Penalty practice

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd believes that when it comes to preparing for the play-offs, practice makes perfect - even if it means working out penalty shoot-outs in front of your own fans.

 

Boothroyd is renowned for his innovative ideas. In accordance to that, straight after two goals from Darius Henderson had sealed the win, he forced his players to take a series of penalties and encouraged the 16,721 crowd to put them off by booing.

 

Boothroyd told his team on Friday about the unique post-match experiment and thinks the experience will prove to be beneficial ahead of the play-offs.

 

Boothroyd said: "You can practice all you want but you can't recreate the situation, so we thought we'd try and recreate it."

 

Good idea, like his thinking. Perhaps the England squad could follow this example in the two friendlies before the World Cup. Also, with our history in shoot-outs maybe we should try it.

[Guest CrimsonFault]

He's also said he gets his players to watch Gladiator when theyre about to play big games - to spur them on.

 

Must get a bit boring and repetative after a while though.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

In things like world cups, taking pens is down to your mind, confidence and attitude on the night in that moment.

 

Any of the 5 players who step up can kick a ball on target from 12 yards with ease, but you can practice it all you like and you will never create the pressure they have to handle when a nations hopes come down to them and them alone.

 

If some of the possible later candidates after the top 5 (or any within the top 5) genuinely feel they need to practice kicking a ball from 12 yards and that it'll help by all means do it, but it won't matter for much when it comes to a semi final and you have to take the pressure kick.

[Asprilla 96]

This is one of the theories that managers spout that I have the most trouble with.

 

To take darts as an example....you spend day after day trying to hit that inch of board worth 60....followed by doubles/bullseyes etc.

 

The more you do it, the better you get.

 

Of course when there's a crowd it becomes harder, but to suggest that muscle memory is of no use is frankly bollocks IMO.

[luckyluke 2]

In things like world cups, taking pens is down to your mind, confidence and attitude on the night in that moment.

 

Any of the 5 players who step up can kick a ball on target from 12 yards with ease, but you can practice it all you like and you will never create the pressure they have to handle when a nations hopes come down to them and them alone.

 

If some of the possible later candidates after the top 5 (or any within the top 5) genuinely feel they need to practice kicking a ball from 12 yards and that it'll help by all means do it, but it won't matter for much when it comes to a semi final and you have to take the pressure kick.

126582[/snapback]

 

There's a world of difference between hitting the target and hitting a good penalty. As AF said, the whole 'technique doesn't matter' idea is complete bollocks.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

This is one of the theories that managers spout that I have the most trouble with.

 

To take darts as an example....you spend day after day trying to hit that inch of board worth 60....followed by doubles/bullseyes etc.

 

The more you do it, the better you get.

 

Of course when there's a crowd it becomes harder, but to suggest that muscle memory is of no use is frankly bollocks IMO.

126589[/snapback]

 

As i said if an individual thinks he needs practice at kicking a ball from 12 yards then he can do all the practice he wants and if that helps his confidence then great.

 

But if his arse goes on the night and he bottles it, or panics and changes his mind or just lets the pressure get too much then no practice in the world will do any good.

 

Your example of darts players practicing is them practicing all the skills they use in their sport and footballers do the same, they train to maintain their skills, i wouldn't expect anything less. But penalty takers know what works for them and it ultimately comes down to whether they can handle the big situation.

 

With something more technically demaning like say Johnny Wilkinson havign to kick an egg shaped ball 40-50 yards at times in the wind and rain its understandable that he puts in hours of practice to go with his massve natural talent, but you can bet he doesn't spend much of that time practicing a straight on kick from about 12 yards.

 

Just the same as i'd expect Beckham and the like to put in soem time on freekicks and set pieces because there is definite room to work on, but a pen is so easy technically that the only thing to work on is pressure, and you can't do that in training.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

In things like world cups, taking pens is down to your mind, confidence and attitude on the night in that moment.

 

Any of the 5 players who step up can kick a ball on target from 12 yards with ease, but you can practice it all you like and you will never create the pressure they have to handle when a nations hopes come down to them and them alone.

 

If some of the possible later candidates after the top 5 (or any within the top 5) genuinely feel they need to practice kicking a ball from 12 yards and that it'll help by all means do it, but it won't matter for much when it comes to a semi final and you have to take the pressure kick.

126582[/snapback]

 

There's a world of difference between hitting the target and hitting a good penalty. As AF said, the whole 'technique doesn't matter' idea is complete bollocks.

126598[/snapback]

 

Do you seriously think Englands 5 main penalty takers are lacking the skill and technique to kick a ball well from 12 yards having allready taken pens before in their life. I said any player who thinks practice will help can do all of it that they want but if they can't handle the situation they'll take a shite pen.

[snakehips 0]

In practice sessions, penalty takers should be wired up. If they miss, they should be given an electric shock. If that doesn't re-create the nerves prior to taking the kick, nothing will.

[luckyluke 2]

In things like world cups, taking pens is down to your mind, confidence and attitude on the night in that moment.

 

Any of the 5 players who step up can kick a ball on target from 12 yards with ease, but you can practice it all you like and you will never create the pressure they have to handle when a nations hopes come down to them and them alone.

 

If some of the possible later candidates after the top 5 (or any within the top 5) genuinely feel they need to practice kicking a ball from 12 yards and that it'll help by all means do it, but it won't matter for much when it comes to a semi final and you have to take the pressure kick.

126582[/snapback]

 

There's a world of difference between hitting the target and hitting a good penalty. As AF said, the whole 'technique doesn't matter' idea is complete bollocks.

126598[/snapback]

 

Do you seriously think Englands 5 main penalty takers are lacking the skill and technique to kick a ball well from 12 yards having allready taken pens before in their life. I said any player who thinks practice will help can do all of it that they want but if they can't handle the situation they'll take a shite pen.

126602[/snapback]

 

Penalty taking is not an 'easy skill'. Getting the ball on target is, but consistently getting it in the areas that are difficult for the keepers (ie the corners) is difficult. The players who miss are usually defenders/midfielders who do not have much shooting practice, hitting it at a comfortable height for the keeper to save. And it's not just them - Beckham, the player who can put the ball on a sixpence from 60 yards with a cross, and curl free kicks in from 30 yards, takes shit penalties.

 

If players practiced more they'd get it in the corner more. Plus with practice they would become more confident in taking a penalty and thus would be less vulnerable to nerves, pressure from the crowd etc.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

In practice sessions, penalty takers should be wired up. If they miss, they should be given an electric shock. If that doesn't re-create the nerves prior to taking the kick, nothing will.

126609[/snapback]

 

 

Or they could have a weeks wages deducted for each miss, that would have them hitting the target!

[Papa Lazaru 0]

In things like world cups, taking pens is down to your mind, confidence and attitude on the night in that moment.

 

Any of the 5 players who step up can kick a ball on target from 12 yards with ease, but you can practice it all you like and you will never create the pressure they have to handle when a nations hopes come down to them and them alone.

 

If some of the possible later candidates after the top 5 (or any within the top 5) genuinely feel they need to practice kicking a ball from 12 yards and that it'll help by all means do it, but it won't matter for much when it comes to a semi final and you have to take the pressure kick.

126582[/snapback]

 

There's a world of difference between hitting the target and hitting a good penalty. As AF said, the whole 'technique doesn't matter' idea is complete bollocks.

126598[/snapback]

 

Do you seriously think Englands 5 main penalty takers are lacking the skill and technique to kick a ball well from 12 yards having allready taken pens before in their life. I said any player who thinks practice will help can do all of it that they want but if they can't handle the situation they'll take a shite pen.

126602[/snapback]

 

Penalty taking is not an 'easy skill'. Getting the ball on target is, but consistently getting it in the areas that are difficult for the keepers (ie the corners) is difficult. The players who miss are usually defenders/midfielders who do not have much shooting practice, hitting it at a comfortable height for the keeper to save. And it's not just them - Beckham, the player who can put the ball on a sixpence from 60 yards with a cross, and curl free kicks in from 30 yards, takes shit penalties.

 

If players practiced more they'd get it in the corner more. Plus with practice they would become more confident in taking a penalty and thus would be less vulnerable to nerves, pressure from the crowd etc.

126610[/snapback]

 

I do know what you're saying and i agree that for any individual himself who feels better after some practice thats fine, but until any given player takes part in a pen shootout in a big game you can't know how they'll handle it.

 

If i was a "lesser" pen taker, like you say a defender or soemthing and only ever goign to be called on in a shootout after the main 5 (which isn't very common) then i'd work on 1or 2 pens i was happy with, probably one in the corner and a blaster and come the situation i'd just go for it. But if these players are bad at shooting (just a strikers can be shite at tackling) then theres every chance that even with practice they'll still be crap and panic when the pressure comes!

 

And i think your Beckham example is because of what i'm saying. The bloke is clearly technically gifted and as you say can hit a football incredibly accurately yet he arses up pens. And the reason is the pressure, you have to score it, its expected because theres no real excuse for missing, whereas when he takes a freekick the pressure isn't the same as percentage wise he's not expected to score as often.

[snakehips 0]

In practice sessions, penalty takers should be wired up. If they miss, they should be given an electric shock. If that doesn't re-create the nerves prior to taking the kick, nothing will.

126609[/snapback]

 

 

Or they could have a weeks wages deducted for each miss, that would have them hitting the target!

126611[/snapback]

 

 

P/L, I'm being fuckin' serious. The WHOLE point being made in the thread starter was an attempt to re-create a bundle of nerves before taking penalties. Wiring the fuckers up would surely get them shitting themselves. And give the crowd some fantastic entertainment Hey, Portly Freddie could even start selling tickets for the lucky winner to pull the switch after a miss

 

Okay, so I've had a drink.

[Papa Lazaru 0]

I think 2 of the best examples of how pens are ultimately about pressure are Le Tissier and Shearer:

 

Le Tissier had an incredible pen record of something like 51 from 52 because in his own words he said nobody should be missing something that easy and he looked at it as a free goal, he felt no pressure because of that was for me the best pen taker ever.

 

Shearer orginally had supreme confidence and wasn't worried by pressure so he backed himself so much that he blasted pens at 100mph into the roof of the net where no keeper had a chance because h knew he'd hit the target.

The for some reason he changed a bit and lost some confidence and he started tryign to place some of them with less power and his record suffered. though fortunately towards the end he seemed to get it back a bit and started lacing them again, as the mackems will always remember!

 

But Le Tissier showed if you can handle the pressure you'll score pens for fun.

[Isegrim 9906]

In things like world cups, taking pens is down to your mind, confidence and attitude on the night in that moment.

 

Any of the 5 players who step up can kick a ball on target from 12 yards with ease, but you can practice it all you like and you will never create the pressure they have to handle when a nations hopes come down to them and them alone.

 

If some of the possible later candidates after the top 5 (or any within the top 5) genuinely feel they need to practice kicking a ball from 12 yards and that it'll help by all means do it, but it won't matter for much when it comes to a semi final and you have to take the pressure kick.

126582[/snapback]

 

There's a world of difference between hitting the target and hitting a good penalty. As AF said, the whole 'technique doesn't matter' idea is complete bollocks.

126598[/snapback]

 

So are you saying Jorman players are technically gifted?

 

[Rob W 0]

One thing that SHOULD be storteed out before the game starts is who is going to take them - bloddy ridiculous to have Ameobi & Solano trying to figure it out on Saturday

 

And for England or any other penalty shootout there should be a clear idea of who will be in the first 5 and who in the last 5

[Guest alex]

Peter Beardsley reckoned you could put your house (or words to that effect on Joe Allon scoring from the spot.

[Gemmill 46086]

One thing that SHOULD be storteed out before the game starts is who is going to take them - bloddy ridiculous to have Ameobi & Solano trying to figure it out on Saturday

 

And for England or any other penalty shootout there should be a clear idea of who will be in the first 5 and who in the last 5

126714[/snapback]

 

Reading the article on SkySports it sounds like it had been decided it would be Nobby. Which makes it even more impressive that Shola took it and took it so well tbh.