by Robert Burns and John Juhasz, FoxSoccer.com

Comment

However, it's been a tough week for goalkeepers, hasn't it? The tragic story out of Germany about Robert Enke's suicide was rough enough, but then was followed up with news about Carlo Cudicini's motorcycle accident that could for all intents and purposes be the end of his career.

No question about it — a lot of perspective has been gained this week. Deepest condolences go out to both their families and clubs.

Let's do this thing ...

I don't know about you guys, but I absolutely hate it when matches are decided on penalty kicks. I feel like it's a poor way to end it all after the players have been battling it out so hard on the pitch. I always feel unsatisfied when I've watched an entire match and the winner is decided on PKs, even if my team comes out on top. This is especially true since PKs are really only used in the most important matches (cup competitions, playoffs, etc.). I think switching to a golden goal format (first team to score wins) in extra time would save a lot of games from going to PKs. What are your opinions on penalty kicks and do you think it's a fair way to declare a winner?
Jacob S. of East Rutherford, N.J.

Robert: I think it's easy to judge athletes from the sofa. Chances are you're not fully aware of what it takes to run for two hours at that level with someone like Gennaro Gattuso hacking at your ankles the whole time. I know I don't, but I've played in enough games to know that I'm exhausted by halftime.

Sure, a baseball game can go 19 innings, but the only guys who are feeling the hurt are the pitchers and the catchers — the rest kind of stand around for a long time waiting for the ball to come their way. Hockey? Well, that's pretty close to soccer in terms of the shootout. In the NFL, they play one extra quarter (which someone usually wins with a field goal) and call it a day after that. Only in the NBA would I say that adding an extra five minutes until it's decided is fair, but that's because hoops are scored at a constant clip.

Soccer isn't like that. It's a game that requires a collective effort towards one moment of brilliance. If you're lucky, you get that a few times a game, but it's rarely like Lyon and Marseille's 5-5 draw last week — that just doesn't happen very often.

But soccer is one of the most taxing sports there is with no timeouts and a constant flow of action. The average player in a professional match runs anywhere from 8-10 miles a game — that's a third of a marathon probably twice a week.

Penalty kicks may not be the fairest option, but they're the best option. You want the World Cup decided on an own goal? They can be very thrilling affairs that are a part of the game no matter what. Personally, I'm perfectly fine with the shootout after 120 minutes. Both teams have obviously proven their equality, but someone has to win.

John: Not only is it fair, it's incredibly exciting to watch. Come on, tell me a more pulsating five minutes in all of sports. I've never heard of anyone who wanted to turn away from the TV while penalties are on, unless they're so nervous that they can't bear to watch.

Proponents usually argue that penalties are stupid because "it'd be like deciding a basketball game from the free throw line." What, like you wouldn't watch if instead of overtime, teams hypothetically picked five players to shoot free throws in the same format as penalty kicks? One after the other? The pressure would be immense, and it'd be awesome to watch it all unfold.

Soccer is a different animal than other sports, though. In basketball, they have five-minute overtime sessions. In football, the first team to kick a field goal wins. If a golden goal rule were to be implemented in soccer, you could literally see teams stay out there for hours after the final whistle. Not to mention, the quality of play would decrease with time since there's only so long players can race around at top speed. Eveneutally, each side would just pack it in near their goal-line and make the game unwatchable.

---

I last time commented if the signing Arshavin, was a good deal for Arsenal and you guys told me to wait for more time. Well what do you guys think now, do you think the Gunners will win any silverware this year. Also do you think Arshavin has alot to do with the sudden resurgence.
RJ Esparza of Dallas

John: Well, yeah. When you're scoring goals at the pace he is, you're obviously a big help for your club.

Let's put it this way — if Arsenal's trophy cabinet somehow winds up empty this year, it won't be Arshavin's fault.

Robert: I've constantly stated that the Russian league is underrated, and Arshavin's success with Arsenal only supports that premise. When he came over from Zenit, he was the best player in the league, but there have been a number of stars like that from other nations who faltered under the Premier League lights.

Arshavin, clearly, has not. He's fantastic to watch, has adapted amazingly well to his new club and city, and has the chance this season to really put the Gunners back in the limelight.

Of course, his success is also magnified by the fact that Arsenal's forward line is finally 'growing up' for lack of a better phrase. Fabregas seems to have rediscovered the toughness required to play in the Prem, and his goalscoring boots are fitting quite nicely, thank you very much.

Robin van Persie, finally healthy for more than one game at a time, is delivering week in and week out. Everyone knew he could, but now he's staying on the pitch long enough to prove it. As a neutral, he's fantastic to watch in action.

Throw in a now highly effective Russian superstar and you can easily understand why the Gunners lead the league in goals scored — seven better than league leaders Chelsea.

Does Arsenal have a chance to win silverware? You know, they really do (my friends Ed and Mazen will love hearing that). The Blues look like the team to beat, but recent injuries and call-ups next year for the African Cup will affect them to some degree. I'm not saying they're going to fall apart — I'm saying there's a door that is slightly ajar there.

United needs to bolster its midfield in January if it wants to have any chance of winnning its fourth league title in a row. Right now, with all the money available from the Ronaldo sale and the club's 'big time' status, the Red Devils are in the position to be this January's Real Madrid from last summer. The question is if the club will eat some crow, admit that not replacing Ronaldo effectively (of course, how can you do that?) was a mistake, and try and make amends by going after someone like Rafael van der Vaart or Luis Suarez.

Wouldn't it also be nice if Uli Hoeness reads Philipp Lahm the riot act and lets him go in January? I love the idea of a United back line featuring Lahm, Rio, Vidic and Evra. But I digress ...

Yes, for the first time in many years, Arsenal truly has a legitimate shot at the title. However, as they proved just last year when they were leading the league well into the season, nothing is definite. But the FA Cup is also out there, and while it may not hold the same stature as it used to, it's still a trophy worthy of pride. Champions League? Let's see how the draw turns out first, but a solid, Liverpool-esque run of old is not completely out of the question.

---

What are the chances of Fabio Capello recalling Michael Owen for the world cup?
Matthew R. of Newport News, R.I.

Robert: Right now I would say about 30/70. Wayne Rooney is a lock. Jermain Defoe is playing really well right now — a main cog in Spurs' rush to fourth place in the league. Peter Crouch offers an unmatched aerial threat, while Agbonlahor, Bent and Carlton Cole all provide a youthful spark that Owen can no longer equal.

But there's one thing that Michael Owen has that no other England striker can touch — a signature World Cup moment. Experience of that magnitude holds great importance in something as massive as the World Cup. But I hold no illusions — that was way back in 1998. Owen still has to prove himself during the Premier League season — both in terms of fitness and productivity.

If he can rack up 8-10 goals by February, and most importantly stay on the pitch, then Capello will have no choice but to consider him as an option. But with limited starting time at Old Trafford, he'll have to make the most of his supersub role throughout the coming months for a good look.

John: You'd probably have to see an injury to a regular striker for that to happen.

Otherwise, I don't see how he'd possibly see time ahead of Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney or Theo Walcott. Not to mention, Fabio Capello is supposedly enamored with Carlton Cole. Where would Owen fit in?

---

Luis Suarez is emerging as a prolific goalscorer this year, with 21 goals in 19 overall appearances so far with Ajax Amsterdam. With many teams interested in signing him (Barcelona, Manchester United, etc...) and the current financial difficulties of the club, who do you think will sign Suarez if he goes in the January transfer window?
Josh Louis of Winsted, Conn.

John: Whoever bids the highest.

Although in all seriousness, Man United couldn't ask for a better Ronaldo replacement. As much as it pains me to say that.

Robert: Feel the burn Johnny, feel the burn. While I don't think that Suarez is ready to be called the next Ronaldo, I do think he's one of the biggest possible signings in January if he does in fact leave Ajax (which he's stated very adamantly he won't do).

United would do well to sign him, however it would more or less undermine any confidence that Antonio Valencia may have gained over the last few weeks. There's also the fact that he's Uruguayan ... not many fans have great memories of Forlan at Old Trafford. And lastly, just because he's a hit in the Eredivisie doesn't mean he's a lock to do the same in England.

Remember Afonso Alves? The guy was tearing it up for Heerenveen at an astonishing clip before coming over to Boro in January of 2008. Where is he now? Playing in Qatar ...

But now I'm just being a pessimist. The kid has skills and is definitely a hot topic in the transfer market. Could Liverpool also make a play for him to help salvage their season?

I don't see him going to Barcelona for some reason, but that's just because they're stacked at every position. Chelsea and Man City might also hold some appeal for him, but again, all roads so far point to him wanting to stay at Ajax.

But we've all heard that kind of thing before from players in the transfer news ...

---

Guys, why are so many stadiums for Italian soccer sooo empty? Are fans regularly banned from attending matches? It seems like MLS games have higher attendance than the Serie A....
Will of Boston

Robert: Well, the recession is the easy answer, but the problems in Italy started well before that.

The image of the game (at the club level) has been hit hard by all the violence (including the 2007 death of a police officer in Catania), the Calciopoli scandal in 2006 which resulted in Juventus' demotion to Serie B, and the sale of the league's best players over the years, most recently Kaka and Ibrahimovic.

There's also the condition of the stadiums in Serie A — they're miserable. And of course, there are the prices — someone's got to pay those million dollar salaries.

However, Italian attendance is still higher on average than MLS. You must not watch the Revs or Dallas very much ...

John: Yes, Italian league matches have weird rules regarding banning supporters for certain matches if supporters get out of line. But it's not just Italy nowadays, and the worldwide economic climate is the culprit. You'll see loads of empty seats at Premier League games if you watch the highlights. A lot of supporters aren't willing to blow big bucks on entertainment.

All the more reason to visit FoxSoccer.com and watch highlights, right?

Robert Burns is the senior editor of FoxSoccer.com and John Juhasz is a fantasy writer for FoxSports.com.

	Side Kicks Archives:
	11/20/2009 | 11/13/2009 | 11/06/2009 | 10/30/2009 | 10/23/2009 | 10/16/2009 | 10/9/2009 | 9/25/2009 | 9/18/2009 | 9/11/2009 | 9/4/2009 | 8/28/2009 | 8/21/2009 | 8/14/2009 | 8/7/2009 | 7/31/2009 | 7/17/2009 | 7/10/2009 | 7/3/2009 | 6/26/2009