Attempting A Rabona In A Relegation Battle Does Not Make You Ronaldo

When you’re in the relegation zone, things just don’t come off for you. For one, that’s the reason you’re lodged at the bottom of the table to begin with — your basic inability to to do anything right. For two, being lodged at the bottom takes a toll on your mental well-being, affecting your once professional ability. 

Your dog won’t even look you in the eyes anymore, trips to the neighborhood grocer become public persecutions and you can’t remember the last time your own supporters cheered rather than jeered your name on the public announcement system. 

With all this pressure bearing down on you, you’ve got to have some serious cajones to start digging into your bag of tricks while in the middle of a relegation battle. Showing off your own ability with a skillful trick has its place and time, this just wasn’t one of them.

Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri pulled off an ill-advised and ultimately horrendous rabona attempt during their recent match against West Ham. The ball ran to Khazri in one of the most dangerous attacking positions on the field. In the box and near the byline, Khazri had teammates to aim at with space and time to pick his pass.

Utterly neglecting the aforementioned space and time, Khazri immediately began focusing all of his mental and physical energies on not having to kick the ball with his left foot. A player so spectacularly one-footed fits the bill as to why Sunderland are currently in the relegation zone. Unable to do anything the right way, to pick a pass that could result in crucial points for the Black Cats, Sunderland appear to be attempthing to fail.

This just isn’t the time to ask yourself: “What would Ronaldo do?” Although effectively crossing their legs, much like a rabona, and whimpering through the rest of the season appears to be Sunderland’s game plan going forward.  

The good news for Sunderland is that they're buoyed by the similar failings of those around them. In fact, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Norwich are just as hapless, perhaps even more so. One thing's for certain, it promises to be a calamitous and agonizing fight for survival in the English Premier League.