Our 5 Best Penalty-Kick Takers

[keller4president]

Here's the scenario: tie-game in the round of 16 against Brazil, and it goes to Penalty Kicks. Which 5 American players do you send out to take them?

This is the lineup I would go with, in order:
Landon Donovan
DaMarcus Beasley
Brian McBride
Eddie Johnson
Claudio Reyna

What's everybody else's take? Do we have any other solid penalty-kickers? The only other name I would consider at this point would be Keller, which would be somewhat of an unorthodox choice given his position.

[suppitty]

Josh Wolff put one away against the mighty Scots.

[dfb547490]

If he makes the team, don't forget about Quaranta, who volunteered to take the first one in the Gold Cup final and coolly put it away.

Not so sure about Beasley, though. Albright also strikes me as the kind of guy who would be a good PK taker (especially being a former striker), although I've never seen him take one. Same with Cherundolo for that matter. At the end of the day it's 90% mental for the shooter, if you overcome nerves and hit a hard shot into one of the top corners the keeper has no chance.

[Through-Ball]

Here's the scenario: tie-game in the round of 16 against Brazil, and it goes to Penalty Kicks. Which 5 American players do you send out to take them?

This is the lineup I would go with, in order:
Landon Donovan
DaMarcus Beasley
Brian McBride
Eddie Johnson
Claudio Reyna

What's everybody else's take? Do we have any other solid penalty-kickers? The only other name I would consider at this point would be Keller, which would be somewhat of an unorthodox choice given his position.

Substitute Eddie Lewis for Claudio and I would agree with that list. Although, I am not sure if Wolff or Johnson is the better PK taker between them.

[LittleMaradona]

Chrissy Armas

[voyager]

Agree on Quaranta. Of course, he has to make the team first. Josh Wolff would also be on my list. Remove Beasely and Reyna for the original poster's list then add Wolff and Quaranta and that would be my list.

Well, maybe remove McBride and add Lewis.

So....

Quaranta
EJ
Lewis
Wolff
Donovan

in that order

[dfb547490]

Substitute Eddie Lewis for Claudio and I would agree with that list. Although, I am not sure if Wolff or Johnson is the better PK taker between them.

Johnson hit 2 or 3 when he was in the U-20 WC. I'd say:

Donovan
Quaranta/Lewis
Johnson*
McBride*
Wolff*

* - Doubtful that all 3 guys would be on the field at the same time unless we either throw them on to grab a late equalizer or make a last-minute sub to prepare for PKs, so if one of them isn't on replace with Lewis or Reyna.

[Bora Fan]

With one minute to go and a Pete Vagenas on the bench I would sub in the ice man to get the job done.

He loves PKS converts PKS and has done it in big games 2000 Olympics.

Ok but as far as a realistic 2006 line-up:

1. McBride (lead with experience)
2. Donovan (follow with youth)
3. Reyna (build with reliability)
4. O'Brien (push with precision)
5. Johnson (finish with style)

[reddog694]

Not like he'll make the team, but Vanney is pretty sick with spot kicks.

Don't just think about goal scorers...think people cool under the pressure with a good peg.

[NBlue]

Taking pks is a specialty. I don't think old or young matters and neither does style -- all that matters is that you hit the back of the net.

Its difficult to determine the entire group but I would think Lewis and Donovan would certainly be in there with Quaranta, O'Brien and Wolff likely to give it a go if they were in the match at the time as well. Further as EJ has taken pks at both the U-20 and U-23 levels I would assume he would be a candidate as well assuming he were to recover enough to practice pks over the next several months. As, I believe, sfs posted on another thread, the players from our squad to take the pk should be the ones who are practicing them every day for the next six months, just like the Germans. It is notable that neither of our likely starting forwards --McBride & EJ -- typically take pks for their club team.

Moreover, since the only match for the US that has gone to pks in recent memory was the gold cup of last year -- it is difficult to gain any insight to the likely pk takers (aside from Wolff & Donovan). It is, however, notable, that the Beaser subbed out of that game right b4 pks (though he did suffer a knock) so there may be reasonable speculation that he would not be a first choice. O'Brien also begged off of taking a pk in that match so its really difficult to tell.

All things considered, I think Lewis and Donovan are really the only two surefire players that would take a pk in such a situation but, for some reason, I think that Reyna and McBride would be there as well.

[Bajoro]

It's not totally about who strikes the ball the best. It's partly about who can fool the keeper the best. That said, I have no idea who does this well on our side. Which ones are chosen by their club team to take the kick?

dfb547490, nice comment re: Quarranta.

[elbita]

i've never seen reyna take a pk, but i don't find him to be a particularly good shooter. a pk can be just a hard pass to the corner, though. anyway, i wouldn't have reyna take it. he might not be walking at the end of 120 minutes. beasley hit a terrible one for psv last year in a shootout they later won- did he take any others?

five out of donovan, lewis, johnson, o'brien, wolff, mcbride (who i doubt would last 120 minutes either), quaranta, casey, adu, me

[Shackleton]

Last two USMNT matches to go to PKs were (1) 1/30/02 v. Canada and (2) 7/24/05 v. Panama.

Against Canada, lineup at the end of the game was Keller, Hejduk, Beasley, Agoos, West, Armas, Mathis, Bocanegra, McBride, Donovan, and Mathis. PKs were taken, in order, by Donovan, McBride, Agoos, Mathis, all made. USA won 4-2.

Against Panama, lineup at end of the game was Keller, Hejduk, Conrad, Onyewu, Vanney, Armas, O'Brien, Donovan, Davis, Quaranta, and Olsen. PKs were taken, in order, by Quaranta, Armas, Donovan, and Davis, with only Armas missing. USA won 3-1. It would be interesting to know who was set to kick 5th.

Against Scotland on 11/12/05, Wolff took and made a penalty, when the other players on the field included Keller, Dolo, Boca, Berhalter, Spector, Carroll, Zavagnin, Gaven, Beasley, and Ching. I can't remember the game before that in which the USA received a penalty.

So, if history is any guide, I'd say Wolff, Donovan, McBride, and Quaranta are likely among our top choices.

Of course, lots of our likely players in Germany were not even on the field in any of these games, so they're not a guide as to where those players would fit in.

[macheath]

Not to stir up trouble, but Freddy Adu can nail PKs...

[dfb547490]

It is notable that neither of our likely starting forwards --McBride & EJ -- typically take pks for their club team.

Johnson could take them for FCD this year with Ruiz gone, although they still have Vanney as well.

[ghazi]

Agoos - turn his back to the goalie and he can score at will.

[scsurge22]

Not to stir up trouble, but Freddy Adu can nail PKs...

U20 WYC vs. Italy anyone?? Luckily we got that one back.

[pokemoncards]

I think macheath was maybe joking, but Freddy said those were the only PKS he'd ever missed.

[Elninho]

IIRC, McBride has scored a few PKs for the national team, and hasn't missed one. I'm pretty sure he also used to take PKs for the Crew.

[afgrijselijkheid]

counting everyone still in with a shot at going to germany:

donovan
wolff
lewis
mcbride
johnson
berhalter
o'brien