This was the moment.
The culmination of an incredible season of comebacks.
The instant that would launch Sunderland into Europe.
The triumphant end to the wildest six minutes of the year and recent club history.
But then Emiliano Martínez popped a hand up and stopped Habib Diarra’s cheeky chip, and Aston Villa stormed downfield to snatch away even the point Sunderland had earned with its unreal rally.
And then everyone lost their collective minds. Fans online called it “unforgivable” and suggested he should
never play for the club again. A Moroccan football account called him an “Egoist” for not passing to a trailing Chemsdine Talbi.
Régis Le Bris didn’t throw his midfielder under the bus in the same way, but did say, “I’m not sure it’s the best decision, but it is what it is.”
Tuesday night, there was a new moment, and this time it was Talbi at full clip, trying a cheeky chip to give the Black Cats a win.
And everyone lost their collective minds – “magnifique,” “golazooo,” and “UN SUPER LOB !” from the same Moroccan account – because this time, it went in.
This isn’t logical. This isn’t analysis.
This is outcome bias, where we evaluate a decision based on its outcome, not the decision-making itself.
Like basically everything every football player does, Diarra’s chip was a calculated risk. Enzo Le Fée’s failed Panenka at Brentford last year was a similar strategic gamble. As was Luke O’Nien’s intercepted pass against Ipswich in the season opener.
None of them worked out, but the chance of failure didn’t make them a bad idea.
If that were the case, every line-breaking pass from a defender must be castigated. Talbi’s sumptuous chip on Tuesday was also a bad idea – I’d argue it had less of a chance of success than Diarra’s – and he should be roasted for it.
Every failed Panenka is idiotic – except when they work. Then they’re celebrated – like the eponymous 1976 European Championship game winner.
Every great football moment risked failure for the sake of brilliance. Pelé said Antonín Panenka was “either a genius or a madman” for taking a penalty like that.
If we want to keep being wowed, we have to learn to live with both.
