I wish I could add Red Cards, and Own Goals to the title. Make this thread a little more well rounded. Like the Crew, they are the essence of being well rounded.
If I'm not mistaken, we've now missed five out of the last six, going back to last year's playoffs. I'm not a professional player. I'm never going to be a professional player. I'm not the picture of fitness. I broke my ankle ten months ago, and I'm just now starting to play again. And if I missed five out of my next six PK attempts... I'D STOP PLAYING!!!!!!! Friggin' unbelievable.
2 things. 1. No, a PK should be a 96% shot. Meaning you should make 24 of 25 attempts. If you practice PKs and you are a professional player, you should be able to walk up, stroke it, and have it hit one of the 4 corners with virtually no chance for the keeper. 2. I see you live in Ellicott City, MD. Along the main drag, right off of I-70, a bit past the Stone Crab place, do they still have that sub/pizza shop? I think it was called "Freebies"? Spent a couple years in the area a while ago, just wondering if that place was still around.
How hard is it to put the ball upper 90? I mean, I used to practice PKs all the time when I was about 19, and probably 85% of the time I'd drive it (with power) upper 90 (pick your side), and the other 15% I'd ping it off the woodwork. Why can't these pros do that? Seriously. Why? They can't possibly not have the time to take 100 penalties a day. All it takes is one or two players willing to work on this every day after practice. 20 in a row is impressive, but missing 5 of 6 is pathetic.
Well, looking at the scores, and assuming nothing else about the matches would have changed, they've cost us only two points. But you can't remove the psychological effect of letting these chances go by the boards. A play like a missed PK changes the attitude of every player on the field.
It's not just a first-team thing, in the reserve game today Steven Armstrong was denied on a PK by Troy Perkins.
If you're English you get used to your team missing penalties. Especially in shoot outs. Against the Germans and Portuguese and the Argies and you get the idea.
and i 'spose you could ask dutch fans whether they feel its better to have a PK taken, be on target and saved, or to have it not be on goal at all...
If you are Dutch, It does not matter if you score or not, it is whether the kick was attractive and pleasant to watch.