Can we make the playoffs?

[Spikefaethesouth]

Some very interesting points on this forum, but I can only hope that Murphy has learned to be more positive. I 100% agree that the manager needs to make the decisions, - but equally, - he is a young man, and he is still learning his craft. If the 1000 QOS fans all had their own unique view, - then it would be insane to attempt to follow each opinion, but when 1000 fans plead with you to be more positive and practice penalties, - I suspect it is in your own best interests to at least take on board the opinion of the vast majority. After all, - a large percentage of those fans have played or coached for many years, - its not as if they are complete imbeciles.

Do you honestly think Jardi that the players do not practice taking penalties? It's much more in the head anything else when it comes to stepping up to the mark. Confidence is everything more so than ability.

[jardi]

Of course Spike. However, - I'm kinda old fashioned and believe that practice makes perfect. If it became part of their daily ritual in training, - then precisely what you say about in being in the head would not occur on match days.

Missing 12 penalties in a season suggests to me that they didn't practice them enough.

[aloreburn]

Most penalties were actually saved.

[Threefivetwo]

I'm with Spike here. Striking the ball and hitting a certain spot 12 yards away shouldn't be an issue for any footballer regardless of how often they practice. Doing it in a training environment could not be any different from a match day situation. It's 95% psychological

[jardi]

I'm with Spike here. Striking the ball and hitting a certain spot 12 yards away shouldn't be an issue for any footballer regardless of how often they practice. Doing it in a training environment could not be any different from a match day situation. It's 95% psychological

No problem Threefivetwo, but I beg to differ. If it becomes second nature in training, which I am fully behind, then that should transfer into a match scenario. I fully accept that some penalties will be missed or saved, but a 70 % success rate is, or should be achievable and I would urge the manager and squad to be returning that ratio next season.

[aloreburn]

They practice penalites every week I?m going to put it down to bad luck.

[Threefivetwo]

I've got to say Jardi, you're kind of proving my point. What fan should the manager listen to? You seem to be suggesting you and a few with the same view. Unfortunately, even on this forum people have different opinions. It's human nature and people are appointed to positions in all industries. Let's just let the man manage.

And let's see first what kind of team he can build for next season given the expected exit of a few.

[fatfan]

No problem Threefivetwo, but I beg to differ. If it becomes second nature in training, which I am fully behind, then that should transfer into a match scenario. I fully accept that some penalties will be missed or saved, but a 70 % success rate is, or should be achievable and I would urge the manager and squad to be returning that ratio next season.

Jardi. I?m sure they will practice penalties in training and I would bet that 70% will be scored. However doing it in a match situation is day and night to training. You can?t replicate the pressure with what?s at stake.
That said a professional footballer should be able to score from 12 yards, whether training or not.
However to suggest this is a managers fault is way off the mark. At what time is anyone going to point the finger at the players for being unable to do the job they are meant to do. I have yet to hear one person calling out the players for being unable to do the most simple of tasks, instead it?s down to the manager.
If there was a question mark about fitness of the team, or tactics or team selection I would get the argument but this is something outwith the managers control, no matter how much training they do on pens.

[jardi]

Fatfan I do agree with much of what you say??but we are all assuming that pens are actually practiced.
Let?s look at it from another perspective - it would be in the players best interests to practice penalties as often as possible, given their abysmal record this season which appears to be be much worse than all other teams in the Scottish senior league.
Taking all things into account, that seems a fair statement.