The real problem is we play with our usual stand off defensive style but don't counter quickly, which negates the whole point of standing off in the first place. The other thing it does is force teams wide and our fullbacks aren't always the best at stopping the cross.
Those penalties are so overrated. When Pirlo scored his, he was praised for being so cool, but like RVP's there the fact is that unlike drilled penalties into the corner, if the keeper guesses the right way he'll save it.