ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

In Praise of Penalties

I arrived in Los Angeles on business yesterday, woke up in the morning and found the game live, albeit in Spanish. The unintended bonus of that was not having to listen to the usual shite from commentators.

Anyway, the pens. While everyone has rightly shared their delight at the outcome, I've not seen anything about a comment from Moyes on the OS that he 'confessed he found few volunteers when the big moment arrived'.

This only emphasises the fantastic job done by the famous four. Let's face it, who didn't think 'here we go again' when Tim missed? Given that Baines is a free kick specialist, I expected him to score and he did. Excellent spot kick. But then Phil Neville ? arguably the worst shot in the team (ok, I know, there's Tony Hibbert). Cool, calm, collected ? back of the net. I was gobsmacked to see Vaughan step up next, particularly after missing easily our best chance in extra time. Needn't have worried ? superb. Jags didn't look confident ? he didn't even look up, just kept his head down, knew where it was going and the back of the net bulged.

To step up to the plate when there is a shortage of volunteers showed great courage and no little skill. Well done to all concerned.
Paul Thompson, Los Angeles Posted 20/04/2009 at 01:13:49

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Tom Emanuel
1 Posted 20/04/2009 at 10:06:05

Report abuse

In fact, Jags didn’t really fancy taking one (according to Moysie) so this just makes the fact he slotted one home even more fantastic! Talk about balls of steel!!

Anthony Millington
2 Posted 20/04/2009 at 10:37:36

Report abuse

I really didn’t expect us to get through when it went to peno’s, because we were missing our main penalty takers (Arteta, Yakubu, Jo and Saha) and when Cahill missed and dropped to his knees with his head in his hands my heart just sank. Tim Howard deserves special praise for his saves because I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen him save a penalty for Everton. All in all I’m delighted and Man United getting beat on peno’s was long overdue. COYB!

Brian Baker
3 Posted 20/04/2009 at 11:05:23

Report abuse

Berbatov’s miss has probably alerted the fraud squad for match fixing, it was that bad!

At least Cahill looked like he wanted to score!

Richard Parker
4 Posted 20/04/2009 at 11:22:08

Report abuse

I don’t see the problem. A simple 12-yard pass into the corner. ;)

Richard Parker
5 Posted 20/04/2009 at 11:39:48

Report abuse

Actually, I’m working in Saudi and I think I just saw Cahill’s penalty sail past.

You know what tho, I’m sure that if there’s a shoot-out in the final, Tim will step up again and bury it. If he doesn’t bag the winner first!

Phil Roberts
6 Posted 20/04/2009 at 17:05:46

Report abuse

Stuart Pearce - Germany 1990 - Spain 1996

Phil Jagielka - Fiorentina 2008 - Man United 2009

Demons exorcised!

Neil McKinney
7 Posted 20/04/2009 at 17:44:39

Report abuse

There must have been quite a few of us who didn’t fancy the penalty shoot out, and we didn’t have to step up and take one!

I remember when I was younger and more naive watching as David Batty stepped up for England and missed that penalty. "What the fuck’s he taking one for!!" we screamed as he walked towards the spot. I’ve matured a lot since that day and know far more about pressure and standing up and being counted. Let’s face it, it’s not about who takes a good penalty, it’s about who’s got the bottle to take one at all!!!

I have a huge amount of respect for every one of those penalty takers, including Timmy (loved your comment from Saudi Richard). Just look at Manure’s takers that included Vidic and Ferdinand. If you had to hand pick them those two wouldn’t have been on the list!

Special mention for Pip Neville who I thought was a model captain and pro yesterday. Limited footballer maybe, but I have a huge respect for the way this man conducts himself and what he has done for our squad since he arrived. He may have problems shooting or passing more than 10 yards sometimes, but that penalty was coolness personified and I loved the way he contained his excitement when Jags scored the winner and all the others went mental. He still had his captains head on until the very end.

Great day for everyone connected to this great club! Perhaps it can be surpassed on 30th May!!!

COYB!!