Premier League 2019-2020 we’re off

[Deleted member 15344]

Beckham from what I recall was superb early doors - excellent from a dead ball but later years seemed to be more miss than hit - the game against Greece was a perfect example , I think it was 8? Maybe more free kicks that he had that day that were poor , it’s whether a team is willing to take the risk and keep letting someone take a free kick waiting for that one to go in. Juninho was class though - seemed to remember Totti was pretty good as well

 

[Orikoru]

Mihajlovic once scored three free kicks in one game. That's a pretty decent strike rate.

 

[4LEX]

What those figures don't tell you is what their success ratio was. Beckham and Ronaldo, still, for example wouldn't let anyone else take a free kick so they had every one going. I want someone with the best score ratio, not necessarily the most goals.

That's not true on Beckham. Irwin used to take plenty and was bloody good.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

That's not true on Beckham. Irwin used to take plenty and was bloody good.

As Beckham became more 'the star' the fewer went elsewhere. When he was at Utd there were enough big players who would take the ball off him or point towards the like of Irwin, one of the best penalty takers as well in my memory. In his England shirt and when he moved on to other clubs the ball rarely went elsewhere for free kicks. As LP has pointed out in his post, he was excellent in his early career but in later years his success ratio declined quite markedly.

 

[Orikoru]

As Beckham became more 'the star' the fewer went elsewhere. When he was at Utd there were enough big players who would take the ball off him or point towards the like of Irwin, one of the best penalty takers as well in my memory. In his England shirt and when he moved on to other clubs the ball rarely went elsewhere for free kicks. As LP has pointed out in his post, he was excellent in his early career but in later years his success ratio declined quite markedly.

I don't agree with you. Maybe when he got old, but the decline happens with any player. I still don't think there was anyone else in the team good enough at free kicks to take them off him, even if he was slightly past his best. You knew he was still your best chance.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

One for fun and to keep the theme going, who in your opinion was / is your clubs best free kick taker / scorer. They could be current or historic.

For Everton I will go for Leighton Baines.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I don't agree with you. Maybe when he got old, but the decline happens with any player. I still don't think there was anyone else in the team good enough at free kicks to take them off him, even if he was slightly past his best. You knew he was still your best chance.

Absolutely fine, we are allowed to disagree. I would have liked to have seen them shared out more as people have different specialisms. Beckham was not so good when it got closer to the goal, he needed a bit of space for the ball to dip. In those instances someone else should have taken them. Equally, some teams will have one left and one right footed taker so that they covered all locations across the goal. I don't think that particularly happened, certainly for England. A one person fits all doesn't work imo.

Incidentally, I am in no way claiming that he was not top class at free kicks, that would be daft.

 

[Papas1982]

One for fun and to keep the theme going, who in your opinion was / is your clubs best free kick taker / scorer. They could be current or historic.

For Everton I will go for Leighton Baines.

Le Tissier, not sure he actually scored too many tbh, but he also hit a good corner (scored) and had assists from em too.

 

[Orikoru]

Absolutely fine, we are allowed to disagree. I would have liked to have seen them shared out more as people have different specialisms. Beckham was not so good when it got closer to the goal, he needed a bit of space for the ball to dip. In those instances someone else should have taken them. Equally, some teams will have one left and one right footed taker so that they covered all locations across the goal. I don't think that particularly happened, certainly for England. A one person fits all doesn't work imo.

Incidentally, I am in no way claiming that he was not top class at free kicks, that would be daft.

I guess everyone has their ups and downs, I just don't remember there being any other good takers waiting in the wings or anything. Especially not left-footers... the only left-footer in the team was Ashley Cole wasn't it!

One for fun and to keep the theme going, who in your opinion was / is your clubs best free kick taker / scorer. They could be current or historic.

For Everton I will go for Leighton Baines.

Great shout, Baines had a lethal left peg. Shame Cole was keeping him out of the England side, lol. For Spurs we had Eriksen who great at them for a time, but then he went about 2 years without scoring one at one stage. Obviously before him we had Bale who used to bang them in for us when he was at his peak. Before Bale though we had years without a regular good free kick taker. Van der Vaart must have netted a couple back in the day I'm sure. Kyle Walker even netted two I think that I can remember. I remember Jenas scoring a couple.

Actually one thing that annoys me is that Kane takes loads of ours, and as far as I can recall he has only scored one free kick ever, and that was a massive deflection. He must be scoring them in training, or just none of the other players are willing to tell him he can't have it.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1232991227404001281

?‍??

 

[fundy]

Henry the best at Arsenal Ive seen (no real surprise), weve struggled for a dead ball "specialist" since tbh, even xhaka gets a go nowadays lol

 

[Deleted member 1740]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1232991227404001281

?‍??

That was ***,cringe and funny all in one.

Cant wait for the PL title winning one #unbearable

 

[Dan2501]

I mean, it was pretty cringe. Firmino was great, Robertson actually delivered his lines pretty well and was actually quite funny, enjoyed the "Cap-Aldi" line. A lot funnier than I thought it'd be, wanted to hate it but couldn't, fair play.

 

[Liverbirdie]

His technique was actually the original proper knuckleball. I suspect he missed a lot more than he scored but we only saw highlights in that era from France. Although he could manipulate the ball in a more traditional way too.

With freekicks I really don't get why players can't mix it up. Close ones under the wall or clipped, mid range a mix with the whipped Beckham type and the knuckleball or thunderb*tard from range.

The best freekick takers in England from the last 20 years were Beckham and Ian Harte IMO.

I dont get why they dont pass a ball sideways more, say 3-4 yards away to an incoming shooter.

Okay you may get 1-2 others who may throw themselves in the way of the new line of shot, but it wont be 4 or 5.

They may even still deflect in past the keeper - lets call it the "Lampard".

 

[Orikoru]

I dont get why they dont pass a ball sideways more, say 3-4 yards away to an incoming shooter.

Okay you may get 1-2 others who may throw themselves in the way of the new line of shot, but it wont be 4 or 5.

They may even still deflect in past the keeper - lets call it the "Lampard".

You've reminded me of something that bugs me on free kicks. If it's over 25 yards out I don't see why they bother putting up a wall. Whenever someone scores from that range they dip it over the wall to the side of the goal that the keeper isn't covering and he has no chance. But if he just sacked off the wall and stood dead centre of the goal it would have to be some strike to beat a keeper with a dead ball from that distance wouldn't it?

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I mean, it was pretty cringe. Firmino was great, Robertson actually delivered his lines pretty well and was actually quite funny, enjoyed the "Cap-Aldi" line. A lot funnier than I thought it'd be, wanted to hate it but couldn't, fair play.

My favourite was Curtis Jones' suggestion......obviously anything to wind a few blooos up is a winner in my book?

 

[fundy]

Pretty sure this is as strong a side as Arteta thinks he can pick currently so no arguments if thats not enough. Which minute am i calling for Torreira lol

 

[USER1999]

I am not sure about Ceballos in the Torreira role, except it is very attacking. Given how rubbish Olympiacos were, maybe this is good. Score loads or go home.

 

[fundy]

I am not sure about Ceballos in the Torreira role, except it is very attacking. Given how rubbish Olympiacos were, maybe this is good. Score loads or go home.

like to see Torreira back there and Ceballos in either Xhaka or Ozils role tbh

 

[Kellfire]

What’s your opinion of Fernandes so far now, @Liverpoolphil ?