Who's takin' the PK's?

[mellon002]

Last year we were golden with Hristo and Etch to take penalty kicks. Who's it going to be this year? Freddy didn't even take PK's when he was with the U-17's, it was Memo Gonzalez. Does Earnie have experience? Bobby?

[Cweedchop]

I was actually pondering this question just the other day and thought of posting this question myself..

My guess right now would be Earnie Stewart probably followed by Bobby Convey.. Of course, the last PK Stewart took at RFK didn't exactly endear himself to USA fans..

My preferred order of takers:

1. Stewart
2. Convey
3. Quintanilla
4. Olsen
5. Cerritos

[mellon002]

Now that you mention Q2 I remember that he knocked one home last year against the Revs.

[Knave]

Ever since Stewart missed that PK against Honduras at RFK ... I like Earnie. I really do. I don't want him taking penalty kicks. It's irrational, I know, but I just don't want him taking penalty kicks.

When in doubt give the PK to the captain.

[sch2383]

Originally posted by mellon002
Last year we were golden with Hristo and Etch to take penalty kicks. Who's it going to be this year? Freddy didn't even take PK's when he was with the U-17's, it was Memo Gonzalez. Does Earnie have experience? Bobby?

Freddy took them when Memo wasn't on the field. I would expect it to be Stewart, followed by Convey.

[mellon002]

Originally posted by Knave
When in doubt give the PK to the captain.

Nellie taking PK's?

[entropy]

Umm, guys, what about Dema?

[revelation]

Originally posted by entropy
Umm, guys, what about Dema?

Not a good fit.

If anything, I would suggest an "unflappable" player such as Q2, Prideaux or Stewart.

Stewart scored two in that fateful game vs. Honduras, including one from the penalty spot before the miss IIRC. I'm not going to condemn him forever for that.

[entropy]

Originally posted by revelation
Not a good fit.

If anything, I would suggest an "unflappable" player such as Q2, Prideaux or Stewart.

Stewart scored two in that fateful game vs. Honduras, including one from the penalty spot before the miss IIRC. I'm not going to condemn him forever for that.

Uhh, Dema's got the best shooting % on the team, IIRC. Seems like a good fit to me.

Prideaux? Has that guy ever taken a shot on goal?

[revelation]

While Dema is a great shooter from the field during play, I've never seen him take a penalty and am not sure he's got the mentality for it.

Often the best penatly takers are defenders because they are used to remaining calm under high pressure situations - their job in defending "wily" forwards demands that calm when a misstep means a penalty against. Often forward players don't have to develop that type of "coolness". Some are able to do it but others never (see list in another thread about Moreno, Bergkamp, Seedorf, van Basten, etc...). That is why I suggested Prideaux because he has always struck me as someone very collected on the pitch.

As for Q2 or Stewart, those are based on what I've seen of them.

I'd say line everyone on the team up and have them take about 20 penalties at the end of each and every practice. Best percentage shooter gets the job.

[Mountainia]

Moreno.

[MikeLastort2]

Freddy Adu takes all PKs and takes all shots at goal. Where the hell have you people been?

;)

:D

[hemariva]

Freddy should be in goal against PK's too.

entropy - The only reason I posted was to know who that girl in your avatar is and where I can find more of her.

[entropy]

Originally posted by revelation
While Dema is a great shooter from the field during play, I've never seen him take a penalty and am not sure he's got the mentality for it.

Often the best penatly takers are defenders because they are used to remaining calm under high pressure situations - their job in defending "wily" forwards demands that calm when a misstep means a penalty against. Often forward players don't have to develop that type of "coolness". Some are able to do it but others never (see list in another thread about Moreno, Bergkamp, Seedorf, van Basten, etc...). That is why I suggested Prideaux because he has always struck me as someone very collected on the pitch.


I just don't buy into this. Etcheverry was a volatile player who nailed all of his PKs last year. As did Stoichkov (though I don't think he took too many). Look, if you can shoot, you can shoot. Why trust PKs to players who rarely practice shooting b/c of their position? Nelsen is one exception I would make as he seems to have a decent shot.

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by revelation
Not a good fit.

If anything, I would suggest an "unflappable" player such as Q2, Prideaux or Stewart.

Stewart scored two in that fateful game vs. Honduras, including one from the penalty spot before the miss IIRC. I'm not going to condemn him forever for that.
Dema showed plenty of calm the two times I've seen him take a penalty for us (one at the end of that Blackburn game...don't remember the other). Granted, they weren't in important games, but he's also our best finisher. That shows confidence and that he won't choke when the pressure is on.

Prideaux is a fine defender, but he should never touch the ball in an attacking scenario.

Penalties are about confidence in front of goal. We've got a few guys who have shown that for us: Kovalenko, Quintanilla, Olsen, Stewart. I'd be shocked if it was anyone outside that group of four. In Stewart's case, many good penalty takers have missed. It happens. If there's anyone on the team with the mentality to get over a missed penalty (much less one that happened 2 1/2 years ago), it's Stewart.

Convey, even with his recent run of goals, hasn't exactly showed us that ice runs through his veins in front of goal. If he (or anyone else) proves that in practice, then so be it. That's where you determine your penalty taker. I'd put my money on the 4 guys I mentioned above, though.

[Sachin]

A better question would be "Who's going to earn PKs"?

Sachin

[Grasscutter]

Originally posted by mellon002
Last year we were golden with Hristo and Etch to take penalty kicks. Who's it going to be this year?

Jaime.