TheBrownBottle

Agreed - it is a question of proportionality. You want to strike the ball as cleanly as possible - which is why long or stuttered run-ups are a bad idea. But blasted penalties - really putting the laces through it - isn't any more likely to result in a goal to me. A weak penalty on target definitely has a better chance of going in than a blasted one off-target Still love Beppe Signori's technique, me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhPRfmzZyUE

'Smashing it' is no better than the stuttered run-up. Two or three strides then place with as much power as accuracy allows is the optimum way to take one. A long run up increases the chances of a mis-stride and therefore a mis-kick; the stuttered run-up is that on steroids; the 'just fuckin smash it' is liable to go anywhere but the target. At some point, someone is going to miss or have their spot kick saved. But you don't need to increase the odds by being daft.

Didn't actually see his penalty until about an hour ago. Fuck me, that is quite a miss Absolutely superb footballer regardless, of course

Just read all this. I find the TG 'angry for clicks' persona grating, but from what I've seen re the Muslim comment it looked like a clumsy attempt at a joke rather than balls-out bigotry. The sort of thing the dumbest of your mates says in the pub after six pints too many. Not sure if 'cancelling' or rounding on the daft twat on twitter is going to do much other than chase him into the arms of actual bigots. Unintelligent man makes stupid joke about an even worse man doesn't seem like much to worry about to me. I'm glad I watched the 'apology' mind, that was gold. Particularly the fact he'd monetized it - the ad at the start was worth the 2p he'll get off youtube from me

Yep, Shepherd had a long and inglorious history of missing the point when the trigger to be pulled, allowing the manager to spend large sums of money, then sacking him soon after. Dalglish, Gullit, Robson all should have went at the end of the previous season but didn't. The only sacking he timed right was Roeder's - and that was a couple of months before he sold his shares.

They’ve got some canny players, it must be said. They’ve also got a bastard of a group too though

Apologies Gawalls I was in a ‘bad fettle’. What wouldn’t have been clear (because I didn’t state it!) is that I was watching Firmino’s penalty for Liverpool when I wrote that. He took a daft stuttering run-up and then ballooned it. He almost tripped over his own feet

It will be a mystery until my dying day why professional footballers try to act like smart arses for penalties. That and over-long run-ups. Two or three strides then plant the fucker

Part of me thinks that the best time to play them is the next round and not the SF or Final when Guardiola will play a full strength side. Though of course I’d much rather someone else has the stress of knocking them out

Fucking come on Derby. Would be a canny night with Liverpool out too

Get in Pope lad

This is faster than the bbc feed …

Literally how it works

If you’re on the bench each game you’re a reserve player

They’re reserves - squad players are reserve players

Yes, reserves. They’re not first team players are they? It’s the reserves.

Yes, we’re so good at winning trophies we should definitely advocate cancelling one of the handful that exists.

Whatever happens - win or not - I’m not fucking happy about this line up, and I don’t give a shit who is in charge or how well they’ve done. Fucking hate fielding reserves in the cups when we’ve not won a domestic trophy in nearly 70 years.

Free form poetry it was

Brighton 2-1 up now. Fucking come on United

San Max-ee-mah

Always best to remember to type the body part

Dan Burn shuts his when heading the ball. Pass it on

Is it possible to write through gritted teeth?

Broke a seat at Highbury jumping up for Robert’s goal that night. That remains the only notable damage I’ve done inside a football ground