[Albion] Matt O Riley [26/08/24 - sings on a 5-year deal]

[Hugo Rune]

O’Riley had an interesting technique for the pen at Spurs. He basically looked directly at the corner of the goal to the keeper’s left, then proceeded to hit it exactly where he’d been looking. And the keeper guessed correctly - luckily the placement was very good. But not much margin for error!

A good inch I'd say! He might want to rethink the double bluff approach.

 

[Zeberdi]

O’Riley had an interesting technique for the pen at Spurs. He basically looked directly at the corner of the goal to the keeper’s left, then proceeded to hit it exactly where he’d been looking. And the keeper guessed correctly - luckily the placement was very good. But not much margin for error!

No feint in build up. Good placement in the end but a good dive in the right direction by Vicario which is why, against a PL GK, I felt the pen was too close to being saveable.

I’ve never felt that lack of confidence in the walk/run up with any of Pedro’s pens - I don’t think there’s any official stats but he sends the GK the wrong way many more times than he doesn’t imo - he is out of MoR’s league (and most other PL players!) from the spot.

90% of pens are converted into goals so just scoring a ‘good’ penalty doesn’t make it a ‘stonking one’ imo. I just don’t think MoR’s pen at Spurs (or Celtic stats posted above) merit seeing him as a penalty taker back up for Pedro. But I accept I may have missed something from the TV stream and didn’t see the replays.

Apologies for hash up - serious brain fog and disorientation last night after all day at the hospital had me mixing up which matches I’d watched live, and which ones had the pens in so my posts yesterday were a combination of fairytales and bollix in with some subjective impression.

 

[Machiavelli]

I'd watch it again. He hit the side netting.

Not only that. It pretty much went along the ground -- rather than 'knee/thigh height' -- which is more difficult for a GK to get down to.
Joao Pedro on the other hand does hit penalties at knee/thigh height and occasionally that the GK goes the right way to.

 

[Machiavelli]

Dunk, Wellbz and O'Reilly all seem to be decent penalty takers. It's not an area I'm too worried about in the post-Pedro world.

Why bother spelling Lewis' name correctly

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Why bother spelling Lewis' name correctly

Louis Dunce

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Louis Dunce

In other news, Conroy Goldstone has recently complete a season playing in Cyprus.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Why bother spelling Lewis' name correctly

Louis is legend, he gets special treatment !

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

In other news, Conroy Goldstone has recently complete a season playing in Cyprus.

Glad his hart condition has emproved

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Glad his hart condition has emproved

Although I heard he is injured at the moment. His beck isn’t well.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I thought at the time he shouldn’t have stepped up, if the truth be told and said so to my mate. As it was, it was a good spot kick but at knee/thigh height and Vicario read him and went in the right direction at the right height - I wouldn’t call it ‘stonking’ and think he was lucky to be honest.

I certainly don’t see him as a spot kick replacement for Pedro, at least not based on that one penalty.

Now Gomez’s strike in injury time from 25 yards out was stonking!

EDIT - Getting my matches mixed up - what a hash - I was watching the Spurs match on TV

Lucky to put it out of reach of the keeper? OK then

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Glad his hart condition has emproved

I hear that Joel had been training hard and looking lean, he’s a svelte man.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

I think it shows that either FH and or team mates trust him to take one. That is a good thing after the stop/start season he’s had, no?

I had a great view of the penalty being round the side slightly at Spurs/last game, and almost level with the spot.

There was quite a debate (minor argument) between three or four of our players as to who should take it. Hinch looked very keen to get his hat-trick and a bit miffed when MOR pulled the ball out of his hands eventually. I think from memory that Minteh was also in the 'who takes it' huddle. Presumably someone told him.. "nah mate you'll slip over". It certainly did not look like we had a solid, agreed plan without JP on the pitch.

I've not been particualrly impressed with Matt O'Riley's performances for us so far (as posted numerous times), but that was a really decent penalty in fairness. Clean strike, pacy and into the side netting/corner. Agree with other posters, he made no attempt to disguise or feint – and so if he hadn't hit it perfectly, I'd have fancied Vicario to get a hand on it at least. The speed and precision beat him though.. so credit where credit is due.

The other thing that stood out a bit for me was MOR wheeled away to the corner flag to do the bizarre tongue out thing (and no one really followed), and he kind of had to beckon teammates over to join him to celebrate. They did eventually, but not with any particular urgency or gusto. Maybe that was too many ales in the sunsheeeeinnne for me, but it was something I picked up on body language-wise as quite interesting. I thought it was quite a contrast with Diego's wonder strike (and him being visibly emotional) where there was a real outpouring of emotion from teammates, who were clearly super chuffed he'd scored – and an absolute beauty it was too.

 

[Flounce]

I had a great view of the penalty being round the side slightly at Spurs/last game, and almost level with the spot.

There was quite a debate (minor argument) between three or four of our players as to who should take it. Hinch looked very keen to get his hat-trick and a bit miffed when MOR pulled the ball out of his hands eventually. I think from memory that Minteh was also in the 'who takes it' huddle. Presumably someone told him.. "nah mate you'll slip over". It certainly did not look like we had a solid, agreed plan without JP on the pitch.

I've not been particualrly impressed with Matt O'Riley's performances for us so far (as posted numerous times), but that was a really decent penalty in fairness. Clean strike, pacy and into the side netting/corner. Agree with other posters, he made no attempt to disguise or feint – and so if he hadn't hit it perfectly, I'd have fancied Vicario to get a hand on it at least. The speed and precision beat him though.. so credit where credit is due.

The other thing that stood out a bit for me was MOR wheeled away to the corner flag to do the bizarre tongue out thing (and no one really followed), and he kind of had to beckon teammates over to join him to celebrate. They did eventually, but not with any particular urgency or gusto. Maybe that was too many ales in the sunsheeeeinnne for me, but it was something I picked up on body language-wise as quite interesting. I thought it was quite a contrast with Diego's wonder strike (and him being visibly emotional) where there was a real outpouring of emotion from teammates, who were clearly super chuffed he'd scored – and an absolute beauty it was too.

Thanks for that, always good to hear opinions of those at a game. Far more things going on than comes across on tv.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

Thanks for that, always good to hear opinions of those at a game. Far more things going on than comes across on tv.

Welcome.
It's what makes watching live sport so amazing tbh. You never get to see or form an opinion on these subtle moments on TV, (e.g. how a team behaves and interacts with one another). After Brentford away, I was convinced all our team hated eachother! ; -)

 

[spence]

I had a great view of the penalty being round the side slightly at Spurs/last game, and almost level with the spot.

There was quite a debate (minor argument) between three or four of our players as to who should take it. Hinch looked very keen to get his hat-trick and a bit miffed when MOR pulled the ball out of his hands eventually. I think from memory that Minteh was also in the 'who takes it' huddle. Presumably someone told him.. "nah mate you'll slip over". It certainly did not look like we had a solid, agreed plan without JP on the pitch.

I've not been particualrly impressed with Matt O'Riley's performances for us so far (as posted numerous times), but that was a really decent penalty in fairness. Clean strike, pacy and into the side netting/corner. Agree with other posters, he made no attempt to disguise or feint – and so if he hadn't hit it perfectly, I'd have fancied Vicario to get a hand on it at least. The speed and precision beat him though.. so credit where credit is due.

The other thing that stood out a bit for me was MOR wheeled away to the corner flag to do the bizarre tongue out thing (and no one really followed), and he kind of had to beckon teammates over to join him to celebrate. They did eventually, but not with any particular urgency or gusto. Maybe that was too many ales in the sunsheeeeinnne for me, but it was something I picked up on body language-wise as quite interesting. I thought it was quite a contrast with Diego's wonder strike (and him being visibly emotional) where there was a real outpouring of emotion from teammates, who were clearly super chuffed he'd scored – and an absolute beauty it was too.

It was Diego's first goal and not for O'Riley. Other than that I totally agree about the pen.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

It was Diego's first goal and not for O'Riley. Other than that I totally agree about the pen.

True. And probably a reaction to the Forest penno miss for Gomez.

 

[kevo]

The other thing that stood out a bit for me was MOR wheeled away to the corner flag to do the bizarre tongue out thing (and no one really followed), and he kind of had to beckon teammates over to join him to celebrate. They did eventually, but not with any particular urgency or gusto. Maybe that was too many ales in the sunsheeeeinnne for me, but it was something I picked up on body language-wise as quite interesting. I thought it was quite a contrast with Diego's wonder strike (and him being visibly emotional) where there was a real outpouring of emotion from teammates, who were clearly super chuffed he'd scored – and an absolute beauty it was too.

Sorry, but I think this last part is nonsense. They came over to celebrate with him. From all accounts, he's a lovely guy and I'm sure he's a popular member of the squad. It's was Gomez's first goal for the club and an absolute screamer, not a penalty. So of course the reaction from the players is going to be different.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

Sorry, but I think this last part is nonsense. They came over to celebrate with him. From all accounts, he's a lovely guy and I'm sure he's a popular member of the squad. It's was Gomez's first goal for the club and an absolute screamer, not a penalty. So of course the reaction from the players is going to be different.

With respect, I don't think it's nonsense. It's what happened. I didn't say Matt is not popular or a decent bloke (I have no idea and I am sure he is), but that's just how it looked to me at the time and on TV replays later. The comparison with the Gomez goal/celebration was probably unfair though I admit.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The other thing that stood out a bit for me was MOR wheeled away to the corner flag to do the bizarre tongue out thing (and no one really followed), and he kind of had to beckon teammates over to join him to celebrate. They did eventually, but not with any particular urgency or gusto. Maybe that was too many ales in the sunsheeeeinnne for me, but it was something I picked up on body language-wise as quite interesting. I thought it was quite a contrast with Diego's wonder strike (and him being visibly emotional) where there was a real outpouring of emotion from teammates, who were clearly super chuffed he'd scored – and an absolute beauty it was too.

I think you’re reading way too much into this.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

I think you’re reading way too much into this.

Yes, maybe you're right.
It wasn't the main point I was trying to make really (and kind of wish I hadn't). Just wanted to say that the penalty-taker decision was very much up for 'debate' on the pitch that day – and that in the end, it was a very good penalty. Will be interesting in a possible post-Pedro world who takes them as 1st choice. We've become very used to seeing our penalties go in without fear. Our conversion rate has been incredible really.