Sigurdsson misses penalty in Iceland defeat

Friday, 22 June, 2018 103comments  |  Jump to most recent
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Iceland have it all to do in Group D after they were beaten in their second group match against Nigeria this evening.

The Nordic side were trailing to two Ahmed Musa goals when they were handed a lifeline from the spot but Sigurdsson scooped his penalty kick over the bar and the Nigerians ran out 2-0 winners.

Iceland had started the brighter of the two sides in a first half that failed to produce a shot in target from Nigeria.

That changed early in the second half, however, when Musa brought a ball into the box down impressively and smashed in from close range.

And after he curled a shot off the crossbar, Musa blazed down the left flank, cut inside and rounded the keeper to double the leader.

A foul in the box awarded following video review with 10 minutes left when Finnbogason was felled handed Sigurdsson a great chance from 12 yards but although he sent the 'keeper the wrong way, he couldn't keep the shot down.

"It's tough to take," Sigurdsson was quoted by Goal.com as saying afterwards. "It's probably the toughest moment of my career. Hopefully I can put it right and score in the next game.

"It was a game of two halves. We were good in the first half and very organised defensively. I don't think they had any shots in the first half. We created numerous chances in the first half that we probably should have scored from.

"In the second half we were unlike ourselves. We were very open, especially after the first goal and we had to go and get something out of the game. Overall it's very disappointing.

"We were impatient in trying to win the game instead of letting it happen naturally. We're very disappointed because we felt after the first half the game was there for the taking.

"We're just going to have to get something out of the next game to get through."

 

Reader Comments (103)

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Colin Glassar
1 Posted 22/06/2018 at 18:03:02
How dare he. Get rid!!
Jeff Armstrong
2 Posted 22/06/2018 at 18:08:37
Sigurdsson was gash in that game, ask any Iceland supporter and they'll tell you he's on the wane.

㿙 million for a fading midfielder, we must have wasted about 𧶲 million over the last 2 years on tripe.

Phil (Kelsall) Roberts
3 Posted 22/06/2018 at 18:42:27
Still best player on the Iceland team according to the player ratings on BBC.

Usual no idea about football fans watching the game and voting.

Lawrence Green
4 Posted 22/06/2018 at 18:44:00
Good support, Jeff. Whether we like it or not, Sigurdsson is an Everton player representing his country in the World Cup. Yes, he had a poor match; yes, it was a terrible penalty, but a little understanding how he must be feeling at the moment wouldn't go amiss.

The player can't do much about his price-tag but that's what Everton paid for him and he hasn't lived up to that price tag but I disagree about him being part of the tripe that Everton have signed in the last couple of years, and I'm hoping he does well for Everton FC next season.

Will Mabon
5 Posted 22/06/2018 at 19:00:40
I don't think he played badly, nor spectacularly – he played well. He was involved in most of their best work such as it was. His passing was mostly crisp and accurate. The penalty miss is unusual for him, just one of those things: pressure.

Iceland as a team, however, were a shadow of recent times. Nigeria made them look slow and unfit, and pulled them out of shape at will. The Nigeria vs Argentina game will be interesting.

Vin Genova
6 Posted 22/06/2018 at 19:12:14
I thought Sigurdsson had a great game up until that penalty. Classy turn and pass to start a break, decent attempt on the free kick. Not to mention the absolute world class set piece delivery that anyone with a forehead should've been able to finish. I can't think of a single attack Iceland had that wasn't a direct result of Sigurdsson's play. I think he had all of their shots on target as well.

Iceland has no pace, creativity or finishing around him - let's not let the fun underdog story cover that up. Hopefully he plays in the engine role once he comes back to Everton, will have a ton of assists feeding Walcott, Lookman and Tosun.

Eugene Kearney
7 Posted 22/06/2018 at 19:13:20
I would tend to agree with Laurence (#5) and Will (#6) – we have to support him as an Everton player and he could possibly improve his game under Silva anyway.

At least he's not a sissy "actor" like a certain Brazilian (whose name escapes me at the moment...)

Bill Gienapp
8 Posted 22/06/2018 at 19:16:11
1.) I sincerely doubt any Iceland supporter would tell you that.

2.) He was hardly gash. The penalty miss was unfortunate (and uncharacteristic), but he put plenty of quality balls into the box. Iceland had their chances.

3.) I see no evidence of him being on the wane. His game isn't predicated on extreme athleticism or pace. There's no reason he can't play at a high level into his 30s. If anything, Iceland show what he can do when he's actually utilized properly.

Brian Wilkinson
9 Posted 22/06/2018 at 19:40:18
Wonder how many Barcelona fans are saying the same about Messi, Jeff, with him missing a penalty in the first game and on the receiving end of a 3-0 spanking in the other game.
Lev Vellene
10 Posted 22/06/2018 at 19:43:52
There was a highlight early on where he pulled the ball so masterfully past his opposition! My initial reaction was uncharacteristically positive!

So Sigurdsson got a knock, that happens. But from that first half, I'd think he'd shame more than half our team from last season...

ps: It was all so low intensity that I started playing CM 03-04 instead before the first half had finished (only switching at raised voices...), so I can not really say anything insightful about the second half...

Michael Kenrick
11 Posted 22/06/2018 at 20:21:55
Low intensity... that unfortunately sums up Iceland and, I believe, Sigurdsson as well. He's just too calm, but hardly ice in his veins — as the absolutely horrendous penalty miss shows.

I have to believe there's more effort, desire... dare I say passion in there somewhere. [Icelandic passion... oxymoron?] Can Marco bring it out of him? That is a question for next season.

Darren Murphy
12 Posted 22/06/2018 at 20:21:57
Never worth that money obviously, get rid, useless.

Can't wait to see him in our new attacking formation, maybe as a Number 10.

James Flynn
13 Posted 22/06/2018 at 20:48:46
"Sigurdsson was gash in that game, ask any Iceland supporter and they'll tell you he's on the wane.

㿙million for a fading midfielder, we must have wasted about 𧶲 million over the last 2 years on tripe."

Open stupidity.

Outside of his teammate whose hustle created the penalty, every good opportunity Iceland had in the attack, Siggy caused. Even that neat build-up leading to the pen.

"Ask any Icelander..."

Dolt.

Lev Vellene
14 Posted 22/06/2018 at 21:19:38
Michael #11,

I've thought about this for a while now. You have some valid points, and what I think might work for us is that if he can convert the same passion he has for Iceland into a passion for Everton, then I think he'll be a very good nucleus for our next team! But he must be central for that effort from Silva.

I only occasionally watch this World Cup competition if Evertonians are involved, I'm sorry/happy to say...

Joe McMahon
15 Posted 22/06/2018 at 21:21:42
With us he is still a skilful player in a low on skill shit team. Evertons problems lie in retaining players years past their best, such as Baines (Man Utd would never do that, that's why Rooney was sold to some mugs up the East Lancs) and then paying way over the price for players.

I've stated before, but it is pretty dire when Salah and Firmino were a lot cheaper than Sigurdsson, but also Rooney is earning 㿨k a week more than Salah. The club is a shambles.

Chris Gould
16 Posted 22/06/2018 at 21:23:12
Where's an Icelander to ask when you need one?

Ridiculous comment, Jeff. The lad has only just come back from injury and is still carrying his team.

Ian Burns
17 Posted 22/06/2018 at 21:40:37
I thought Siggy did fine and was the one genuine quality player in the Iceland team.

He didn't look to be fully fit to me, as in match fitness, and it showed in his penalty miss.

He is a blue and I will be happy if he comes home after three games – helps his fitness levels and he is home in good time for the new season.

Brian Wilkinson
18 Posted 22/06/2018 at 22:00:17
I did ask Jeff, but all I got was special offers on choc ices today.

Oh well... if it wasn't me, someone else would have trumped in with it; where's me coat?

Mike Keating
19 Posted 22/06/2018 at 22:18:40
Spot on Joe @ 15

When we eventually got money to spend, we frittered it away on daft wages and transfer deals that no one else would have considered.

Oh, and a series of compensation deals to managers who dictated their own terms.

Tom Bowers
20 Posted 22/06/2018 at 23:07:23
I was just thinking how well Gylfi was playing so far in this World Cup and hoping the form continues into next season's Premier League but then he misses the penalty.

Hopefully someone else takes the penalties next season.

Eddie Dunn
21 Posted 22/06/2018 at 23:10:51
Siggi is a good player and some of the critics on here are way off the mark. He is quality and I am glad to have him.
Jon Withey
22 Posted 22/06/2018 at 23:11:25
Ignoring transfer fees, Pickford and Sigurdsson were two of the better signings from that manic period of hopeless spending.
Jack Convery
23 Posted 22/06/2018 at 00:05:27
The less games our outfield players play, the better – we need them fresh in August. Everton's 1970-71 season was ruined by the players being goosed after the World Cup in Mexico. We were never the same.
Liam Reilly
24 Posted 23/06/2018 at 00:40:02
I can't believe some of the shite churned out on here.

He missed a pressure penalty for his country, when the decision took an age to come through. If he scores it; he's golden.

Seriously how many Icelandic players can you name? Yet they made it to the World Cup?

It's not a fuckin coincidence.

David Barks
25 Posted 23/06/2018 at 01:35:55
Always bothers me when people try to make a judgement off of a single action. He missed a penalty, he's not the only one to do so. Messi missed a penalty, he's not poor or lacking desire.

As a matter of fact, you can look through the history of just about any great player and find instances where they didn't succeed. Don't be a prisoner of the moment and let one false step blind you from all the other positive aspects. The guy is a quality player, period.

Ernie Baywood
26 Posted 23/06/2018 at 04:12:00
I'm really struggling to find an Icelandic person to find out if he's going to be any good for next season? Any tips?
Jamie Crowley
27 Posted 23/06/2018 at 04:44:55
Lev @14,

What I think might work for us is that if he can convert the same passion he has for Iceland into a passion for Everton

This is true of a LOT of footballers. Many (and I'd argue most) play with more heart, desire, and commitment for their country than they do for their club.

That's a reality in my opinion. The club gig is their day job. They live to play for their country.

A certain Mexican winger springs to mind. One that many on these pages have clamored to have Everton sign. And I fear if we did, Lozano would not match his performances in a Mexican shirt.

Gylfi would give an arm and a leg to see Iceland to a World Cup final or European Championship. He'd give his all for Everton, and he does in my opinion. But winning with Iceland means more to him.

As it does most footballers for their country.

Will Mabon
28 Posted 23/06/2018 at 06:17:43
Jamie, if that concept of more commitment to country than club is true for most footballers, many England players of recent decades would be the exceptions that prove the rule.
Darren Hind
29 Posted 23/06/2018 at 06:59:17
Sympathy???

That was more like a Jordan Pickford goal kick than a penalty.

My sympathy lies with those who travelled from Iceland, particularly the two guys who were left to explain to their heartbroken kids why their hero acted like a knob.

Take a look at the concentration and focus of Ronaldo and Griezmann before their penalties and contrast that with the cocky "I'm-a-good-player" attitude of Sigurdsson as he chose to put it right in the postage stamp as opposed to just burying it.

Sigurdsson has undoubted skills but they generally involve a slow-moving or dead ball. Those who are looking for him to shine at number ten will be as disappointed as all those managers who have tried him there and end up putting him out wide.

I've got more sympathy for Teresa May.

Colin Glassar
30 Posted 23/06/2018 at 07:26:33
Sigurdsson will soon be shelving in Iceland if he continues to freeze in big games.
Dave Evans
31 Posted 23/06/2018 at 08:41:30
I asked an Icelandic mate of mine and he said there is a certain self-gratificating, sniverly joy that some Everton fans feel when given the opportunity to slag off one of their own.
Ken Kneale
32 Posted 23/06/2018 at 09:03:19
Dave (#31),

It might be worth reminding your Icelandic mate that Everton supporters (in my 50 odd years of support) are also some of the most knowledgeable football fans around who have seen and can judge a quality footballer. Sadly this chap will not feature too highly in any reckoning of such talent.

I agree, his transfer fee was out of his hands, and he is by no means the worst of the current meagre offerings on show to us, but he draws a good wage and we are entitled to judge on what we see.

Simon Smith
33 Posted 23/06/2018 at 09:10:34
Haha Dave. That sounds about right. Your Icelandic mate must read ToffeeWeb.
Sam Hoare
34 Posted 23/06/2018 at 09:22:10
Siggy is a decent enough player. It's not his fault we were daft enough to spend £45m on £20m player.

His pace counts against him but put quicker players around him and he'll make the right pass more often than not.

Andy Meighan
35 Posted 23/06/2018 at 09:32:33
I totally agree with Ken (#32). Whilst not a bad player, he's not a great player either... Talented – but a terrible lack of pace.
Dave Evans
36 Posted 23/06/2018 at 13:40:09
Ken (#32),

The credentials of 'grand old judges' (like yourself presumably) to judge the Grand Old Team is a given.

A valuable and developing member of the Everton squad missed a pen in a World Cup. I suspect the odd fan might not see this as time to be at him with the apparent delight of a terrier on a rat. Our Icelandic mates included.

Ken Kneale
37 Posted 23/06/2018 at 14:03:32
Hi Dave, valuable in the current climate undoubtedly but what we need to get back to where we all want and should be equally undoubtedly not.
Darren Hind
38 Posted 23/06/2018 at 14:09:03
Ken

Spot on Mate. I often have to do a double take when I see people like you being attacked for calling it exactly how it is by people taking umbrage to the fact that you are not demonstrating some sort of "sniverly" sycophancy towards somebody who is only here because we were prepared to pay him more than anybody else.

The Iceland supporters have every right to feel let down and Evertonians have no business trying to apologise for an effort any professional footballer should be embarrassed by.

"One of our own" ... 'kin'ell!!!

Jackie Barry
39 Posted 23/06/2018 at 14:19:29
Based on the World Cup, he's crap, that Messi fella, don't you agree?
Michael Kenrick
40 Posted 23/06/2018 at 14:35:28
Liam (#24), you shout about shite being posted and then come out with this pearler: "If he scores it; he's golden."

The whole point is he didn't score, and Darren (#29) nails exactly why he didn't score. Sigurdsson deserves a bit of heat for it because it really does come down to attitude.

And your next gem: "How many Icelandic players can you name?" Seriously? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Dave Evans
41 Posted 23/06/2018 at 14:47:50
Darren (#38),

A Hind on a charger –there's something I thought I'd never see.

Fans know how football works. But the idea that fans don't identify with and support players of their club is in Darren's world – not the real one. As are hordes of Siggy-aggrieved Icelandic supporters, apparently.

Alan J Thompson
42 Posted 23/06/2018 at 15:16:54
I don't think I've seen so much "top class" football where players mis-hit shots or put them over the bar but can barely lift a corner above head height.

I'm also getting fed up watching teams more than half-way into the opposition's half and then passing back almost to the edge of their own penalty area or to the goalie.

If there is one positive it is that keepers seem to be sliding around on their knees a lot less.

Darren Hind
43 Posted 23/06/2018 at 15:27:50
That's Some world you inhabit, Dave Evans.

Players who grew up as Evertonians are considered one of our own. Players who have come to the club and given heart and soul for season after season are rightly considered one of our own.

Players who have blown hot and cold for the 5 minutes they have been at the club are little more than professional footballers on the Everton books... especially when they are not even playing for us.

It's only natural for people to want players from their club to do well (Pickford is the only reason I started watching England) but that won't blind them to the truth.

Maybe in Dave Evans world, any Tom, Dick or Harry who has signed for the big bucks to play for Everton should be afforded some sort of immunity from criticism when they play for their country... but guess what? >Whether you like it or not, most people will call it as they see it.

Mike Gaynes
44 Posted 23/06/2018 at 15:59:36
Very impressive, Michael and Darren, that you can read a player's "attitude" from a few seconds of what you interpret from his facial expression on TV. You two should be doing PhD-level work at some international behavioral institute somewhere instead of wasting your brilliance on the unappreciative folks here.

Whatta crock o' crapola.

Darren Hind
45 Posted 23/06/2018 at 16:41:06
HaHa Mike, I didn't realise that Michael had agreed with me – I most have been typing when that went up. Anyway, I knew it would happen one day.

I've just had another look at the penalty and my reaction is exactly the same as it was watching it in the alehouse.

Most players wait until they have actually put the penalty away before milking the moment, but even after all the usual shenanigans, Sigurdsson still stood posturing. He knew the cameras were focused on him and he seemed very keen to show the world how cool he was. Where he tried to put the shot merely confirmed this for me.

No PhD at a specialist behavioural institute, just the good fortune of growing up in an environment where just about everyone could spot the difference between the sort of unshakeable belief which Ronaldo exuded from the brittle cockiness Sigurdsson was trying to pass off as self-belief.

I kid you not, Mike. I thought he would miss it, when the camera zoomed in on him, but as he took his two-step approach, two people in the group said at exactly the same time – "This is going over the bar!"

Mike Gaynes
46 Posted 23/06/2018 at 17:02:03
Actually I had the exact same feeling about the two-step approach, Darren. My thought was "WTF are you doing??" Terrible pen.

But I'm not buying one teeny-tiny bit of the psychoanalysis or his "posturing" attitude. None of it. The only childhood environment I know of that offers the power to read minds, especially off a TV screen, is Hogwarts.

And just as an aside, I think he'll be an excellent #10 this year, and I'm willing to bet you the dinner check when I come over.

Eddie Dunn
47 Posted 23/06/2018 at 18:25:53
I know they are professionals and should have practiced with the World Cup ball, but could the poor pens be down to unfamiliarity with the specially made globes?
Ernie Baywood
48 Posted 23/06/2018 at 22:07:39
Have the pens been poor? Most have been pretty good from what I've seen.

Sigurdsson just missed one. Happens from time to time.

Don Alexander
49 Posted 23/06/2018 at 22:40:39
Tell me one regular pen-taker with a 100% record of success. No? Can't be done? Stupid question? Right on all three counts, so give the most creative midfielder we have a break please. He missed one, it happens, hell it even happened to Bainsey latterly.

Our championship winning teams had players like Gylfi. Unlike him though they also had a proper defence behind them and players in front who knew what it was all about in terms of posing a genuine threat on goal. That to me is the measure of the task we face in the next season or two, or three.

Tony Abrahams
50 Posted 23/06/2018 at 22:49:58
And if you lose the dinner check, Mike, then I will stand it, simply because I agree with you that Siggy will be a very good Number 10 if Silva plays him there... although I think he will be best just playing as a central midfielder.

Football is like life, it's all about learning, and compared to Ronaldo, I don't reckon Sigurdson has even played one real high-pressure game. If he was feeling the pressure, that's only natural. If he was trying to hide feeling the pressure, then he failed, but that doesn't make him bad.

it's just something he's got to learn from, because dealing with the pressure is what sorts out the men from the boys. But it's also something you won't learn from, unless you get another chance to redeem yourself.

Never my favourite person but Stuart Pearce is a great example of what I'm trying to say.

Ken Kneale
51 Posted 23/06/2018 at 22:50:42
Sorry, Don — those of us who saw Alan, Howard and Colin must disagree with that.
Mike Gaynes
52 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:13:48
Don #49,

Matt Le Tissier and Davor Suker were both 98%.

Don Alexander
53 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:17:39
I saw "The Three" Ken, for years, and as a matter of fact I saw all three play poorly occasionally, in better Everton teams too. Happily at the time the others had the talent and desire to make light of such an occasional aberration, unlike now.

It occasionally happens to even the best (like Messi currently for instance) but the criticism of Gylfi on this thread on account of a mere missed spot-kick is uncalled for in my opinion.

Tom Bowers
54 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:20:10
I think it is wrong to compare today's players to those of decades gone by.

Sure, skill and fitness still play a big part but the ''park the bus'' mentality and endless passing routines call for a lot more patience and discipline but makes the game so much more boring.

There have only been 3 or 4 games really decent to watch so far in Russia with the VAR system only partially successful as so many blatant incidents are still going unchecked in the penalty area.

There have been all the usual cynical tackles, especially the clever stepping on the opponents metatarsels and the Hollywood play acting.

Don Alexander
55 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:20:32
Cheers Mike, I'll try to remember that if I'm ever in a pub quiz where "98%" registers as a question.
Mike Gaynes
56 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:22:08
Tony #50, my opinion is that it wasn't attitude, or pressure, or anything else mental. I think he was just exhausted.

Out for months with the knee, played in parts of two friendlies before the World Cup, no way he could have been fully game fit before he went 90 mins against Argentina, covering more ground than any other player on the pitch. Then back at it six days later and again ran the most of any Iceland player.

I'd be surprised if he could even feel his legs when he took that pen.

Mike Gaynes
57 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:24:25
Cheers Don, I'll try to remember that snide reply if I'm ever again tempted to respond to you.
Jamie Crowley
58 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:39:08
He missed the pen because he's human.

He's still a good footballer.

Lenny Jameson
59 Posted 24/06/2018 at 00:43:04
The best penalty taker Everton have had in my lifetime was, without any doubt, Roy Vernon. He was so good that goalkeepers used to do full length dives the wrong way to his penalties. But even he missed one!

Bally missed a few as did Joe Royle. Trevor Steven missed. Baines as well. Messi, Rinaldo, Le Tissier... all missed. I don't see any of them being bad players.

It's a case on here of certain people who didn't want Sigurdsson to come to us trying to score points with an "I told you so" attitude.

At the moment, he's probably the best quality player we've got. And with better players around him he'll be fine for us.


Ed Prytherch
60 Posted 24/06/2018 at 01:32:20
Sigurdsson would walk into the current England team as would the Rooney of 4 years ago. We have some fast players but none that can pick a great through pass.
Darren Hind
61 Posted 24/06/2018 at 05:32:10
Sorry Mike

I love a bet, but I make a policy of not betting against Evertonians as essentially, we want the same horse to win. I have though, in a debate with Steve Ferns, committed myself to a charity donation if Sigurdsson makes a success of paying at No 10. Nobody will be happier than me if I have to fork out.

Silva has already told us he wants to play 4-3-3 and the chances of him trying to shoe-horn a not particularly mobile No 10 into that formation are nil. The only way Siggy plays there is if Brands can't land the players Silva wants.

BTW, let's just kick the straw man argument about people criticising Sigurdsson for missing a spot kick into touch. Nobody is criticising him for not scoring a penalty, that can happen to anybody. The criticism is about his desire to try (unconvincingly and unnecessarily) to show the world how cool he was and the fact that a guy renowned for his skill with a dead ball didn't even work the fucking keeper. That, under the circumstances, is inexcusable.

I don't care how many players have done this down the years, a thousands wrongs will not make a right. They all deserve criticism.

I remember Jack Charlton talking about walking around his Irish team as they decided who would take the penalties after a World Cup deadlock. He didn't bother asking Kevin Sheedy if he would take one; he simply asked which corner he was going for. He was shocked when Sheedy told him he believed the goalie was thinking the same thing and would definitely go for one, so he was going to "smash it over his head"... Bang!


Unshakable belief or shallow bravado... see the difference?

Alan J Thompson
62 Posted 24/06/2018 at 05:49:59
Don (#49); I believe the Aussie skipper, Jedinak, has a career record of 15 out of 15 which, I think, includes with Aston Villa and Crystal Palace although it is not known if he polishes the ball first.
Dermot Byrne
63 Posted 24/06/2018 at 06:34:54
Darren (#61). Love the last para. See the irony?
Mike Gaynes
64 Posted 24/06/2018 at 07:14:33
Darren (#61), re your last line, I do. But from Dermot's angle. (Beat me to it, DB!)

Thing is, I'm firmly convinced that Siggy's so-called "desire to try (unconvincingly and unnecessarily) to show the world how cool he was" is strictly a figment of your imagination. There is nothing that can persuade me that you or anyone else could read something like that off a few seconds of TV closeup. Of a man you don't know.

You have your "unshakable belief" – and that's mine.

Re the bet, no problem, we'll split the check.

Dermot Byrne
65 Posted 24/06/2018 at 07:38:31
Isolated incident or bigger picture.

Sycophancy, as it appears to some, may be folk just looking at an isolated incident but putting in the wider context of how how he plays for 90 mins. To some he usually works hard and is very committed to their cause, so they see this penalty in that context.

That bigger picture about his skill and pace is a more interesting debate.

Do think he is slowish but think he could have a place in team. But that depends on who else is in team come start of season.

It is that irritating bigger picture again..

Seeing we have signed nobody yet, guess it is pretty much impossible to decide if he fits.


Ken Kneale
66 Posted 24/06/2018 at 08:44:17
Don, my point was to reply to your assertion he was worthy of our former teams, not to dissect individual errors. On the former, he is not, I am sad to say, particularly on the fee and wage scale we undertook him on.
Brent Stephens
67 Posted 24/06/2018 at 08:45:38
An embarrassing penalty miss but these things happen.

"The criticism is about his desire to try (unconvincingly and unnecessarily) to show the world how cool he was".

Seems like that's pure guesswork and fabrication. Unshakable and shallow.

Phil Sammon
68 Posted 24/06/2018 at 09:19:06
No idea why Everton fans are taking this opportunity to lay into Sigurdsson. He's a very good player... probably our best, actually. He is not some lethargic egotist. He's an industrious and creative player. Thank god we finally have a manager who will use his strengths.
Stephen Brown
70 Posted 24/06/2018 at 09:35:44
Well said Phil Sammon!

He's missed a penalty! Must be a slow news day!

He's got my 100% support for next season! One of our few better than average players!

Don Alexander
71 Posted 24/06/2018 at 10:59:11
Mike Gaynes, I'm sorry you took what I said as "snide". I don't pretend to know it all and was impressed that you'd come up with that statistic given that I wasn't aware of any 100% successful pen-taker. 98% is as near as makes no difference as far as I'm concerned albeit I've now learned about Jedinak too!

I don't know if you do pub quizzes, or at least the sort that I do, but they're sticklers for detail to put it mildly and that's what I meant to convey. Cheers.

Darren Hind
72 Posted 24/06/2018 at 12:58:35
Fair enough Mike.

I wasn't trying to persuade you of anything. I based my opinion on body language, something every intelligent person does on an almost daily basis.

When I see a guy take an inordinately long time to take a penalty, especially one he knows has a huge worldwide audience, I suspect he is milking it.

When I see somebody take the old two-step "look-how-cool-I-am" shuffle. I suspect he has too much bravado and not enough belief.

When I see somebody lean back and aim for the postage stamp, I suspect he has traded the basics for fuckaroundary.

When I see somebody tick all of the above boxes, my "show pony" alert goes off. So I suspect would yours if this was a Liverpool player.

You see I'm kinda wired up like that. I believe the evidence of my own eyes. If I come down in the middle of the night and saw somebody shoving my stuff in a bag marked 'swag' I conclude he is a tea leaf.

I know there will be some beauts out there who tell me my conclusion would be "guesswork and fabrication" but I live in the real world – not one inhabited by fairies.

John G Davies
73 Posted 24/06/2018 at 13:25:33
Harry Kane just scored a penalty in the top corner off a short run-up. Full of himself that twat
Dermot Byrne
74 Posted 24/06/2018 at 13:33:11
Jaysus your last lines get better Darren.

You put your reason for your interpretation but there is always that last line.

Of course it is bloody interpretation, just like Mike's is.

Interpretation does not equal fact... even if you say-it-as-you-see-it.

Try seeing through the eyes of others too.

Alan J Thompson
75 Posted 24/06/2018 at 16:30:21
I don't know if it is my memory playing tricks but does anyone remember Jimmy Mcilroy taking one for Burnley while Albert Dunlop had his back to him marking the goal line and it sticking between Dunlop's legs?
Mike Gaynes
76 Posted 25/06/2018 at 20:02:31
Fair enough, Don. Thought I was seeing sarcasm. Cheers.
Darren Hind
77 Posted 25/06/2018 at 20:11:07
Perhaps Harry Kane put this one to bed last night...

Despite long and concerted attempts to break his concentration, he kept his composure, kept his professionalism (none of this two-step shuffle lark) and, more importantly, he stayed over the ball rather than lean back which enabled him to keep the ball (rather crucially) UNDER the bar.

Chalk and Cheese


Jay Wood
[BRZ]

78 Posted 25/06/2018 at 20:47:28
And CR7 looked deadly serious and focussed in taking his penalty, so that's Portugal 2 Iran 0 then.

Oh! Hang on!

Darren Hind
79 Posted 25/06/2018 at 21:24:29
Yeah, because there is no difference between the goalkeeper making a smart save to prevent the goal and handing him a get out of jail card by blazing it two yards over the top without him having to do anything.

One is down to another player's skill and therefore excusable; the other is just plain sloppy and isn't.

I think most people would know the difference... although I accept, not all

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

80 Posted 25/06/2018 at 22:00:17
Gylfi Sigurdsson international penalty record – 7 scored, 2 missed.

CR7 international penalty record – 8 scored, 6 missed.

I'm putting CR7's miss today down to him patting his hair into place a few times before running up to strike the ball.

D'ya think the other misses were down to him giving his goofy grin look to the cameras..?

Andy Crooks
81 Posted 25/06/2018 at 22:01:23
Anyone can miss a penalty but Alan Shearer never missed one in that fashion and I doubt Harry Kane ever will. It was so bad that he couldn't have been worse had he been asked to pretend to be someone who had never played football in their lives.

He's a decent enough player but we didn't overpay for him because we were in a bidding war from top six teams. We overpaid because those responsible for last summer's transfer dealings were guilty of ineptitude and negligence so appalling, that, in most other businesses they would be dismissed for gross incompetence. They would receive not a penny in compensation and never work again.

Only bankers seem to have it easier than those who run football clubs.

Darren Hind
82 Posted 25/06/2018 at 22:25:40
The more desperate the attempts to try to excuse or divert from the awful, awful penalty taken by Sigurdsson, the funnier this thread gets.

Sigurdsson's penalty was dogshit. doesn't matter how hard you try to argue with it. It was just about as bad as it gets.

In response to foolish attempts to hide that fact with smoke and mirrors by giving us the history of penalties Volumes 1-2-3-4-5. I simply refer back to the fourth paragraph on post 61.

Anybody is perfectly at liberty to put Ronaldo's penalty down to whatever they want. His saved penalty has nothing to do with Sigurdsson's missed one.

Sigurdsson's penalty was shite. It appears though, that some are having trouble accepting that which smacked them between the eyes.

Gavin Johnson
83 Posted 25/06/2018 at 22:54:09
Anyone can miss a pen. I seem to remember Roberto Baggio taking a terrible penalty in the 1994 World Cup Final and he was one of the best players in the world at that time.

I don't think Sigurdsson taking a bad penalty makes him any less of a player.

Jay Wood
[BRZ]

84 Posted 25/06/2018 at 23:26:39
Erhm... Darren. Care to share with me where I've claimed that the Siggy penalty wasn't awful? Or indeed where I've tried to "excuse, divert, or argue" otherwise?

Live in game, I commented on here immediately "Oh Siggy". It was an abysmal effort.

What I'm giggling at is you continuing to make multi-posts on the subject, over several days, which promote the belief your interpretation – and only your interpretation – of Siggy's penalty miss – is the legitimate one.

To quote the post you conveniently point to, fourth paragraph, your post #61:

"Nobody is criticising him for not scoring a penalty, that can happen to anybody. The criticism is about his desire to try (unconvincingly and unnecessarily) to show the world how cool he was..." etc.

You said similar at #29: "Take a look at the concentration and focus of Ronaldo and Griezmann before their penalties and contrast that with the cocky "I'm-a-good-player" attitude of Sigurdsson."

Again at #45: "Most players wait until they have actually put the penalty away before milking the moment, but even after all the usual shenanigans, Sigurdsson still stood posturing. He knew the cameras were focused on him and he seemed very keen to show the world how cool he was."

What I have read in this thread is not people contesting the quality of Sigurdsson's penalty (contrary to your claims, I haven't seen anyone defending or excusing the paucity of it), but rather, your grandiose "guesswork and fabrication" (your words) on the very speculative reason and cause of the woeful miss.

Like a few others, I chuckle at your implied 'mentalist' powers and claims of knowing exactly what Sigurdsson was thinking and doing whilst waiting to take the penalty.

Just because you 'see' it and 'say' it 'as it is', doesn't make it actual and true. Nor does that place you as someone who uniquely and exclusively "lives in the real world", whereas any equally plausible alternatives offered by others means they live in a world "inhabited by fairies."

Darren Hind
85 Posted 26/06/2018 at 04:23:17
Ah finally.

An acceptance and an admittance that it was an "abysmal penalty" — only up to now you have only offered a sympathetic "Oh Siggy".

I`m not trying to convince anybody of anything, I`ve simply responded to posts which have been addressed to me.

Now we have finally established that it was an abysmal penalty, I guess the only difference we have is, with what the editor of this site calls Siggy's attitude. I watched this match in a crowded alehouse. Even the RS wanted Iceland (and therefore Siggy) to score. The general question after the penalty was "WTF was all that about?" You see, everyone had seen what happened prior to the strike, they all wondered why he didn't even bother to take a run up, Ensure he got it on target.

Maybe they all have special mentalist powers too, but I suspect if you asked them they would modestly tell you they were only stating the blindingly obvious.

Opinions, eh.

David Barks
86 Posted 26/06/2018 at 04:30:40
Darren,

These are the moments where you become unbearable on these pages. What exactly are you even trying to prove here? You're being incredibly childish.

Darren Hind
87 Posted 26/06/2018 at 05:05:16
Yeah, you're right, David. I should by now know better than to respond to people like you who would rather try to settle old scores than contribute to the debate.

Simple really: If you don't want me to respond – don't address me. It's not compulsory.

Dermot Byrne
88 Posted 26/06/2018 at 05:41:47
Darren, how bloody hard is it to see some are trying to widen the Sigurdsson debate beyond one bloody penalty that you seem unable to get over? Is that too hard to embrace?

Does the penalty miss mean he must be seen as forever crap or lacking some kind or footballing version of moral fibre or is it an isolated incident? Is his speed a bigger issue or his usual skills with a dead ball enough to justify a place?

Does one shitty post on here make a person a prat or is it consistent run of them that does that? (And of course that last question feeds you a simple joke!)

Michael Kenrick
89 Posted 26/06/2018 at 07:03:19
John G Davies
90 Posted 26/06/2018 at 07:47:50
😂😂😂😂😂

Thanks Michael, I've just spit my coffee all over the table.

Len Hawkins
91 Posted 26/06/2018 at 08:19:15
Some "experts"?? on here really are suffering from the heat, I've never read so much tripe. If you want to slag off a player for a penalty miss then you've got a hell of a long list to go through.

I suppose some of you clowns would now turn your nose up at Messi joining the club because he missed a penalty. All you perfectionists must be highly paid and well thought of by your bosses for being 100% perfect in your jobs and never getting anything wrong.

Ray Roche
92 Posted 26/06/2018 at 08:21:25
Christ on a bike, virtually a whole thread on Siggi missing a penalty. It doesn't make him a crap player, missing a penalty doesn't do that, Messi and Aren't I A Beautiful Boy have both missed them. It happens. Are they crap players too?

Is there so little to discuss that we have to watch the Hind, Byrne, Barks and everyone else tag match? No wonder some of us have given ToffeeWeb a swerve just lately.

Roll on the season. Provided we've bought some defenders.

Laurie Hartley
93 Posted 26/06/2018 at 08:45:46
Ray (#92) – "Provided we've bought some defenders".

Not half.

John McFarlane Snr
94 Posted 26/06/2018 at 11:31:58
Hi all, I have no intention of getting involved in a war of words so, I don't require a reply to this post, we all have opinions and should be allowed to express them. However, if it's acceptable to assume that a footballer has adopted a cavalier air, when preparing to take a penalty kick, is it not equally acceptable to assume, that certain contributors express opinions to provoke a long, and sometimes, bitter debate?
Jim Bailey
95 Posted 26/06/2018 at 11:53:52
John @92. Voice of reason as per usual. Well played, sir.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

96 Posted 26/06/2018 at 12:31:37
You are golden, Darren. Pure (unintentional) comedy gold.
Jim Jennings
98 Posted 26/06/2018 at 20:36:46
And Sigurdsson scores!!!

Ding Ding Ding!!!

Round Two!

The Hind vs Woodinho

David Barks
99 Posted 26/06/2018 at 20:38:25
Well, Gilfy just converted a penalty. Don't know what that means anymore.
John G Davies
100 Posted 26/06/2018 at 20:39:00
Nonchalant two-step shuffle up to the ball. Bang – top corner.

Can anyone do a psychoanalysis please.

Jim Bailey
101 Posted 26/06/2018 at 21:05:05
TW calling Darren, where are you?
Len Hawkins
102 Posted 26/06/2018 at 22:04:35
Obviously the scripts are being written: "he was lucky", "he hit it with the wrong foot", "the goalie had his bootlaces tied together", "the ball moved in the air"...

I just hope he realises he's trashed the dreams of a couple of ToffeeWeb's finest. Now I know where Paul Whitehouse and 'Arry Enfield get their Old Gits material from.

Brent Stephens
103 Posted 26/06/2018 at 22:11:19
A pity Iceland are out. At least Gylfi scores a pen. After that first penalty miss, only God knows what he was thinking.
Jay Wood
[BRZ]

104 Posted 26/06/2018 at 22:22:13
Brent @ 103.

"After that first penalty miss, only God knows what he was thinking."

Strewth Brent! Being overly sycophantic to Darren, aren't you..?

Brent Stephens
105 Posted 26/06/2018 at 22:24:53
Haha!

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