KO - Gathering

Do people have a preference with PBD on or off? Does it make a huge difference?

Had a few practice goes when I had the time - if anyone can answer this - sometimes I trap the ball in the box and it appears to shoot at goal - other times it just slowly passes to the next player.

Obviously doing something wrong here - I cannot work out what!

Using the pass mechanism to shoot at the goal is probably not recommended, try kicking it normally instead.
As for PBD, just choose whatever feels most natural to you and stick with it!