ranked by 90th by FIFA have only recently come into their own. They have never qualified to the senior World Cup and have only made two AFCON appearances in 1984 and 2010.
Indeed, they made headlines at the 2010 AFCON beating Algeria 3-0 but unfortunately went out at the group stage.
Interestingly, they played their first match, under colonial name Nyasaland against Ghana and lost 12-0.
Now Coached by ex international Kinnah Phiri, Malawi has recently beaten African giants like Egypt and Zambia.
In their last 2 competitive games, the Flames drew 1-1 with Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier and defeated Chad 2-0.
Kinnah Phiri, a man with incredible self believe has clearly infused that trait into his players, most of whom ply their trade domestically and in the South African PSL with a couple outside of Africa.
Unfancied players they have, but they are not short on self believe and high fitness levels. Phiri, an advocate for fielding players in form, has axed veteran strikers like Esau Kanyenda and Russel Mwafulirwa as well as Vietnam-based Victor Nyirenda, who have seen little playing time in favour of more active local players.
Clearly Phiri has something up his sleeve.
That he failed to hide in an interview with the BBC when he made the following comment ?We will try to play a very cautious game and if they (Ghana) open up, we get a chance, we will make use of it. And should we score, we will defend that goal to the end?.
That is how Malawi hopes to burn the Stars tomorrow but how will the Stars respond?
How the Stars can douse the Flames
With the kind of game plan Malawi intend using tomorrow, this is how I will pick my team if I were Coach Kwesi Appiah.
In goal, I will make an easy choice picking Norway based Adam Kwarasey. Since late last year when he took over from Richard Kingson, he has kept the post in almost all the high profiled matches including the 2012 AFCON and although he wasn?t convincing, his confidence is growing so no need derailing that.
At right back, I will pick Harrison Afful ahead of Samuel Inkoom and Daniel Opare solely on the reason that between them, he is the most active and would also contribute immensely to attacks down the right wing.
At left back, I will go the unpopular route by picking Lee Addy for one reason only and that is for defensive solidity.The other left back, Razak Nuhu, who made his debut in the China friendly is exciting going forward but not convincing defensively.
The stakes are too high to experiment. I would thus go for the safer option in Addy.
For the central defensive pairing, John Boye will be the first on the list, he has continued from his strong performance at the 2012 AFCON and even won player of the month at his club Rennes in France.
His pick was easy but the man to partner him is where it gets dicey. Do I go for experience in Isaac Vorsah who has just transferred from Hoffenheim to Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg or I go for the sharper man in Turkey based Jerry Akaminko who impressed on his debut with a goal against Lesotho?
My head tells me to pick the sharper man in Akaminko considering that Malawi?s attackers in the shape of Atusaye Nyondo, who plays for SuperSport United in South Africa, and playmaker Joseph Kamwendo are very pacy and could cause Ghana?s defence a lot of trouble if the Stars defenders aren?t sharp on the day.
In midfield, I will have little trouble picking Anthony Annan to shield the defence. Nobody closes down and protects the way he does. I will pick Juventus new boy Kwadwo Asamoah as a deep lying playmaker alongside Annan where he can have a bigger view of the field to provide piercing passes and dictate the play of the team. Just ahead of him in the hole behind the main striker I will pick Derek Boateng.
My decision is informed by what transpired in the last friendly against China. Kwadwo and Derek switched positions and Derek looked the part when he played in that advanced role creating numerous chancing.
On the wings, I will deploy Christian Atsu on the left and Andre Ayew on the right. Both can interchange not only to confuse their opponents but to cut in and change the shape when the going gets tough.
The person to lead the attack is also an easy pick; UAE-based Asamoah Gyan gets the nod not only to start but also a chance to redeem his image as he returns from self imposed retirement.
When you have a striker who averages a goal every other game (28 goals in 59 games), picking him is easy.
I just hope that on the day it is the prolific Gyan that turns up. If that Gyan shows up, then Malawi would surely be in for a hiding. Now that is objective and not the old habit kicking in again.
Source: 90 minutes
