2025/26 Thierno Barry

[Mr Happy]

Yeah. You can miss a penalty, but hit the bloody thing! All of this insouciant posing is fine if you tuck it away. But it's infuriating to see a professional pose his way to a miss when you know a fella off the street would at least hammer it and properly work the keeper.

Barry isn't a good enough player to be smart with a penalty. He's not techically gifted or confident enough to pull this off reliably. If he's going to take one - and full credit for stepping up - put your laces through it. Hit the target. If the keeper saves it, fair enough. But this tippy-tappy, "look at me" fake bravado does my head in.

Onana's miss last year was a disgrace. He had a kick to win it and he produced a study in self-aggrandising, feckless incompetence. Barry yesterday wasn't too far behind.

I've had it with Barry after that. No need to shed too many tears for this lucky millionaire.

With you on this.

 

[Eggs]

Yeah. You can miss a penalty, but hit the bloody thing! All of this insouciant posing is fine if you tuck it away. But it's infuriating to see a professional pose his way to a miss when you know a fella off the street would at least hammer it and properly work the keeper.

Barry isn't a good enough player to be smart with a penalty. He's not techically gifted or confident enough to pull this off reliably. If he's going to take one - and full credit for stepping up - put your laces through it. Hit the target. If the keeper saves it, fair enough. But this tippy-tappy, "look at me" fake bravado does my head in.

Onana's miss last year was a disgrace. He had a kick to win it and he produced a study in self-aggrandising, feckless incompetence. Barry yesterday wasn't too far behind.

I've had it with Barry after that. No need to shed too many tears for this lucky millionaire.

….totally with you on this, it was pathetic, especially for a striker.

I remember Tosun missing an important one for us, it’s a sign of poor attitude as well as poor technique when they miss in that manner. I was involved in plenty of penalty shoot-outs myself and honestly never missed once, pick a corner and hit it with pace.

 

[mikel_88]

Hate that stupid run up for pens takes all the power off the ball. Have no problem him wanting to take the first pen cos i want the cf wanting to grab goals. Was dissapointed in him yesterday thought usually has more about him, really need the lad to pick up his levels next season.
But we still need to be getting beto out and bringing in another two imo.

 

[GoldenToffee]

Hate that stupid run up for pens takes all the power off the ball. Have no problem him wanting to take the first pen cos i want the cf wanting to grab goals. Was dissapointed in him yesterday thought usually has more about him, really need the lad to pick up his levels next season.
But we still need to be getting beto out and bringing in another two imo.

Christ — hopefully he's nowhere near the club next season!

Get them both out and start again with two quality strikers and a young backup, probably partially funded by the sale of Ndiaye.

 

[BullensRoad]

As the Germans have proven over the years, penalty taking is a combination of technique and nerve. What's the best way to preserve your technique under pressure? Practice it until it becomes second nature and any nerve-induced deviations under pressure are mitigated.

I doubt we practice penalties. For too many in British football, "penalties are a lottery." That seems to be a lottery only the Germans are buying tickets for...

All the pen takers walked up looking like they're about to face a firing squad, body language shown they were very likely to miss.

Sunderland players looked hyped up.

 

[linnane666]

Second half yesterday at the edge of our box.he was clearing the ball on half volley under no pressure..he couldnt even manage that cleanly..hes is dire ..get rid

 

[Drico]

….totally with you on this, it was pathetic, especially for a striker.

I remember Tosun missing an important one for us, it’s a sign of poor attitude as well as poor technique when they miss in that manner. I was involved in plenty of penalty shoot-outs myself and honestly never missed once, pick a corner and hit it with pace.

It's definitely about attitude, Eggs, as you say. It's about knowing your own strengths and weaknesses as a player - at any level. I was an amateur goalie. We played indoor and outdoors over the years in five-a-sides and 11-a-sides. I recall playing in an indoor five-a-side tournament and we went to penalties in small goals. We were level after all the outfield players had taken theirs, so even the goalies had to take a turn. Naturally, I dreaded this. Everyone started looking at me - I suspect with an even greater sense of dread - and I just started laughing... I really didn't fancy it at all. But I had no choice. So, I stepped up, laughed nervously, and did the only logical thing a fella of very limited ability could do. Hammer it into the top corner. Now, would I hit it as well again? Very debatable. But it was, quite frankly, the best penalty taken all day - and we went on to win. Our best player missed his. But he probably felt he could be smart in ways I definitely couldn't afford to be.

Barry yesterday looked like someone who knows he's having a tough time but still hasn't worked out his technical limitations. That's not a sign of footballing intelligence...

 

[captainvindaloo]

As the Germans have proven over the years, penalty taking is a combination of technique and nerve. What's the best way to preserve your technique under pressure? Practice it until it becomes second nature and any nerve-induced deviations under pressure are mitigated.

I doubt we practice penalties. For too many in British football, "penalties are a lottery." That seems to be a lottery only the Germans are buying tickets for...

Totally agree! Getting the ball in the net should be second nature for a striker. A penalty should be the easiest of all! Practice breeds confidence. A confident player hits the target every time. The only acceptable miss would be a dramatic/lucky, incredible save. No need for prancing, dancing, and showmanship. One task, one kick. GTFI.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Posted this on another thread, this is how you take a pen:

 

[Eggs]

Totally agree! Getting the ball in the net should be second nature for a striker. A penalty should be the easiest of all! Practice breeds confidence. A confident player hits the target every time. The only acceptable miss would be a dramatic/lucky, incredible save. No need for prancing, dancing, and showmanship. One task, one kick. GTFI.

….its a good point re ‘practice’. Shoot-outs form an important part in the modern game yet I’m not aware of any penalty drill in training. They should have competitions a few times per week, it’s a bit of fun as well as practice.

When I’ve trained youngsters, I said think of a door on the inside of each post and you’re aiming to hit the door with a bit of pace. You’ll score more often than not. I’m not a fan of Ndiaye penalties but he scores which is what matters.

 

[matty1878]

….its a good point re ‘practice’. Shoot-outs form an important part in the modern game yet I’m not aware of any penalty drill in training. They should have competitions a few times per week, it’s a bit of fun as well as practice.

all players should have a footy goal in the back garden no?

 

[Eggs]

all players should have a footy goal in the back garden no?

….if they’ve got kids. They could probably have a full pitch.

 

[matty1878]

….if they’ve got kids.

no even without i don’t have kids…

 

[Eggs]

no even without i don’t have kids…

….when I was a kid in the 60s/70s every upright walking to school was an imaginary goal post and I visualised putting the ball inside it. Such a weird thing, but even when I was kicking in or had a gaping goal I tended to finish at the side and not in the middle of the goal.

There was only one thing I liked about Benitez’s time here. I understand he would draw a goal and an x on paper and asked his strikers where they would put the ball if they were standing on the x. I can 100% relate to that exercise.

 

[matty1878]

….when I was a kid in the 60s/70s every upright walking to school was an imaginary goal post and I visualised putting the ball inside it. Such a weird thing, but even when I was kicking in or had a gaping goal I tended to finish at the side and not in the middle of the goal.

There was only one thing I liked about Benitez’s time here. I understand he would draw a goal and an x on paper and asked his strikers where they would put the ball if they were standing on the x. I can 100% relate to that exercise.

60s/70s Dare i wanna know your age

ye from a wall to a lamppost to your coat or a can.everything was used as goal

how can you not effing score from a pen!