Penalties down the middle.

[PDGPaul]

Have you noticed how many penalty takers are now aiming down the middle or in other words at the keeper. Goalkeepers always dive in trying to anticipate the angled shot and very rarely save the shot into the centre of the goal. It surprises me that keepers are not sometimes standing their ground in order to counter this trend.

[herbiehammer]

When a player approaches the keeper to do a penalty would you prefer to see Adrian to dive or just stand there and hope it comes straight at him.
To dive and to miss is one thing but to stand there with the anticipation of the ball being kicked down the middle! Im sure he would be booed off and quickly replaced

[PDGPaul]

I understand your point Herbie but I sometimes feel the theatrical dive is over used and that just occasionally a keeper could spread himself more centrally.

[herbiehammer]

To be fair PDG the keeper is almost on a hiding to nothing. If the ball is striked high or to the side the keeper has no chance
The only keeper that has ever given me any confidence in saving one is Green or any keeper that one of our penalty takers is up against

[herbiehammer]

I do however agree with you but its one hell of a risk on the keepers behalf

[jon15u]

Think the only chance a keeper has got of saving is by either luck, i.e guessing right, or playing mind games.

I have had a bit of success by not standing in the middle and inviting him. Not always successful but a keeper has to use every trick he can. A bit like poker playing, gotta find a tell.

Another, moving to and throw on the line, changing quick. Make the taker think harder.

[PDGPaul]

Thanks for your thoughts. It got me thinking because there have been so many lately and often not that well struck. Leighton Baines did it again today.
Mervin Day saved a few in his time.

[frenchlion]

I remember Geoff Hurst used to hit 'em just as about as hard has he could more or less straight down the middle to the roof of the net. Some of the older members on this board might recall the penalty that Hurst took but was saved by Gordon Banks who I believe was still playing for the Foxes. Given the power behind the shot it took some saving!

[PDGPaul]

I remember it well and it broke my heart. You're right he hit them as hard as Julian ****s, most keepers were pleased to get out of the way.

[westhamkeef]

I remember Geoff Hurst used to hit 'em just as about as hard has he could more or less straight down the middle to the roof of the net. Some of the older members on this board might recall the penalty that Hurst took but was saved by Gordon Banks who I believe was still playing for the Foxes. Given the power behind the shot it took some saving!

League cup semi final FL. I was behind the goal. Banks didn't have to move, hit him like train and went over if I remember rightly. Was gutted.