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Penalty Piss Take

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As soon as Yakubu sauntered up to half-heartedly strike the ball straight into the keeper's grasp, it was obvious that we were going to piss another penalty gift up the wall. I had the same feeling of inevitability as Saha prepared to take the recent penalty against Chelsea.

Ok, so the misses didn't matter in the end, as we went on to win the game on both occasions, but in vital games these gilt-edged scoring opportunities need to be taken.

What baffles me is that on both occasions we had one of the best penalty takers in the Premier league on the pitch in the shape of Mikel Arteta. Anyone know why he's suddenly been relegated from spot kick duty? I know he's been missing for a long time and other people have obviously had to step forward & take them in the interim, but i can't recall him ever missing one for us before — unlike both Loius and the Yak.

I still have nightmares about Yakubus cocky little effort against Fiorentina bouncing back out off the post! I know a striker is always going to want to lay claim to a penalty because they see it as a golden chance to get their name on the scoresheet, so i can't blame either Saha or Yakubu for wanting to take the kicks, but surely Moyes needs to be telling them now that Mikel's the man.
John Daley, Cumbria     Posted 07/03/2010 at 19:47:06

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Jamie Rowland
1   Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:32:30

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Arteta - perhaps it's because he hasn’t been in the team long - confidence etc... perhaps it's because he can never beat the first man from a set piece?

Who knows... but I agree that neither the Yak or Saha should have the honour of penalty taker - Baines should.

Shaun Brennan
2   Posted 08/03/2010 at 06:34:58

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John, when Yakubu stepped up for the pen, I felt the inevtable will happen. Certainly the other spectators around me did, as few vocally expected Yakubu to miss the pen. I certainly hope he won’t take one again. But as they say, strikers play on confidence so I wouldn’t be half surprised if he took the next oen (and msised).

But to be honest, I can forgive him for it. Hiss cross for Artetas first goal was superb. Now heres a though, instead on playing Victor on the wing, how about Yakubu. Nah forgt that one.
Gareth Humphreys
3   Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:15:16

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I can think of two that Arteta has missed off the top of my head.

As for Yakubu’s — if the keeper goes the wrong way it's a great pen — if he doesn’t he’s a lazy bastard and "I knew he was going to miss".... You didn’t.

David Thomas
4   Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:37:21

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I don’t understand why Baines does not take the penalties. He has taken two and scored two. Surely he should stick with them, at least until he misses one and then perhaps there should be a new penalty taker.
Alex Kociuba
5   Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:58:28

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If in training Yak and Saha have 98% penalty scoring rate but Arteta is 90% and Baines 80% would it not make sense, statistically, to have the best rate penalty taker for that week/month/season?
Aiden Doyle
6   Posted 08/03/2010 at 07:42:24

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In fairness to the Yak, his penalty taking is usually pretty successful. If Andy Gray is to believed, prior to yesterday he’d used the same technique to put away something like fourteen or fifteen out of his seventeen attempts — including one against us, if I remember right.

(Not that that didn’t stop me screaming at the screen when he missed the bloody thing though!)
Mike Thompson
7   Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:33:33

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I was in the Park End yesterday and it seemed that Arteta was trying to step up for the penalty but the Yak was having none of it. I think that it needs to be set who is taking it no matter who earns it.. and it was a terrible penalty!
Mike Thompson
8   Posted 08/03/2010 at 08:33:33

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I was in the Park End yesterday and it seemed that Arteta was trying to step up for the penalty but the Yak was having none of it. I think that it needs to be set who is taking it no matter who earns it.. and it was a terrible penalty!
Gavin Ramejkis
9   Posted 08/03/2010 at 09:12:49

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Mike I was sat in the Park End and can confirm Yak seemed to demand to take it, my choice for pens would be Arteta or Baines who are both proven scorers from the spot but as Shaun also said I think Yak did plenty of team stuff yesterday too holding up the ball and crossing well.
Steve Ferns
10   Posted 08/03/2010 at 09:31:24

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Didn’t Arteta miss a pen not so long ago in front of the Street End in a European game when he went for something a bit too cheeky and it ended up looking awful?

Anyway, why shouldn’t the Yak have taken it. Before he missed hadn’t he scored all but one of 15 or more? He’s got a great strike rate from the spot and he always takes penalties in that seemingly lazy style.

Maybe he should fall slightly down the penalty pecking order and give someone else a chance for a while, but, I for one will certainly not begrudge him taking another one soon.
Chris Fisher
11   Posted 08/03/2010 at 11:49:59

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It certainly should be either Bainsey or Arteta taking them, they are by far and away our best penalty takers. At the moment I would go with Baines just because I think he is the best penalty taker in our team.
Si Mar
12   Posted 08/03/2010 at 12:32:20

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I could be wrong but including his pen against Fiorentina hasnt the Yak now missed 3 out of his last 4 for us?

Ive seen Arteta miss one but Id go along with the majority of threads and give the duty to Baines or Arteta.

Saha has missed 2 this season as well, whats going on?!!!!!
Kunal Desai
13   Posted 08/03/2010 at 13:34:18

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Give the responsibility back to Bainsey!!
Ray Robinson
14   Posted 08/03/2010 at 13:38:27

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The problem with the Yak’s penalties are that they are 50% predictable - low and rolled into the corner. I saw him take 2 for Boro against us a few seasons and, you guessed it, scored the first, missed the second (Howard saved).

Baines looks the most natural penalty taker to me, with Arteta a close second.
Glen Strachan
15   Posted 08/03/2010 at 22:07:03

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Yet another penalty missed by the Yak on Sunday.

He was not looking sharp around goal although it was probably as good a game as he has played so far, outside the box.

Why then was he allowed to take the penalty when his confidence looked low around goal and when penalties are such a confidence thing — does anybody have any ideas why?

Am I correct in thinking that Leighton Baines has never missed a penalty for the club and yet he is no longer our penalty guy? Baines has knocked in both of his pens this season so far.

Saha too has scored a couple from the spot this time but he also also missed a pair.

Arteta has been fairly reliable from the spot in the past.

So any thoughts on who will take our next penalty and why he would be your choice ?

Most clubs nominate a kicker before the game but it looks as though Moyes leaves it up to whoever picks up the ball.

Chris Fisher
16   Posted 09/03/2010 at 04:46:04

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I think Bainesy isn't the sort of player who is going to demand that he takes our penaltys so what it needs is for Moyesy to say, "Look boys, this is our penalty taker and until I say otherwise, that is the way it stays."

When ever we get a penalty it seems like a few people put themselves forward before they decide who's going to take it. In my opinion, it shouldn't be like that.

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