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[Football] Scoring direct from a free kick
- Thread starter Giraffe
- Start date
I remember it happening in 1989
and that slow old has been we're trying to hound out, Rascal Grows or something . . .didn't he shoot a conversion against Everton from a free score ball?
and that slow old has been we're trying to hound out, Rascal Grows or something . . .didn't he shoot a conversion against Everton from a free score ball?
There are so many more variables on a corner than a free-kick. A free kick should offer a better chance of scoring, although I guess you can't practice it from the exact same spot every time, like you can a corner. I don't understand why more players don't put in the effort to become a free kick specialist. If you're good enough to be a professional footballer then surely if you took 100 free kicks a day after training, you'd become a specialist at it? It would be a great way to score goals if you are a defender, and a great way to boost your goal tally as a striker.
I've often thought they should change the rule and allow you to take the free kick from anywhere on the pitch, behind where the foul took place. That would enable players to really practice them, and would result in a lot more goals from direct free-kicks. Which I assume everyone would like.
Actually thinking about it, it might just encourage more diving?
I've often thought they should change the rule and allow you to take the free kick from anywhere on the pitch, behind where the foul took place. That would enable players to really practice them, and would result in a lot more goals from direct free-kicks. Which I assume everyone would like.
Actually thinking about it, it might just encourage more diving?
I never understood the indirect/direct difference with free kicks in the eighties and nineties as a youngster. You never see indirect ones awarded now. Nor a pass back free kick inside the area with the wall virtually on the goal line.
RandyWanger
Je suis rôti de boeuf
Didn't we concede a pass back free kick in Sanchez first game for us?
Our free kick routine usually involves hitting it long for a goal kick for the other team or playing it back to our keeper.
All free-kicks following offside decisions are indirect. I guess we just don't notice them, as they're hardly likely to result in shots at goal.
Blocking a run (obstruction) also leads to an indirect free-kick, and that's much more likely to be around the box - but you're right, we don't seem to see that many of them.
Marty___Mcfly
I see your wicked plan - I’m a junglist.
- Sep 14, 2011
- 2,251
Ronaldo’s conversion rate has always been awful- he’s scored like 2 free kicks in 200 tries for Portugal.
Roberto Carlos also had an awful conversion rate- scored that one wondergoal and then reverted to something like a 1 in 100 score rate.
Both just lived off their reputation from a few decent ones.
Roberto Carlos also had an awful conversion rate- scored that one wondergoal and then reverted to something like a 1 in 100 score rate.
Both just lived off their reputation from a few decent ones.
Shooting Star
Well-known member
Giraffe, I'm so pleased that you made this thread as it's something that has been at the forefront of my mind whilst watching football for the last couple of years now. I had a strong feeling that goals from free-kicks were becoming rarer, so it's nice to know I'm not the only one who's felt this! Thanks Weststander for the stats that seem to back this up, although I seriously cannot remember anywhere near to 20+ goals being scored directly from free-kicks in any recent PL season!
I think my suspicions began from the 2015/16 season for Albion where Knocky was on free-kicks. In fact I was watching the highlights from the play-off semi-final second leg against Sheff Weds again today as I've never forgotten Knocky's excellent free-kick attempts that game (one hitting the inside of the post and another going under the wall, almost catching Westwood out). I never understood why it seemed like after that season he didn't take them anymore, and once we got to the Prem he seemed to stop shooting from outside the box altogether!
Growing up I just seem to remember Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard etc always banging them in. I still get excited when Albion have a free-kick but I have zero idea why as scoring from them has become almost non-existant. As a result I particularly enjoy watching JWP and Trippier as they are two players who seemingly still put the time and effort into taking them. As Commander mentioned, it's baffling why more players don't take the time to perfect it. There seem to be fewer variables in free-kick taking (i.e. there's only so many ways a wall can be set and angles from goal) than other aspects of the game, so surely it'd be worth pursuing?
I think my suspicions began from the 2015/16 season for Albion where Knocky was on free-kicks. In fact I was watching the highlights from the play-off semi-final second leg against Sheff Weds again today as I've never forgotten Knocky's excellent free-kick attempts that game (one hitting the inside of the post and another going under the wall, almost catching Westwood out). I never understood why it seemed like after that season he didn't take them anymore, and once we got to the Prem he seemed to stop shooting from outside the box altogether!
Growing up I just seem to remember Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard etc always banging them in. I still get excited when Albion have a free-kick but I have zero idea why as scoring from them has become almost non-existant. As a result I particularly enjoy watching JWP and Trippier as they are two players who seemingly still put the time and effort into taking them. As Commander mentioned, it's baffling why more players don't take the time to perfect it. There seem to be fewer variables in free-kick taking (i.e. there's only so many ways a wall can be set and angles from goal) than other aspects of the game, so surely it'd be worth pursuing?
