The Jinxed Penalty Spot

By Ian Delaney : 20/01/2008 :

Comments (5) :

Has anybody seemed to notice that the penalty spot at the Gwladys Street end of Goodison Park appears to be jinxed? Well, if not, just think about the last time a penalty was actually converted at that end. I can tell you when it was 21st October 2006 — that?s now just 15 months ago!

It all appeared fine when James Beattie scored high to the keepers right against Sheffield United but little did we know that it would be the last penalty that we would see scored their for some time!

Newcastle. Everton go a goal to the good via Victor Anichebe, but then people became afraid as Leon Osman gave away a spot kick. However, Martins fired over Tim Howards cross bar in style, no worries!

Then, our little story intertwines with another saga, the one of Andy Johnson?s goal drought. Everton are a goal to the good against Metalist Kharkiv via a Lescott header, and then Everton are awarded a penalty kick, and in the absence of Mikel Arteta, AJ steps up to take it. He smashes it home and celebrates emphatically with Phil Neville, only for the referee to pull him back for a retake.

There was no joy however, as the keeper pulls of a simple save to his left hand side. AJ?s fears then turn to despair as Kharkiv equalize. But then, in a last turn of fate, Everton are awarded another penalty, which Leighton Baines wanted but didn?t get, and so with AJ not having scored for 5 months, and this penalty on the jinxed spot, do I really need to tell you the outcome?

Arteta celebrates converting his penalty

Further penalties have been missed at the Gwladys street end: Mikel Arteta fired over against Zenit St Petersburg, but Everton can score them at the other end, and away from home.

So it would appear that we have a jinxed penalty spot, and that?s why now even on the off chance that we are awarded a penalty, it would be highly unlikely that it will be scored at that end of the ground!

Reader Comments

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Eric Myles
1 Posted 22/01/2008 at 07:44:40

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What about teams scoring against us from that spot? Does it happen or do they miss too?

Frankie Miller
2 Posted 22/01/2008 at 09:37:31

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Lets hope its not that end for a shootout on wednesday, they will have to postpone the final ha. Im sure it wont go to pens though, 2 - 0 after normal time COYB

Andy Mack
3 Posted 22/01/2008 at 12:32:01

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Thanks Ian
I was feeling excited yesterday about turning chelsea over, feeling more nervous today... then you have to send me into la la land and bring up penalties... WHY did you have to do that... Hope AJ gets subbed on 80 mins! Have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long night! Lyndon, please remove this post asap ha ha! COYB

Jon Livesey
4 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:12:45

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I’ve mentioned it in a previous article I think, but I’ll say it again. Lee Carsley has never missed a penalty in a competitive game and that isn’t because he hasn’t taken very many- he was the regular penalty taker for Blackburn. He scored the deciding penalty in a shootout for us a few seasons back in a cup competition. He has the right mentality and a good level of accuracy so why isn’t he our penalty taker? Not high profile enough?

AJ has had his chance and should never be allowed to take another penalty for us. I don’t have any confidence in him after the Kharkiv game.

Karl Martindale
5 Posted 22/01/2008 at 16:30:07

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the sad inevitability of being a blue is the pessimistic angle we can put on any game. even though were sat 4th in the prem and playing well we cant help but put grey cloud over our own heads, i must admit I?m doing it too.

were heading into a semi final in front of a sell out goodison and were discussing penalty tactics, i personally will be standing just outside my living room watching the game through the door. ill be far too scared to actually sit in the room. any sign of a penalty shootout and ill be calling for an ambulance to rush me to the heart attack clinic that blue bill and big Keith will be setting up in knowsley town centre. please, for all us desperately nervous fans. . . . come on you blues!!

Keith Glazzard
6 Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:51:04

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I suppose we might have scored more penalties - from whichever spot in the country - if we had been awarded more. Better informed people than me have said that AJ might have been awarded 10 or so last season. And of course, the mamagement at Old Trafford study the small print of their contract with the PL if a ref had the temerity to award one against the home team there.

I always hate that bit at the end of televised games when they tell you how many fouls we have committed. It should say how many fouls the referee has awarded - because in the end, that’s the only truth in the matter.