All this talk about 'designated penalty takers' and 'why didn't Luka just grab it off him' and 'why didn't the captain/ the bench tell Benteke to walk away' is (almost) annoying me as much as what actually happened.

Firstly, we clearly do have a designated taker. It is Luka. How can anyone think different. It is the reason why he bloody took the first one despite Benteke being on the pitch.

Secondly, as Roy said in one post match interview I have seen, the bench cannot walk onto the pitch and tell the players what to do ... they have already done that in training before the match where they have already designated Luka as our penalty taker.

So that leaves the players on the pitch. I was at the game. Luka looked almost inconsolable about what was happening. He stood in the box for ages, pleading with Benteke. He was pulling his shirt up almost over his head in panicked frustration. But Benteke simply stood there, not looking at Luka, blinkers on, refusing to move.

So think about what you are saying by stating that Luka/ Dann/ whoever else simply shouldn't have let Benteke take it. Given how it played out, they would have had no option but to PHYSICALLY drag Benteke out of the box.

Think about what that would have looked like. A penalty in the last minute, prefaced by a physical altercation involving our players. It would have had to have been that, Benteke was going nowehere. Think about what effect on morale that would have had, how it would have looked in the press. It is simply inconceivable that one professional would wrestle another one out of the box over a penalty.

Further, think about the effect it would have had on Luka! The pressure that would have been on him having just physically dragged a team mate out of the box (or alternatively watched someone else do it to Benteke).

Even if Benteke had relented to Luka's constant pressure without a physical confrontation (and it was constant pressure -- he demonstratively did not simply acquiesce to Benteke), think about the pressure that would have left on his shoulders. Pressure that would already have been extraordinary given the match situation.

Therefore, it is ENTIRELY Benteke's fault as to what happened. Not anyone else's. As I mentioned, even if he had relented, the damage would have been done (in terms of added pressure to Luka).

It is the most selfish act I have ever witnessed at Selhurst.

I only hope that the journalists and pundits who discuss the incident think about ( a ) the fact that we DO have a penalty taker and not blame it on a false 'confusion'. And ( b ) what they actually mean by saying 'someone should have told Benteke to back off'.

They did. He refused. Would they advocate a wrestling match? surely not, the ramifications are so awful.

One might think, well, the ramifications would be worth it for Luka to score the penalty for the three points. But, of course, he was not guaranteed to score, and especially not if he was taken it after such a furore. So by the time Benteke took it, I can understand the players thinking 'right ... he's got it now ... so let's back him. It's a penalty so he should score.'

I make clear that none of this changes my ultimate view, that how dare Benteke put his own selfish desire to end his drought before his teammates, the club, and the fans. Particularly when he is famously awful at taking bloody penalties in any event.

I am beyond angry. But let's direct it in the right, informed, logical place.

Edited by LegalEagle2010 (09 Dec 2017 8.13pm)

Who was captain after Sakai went off if it wasn’t Dann?

Also, why didn’t Roy or one of his lieutenants (or one of our subs) run on to the pitch to instruct who was to take the penalty? Why did they just dither on the sidelines?

Maybe there would have been sanctions from the FA, but probably trivial.

There might yet be a silver lining if Benteke learns a bit of humility and if the rest of the team are more fired up than ever for Tuesday’s match.

I hope Benteke plays and scores a hat trick in the most convincing win since Hull last season.

COYP.