Penalties and match dominance

[Bruce Wayne]

Isn't it amazing just how often the team that bosses the match all through normal/extra time goes on to lose the penalty shoot out?

Last night is an obvious example but there are loads more. Think Man Utd v Arsenal in the cup final or Milan v the other lot in the CL final.

It must be a psychological thing, the team that has dominated feels like they have all to lose whilst the crap team has it all to gain.

 

[monty]

It is Bruce, the team that has tried so harder to win it in real time just runs out of steam mentally, the endorphins in the brain stop functioning, the adrenalin drys up and the sudden possibility of defeat stares you in the face yet again. The underdog however realising they have escaped get the buzz the adrenalin kicks in, the have a get out of gaol free card and it normally does.

I was staggered by Tommy G last night, having sat for 119 mins to come on, step up to the plate and score the first goal took so much character. His wave to the crowd however had a big touch of a final farewell.

Lets stop the crying, we support a side to be feared, a team to be reckoned with but just can't score penalties

 

[Bruce Wayne]

In many ways I was confident Tommy would score. He didn't have to go through the missed chances, the 'we should have won this by now' feeling that the other players had. Plus he never strikes me as a player that allows pressure to get to him. To be fair to the lads, none of the penalties were that bad. Yak's had the keeper all ends up and the save from Jags kick was very good.

 

[monty]

In many ways I was confident Tommy would score. He didn't have to go through the missed chances, the 'we should have won this by now' feeling that the other players had. Plus he never strikes me as a player that allows pressure to get to him. To be fair to the lads, none of the penalties were that bad. Yak's had the keeper all ends up and the save from Jags kick was very good.

He still had to score it Bruce!

That said I would never ever point a finger at players missing in shoot outs, it can happen to the best.

One thing that did annoy me about our display, and others can say what they like, I hate divers and AJ and Yak both tried it on last night. We cannot point fingers of indignation at other teams if some of our own players drop like that, especially AJ. No bloody wonder we have not had a penalty

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yeah, they shouldn't be doing that sort of thing. They're both better than that.

 

[SuitsBlue]

the referee and the bullens road linesman last night were so inept that it was players duty to dive and cheat.

if you cant beat them join them. fiorentina got away with many more and far far worse instances of cheating and in some parts malicious cowardice.

 

[monty]

the referee and the bullens road linesman last night were so inept that it was players duty to dive and cheat.

if you cant beat them join them. fiorentina got away with many more and far far worse instances of cheating and in some parts malicious cowardice.

Suits, you once accused me of never critiscising our players for diving when you did so yourself, I told you I always did hence the above, please explain why you think it is OK for us to be cheats, the fact that they may have done it doesn't make it right.

 

[SuitsBlue]

cheating is in the eye of the beholder. it is impossible to play against such a bunch of inbred cheats like that lot last night without getting drawn into the seedier side of the game.

gravesen had a duty to knock one of theirs teeth out. its amazing they only garnered five yellow cards.

 

[monty]

cheating is in the eye of the beholder. it is impossible to play against such a bunch of inbred cheats like that lot last night without getting drawn into the seedier side of the game.

gravesen had a duty to knock one of theirs teeth out. its amazing they only garnered five yellow cards.

No matter what I don't condone cheating and a dive by anyone is cheating

 

[SuitsBlue]

thats all well and good, so you want to handicap everton by not capitalising on refereeing and linesman incompetence?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Personally I feel even more proud of the guys when they are sporting. Quite often this season for instance our players have pleaded leniency on behalf of opponents.

 

[SuitsBlue]

did you watch the referee slap a fiorentina players hand down when he was gesticulating the pretend yellow for lescott?

everytime they whacked arteta and pienaar, carsley and yakubu should have launched one of theres.

there was no protection from the referee or bullens linesman last night (one of the reasons arteta played a lot of football on the goodison road side for a high percentage of the night) so when officials dont protect players, players have to protect players.

how many times do we have to be put through instances akin to the sunderland would be leg break on pienaar? kuyt on neville? ooijer on johnson?

there is a reason moyes has been looking at the likes of essien and parker, and that is because we need a leg breaker of our own to keep oppositions honest. when there is no fear of reprisal, there is no respect.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

He still had to score it Bruce!

That said I would never ever point a finger at players missing in shoot outs, it can happen to the best.

One thing that did annoy me about our display, and others can say what they like, I hate divers and AJ and Yak both tried it on last night. We cannot point fingers of indignation at other teams if some of our own players drop like that, especially AJ. No bloody wonder we have not had a penalty

It's funny how often the best players do miss in penalty shoot-outs. I remember the likes of Zico, Platini and Baggio all missing.