Footballers take all sorts of weird and wonderful penalties these days.The standard of goalkeeping has improved exponentially in recent decades and outfield players are continuously looking for new and innovative ways to gain an advantage when it comes to spot-kicks.Panenkas and stuttered run-ups are now the norm. It’s not even that surprising to see the odd pass-penalty - made famous by Ajax duo Johan Cruyff and Jesper Olsen in the 1980s - these days.But which current player has the most ‘disrespectful’ penalty technique in football?Well, Nottingham Forest striker Lyle Taylor is certainly right up there.Much is often said about Paul Pogba’s approach to penalties, but the Manchester United midfielder has nothing on the Montserrat international.Taylor, who joined Forest from Charlton in August, begins his ‘walk-up’ outside the penalty area and locks focus on the goalkeeper’s eyes as he approaches the ball.
Then, at the final second, he picks his spot and shoots.On Wednesday night, Forest were awarded a dramatic penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage-time against Coventry City.Drawing 1-1 at the time, all of the pressure was on Taylor’s shoulders to score the spot-kick and seal all three points for his team in the process.The striker converted past Marko Maroi and, just to further rub salt into the goalkeeper’s wounds, celebrated by giving the Coventry shot-stopper some stick.Watch the video here…
Cool as you like.
Taylor showed off the same penalty technique while plying for Charlton last season…
"To be fair, I didn't fancy Lyle to score! When he's walking up to take the penalty I didn't fancy him to score, but obviously he does,” Charlton boss Lee Bowyer said after a late Taylor penalty snatched point for the Addicks against Barnsley.
"He's so calm in that situation and he's the person you'd want to be taking the penalty so, thankfully, it went in."
Here are some other examples of Taylor proving he has ice in his veins….
You have to admire the confidence.