Mark Noble has revealed his penalty taking strategy which has seen him convert from the spot 36 from 40 attempts.
As a result he has become one of the most feared opponents that goalkeepers will have to face.
The captain’s latest penalty at Watford was his first touch of the game which led an eventual 3-1 victory at the weekend.
He was briefly replaced as the man on the spot last season when Marko Arnautovic took over briefly, but most fans were delighted when he resumed the duty knowing his phenomenal record from the spot.
The 31 year old midfielder looks certain to be involved against Norwich City tomorrow, again partnering Declan Rice in the defensive midfield role in which he shone last week.
But obviously should we again be awarded a penalty it will be the skipper who steps up with it being an almost odds on certainty that he will send it to the back of the net.
We hope we haven’t jinxed him.
In his London Evening Standard column at https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/westham/west-ham-captain-mark-noble-reveals-unusual-secret-to-his-penalty-success-a4225206.html he said: “(I’m asked)Exactly when do you make up your mind, which side you’re going with the spot-kick? My answer is always, “I’m not going to tell you, I don’t want to give goalkeepers any clues”
“What I will say is that I never practise penalties — never, ever. If my team get a penalty in training I won’t take it. I can remember Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan being surprised when I told them, but it works for me.”
“I wouldn’t even take a penalty in a pre-season friendly because I quite enjoy the bigger stage and the thought of it meaning a lot more.”
“My success record is 36 from 40, which isn’t bad. On the law of averages, one day the opposition keeper will go the right way and save it, but I’ll be up for taking the next penalty, don’t worry about that.”
What did he reveal, Hugh?
That he never practices them..never heard that before