‘ The Penalty Takers ‘

‘ The penalty-takers ‘


By Glen Williams

It should never have come down to penalties, but once it did, you have to say the volunteers were curious.

Neil Harris explained after the match that players have to stick their hand up to take penalties and it looked like those who stuck their hands up were a centre-back and the two deep-lying midfield players.

Now, credit where it's due, it takes courage to put your hands up in the first place, so let's praise them for that. You can't take anything away from those who volunteered and this defeat is, of course, not their fault whatsoever.

But why didn't the forward players step forward? Why did Robert Glatzel, Callum Paterson or Josh Murphy not grab the ball at the first opportunity to give City some momentum in the shootout?

Contrast that with Reading's penalty takers: Garath McCleary, forward, Sone Aluko, forward, Jordan Obita, winger and Gabriel Osho, granted, a defender.

When Aden Flint strode up to take Cardiff's first penalty, a collective eyebrow was raised around Cardiff City Stadium, especially after Garath McCleary had emphatically hammered home his own shot from 12 yards.

Flint's spot-kick was hit with little venom and Sam Walker gathered comfortably down to his right.

Will Vaulks, who was brilliant all evening it must be said, sent his sledgehammer of a shot thudding into the crossbar, almost making a dent in it in the process. There was no way back then, really, despite Marlon Pack managing to squeeze his just past the diving Walker.

It's always a lottery and Reading kept their composure a lot better than City

Was surprised with the two takers but there would have been a discussion beforehand

Flint offered as generaly he is a good penalty taker the collective eye brow raised shows how little our fans know about our players he may not take loads but had scored 7 from last 9 he has taken

growing up we was always told, you have 5 volunteers to take a penalty. if you have a defender volunteer, you have him take the 3rd pen, not the first or last. because if he misses the first, the pressure is on. the 3rd is, if he misses, its fine, we still got two more to go.

Flint offered as generaly he is a good penalty taker the collective eye brow raised shows how little our fans know about our players he may not take loads but had scored 7 from last 9 he has taken

Not being funny, its not really something fans would look at is it, a centre half taking pens, its not really a stat we should all no, got way to much time on your hands

Flint offered as generaly he is a good penalty taker the collective eye brow raised shows how little our fans know about our players he may not take loads but had scored 7 from last 9 he has taken

Not being funny, its not really something fans would look at is it, a centre half taking pens, its not really a stat we should all no, got way to much time on your hands

you don't need to know his stats to give it thought though..

growing up we was always told, you have 5 volunteers to take a penalty. if you have a defender volunteer, you have him take the 3rd pen, not the first or last. because if he misses the first, the pressure is on. the 3rd is, if he misses, its fine, we still got two more to go.

bloody hell...and if your best penalty takers are defenders { Gareth Bale } that doesn't come into it ?
defender doesn't mean cant kick a ball....

Flint offered as generaly he is a good penalty taker the collective eye brow raised shows how little our fans know about our players he may not take loads but had scored 7 from last 9 he has taken

Interesting as football stats have him as never taken a penalty before ?

growing up we was always told, you have 5 volunteers to take a penalty. if you have a defender volunteer, you have him take the 3rd pen, not the first or last. because if he misses the first, the pressure is on. the 3rd is, if he misses, its fine, we still got two more to go.

bloody hell...and if your best penalty takers are defenders { Gareth Bale } that doesn't come into it ?
defender doesn't mean cant kick a ball....

yeah i get that, but as i stated volunteers, your best penalty taker is usually taking one anyways. what i am refering to is, when you got a group of offer to take one, who dont ususally take them