Central Coast Mariners goal keeper Mark Bosnich fails to stop a direct penalty in the second half of the Round 3, A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and the Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Aug. 31st, 2008. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Many articles in recent years have spent time trying to come up with a better way to decide a game than by using penalty shootouts.
Less players on the field and counting corner kicks have all been credible suggestions worthy of discussion over the second or third beer at a pub, but not quite credible enough to be brought up before then.
Personally, I have no problem with the drama of a penalty shootout – as long as my team win’s, it’s a fine system!
That bias may, however, be influenced by the fact we have Mark Schwarzer in goals for the Socceroos at the moment. He seems to relish the chance to win a game as opposed to most goalkeeper’s who become the villains by trying not to “stuff up”.
The timing of this article couldn’t be worse, though, as the A-League has just witnessed two dramatic and satisfying penalty shootouts which led to Newcastle playing Wellington in front of a full house.
But as sure as day becomes night, Italy will win another penalty shootout while they bore the neutrals to death, and the calls for a better system will follow.
My proposal is that the goal-line referee (themselves not quite established in the rules yet) keep track of the number of times the goalkeeper handles the ball. This tally would then be used as a tiebreaker if the match is a draw at the conclusion of full-time or extra-time. The side whose keeper handled the ball the most loses. If the tally is tied then the team whose goalkeeper handled the ball last is the loser. Handling would count as a tip over the bar, punching the ball from a cross or a catch.
A goalkeeper touching the ball in the same way an outfielder can would not attract any tally points. The hope (and without seeing a trial it’s very much just a hope) is that it encourages goalkeepers to play more like outfielders, perhaps to the point where they no longer have to spend most of their training in the corner away from the other players.
Would these scores be public? I would expect the goal-line referee to have a clear way of indicating the touch (wave a flag or such) so that a 4th official or the other goal-line ref can also keep track of the tally (and scoreboard attendant, too).
From a theoretical point of view, here is my list of positives and negatives. Feel free to add your own in the comments section.
Negatives:
– Teams playing for the tally could lead to even more aerial balls, defenders camped on the goal-line and such. A change like this influences how the game is played rather than other suggestions that just decide the outcome and don’t effect the 90 minutes proper.
– Could lead to more injuries, especially amongst goalkeepers. There is a certain balance in the battle between the keepers and strikers in that once the keeper picks up the ball they’re safe. If keepers become reluctant to do that angry strikers could run riot.
– The goalkeeper becomes even more important and, perhaps, disproportionately so.
– Another area for officials to make a dud decision on.
– Penalty shootouts are great theatre, and is this tally method any less arbitrary?
– Involves change. Change for change’s sake is a waste of resources so it would have to be carefully investigated whether this system is clearly better.
– The goal-line ref may spend too much time watching the keeper and not whether the ball goes over the line, which is his primary purpose.
– Would create a difference between the amateur level, who would likely continue to play with penalties due to lack of goal-line officials, and the professional level.
– A dubious red card would put you at a massive disadvantage as having fewer players is even worse under this proposal.
Positives:
– Hopefully rewards the quality of shots on goal as a harmless lob from 40m out wouldn’t need to be handled. If your general play results in more clear cut chances on goal, then you will likely force the other team’s goalkeeper to touch the ball. This is generally considered good play and enjoyed by most spectators, so hopefully rewarding this activity leads to more of it in a game.
– Removes playing for penalties as stacking the box isn’t a great ploy to avoid the use of your goalkeeper.
– Encourages goalkeepers to use more outfield skills and makes it a less distinct position.
– Would remove the “I am not going to pick it up come and get it” routine between goalkeeper and opposing striker that takes up a good deal of time in a match.
– Gives the goal-line referee something to do to justify his existence as there are many matches that are decided without the need to decide whether a ball went over the line or not.
– Helps set a more concrete finish time for an event for broadcasters that absolutely can’t delay the start of Today Tonight at any cost.
– May lead to more goalkeepers like René Higuita.
I don’t know if this proposal solves the problem, or even if penalty shootouts are really a problem (I think they are a dud way to decide the World Cup final, though) but I thought it was an idea worthy of debate.
It would be great if the stats man kept track of it so we could see what percentage of games were won by a team whose goalkeeper handled the ball more than the opposition, or if any teams generated more shots on target but lost the tally count.
The later is certainly important because if there is a correlation between shots on goal and winning, I would be confident in the concept’s success.
Patrick
Guest
Yes. I think the panalty can not be replaced. Anyway, we get to find a way to end the game and pick the winners. Panalty may not be the best solution. But it seems it works well so far.
Country Victoria
Guest
Ya Rob, you changed my thinking at penalities, 'Keep' penalities shootouts.
jimbo
Guest
Penalties are a great way to decide a stalemate - leave them in. Just need to police the rules a bit better during the game and during the penalty shoot out.
whiskeymac
Guest
wasnt acually serious re: getting rid of goalies but hey i agree that any concept to speed up the conclusion of a game and retain its integrity as a sporting contest to everyones liking is well impossible especially when in a comp format the teams need to back up a few days later and do it all over again. you need to end the game and have a winner in something like the WC and you need to end it so the time slots and advertising are maximised and the players havent played an outrageous amount of time and destroyed themselves for the next game. in thirepect 30minutes extra of game time with golden goals followed by penalies is a reasonable compromise.
realist
Guest
Sorry won't work. Just too unfair on both sides. Still get rid of shoutouts and play golden goal until someone scoress. No time limit someone will mess up eventually allowing the other team to score
Infarction
Roar Rookie
Amount of times the keeper touches the ball, amount of times balls hit the cross bar. Definately some of the dumbest ideas i have ever heard as suggestions on this topic. It's actually mind boggling that anyone would consider these to be anything but completely ridiculous.
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
Whiskey you've probably raised the most crucial point of all - pens are TV friendly, and can be completed with a given time frame (ordinarily, there probably are cases where the pen count has ballooned past the 11th player, not sure) That alone is probably the key, overriding consideration - but to be honest, it's actually an argument against when considering the game itself.
Rob
Guest
All is forgiven, AndyRoo. :-) And on your joke about "increased chances of goalkeeper injuries", we keepers frequently give as good as we get on those high balls into the box. Certainly I do. My theory is to "get them back first" because we keepers all know that strikers will hit a keeper early if given the opportunity - try to scare them into not coming for the next cross, etc. I work on the same theory, but in reverse, and after a good hit on a striker I have sometimes seen them back off the very moment I call "Keeper!". Of course, the good strikers aren't afraid, and look for a square up later on, but it keeps them on their toes!
Rob
Guest
Axel, no, we are two different people, these Robs. I am a Rob from Brisbane (the one who complained to AndyRoo about the keeper business), and I can assure you that my striker alter-ego is someone else... er, unless you talk to my team mates who have to hear me demand opportunities to play up front if we are winning a game easily (as you know, all keepers are frustrated strikers, so maybe the "ex striker" really is me...). Incidentally, I have a pretty good record when I am put up front (or so I tell myself and my team mates!
whiskeymac
Guest
firstly...nice one Adelaide secondly, shame fifa dropped the technology issue so badly... what about playing after extra time without goalkeepers. or take into account cards/ fouls. tbh every system is flawed - penalties provides definite drama and closure which tv paymasters/ratings ultimately must love.
aubgraham
Roar Rookie
Also potentially easier to count than hitting the post - after all, the referee makes a clear decision then and there - award or corner or not (some small grey area when the second last person to touch it was a defender)
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
However, having said that, counting corners that come about directly from a goalkeeper's touch is a different story (turning the ball round the post or over the bar, etc) - I reckon that would be worth counting as a means of breaking deadlocks. Once again, it has the added advantage of not changing the game at all, and providing a minor reward (potentially) for a good effort on goal.
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
Counting corners will induce a change in gameplan - it's actually very easy to get corners if that's all you want to do - and we'd see more of that dribbling the ball to the corner flag garbage and I think we'd all rather see less of that!!
Dogz R Barkn
Roar Guru
I agree with that last sentence - it should be all about determining the better team on the day.
albatross
Guest
After extra time why not count corners like in field hockey? If they are equal then count penalties and freekicks. Tjat should be enough to separate tteams.
aubgraham
Roar Rookie
I guess some may like the simplicity of scoring in futbol, that is, there is only one way to score (put the ball in the back of the net, obviously many different methods to do it). While simplicity in games is generally a strength, in this case it leads to the issue of drawn games. In league play, this is not an issue (for most) but in a tournament you need a decision. There is nothing sacred about the scoring system - most games (including futbol) have changed their systems over the years. If you decide that hitting the bar is worth a score, then you can view it as rewarding a miss, or you can view it as rewarding a hit. Just like in darts or archery, the better your aim, the higher your reward. "Surely over 2 games a team will score, and if they don’t, well, the deadlock must be broken. Don’t reward teams for not scoring, by letting them win with some weird count-back system," I fail to see how hitting the post more than the other team is a weird count-back system. Easily incorporated into the existing rules, rewards somewhat successful game play, does little to change the existing tactics. It would lead to small differences in tactics at tournament play - after all, if you have the edge in this variable then you might sit back and defend. But defending a 1-0 lead in woodwork hits is much more dangerous than a 1-0 lead in goals. The general point though is that less of the game would sit in stalemate. For more of the game there would be onerous on at least one team to attack. "lottery it up with penalties" How much of a lottery is penalties? How much of a lottery is hitting the woodwork? How much of a lottery is drawing lots? I think that if definitive result is desired then most people want a method that reflects the 'better' team on the day. I think woodwork does that better than penalties.
Midfielder
Guest
Andy They are OK... part of the problem of games being broadcast all over the world... I actually like replays but in todays modern world such things no longer exist.. so my answer is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9SgDoypXcI
Axel V
Guest
either that or Rob has a dual personality ;)
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
This is getting a bit confusing as we also have Robbo and Robbos that post on the Roar too...... I don't think I have ever seen a Robert though :)
Mick
Guest
The only thing wrong with penalties is the refs do not make the keeper stay on the line enough & some keepers end up 2 metres forward of the line. Sometimes the best team does not win but that is life With Italy knowing how to defend is alot of times called being defensive I thought Germany v Italy was 1 of the best games I saw at the last world cup