Hey all,

I received a bunch of emails today regarding my column in Monday's Toronto Sun. For it's entirety, you can read it here.

click here

As many of you know, when you write something for the paper, certain things get cut down because of space. Well, if you know me, I talk too much and write too much. So some of my argument about Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty taking ability was rightfully cut down. So here's the section below. Thoughts and comments are always appreciated. Start blogging - it's fun!

gw

gareth.wheeler@suntv.canoe.ca



Forget about the Real Madrid transfer rumours swirling around Cristinao Ronaldo because he ain't going anywhere.

Why? Cristiano (I refuse to call him Ronaldo) is too good for Manchester United to let go. Sir Alex Ferguson didn't let him leave after the highly publicized bust up with Wayne Rooney in World Cup 2006 and he will not let him go now. But let's not focus on the rumour - it's already been talked about too much.

Let's talk about how Cristiano almost cost United the Champions League because of a flaw in his game. Cristiano's approach to taking penalties is all wrong.

Unstoppable from the spot early in the season, Cristiano has been solved. It's all become too easy for the keeper, not because they know where he's going, it's because of his stutter-step.

I'm not sure when it became acceptable in football to take a penalty this way. The method of taking a stutter-step, completely stop, then finish your kick is an unnatural motion, leading to an impure strike of the ball. And many circles believe the move to be an infringement anyway.

Regardless, my managers have always told me; make up your mind where you're going to put it before you even step up to the ball, pick a corner and in one fluid motion, bury it. If the goalkeeper saves it - so be it. He won the battle. But chances are, if taken properly, you're going to score.

Now in saying this, I'm very well aware that Cristiano has always taken this approach, and has had a great deal of success. But now, he's missed three penalties in a row and the true flaw in his approach is coming to show.

Luckily for Cristiano, this mistake didn't cost his side a trophy and therefore removed him from widespread criticism.

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