3rd Goal

Giles wasn't even shooting.

Agreed - he was playing a low cross to Akpom running in at the near post and it deflected in. We'll take it though.
EDIT Just seen the highlights and it could have been for Akpom, McGree or Muniz.
 
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At the time I thought he was shooting, but watching the highlights I think he's definitely kicking it back across goal and he's just got lucky.

So it's an own goal.
 
All that matters in terms of the laws of the game is that the goal is scored. Who scored it is immaterial.

But crediting goals is often a nonsense. That a goal is given to the striker if the shot is on target and then takes a big deflection makes no sense at all. The first goal at Millwall was a case in point.
 
Is that the ruling? Seems odd, I would have thought it would be the other way round.

There no official rules on what is considered an own goal when in comes to deflections, that's why the dubious goal panel exists to ultimately determine who is credited with a goal if it's disputed.

What I stated is the general reasons own goals are awarded, in Giles case there's no way to accurately determine if his attempt was a goal bound shot or pass. What is accurate is that the touch of the defender put the ball on target so on balance, an OG is determined.
 
All that matters in terms of the laws of the game is that the goal is scored. Who scored it is immaterial.

But crediting goals is often a nonsense. That a goal is given to the striker if the shot is on target and then takes a big deflection makes no sense at all. The first goal at Millwall was a case in point.

There has to be a nominated goal scorer, the issue that is unclear is deflections.

This is the Opta definition "Regarding deflections, normally a goal is awarded if the original attempt is on target. An own goal is usually awarded if the attempt is off target and deflected into the goal by an opponent."

This definition is generally accepted with in the game and is crucial for such things as betting markets and player statistics with also lead to bonuses etc.
 
I really don't care what Opta says (although I do have a fantasy team). And I care even less for betting.

Anyway my first point stands.

But, if you take what Opta says then, for example, the Millwall goal is awarded to the player because the shot was, supposedly, on target even though it took a huge deflection and it was that deflection that caused the goal to be scored. Conversely, if a player finds themselves on the goal line in such a position where they can't actually kick the ball directly into the goal, but using their own skill kicks it against a defender in such a way that it goes into the net, then it goes down as an own goal. In the first instance the striker gets a goal through luck, whereas in the second their skill goes unrewarded.
 
I really don't care what Opta says (although I do have a fantasy team). And I care even less for betting.

Anyway my first point stands.

But, if you take what Opta says then, for example, the Millwall goal is awarded to the player because the shot was, supposedly, on target even though it took a huge deflection and it was that deflection that caused the goal to be scored. Conversely, if a player finds themselves on the goal line in such a position where they can't actually kick the ball directly into the goal, but using their own skill kicks it against a defender in such a way that it goes into the net, then it goes down as an own goal. In the first instance the striker gets a goal through luck, whereas in the second their skill goes unrewarded.

Whilst we're talking about this, I have an issue with "on target".

Soft shot from your own half which the keeper throws his cap on and picks up even though he's not even stood in front of the goal = shot on target

Rasping shot from the 6 year box which leaves the keeper no chance but hits the post and doesn't go in = shot not on target

Surely the second example should be "worth more" than the first in terms of match stats and the like, as it's closer to a goal being scored which is really what the GOT stat is meant to show, unless of course that's why this XG thing that's crept in recently and seems to be a new obsession of commentators has crept in from ?
 
I really don't care what Opta says (although I do have a fantasy team). And I care even less for betting.

Anyway my first point stands.

But, if you take what Opta says then, for example, the Millwall goal is awarded to the player because the shot was, supposedly, on target even though it took a huge deflection and it was that deflection that caused the goal to be scored. Conversely, if a player finds themselves on the goal line in such a position where they can't actually kick the ball directly into the goal, but using their own skill kicks it against a defender in such a way that it goes into the net, then it goes down as an own goal. In the first instance the striker gets a goal through luck, whereas in the second their skill goes unrewarded.

The are no rules for these scenarios and are all subjective, the general accepted guidance I mentioned is just that, general and won't cover everything and that is what the dubious goal committee is for.

It doesn't really matter how big or small a deflection is, as long it's on target then it has a chance to go in so should be awarded to the striker, if it's not on target then it has no chance of going in so it shouldn't go for the sticker.

Your scenario is similar to goals been awarded where a goal bound shot marginally touches a team mate on the way through and is awarded to them as they technically have the last touch, though knew nothing about it.

A similar argument can be made over goalkeeper howlers.
 
The sheriff John burnell way of deciding if it's an own goal or not is if the defender seeks to play the ball and gets it wrong it's an own goal. If it is merely a deflection then it's not an own goal. Therefore both Giles and Christie scored goals, whereas our second was indeed an own goal.

I don't care what the official rulings are as I'm not entirely convinced that anyone else other than me is real.
 
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