Following a decision by Saka to take a quick free-kick just outside the box on Wednesday night got a fair bit of criticism I tried to remember our last direct free-kick goal. It seems an age since we last scored one, was it Odegaard 2 years ago - thinking Burnley?
Anyway, my research took me to the Premier League sites list of direct free-kick scorers this season. To my surprise the list only contained 7 players - all scoring just 1 each. Only 5 teams were on the list, with City and Brentford netting 2 each. Notable absences from this list were James Maddison, Kieran Trippier and James Ward-Prowse (who did score direct from a corner if I recall correctly).
There were 18 last season, 19 the season before. 25 in 19/20, 23 in 18/19
It may just be a blip, as in 20/21 there were only 15.
Is scoring directly from a free-kick a lost art? Is the list accurate? Are free-kicks just outside the box over-rated as a chance to score?
Slightly different, but I have always thought that if a ref decided a foul outside the box was denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity that instead of a red a penalty should be given to restore the OGSO. But that is another discussion.
(I did hear Harry Kane actually scored one yesterday, but until I see it with my own eyes I struggle to believe that!)
Direct free-kick goals...
posted on 21/4/24
Didn't even consider a United player once I ruled Beckham out .
posted on 21/4/24
Only 4 to win it.
I guess it wasn't that great an art anyway.
posted on 21/4/24
Eriksen I would think is up there.
posted on 21/4/24
As an aside, Ashley Young still playing!!
posted on 21/4/24
We don't see enough volleys from outside the box either. Or maybe I'm not paying attention
posted on 21/4/24
8
posted on 21/4/24
As he was lining up....I was like standard he scores here.
Cracker.
posted on 21/4/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 6 hours, 59 minutes ago
comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jü... (U3979)
posted 4 seconds ago
Trent has been out for a lot of the season and he’s great for a free kick goal.
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Scored 2 in 4 seasons according to the Premier League stats. That is the same as he scored in the 19/20 season, so a sure decline.
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This comment went well.
posted on 21/4/24
How can a comment that was factually correct go anything but well? Even 3 in 4 seasons is a worse rate than 2 in 1
posted on 21/4/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 5 minutes ago
How can a comment that was factually correct go anything but well? Even 3 in 4 seasons is a worse rate than 2 in 1
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Just in a funny coincidence that the dad you’re talking about Trent not scoring free kicks is the day he bends one into top bins