Jeepers, you'd
have hoped that Portsmouth's players
would have used at least a small part
of their hectic summer break to brush
up on some penalty-taking skills.
It was like watching England on a slightly
different tangential axis as Redknapp's
bottlers bombed three of their four
kicks to gift Manchester United the
Community Shield at Wembley yesterday.
Some recent research conducted by the
University of Wisconsin (though don't
let that put you off) suggests that,
based upon European club football statistics
over a period of three years, the chances
of converting a penalty are 63.2%, or
almost two in three.
So how does it go so badly wrong, and
in Portsmouth's case, three out of four
times?
Naturally, if we knew the answer to
that, we'd be rich, England will have
possibly lifted another bit of silverware,
and Ronaldo wouldn't perhaps be as disliked
as he is (although his own despatching
ratio from twelve yards isn't all that
handy).
At least his non-attendance
yesterday ensured that Pompey fans were
spared a victory wink.
