Stutter penalties under scrutiny after Barco and Guimaraes misses
Valentin Barco and Bruno Guimaraes missed spot-kicks with stop-start run-ups in the Carabao Cup last 16, reviving debate over the technique as pundits split on whether it helps or harms takers.
The stuttering penalty run-up is back in the spotlight after two costly misses in the Carabao Cup last 16. Chelsea's Valentin Barco hit the post with his stuttered effort in the shootout defeat by Liverpool, while Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes had his spot-kick saved after a similar approach as the Gunners crashed out against League Two Fleetwood Town.
Players use the stutter to try to trick the goalkeeper into revealing which way they will dive. Under Fifa rules, a taker may stop or feint during the run-up as long as it is not done directly before kicking the ball. The risk is that it backfires if the goalkeeper holds their nerve or, as with Barco, the taker fails to hit the target.
The technique was a theme of this year's World Cup, where there were 26 stutter penalties and 11 were missed. Harry Kane tried it and was saved by Croatia's Dominik Livakovic, though he converted the retake after the goalkeeper was ruled to have come off his line early. Guimaraes was among those who missed at the tournament and did not change his approach at Fleetwood.
Reaction has been divided. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told TalkSport he would not allow it as a manager, calling it self-indulgent and naive because goalkeepers are no longer tricked. Former Liverpool and Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson took the opposite view, saying he likes the technique because it gives players time. He argued Barco had already beaten the goalkeeper and only needed to place the ball rather than lift it.
Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta told ITV that every player picks the style where he feels confident. Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, who has never scored a senior goal in 319 professional appearances, converted the winning penalty with a simple run-up, while Wesley Fofana sent one high into the Kop in sudden death as Chelsea exited.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
