Credit to Sluga. The initial penalty was definitely not the worst hit I've ever seen, and having seen the angle on the Matchday Recap, the save from the rebound was absolutely exceptional. Point blank range, he had to readjust and get his hands up to what was a very solid hit from Helik.
After a poor bit of goalkeeping for our second goal, he suddenly turned into Gordon Banks. Good save from Styles, then the penalty and follow up. Still don't think he should've had a chance on the rebound though, Helik tried to sidefoot it over the keeper. Should've just put his laces through it.
The rebound was a very good save. But I thought he could have maybe done better on Dike's first and should definitely have done better for the second. I've seen worse penalties (the previous one by Mowatt a prime example), but it was always going to be saved if the keeper guessed right.
It's great point in many ways Mowatts was a poorer pen but it went in. Wouldn't be to critical of him for our first goal Dike he it very well and fairly early, you're right he's had a nightmare for 2nd goal.
The second goal was pretty awful football all round. Woodrow picked the ball up, with three players with him, but the movement from them was pretty minimal. He then carries the ball forward without a soul in Luton colours closing him down, then the shot was pretty poor and the save was terrible. Luckily Dike was first to react.
When i saw the first goal live i thought it was a quality goal after a sublime through ball from Woodrow. When i saw the replay, I was surprised the ball wasn't that near the corner to have beaten the keeper. It was still a good goal, but I reckon 20% of the time, a keeper saves that.
I think the power helped it past the keeper. Whilst it wasn't a rocket, it must be tricky to keep it hard, low and on target going back across goal when you're partially off balance.
It was a good finish. But if he's being talked about as a future Premier League player, that shot won't beat as many keepers up there as it does in the championship.
Well obviously the quality of all players in the Premier League is generally if not massively better than the Championship, but Sluga is an experienced goalkeeper who's played at every age level up to and including full international. I think the difference in the Premier League will be that we get into those positions far less to have the shot rather than the goalkeepers being so much better that they save that 4 times out of 5. I still think Dike is better running on to the ball and using his power and pace than playing with his back to goal and if, in a year or two, you replaced Jamie Vardy with him in the Leicester team, I think he'd score plenty in the Premier League.
I thought it was a poor penalty from Dike. Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing but why wouldn’t he just hit it as hard as he can down the middle? Even if the keeper stands his ground, he might end up in the back of the net with how much power Dike has!
Sluga may be experienced, but I still think he was at degrees of fault, the second especially was an absolute shocker. There are many ifs and buts for Dike. His technique and touch has to improve dramatically to be considered as anything like Vardy (who I can't stand). But pace and strength can mitigate those flaws and buy more time. He's only 20 and beyond raw. If he can hone technique, touch and ability with his obvious attributes, he can forge a good career. And i agree and said as much the other day. In fact all our forwards prefer the ball to feet or to run onto rather than dealing with 80 yard neck high punts with a defender in their back.
With the possible exception of Adeboyejo, who at the moment looks more likely to control a ball that comes to him high, than a ball to feet. Chested the ball down to control it and played it to Woodrow in the lead up to the first goal, but before that a Luton defender rolled the ball straight to him, 20 yards out with nobody near him and his touch let him down.
I’ve never liked penalty takers taking only a couple of strides, even regular pen takers.I think more steps puts the keeper a bit more on edge and likely to commit himself. Also feel anybody not a regular taker has way more chance of converting if they blast it, sheer power counts for a lot.
