What is the best alternative to a penalty shootout to decide a football match?

1. 76

   petenaliposted 12 years ago

   What is the best alternative to a penalty shootout to decide a football match?
   
   Having just watched England lose (again) on penalties, I find myself once again frustrated.  Being a player and a supporter, I have never agreed with any football match being decided on penalties.  I understand that a winner needs to be determined, but not that way surely...  I would rather see them just keep playing on a "next goal wins" scenario, or even reduce the number of players every 5 or 10 minutes or something.  Anybody else have any thoughts/suggestions on this one?

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2. 55

   Shinkickerposted 12 years ago

   I disagree. If 2 teams can't win a game of football in 2 hours then they should go to penalties. The 'Golden Goal' didn't work and the reducing players would result in desperation, fouls and red cards. The referee would end playing the linesmen

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3. 78

   Mr. Happyposted 12 years ago

   I just watched the game too and I must say that shooting beside the net did not do England any favors. On top of which, Buffon (who I don't really like much ... a bit of a show-off, in my opinion) had an amazing save: he dove right on the ball and it stuck to his gloves like they were magnetic. It was a good save (again, in my opinion).
   
   It is a bit of a lottery thing with penalty shoot-outs but I think a lot has to do with how good the players are at overcomming pressure and putting the ball in the net. I guess I don't mind penalty shoot-outs when two teams can't score - I really don't want to watch a four hour soccer game, or anything of that sort.

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4. 93

   Thomas Swanposted 12 years ago

   I actually had the same suggestion as you pete. We should definitely reduce the players every 5 minutes. It shouldn't be golden goal though. Have a normal 30 minutes of extra time, which will have the last 5 minutes as a 5-a-side match (taking players off at 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115 minutes). If it is somehow still level, start another 10 minutes of extra time, taking players off at 120 and 125 minutes, meaning the last 5 minutes is 3-a-side. If somehow still level, then golden goal with 2-a-side, which shouldn't last long.

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5. 0

   WhydThatHappenposted 12 years ago

   It would be nice if the team managers had a cage match to decide who moved on, it would add a cool dynamic to an already exciting game. That aside, I think penalties are good enough to decide an indecisive game- its better than a coin flip, and it's an incentive for players to work hard and end the game during the first 2 hours on the field :-/ soccer shouldn't be as unending as cricket matches

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   1. 0

      WhydThatHappenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      whittling down the # of players on the pitch also makes those players more prone to fatigue and injuries: would you really prefer an injured & weary England playing than keeping pks? Why don't England prepare more for pks if it's a problem for th

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6. 80

   CCahillposted 12 years ago

   Yeah ive wondered also if your system would work, its the best suggestion ive heard yet anyway. Reducing the players gradually will add a great tactical element to the game and chance to managers to really excel with their make or break decisions of who to keep on the pitch.
   
   If your concerned about too may offsides after a certain threshold then perhaps the offside rule can be taken away from golden goal stage

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7. 61

   sethpowersposted 12 years ago

   If you reduce the amount of players how would you choose who leaves? Not to mention, you would have to reduce the size of the field. Could you imagine playing 5v5 on a full sized field?
   
   What ever happened to a good old-fashioned tie game? It sounds lame, but frankly, some teams are just equal in talent and chance. Penalty kicks are just an exciting way to perform a coin toss, it doesn't decide which team is better. Leave it as a tie, and use goal differentials for league/tournament standings.

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   1. 76

      petenaliposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The tactics of the coach/manager would come in to play as to who they take off.  Take of a striker and lessen your chance of scoring.  Take of defence and maybe get scored upon.  Less players = more space = more chance to score.  That's what we want.

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8. 64

   wetbaknproudposted 12 years ago

   they go to penalties after the game has already been extended and shooting penalties is better than flipping a coin.

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   1. 76

      petenaliposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Flipping a coin is the worst possible solution as it has absolutely nothing to do with football.  That would hurt more than losing on penalties from a player's point of view.  I'm still an advocate for the idea of reducing the number of players.

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9. 61

   mmsuposted 12 years ago

   After giving an additional thirty minutes to decide the outcome penalties are the best option.Reducing the number of players and taking them off at 5 minutes interval seems not to be such a good idea and will surely get stick from the football purists.In a penalty shoot out each team has 5 chances and with the same rules for both the sides so i think it is fair.

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   1. 76

      petenaliposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Understand your point.  As a "football purist" I don't think that one seldom used and unique skill (penalty taking) should decide the game instead of open play, no matter how many players. It's just not a true reflection of the game in it's entirety.

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   2. 61

      mmsuposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I said after extra time that is the best option.If it does not get get done and dusted in that period it is the most accurate of things to do at that point rather than removing players although understand completely that it is not a true reflection.

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   3. 76

      petenaliposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe we should just make the goals higher so these highly skilled professionals could actually hit the target in 90 minutes! I cannot believe how many shots go sailing over the cross bar!  If they scored more, penalties would be a non issue!

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   4. 61

      mmsuposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      hahaha mate i don't think fifa will agree with your idea=P

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