Emi Martinez

[Meanwood Villa]

If I was keeper in a penalty shoot out like that, I think I'd stay in the middle most of the time.  There are always one or two that go straight down the centre, whereas if the player taking the kick puts it into the side left or right, it's got to be a great save even if you guess right.

Absolutely, about half of all penalties these days are scored when the keeper dives out of the way.

It’s a good theory but I’m always reminded of the useless lummox Peter Shilton in the 1990 WC who did just that with no effect whatsoever. I doubt it was his idea mind as it had more to do with him being well past his best. The fact he’s a tool as well didn’t help his case.

I'm sure I heard that Shilton thought his reflexes were quick enough that he didn't need to guess on pens. He was well past his peak in 90 but I think it's humanly impossible anyway. Hence him being a second behind every German penalty in that shootout.

[passport1]

Wonderful to have the World cup golden glove winning goalkeeper at our club . I was chatting afterwards about it and remarked there are two certainties that will follow this. 1) Some moron will ring a phone in and claim he needs to play for a big club.2) Other misseries will complain about his post match antics. We appear to have hit the jackpot on here with one of our own.

[Smithy]

If I was keeper in a penalty shoot out like that, I think I'd stay in the middle most of the time.  There are always one or two that go straight down the centre, whereas if the player taking the kick puts it into the side left or right, it's got to be a great save even if you guess right.

Absolutely, about half of all penalties these days are scored when the keeper dives out of the way.

It’s a good theory but I’m always reminded of the useless lummox Peter Shilton in the 1990 WC who did just that with no effect whatsoever. I doubt it was his idea mind as it had more to do with him being well past his best. The fact he’s a tool as well didn’t help his case.

I'm sure I heard that Shilton thought his reflexes were quick enough that he didn't need to guess on pens. He was well past his peak in 90 but I think it's humanly impossible anyway. Hence him being a second behind every German penalty in that shootout.

Indeed, I always remember people saying "Shilton was so unlucky, he dived the right way on every single penalty."  Diving the right way is an absolute piece of piss; the trick is to do it before the ball is in the back of the net.

[eamonn]

Shilts may have had other things on his mind (gambling, dogging etc.)

Actually, that's not a nice thing to say.

[Dave]

Shilts may have had other things on his mind (gambling, dogging etc.)

Actually, that's not a nice thing to say.

Then again, he's not a very nice person.

[tomd2103]

Wasn't it that Peter Shilton was a bit on the smaller side for penalties and I've heard it said many times that Dave Beasant should have been brought on for the shoot out in Italia 90.

Also many people have questioned over the years quite how Maradona managed to outjump him (even using his hand) in Mexico 86.

[Percy McCarthy]

Shilts may have had other things on his mind (gambling, dogging etc.)

Actually, that's not a nice thing to say.

Then again, he's not a very nice person.

He’s vile.

[cdbearsfan]

Compare him to Neville Southall who is a genuine good guy.

[Somniloquism]

A lot of waffle about fair play in the BBC comments and elsewhere after Emi's antics yesterday.

If Tchouameni's concentration really was broken by Emi tossing the ball to the side then he doesn't have much concentration in the first place.

I wasn't paying quite that much attention, but I shall assume that the reason Emi had the ball in the first place was because Lloris just walked off and left in the net rather than get over himself and pick the ball out of the net and hand it to his team's next taker, like a good teammate.

Nope, the ref (or someone) had put it on the spot, he saunters over, picks it up and acts like he is trying to get a "feel" of the ball. Then as the player and ref approach and ask for the ball, he chucks it away. I was actually surprised the ref didn't book him there and then but waited for the next attempt.

[Bad English]

If the French player hadn't have been intimidated so much into pushing it as wide, Emi was saving it anyway.

Sorry, but FTFY. HAVE/HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE. The If... "had have been" construct" is ungrammatical, although our cousins who like guns seem to use it a lot. It needs to be stamped OUT!
If I hadn't been reading, I wouldn't have been able to correct this.

[eamonn]

Kylian MBappe's English is really good - BE, would you say he's been schooled in the "British" or "American" way?

[Hookeysmith]

Every great team starts with a world class goalkeeper - tick  now what's next?

[Toronto Villa]

Shilts may have had other things on his mind (gambling, dogging etc.)

Actually, that's not a nice thing to say.

Then again, he's not a very nice person.

He’s vile.

that's being very kind to him. He's as big a wanker as you will find.

[algy]

Compare him to Neville Southall who is a genuine good guy.

Yep, Big Nev is definitely one of the good guys. Lots of time for him.

[LukeJames]

Back in Beunos Aries at 10pm tonight for the celebrations. Sorry if its already been mentioned previously but I wonder if we'll have him back for Boxing Day? 🤔