There were plenty of talking points about penalty kicks last season when saves by substitute goalkeeper Deryn Brace helped Carmarthen to the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup and a penalty save by Ben Foster was crucial in taking the Carling Cup to Manchester United.

Neither of them are regular goalkeepers in their respective leagues, so what was it that inspired them to get down to make those crucial saves.

Before the law change that goalkeepers could move sideways along the goal-line before the ball is kicked, there were many arguments when penalties were saved as to whether the goalkeeper had unfairly moved.   I have no statistic to support a theory that there are less goals since the Law change, my view is that the legislation was brought in to legitimise the movement of the goalkeepers, meaning that the ratio of successful penalties to those missed is about the same.

What is different is that there are many more penalties through shoot-outs in cup competitions at all levels of football so there is more chance for goalkeepers to shine.  There is a lot of psychology surrounding the taking and saving of penalties in the modern game.   Teams practice taking penalties and goalkeepers have longer sessions facing them in training to get used to this stressful situation.   Successful penalty kickers seem to have the composure and placement of shot to score,  goalkeepers who are hard to beat have a strong determination, belief and agility to make the penalty kick situation anything but the foregone conclusion it once was.

Spectators have been conditioned to think that the award of a penalty is the addition of a certain goal.  Maybe it should be, but it is still the ultimate one-on-one situation with restrictions to both.  Fortune favours the brave with as big a boost to the morale of a team whose goalkeeper has saved a penalty, as to a team who have just scored to give confidence as well as another goal to their score.

Some junior competitions do not include penalty kicks for very young players in recognition of the pressure it puts on those directly involved.

Author: B. Steer

The FAW Consultation Documentation Document for the Seasons 2008-2012 sets out a proposed new Pyramid System for Welsh Football with a strategy of the WPL reducing its membership to two leagues of 10 clubs each by the start of the 2009/2010 season.   This top level “should reflect the semi-professional game at the national level” based on clubs which meet the FAW Club Licence System and league position.

In trying to envisage what this new era of semi-professional football in Wales will produce I have taken a snapshot of the Welsh Premier League as at Monday 1^st December, 2008 and looked at extracts involving some clubs who are currently in the top ten of the current league and would form the proposed Welsh Premier League.   This information is produced by www.statto.com (the place to go for football stats and odds comparison-English and Scottish stats from 1871 plus European and International).

 Based on performances against the teams that are top of the table, the positions are:

                  5^th Carmarthen

                  7^th Aberystwyth

                  13^th Haverfordwest

Based on performances against teams that are in the bottom half  of the table the positions are:

                 3^rd Haverfordwest

                 5^th Aberystwyth

                 7^th Carmarthen

Based on Match Statistics supplied by Roy Morris for the Premier League match v Caernarfon on 15^th November, 2008 who were lying bottom of the League Haverfordwest scored one goal from 15  shots (6.7% success) compared with Caernarfon scoring one goal from  7 shots (14% success).   Despite this statistically poor performance Haverfordwest are rated as 3^rd amongst clubs who have played teams in the lower half of the table.

This set of statistics show that Haverfordwest might have difficulty retaining a position in the top ten when meeting teams more highly placed than them, but would probably be in a top position when playing the clubs lower in the league.

What these statistics cannot predict is the outcome of a run of wins against teams higher in the league or poor results against teams in the lower half of the table.

My opinion is that  a league comprising ten elite clubs with the aim of producing a better standard of football,  will result in a less adventurous style of play to that which the spectators are used,  with final positions being decided very much by goal difference.

Author: B. Steer

This is a new blog aimed at delivering football training related information.

As the weeks go by I will inform you of the latest news, views and coaching programs. We will also publish some guides and troubleshooting tips in relation to football coaching, soccer training, goalkeeping, defending, general football skills, match fitness and equipment.

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OFT

Author: OTF Editor