When we were awarded the penalty I had an awful feeling it was going to be saved or missed. I did not say anything to the people around me - why would you? Sadly, every point is vital and, despite Charlie's goal tally, his missed penalties cost us badly against Hull and West Ham. I am not blaming Charlie. It is just a sad fact. Too many individual errors - missed penalties, fumbled goal kicks, red cards and so much more - have led to a sub standard team that is about to get what it has earned.
The similarities with our last relegation are uncanny.......Norwich 0-0 home draw, missed penalty by Tubby.........West Ham 0-0 home draw, missed penalty by Austin........writing is on the wall.......
If Barton took them, half our fans would be willing him to miss. Austin's record on pens for us overall is pretty standard- 2 misses out of maybe 12 pens at a guess. We seemed to get quite a few last season. More to the point, apart from maybe Barton, who else is there? Zamora missed one for us a few years ago I believe at Norwich (or maybe it was him who scored the rebound). Phillips is incredibly fragile mentally and would probably have to be subbed off crying if he missed one. None of the other regular starters look comfortable passing a football let alone kicking one into a net. If barton fancied it, he'd be taking them. He's not exactly slow to hog the limelight. Austin has shown he's got plenty of bollocks before. Two missed penalties in an entire season doesn't change that. There were far worse reasons for dropping points against Hull and West Ham.
Green? ok you want a serious answer. Henry has the best record in training I think so maybe worth a look?
I'm sure it's been discussed. They must practice for a laugh all the time in training. Can you imagine the stick both Henry and Austin would get if Karl Henry of all people missed one?
I think Saturday we all saw the players trying too hard if you get me … there was not much composure in that match I believe the squad is 100% focussed and behind CR who is super cool . If anyone thinks playing football is about being like Barton then they are wrong IMO It's the current mentality that is crap … how many great players look like they aren't bothered? … running around like Barton putting a shift etc is way out of date Austin played like that Saturday and looked like a division 2 player You cannot play today's game without culture and composure
There was a general debate about penalty taking on the radio a few weeks ago and one of the pundits split penalties into two - 'contested' and 'uncontested' - to differentiate between those where the penalty taker waits for the goalkeeper to commit (uncontested) and those that the penalty taker elects a corner (or in Charlie Austin's case - the centre) and hopes that the keeper goes the other way (contested). Not sure whether there is any true science to this; but the consensus was that the penalty taker who can make each uncontested (ala Messi and Ronaldo) scores more often - indicating that the talent was in the feint - and not the accuracy.
80 degrees? Cosy. So now I know. "Where do the bees go in winter" is the start of a very long joke I heard John Cooper Clarke tell about 35 years ago. The punchline (I can't remember the stuff in between, but it was very funny) was "**** knows".
Steve Davis won 6 World snooker titles and he said that he used to convince himself that each game meant nothing, when really they meant everything! Easier said than done mind.
