Thanks Ben. Blushing crimson re Alexander-Arnold. Re Phil… my great great grandfather and his were two of 4 brothers. He is descended from one, and me from another. And golfer Ian from a third… though he is from the next generation… which makes Ian - in genealogical terms -
my "third cousin once removed".
Interestingly my ancestor was the only one to leave the home area near the border with Shropshire to seek his fortune digging for "black gold" (coal) in the Rhondda Valley, far to the south.
Us South Walian Woosnams refuse to pronounce our name the Shropshire
/Chinese way… we are not related to Fu Manchu…!! We always pronounce the first syllable to rhyme with Wood/could. There is a presenter on Talksport called Hugh Woozencraft… who commendably also uses the shortened "double O" sound when he pronounces his name… but Paul Hawksbee and the guy who does Hugh's programme trail, persist in using the Chinese "Mr Wu" sound…
As for American penalties… they were so wonderful to watch. As I recall - and I may well be dreaming this - successful attempts to score them were not as rare as you suggest. Most keepers were not rooted to their goal line: indeed some advanced on the taker at pace. The taker then had the option to chip the keeper, or to take it round him. But of course once the keeper touched the ball, it was deemed a save… unless the ball flew immediately into the goal after contact with the keeper's hand/body. I seem to recall that the run up was 25 yards and there was a 12 second time limit from the whistle blowing.
How I would love that to be brought back… even if my memory is playing tricks on me and the process was not quite as I recall it.
There must have been occasions when the goalie fouled the taker, and vice versa. I impishly suggest that if the keeper deliberately brings down the taker as he sees that he has just about gone round him… then, he be sent off…!! After all, he's the "last man' if ever there was one😀
Hi there! Ronaldo is kicking GK-Independent this tournament. I have seen him try GK-Dep in the past, but at the moment he has no hesitation in picking his spot and trusting in his ability to find the net. It's working well for him so far!
Much thanks for a wonderful piece Ben, no least because I was there in the crowd that night with my brother, both of us rooting for England (even though we are Welsh). Somehow we both sensed that Southgate would miss.
I am old enough to remember my third cousin the late Phil Woosnam's sterling work in Atlanta… and I recall that in his fledgling U.S. league he used to have penalties taken from some 25 yards from goal… with the taker being expected to dribble towards the keeper, and then shoot or take it around him… and most importantly, do it in ten seconds..!!
That to me was so much more satisfying and far less of a lottery.
Can you tell me Ben just why it was not persevered with? Did FIFA put the kibosh on it?
As for picking 5 penalty takers, here is my choice…
Phil Woosnam! What an innovator he was! I write about him in Twelve Yards, that American penalty system was fantastic to watch. Not sure it ever reached FIFA but I think it ended as so few players were able to manage scoring, so it became less exciting. Interesting 5 picks (should mention Alexander-Arnold is injured and not in the squad). Agree that Moore should be taking pens for Wales - let's see if he does! All the best, Ben
Thanks Ben. Blushing crimson re Alexander-Arnold. Re Phil… my great great grandfather and his were two of 4 brothers. He is descended from one, and me from another. And golfer Ian from a third… though he is from the next generation… which makes Ian - in genealogical terms -
my "third cousin once removed".
Interestingly my ancestor was the only one to leave the home area near the border with Shropshire to seek his fortune digging for "black gold" (coal) in the Rhondda Valley, far to the south.
Us South Walian Woosnams refuse to pronounce our name the Shropshire
/Chinese way… we are not related to Fu Manchu…!! We always pronounce the first syllable to rhyme with Wood/could. There is a presenter on Talksport called Hugh Woozencraft… who commendably also uses the shortened "double O" sound when he pronounces his name… but Paul Hawksbee and the guy who does Hugh's programme trail, persist in using the Chinese "Mr Wu" sound…
As for American penalties… they were so wonderful to watch. As I recall - and I may well be dreaming this - successful attempts to score them were not as rare as you suggest. Most keepers were not rooted to their goal line: indeed some advanced on the taker at pace. The taker then had the option to chip the keeper, or to take it round him. But of course once the keeper touched the ball, it was deemed a save… unless the ball flew immediately into the goal after contact with the keeper's hand/body. I seem to recall that the run up was 25 yards and there was a 12 second time limit from the whistle blowing.
How I would love that to be brought back… even if my memory is playing tricks on me and the process was not quite as I recall it.
There must have been occasions when the goalie fouled the taker, and vice versa. I impishly suggest that if the keeper deliberately brings down the taker as he sees that he has just about gone round him… then, he be sent off…!! After all, he's the "last man' if ever there was one😀
On ronaldo s penalties in the euros so far is it Gk independent or Gk dependent
Hi there! Ronaldo is kicking GK-Independent this tournament. I have seen him try GK-Dep in the past, but at the moment he has no hesitation in picking his spot and trusting in his ability to find the net. It's working well for him so far!
Thanks Ben
Much thanks for a wonderful piece Ben, no least because I was there in the crowd that night with my brother, both of us rooting for England (even though we are Welsh). Somehow we both sensed that Southgate would miss.
I am old enough to remember my third cousin the late Phil Woosnam's sterling work in Atlanta… and I recall that in his fledgling U.S. league he used to have penalties taken from some 25 yards from goal… with the taker being expected to dribble towards the keeper, and then shoot or take it around him… and most importantly, do it in ten seconds..!!
That to me was so much more satisfying and far less of a lottery.
Can you tell me Ben just why it was not persevered with? Did FIFA put the kibosh on it?
As for picking 5 penalty takers, here is my choice…
1. Kane. 2. Rashford. 3. Alexander-Armstrong. 4. Foden 5. Grealish
As for my native Wales… the best penalty taker is Kieffer Moore… he is as deadly from the spot as Harry Kane.
Phil Woosnam! What an innovator he was! I write about him in Twelve Yards, that American penalty system was fantastic to watch. Not sure it ever reached FIFA but I think it ended as so few players were able to manage scoring, so it became less exciting. Interesting 5 picks (should mention Alexander-Arnold is injured and not in the squad). Agree that Moore should be taking pens for Wales - let's see if he does! All the best, Ben