September 25 – How do you solve a problem like Schmeichel?

THE only downside of having the world’s best ‘keeper in your line up is that when he goes, you’re generally screwed. When Peter Schmeichel left Manchester United in 1999 Alex Ferguson liked the cut of Italian goalie Massimo Taibi’s jib, signing him for £4.4m.

Today in 1999 he was probably beginning to realise that this was a bum move, when he made one of the biggest howlers in Premier League history in United’s 3-3 draw with Southampton.

Taibi had enjoyed spells at several top-flight Italian clubs and the 29-year-old was given the chance to stake his claim as the new United No.1 at the start of the season ahead of Mark Bosnich and Raimond van der Gouw.

United’s first game of the season saw them win 3-2 at Anfield and although Taibi make a clanger for the first goal he received the Man of the Match award, just as he would in their next game against Wimbledon.

So far so good.

Next came Southampton at Old Trafford. Six minutes into the second half Saints legend Matt Le Tissier hit a gentle, speculative effort from 25 yards out that would have been easier to save than let in. When the ball squirmed underneath the Italian and trickled through his legs into the net Fergie got the first real inkling that his new boy was not the answer to the Schmeichel problem.

With the tabloid press dubbing him ‘the Blind Venetian’, Taibi needed to get his bounce-back-abilty on for United’s next game, an away clash against Chelsea.

He didn’t.

United went down 5-0, and Taibi was never to be seen on a football pitch on these shores again after four Premiership games that saw him concede ten goals.

Showing the kind of financial nous that would make Northern Rock wince United shipped the Italian back home to Reggina on a free transfer and fumbled around for the next five seasons looking for a dependable replacement for the great Dane.

Fabien Barthez, Ricardo, Roy Carroll and Tim Howard were just some of the players that were unable to offer a prolonged solution to United’s goalkeeping woes before Edwin van der Saar was snapped up from Fulham in 2005.

With the Dutchman leaving the Premiership at the end of the season and his anointed replacement Ben Foster seemingly permanently injured, we may just get another round of musical chairs in the United goal next season.

We doubt, however, that Taibi’s gaff will ever be bettered, so have a laugh at that below. Note Taibi blaming his boot for the gaff – not your fault, eh Mass? See what else was going on today here and if you get bored waiting for tomorrow’s action then order the forthcoming OTFD book here. Until tomorrow folks…