Luis Sinisterra makes me feel safe - The Square Ball 26/9/22

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WATCH MY PINT

Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman

The best thing that happened at Brentford was Luis Sinisterra setting himself up for an all-time thunderbolt volley that could be replayed like Yeboah from now until eternity, or the crossbar was repaired, whichever took longer — then not doing it. Leeds United needed a goal, so Luis made sure, striking hard and safe into the bottom corner. He sacrificed spectacular for security. Is that fun? Kind of!

I’d already felt the firmness of his goals against Barnsley and Everton, and now he’s continued this post-transfer hot streak by getting his first goal for Colombia, I feel safe saying Sinisterra is safe at scoring. His goal against Guatemala is another that won’t get many replays outside the Sinisterra family home, but no matter. The ball went in the net, and the way it went in makes me feel like the ball will always go in when it drops to our Luis.

It comes from a low cross by Johan Mojica, a left-back who Leeds should probably sign if only because he keeps hanging around our good players. He used to play with Samu Saiz at Girona, last season he got skinned left and right by Raphinha, and now here he is again, setting up Sinisterra. Sort of — his pull back went first to Mateus Uribe, well placed by the penalty spot, but he swinged and shinned and sent the ball bobbling to the back post and our guy.

Some players would lash this in off their laces, trash the net, crack the crossbar, spin the goalie’s nose around. Not Sinisterra. Stealthily approaching the bouncing ball, giving himself time to judge the ‘keeper’s moves, he pointed his right toes right, and side-footed it fair and square into the back of the net. There you go, a goal. That made it 2-0, so Colombia needed it for some breathing room on the scoreboard, and Sinisterra made sure he delivered. Uribe, after fluffing his attempt at a big hit, just put his hands on his knees to watch Sinisterra turning his air kick into an assist. He didn’t seem to doubt Luis had this.

That’s a great reputation for a forward player to have. It’s nice to have someone around for the goal of the month dazzlers, scoring belters that keep you talking after the game and after the weekend and for months and years that follow. Don’t ask why, but I was just thinking about Bradley Johnson’s screamer in the 2011 cup replay against Arsenal — what a goal! But I can’t think about it without remembering what we were all thinking as he ran up to hit that one towards the South Stand — another ball in the beer garden for the Peacock staff to collect. That it went in the top corner was a shock. Luis Sinisterra is doing it differently. His shots so far have not been humdingers, although the way he made the one happen at Brentford was tugging on the hem of Cantona versus Chelsea, 1992. But they’ve gone in. That helps. And it helps explain how his stats for Feyenoord are 35 goals and 29 assists in 113 games. That’s one of your very fashionable goal involvements every 160 minutes.

Would it be mean of me to point out that, over this same weekend, Vinicius Junior pulled off this outrageous cross to put a chance in front of Raphinha at the back post, and Rapha went full Luke Varney by skying the ball over the crossbar when it should simply have been knocked into the net?

It might be. I have no ill will to Raphinha. And comparing one chance against another is cherry picking. But still, Sinisterra buries that, doesn’t he? I already trust Sinisterra to finish everything in a way I’ve not trusted anyone for a long time. Would I send him to a cashpoint with my card and pin? I would. I would ask him to watch my pint in a pub, I would let him look after my pet dog if I had one. He’s the neighbour I want my parcels delivered to, the person I want to ask for directions in a strange town. I would be reassured on a night out if Luis was designated driver. He might not be glitzy, or we just haven’t seen that side yet. But if he stays safe Sinisterra will be popular.

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