OPINION
Newcastle United legend Malcolm Macdonald is right to slam the decision to let Kenedy take the last-gasp penalty against Cardiff City last weekend as the Brazilian never looked like scoring.
The 68-year-old who has legendary status at the Magpies after an impressive 95 goals in 187 appearances when he played for the club during the 1970s criticised the decision to let Kenedy take the penalty against Cardiff.
Macdonald highlighted the fact that captain Jamaal Lascelles should be allowed to step in to insist on someone else taking the penalty as the winger looked incapable of scoring when he stepped up to take the spot-kick following a woeful performance.
“So many players were off the pace, none more so than Kenedy which has opened up a right debate,” wrote the Magpies legend for the Chronicle.
“He was slaughtered for his performance and for taking a last-kick penalty when his confidence was at such a low ebb.
“I know that Rafa decides on his penalty taker before a game and his decision was that if Matt Ritchie, his first choice, was off the pitch then Kenedy was the No 2 choice.
“Rafa made his decision before kick off but an hour and a half later things had greatly changed. Three points hung on the kick and the player in the worst form in an awful match had to win it. No chance.
“Jamaal Lascelles as skipper ought to have the right to step in and change things. He’s the leader on the field, Rafa off it, and therefore he must be allowed to call it the way he sees it in the heat of battle.”
It’s hard to argue with Macdonald on this matter as the Magpies legend is absolutely right especially when you consider that Kenedy’s failure to score the penalty awarded practically at the end of the game saw his side earn one point instead of three.
It was a costly decision that Rafa Benitez should ensure his side never make again by changing his stance on his stubbornness about changing penalty takers during the game.
The Spanish manager should make clear to Lascelles that he can intervene if it’s clear a player who is meant to be the current first-choice penalty taker isn’t the right frame of mind to score from the spot-kick.
The Magpies captain knows that responsibility comes with the armband and he has shown maturity on the pitch in the past so he will evidently only step in to a situation like the one with Kenedy last week if he really has to.
This all means that Benitez must adapt his stance in regards to changing penalty takers during the game for the Magpies as it clearly cost his side their first win of the season against Cardiff City last weekend.