Jeff Bradley on pk goals

[mpruitt]

His latest column
http://www.mlsnet.com/content/04/firstXI0406.html
10. A brief statistical interlude. Ruiz scored the Galaxy’s first goal of the season, which is not a surprise. But did you know that, last season, of Ruiz’s 15 goals, seven were penalties? I know, I know, a goal’s, a goal’s, a goal, but here’s a list of last season’s leading MLS scorers, minus PKs: Taylor Twellman 15; Landon Donovan 11; Mark Chung 11; Damani Ralph 10; Brian McBride 10; Edson Buddle 10; Pat Noonan 10; John Spencer 10; Ante Razov 9; Clint Mathis 8; Ruiz 8; DaMarcus Beasley 7, Mike Magee 7; Preki 7; Igor Simutenkov 7.

[profiled]

His latest column
http://www.mlsnet.com/content/04/firstXI0406.html

One of the things I think that needs to be taken into account when looking at this situation is, how many of the PK's did the player who scored them, "earn" (i say that lightly, as I don't believe a dive in the box is a god thing).

For example, if a player is clean through on goal, is taken down in the box, in a situation he would most likely score, then steps up and knocks home the penalty, to some how take away that goal as less deserving is pretty harsh in my opinion.

[ChrisE]

One of the things I think that needs to be taken into account when looking at this situation is, how many of the PK's did the player who scored them, "earn" (i say that lightly, as I don't believe a dive in the box is a god thing).

For example, if a player is clean through on goal, is taken down in the box, in a situation he would most likely score, then steps up and knocks home the penalty, to some how take away that goal as less deserving is pretty harsh in my opinion.

I wrote Jeff Bradley and said pretty much exactly that. If you flip to the third page of the forum, there's a thread that details pk's drawn by players last year. I've been meaning to add previous years.