Gary Rowell: 'Chopra blew it against Newcastle'
There were so many talking points from Sunday's derby at Newcastle.
The main one had to be the penalty which was wrongly awarded in Newcastle's favour.
But that has been thoroughly dissected and it has been clearly shown it should never have been given in the first place.
So I'll highlight a couple of others.
Firstly I thought it was unfortunate that Djibril Cisse felt unable to carry on after picking up a knock just before the hour.
I felt it affected the whole flow of the game simply because his pace had kept the United defence on the back foot and when he went off, that gave them the confidence to come at Sunderland more.
The other talking point, possibly even the main talking point of the game was Cisse's replacement Michael Chopra and the opportunity to win the game that was fluffed in the final minutes.
Let's call it The Chopra Incident.
I've got to say that just when you think you've seen it all in the derby game, up comes a moment like that.
Chops was bearing down on goal with just the keeper to beat – the sort of position every striker dreams of being in – but just as you thought he might look to slot it around Steve Harper, he refused the shot altogether, chose the harder option of trying to find Kenwyne Jones and overhit his pass completely.
It was hard to take in, when it happened.
It seemed inexplicable that he'd passed up the opportunity.
Now let me say that I don't subscribe to the viewpoint that he didn't take the shot because he was a Tynesider and didn't want to score against Newcastle.
I just don't.
I don't know what went through Michael's head at that moment. Maybe even he doesn't.
But I would bet that not five minutes has gone by since that moment that he hasn't thought about it.
What I would say on the subject, is that there are certain moments that come along in a footballer's career, certain opportunities, that he has to take.
They don't come along very often and when they do, they are invariably career-defining.
Five minutes to go in a passionately-fought derby, the chance to be a hero, the chance to be celebrated and talked about for years to come and Chopra froze.
He blew it.
No matter how you dress it up, there's no getting away from the fact that opportunity knocked for him big style and he blew it.
Once those moments are gone, they're gone.
And it wouldn't surprise me if it was to haunt him for years to come.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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