Rooney and his penalties

Lance Uppercut

Eric bagged 17 of 19. Not bad at all.

Moultz

we need to start investing in germans to solve this problem

phelans shorts

misterredmist

Why we don't have anyone who can confidently put pens into the roof of the net, and take the goalie out of the equation, I don't know....... I would have thought practice might sort this issue. I am beginning to think that Rooney is the only volunteer and there are no other "takers" ?

Cina

I'd have Nani over Rooney anyway, but SAF usually picks the teams talisman for them, same as with Ronaldo (who was way better at them than Rooney).

Justin

If that worked, our corners wouldn't be so useless

Brophs

Nani's always looked a good penalty taker when I've seen him. Rooney's poor.

Brosstan

Thats a terrible record. Rooney should have a look at himself and realise that with that kind of record, hes not the best penalty taker and as such shouldnt be taking them. The team comes ahead of his personal scoring record.

Surely they have penalty shoot-outs some times in practice where it would be apparent who the best penalty taker is?

Anduin

Over the last 2 1/2 seasons (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12) Rooney took 16 penalties: He scored 11, scored twice on the rebound (Liverpool home, City away) and missed three (Arsenal over the bar, Chelsea wide, Bolton saved by the keeper).
So in fact he had three penalties saved by the keeper so far, but scored the rebound on two of them. His ratio is basically 70% (7 out of 10).

Hectic

I don't know why he still takes them. Nani looks a better penalty taker, or at least more confident when he steps up anyway.

Anderson8

"If he's willing to keep taking them, I'm willing to suffer" - Sir Alex.

Not exactly a vote of confidence.

Bear Attack

Rooney isn't very good at them. He doesn't place them right at the corners and he shoots them at a nice height for the keeper.

Imo Giggs is the best at them in our squad followed by Carrick and then maybe Nani/Anderson.

Lance Uppercut

That was a beauty by Hernandez.

Snow

Ruud-esque

Brosstan

Another perfect penalty, by Berbs this time. Rooney could learn something.

Lance Uppercut

Cracker from Berbatov. Both into the side netting. Can't ask for more than that.

kiristao

Brought back memories of Ruud's penalties.

I remember that crazy run of several penalties he hit to the right side (of the keeper) and then one day he just passed the ball into the left side.

Denis' cuff

Nani needs to stand up for himself and demand the ball and Fergie should back him. That's worse than I thought from Rooney. Has it cost us points?

Annihilate Now!

That was the great thing about Ruud... he could just smash the ball low and hard into the right side of the net every single time, and when you can do that, it doesn't matter if the keeper dives that way or not.

anver

Thank God Rooney did not play yesterday.

Else who knows what the final outcome would have been?

Anderson8

I'd like Hernandez to take them if he's on the pitch. Always been impressed with his penalties for Mexico.

Chabon

He's missed seven penalties for us, and we've won every game. That includes penalties against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and City. He's been very lucky, not least with the two rebounds.

unitedbhoy

That penalty from Berba was inch perfect. Sorenson actually made quite a big side step to the correct side and still couldn't save it.

Cina

Dunno, Nani worries me on them because he tends to try make them *too* perfect. I thought Hernandez was great, keep it low and in the corner, keeper has no chance unless he makes an absolute wonder save.

I hope Fergie sees the light, and takes Rooney off them. He's our main man but he can't hit them for shit in comparison to how Ronnie used to.

MadDogg

Both Hernandez and Berba used the perfect penalty. Well, actually Hernandez's didn't have much pace on it so I wonder what would've happened if the keeper went the right way, but otherwise that's how you should take a penalty. Hard into a bottom corner. Do it right, and the keeper simply will not be able to get down to it fast enough to stop it. So much better than those waist high penalties that are reliant on the keeper going the wrong way.

Laphroaig

I thought Berbatov showed Sørensen quite clearly where he would put it, Sørensen responded as you say, took a step in the right direction, but still had no chance.

marjen

Hernandez's penalty had a decent amount of pace in it, and was slightly disguised as well. Berbatov's had more pace, but he showed where it was going. Either way, doesn't matter when they are so well placed.

Varun_Utd

Yep. hard and low is how it should be done and rooney doesnt really do it that way.

girish

Just let Hernandez take them from now on. Please.

Sylar

If hes on the pitch. Wouldnt surprise me if Welbeck continues to play more than Chico this season.

RedDevilCanuck

Our lack of a set-piece specialist worriest me.

girish

It was David Villa'esque albeit slightly slower paced than him.

Ringo 07

Rooneys run up to take each penalty is so awkward that I never feel very confident that he is going to score!

CantonaVeron

No problem today, nearly broke the net with the first

Raven Blade

As you were then. It took real balls for him to put those away after some misses recently.

Red_Aaron

Fair play to him, two as well struck pens as I've seen him tale

Was excellent today too

Scrumpet

Really impressed that he put both away so definitively.

Cheesy

Both of his penalties were very good today. Well hit and convincing considering he was under a lot of pressure to score.

gbgary

they were emphatic today!!

Scrumpet

Seems he's been practicing.