Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos. All of these men have been considered 'dead-ball specialists'. We have seen many spectacular goals from each of these from free-kicks, and it has become an essential to have such a player in your team. Very much like in rugby or American football, kicking has become an ever-more important aspect to football. Over the past few years, goals from free kicks has been fairly stable in the Premier League, with several players renowned for their ability, but few outside those beginning to chip in. However, this season, free kicks have taken a much more important role, and we have seen many players who you would not consider 'dead ball specialists' score them.
Looking at statistics, we can see that during the 2011/2012 season, 29 direct free kicks were scored, with Sunderland scoring the most (5). After just 15 games of the 2013/14 season, the total of free kicks scored has reached a staggering 20. If free kicks continue to be scored at this rate, we will see over 40 goals from free kicks this season, setting an all-time Premier League record.
So who has been scoring all of these free kicks? Though they may be top of the table and have marksmen like Podolski and Ozil to take them, Arsenal are yet to contribute to the free kick goal tally. Aston Villa have two, and both have been scored by the same man. Leandro Bacuna, the relatively unknown midfielder before this season, with spectacular efforts against Manchester City and Cardiff City, made himself well known to the Villa fans, and Premier League viewers around the world. Cardiff and Crystal Palace, like Arsenal are yet to score from one, but a familiar name in Frank Lampard has registered for Chelsea. Everton also contribute two from a single player, and Leighton Baines scored them both in the same match! Turning the game on its head, his two brilliant set pieces ensured Everton would leave West Ham with all three points.
Fulham have struggled to score goals all season, so that they do not appear on the list is unsurprising. Hull also do not feature, but Liverpool certainly do. In Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard they have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to free kicks, and the pair have not failed to deliver, with Gerrard scoring one against Hull, and Suarez contributing two, against Everton and in a four goal display against Norwich. Free-scoring Manchester City have been most prolific from dead balls, but not from the usual sources. Aleksandar Kolorov and David Silva are the club's recognised free kick takers, but Alvaro Negredo's goal against Swansea, and Yaya Toure's incredible haul of three, against Newcastle, Hull and Norwich, mean that Manuel Pellegrini may want to review his set piece takers! Manchester United have contributed with three, with Wayne Rooney scoring all, against Crystal Palace, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion.
Newcastle, despite having an excellent taker in Yohan Cabaye, have failed to register a free kick yet this season, whilst Robert Snodgrass has added one for Norwich City. Southampton's resident specialist, Rickie Lambert has added another one for his collection, whilst Stoke have had efforts from Marko Arnautovic and Jermaine Pennant. Sunderland, despite their previous supremacy in this area, have also failed to score from a free kick this term. Swansea, West Brom and West Ham all have also failed to register, whilst Kyle Walker's recent effort against Manchester United is the only free kick from Spurs. Nevertheless, this is already nearly as many as the whole of 2011/2012, despite neither Gareth Bale nor Cristiano Ronaldo being in the league.
What could be causing this? If we were seeing players like Robin van Persie or Luis Suarez scoring more free-kicks, we could simply put it down to increasing player ability or speciality, but it is not. We are seeing a plethora of players scoring from free-kicks, many of whom have either never or infrequently scored from them before. Could it be to do with the ball? There have been complaints from goalkeepers in recent years that the balls move in the air far too much, making it impossible to track the path of the ball. However, has the ball changed so drastically over the past two years that it could account for the rapid increase in goals from direct free kicks? I think not. If we compare free kicks stats from now to those from the 1970's and 80's, then we could explain it that way, but two years is too little time.
However, another explanation may go some way to explaining it. Over the last decade, football has become less and less physical, with challenges often resulting in free kicks. Clubs have therefore cottoned on to the fact that dead balls are going to be of greater importance than ever before. As a result, further training has been done to improve the free kicks of a wide range of players. Whereas 10 years ago, perhaps only one or two specialist free kick takers would be used for dead balls, now any one of six or seven may be used. The correct accuracy and power will take time to perfect, so two years can make a massive difference in this time frame. This may not be the whole explanation, but I believe it goes some way to explaining the recent trend of free kick goals in the Premier League.
This season has been truly record-breaking in terms of free kicks, and to do it without some of the greatest free kick takers in the world is astonishing. However, such is the importance of free kicks in football, I feel this will slowly become the norm. It will be extremely interesting to see if this trend continues over the next few seasons, as this will determine whether it was a flash in the pan, or if we are seeing the hard work on the training ground come to fruition in the Premier League. This may be the Year of the Free-Kick, but it may also be the beginning of a free-kick dynasty.
Analysis of sporting events, talking points and controversies.
Sunday 8 December 2013
World Cup 2014 Draw: 1982 Revisited?
After a month's sabbatical (whilst I attempted to find my full-time career, which I am glad to say I have), I am back and writing! And what an event to restart my blogs with. Despite it feeling like a matter of nano-seconds since the extra-time volley from Andres Iniesta secured Spain's first World Cup success, Brazil 2014 is just around the corner. With the South American state being the undisputed mecca of world football (international at least), each of the 32 qualifiers will have been hoping for a kind draw to prolong their experience of the footballing carnival atmosphere. And on Friday (alongside rather muted claims of racism), the sides discovered their fates.
For England, after a hard-fought campaign, whose place in the finals were once again decided on just the final day against Poland, hopes of a kind draw were particularly strong. Going through a period widely described as a 'transition period' (I hate that phrase), after struggling in South Africa and in a seemingly simple qualifying group for Brazil, little is expected for the Three Lions this time around. At least in the minds of the sane anyway. In a BBC poll taken directly before the draw was made, a delusional 5.2% of people tipped England to win the World Cup. That made them 8th favourites! If we look at this positively, at least 95% of the British people can be considered sane. But to place England in the top quarter of teams is ridiculous. As we saw in the pair of friendlies last month, both Germany and Chile are better than us. I think we can also safely assume that we cannot be expected to compete with sides like Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and with rising sides like Uruguay, Columbia and Belgium all seeming to have far too much momentum for Roy Hodgson's men, 8th seems unlikely. Outside that list, European giants in Portugal, Italy, France and Holland. A kind draw was imperative.
And so onto the draw, and my predictions for each of the groups:
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
One of my favourite groups. Competitive throughout, and though the hosts may have the advantage, the second spot is well and truly up for grabs. None of the three sides had particularly good qualifying campaigns, with all struggling in the playoffs. I would expect Brazil to progress as group winners, and purely on experience I will pick Mexico for spot number two.
Group B: Spain, Holland, Chile, Australia
I feel so sorry for the Aussies. Though they may be obliterating our cricket side down under, but they have been dealt a ridiculous hand for the World Cup. The reigning champions and the runners up, with the Alexis Sanchez-inspired Chile, makes up an incredibly tough task. Though for the neutrals this group will be interesting, as I could conceivably see Holland exit at this stage, the two Europeans are favourites to progress.
Group C: Columbia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
One of the more cut-and-dried groups. Though Japan may seem capable of springing a surprise, Ivory Coast and Columbia must be favourites to progress. Unfortunately for Greece, despite their recent improvement, I can see them getting the dreaded nul point in Brazil.
Group D: Uruguay, England, Costa Rica, Italy
Though 5.2% (and I suspect more) of England fans will not want to admit it, this too appears to be a fairly obvious choice. Uruguay, with one of the greatest strike forces in world football (for those of you that do not follow football, that is Paris Saint Germain's Edinson Cavani and Liverpool's Luis Suarez. But if you don't follow football, that probably means nothing to you either!) And Italy, the side that eliminated England from Euro 2012, and with a rejuvenated Mario Balotelli since his move to Milan. Though Costa Rica will be the proverbial whipping boys of the group, I expect England to suffer their first group stage exit since 1982.
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
The group that England wanted. And typical it should fall to France. So enigmatic in international competitions in recent years, we have seen France reach the final of two of the last five World Cups, but they have also perished in the group stage of the same amount. The other three have never really had much success in recent years, with Switzerland's rise into the top 8 of world football being greeted with derision by many. I think that France will return to their best to take top spot, and after a hard scrap, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ecuador in second.
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzagovina, Iran, Nigeria
At least we will be able to see the skills of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero on show, because Argentina should cruise through this group, scoring plenty of goals in the process. The competition's only debutants, Bosnia, should also feel relatively confident about their chances to progress, as neither Iran nor Nigeria fill international football sides with dread. I think those two will progess, and the Bosnian fairytale can continue.
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Another intriguing prospect. The two European giants will be the favourites to progress, but we have seen what happens to Portugal when Ronaldo gets isolated. The Iberians are too often reliant on the Real Madrid striker, and I would imagine that Ghana, though not back by a continent like 4 years ago, will be there to capitalise should the Portuguese stutter.
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
Belgium's meteoric rise has been commented on by many, as they have been the side to slip under the radar for the majority of the qualifying campaign. With the likes of Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku and Simon Mignolet, they have some of the Premier League's best players, and I would expect them to progress easily here. Russia would be my second choice, as though we hear little of them in the years between, they seem to turn up for international competitions.
As I mentioned, England have not failed to progress from a World Cup group since 1982. However, I would argue that they have not had a weaker squad since that point than the one we find ourselves with at present. Though the future looks promising, with youngsters like Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshere and Ravel Morrison making headlines in the Premier League this season, we may have to go through a spell of under-performing before we return to the knockout phases once more.
For England, after a hard-fought campaign, whose place in the finals were once again decided on just the final day against Poland, hopes of a kind draw were particularly strong. Going through a period widely described as a 'transition period' (I hate that phrase), after struggling in South Africa and in a seemingly simple qualifying group for Brazil, little is expected for the Three Lions this time around. At least in the minds of the sane anyway. In a BBC poll taken directly before the draw was made, a delusional 5.2% of people tipped England to win the World Cup. That made them 8th favourites! If we look at this positively, at least 95% of the British people can be considered sane. But to place England in the top quarter of teams is ridiculous. As we saw in the pair of friendlies last month, both Germany and Chile are better than us. I think we can also safely assume that we cannot be expected to compete with sides like Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and with rising sides like Uruguay, Columbia and Belgium all seeming to have far too much momentum for Roy Hodgson's men, 8th seems unlikely. Outside that list, European giants in Portugal, Italy, France and Holland. A kind draw was imperative.
And so onto the draw, and my predictions for each of the groups:
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
One of my favourite groups. Competitive throughout, and though the hosts may have the advantage, the second spot is well and truly up for grabs. None of the three sides had particularly good qualifying campaigns, with all struggling in the playoffs. I would expect Brazil to progress as group winners, and purely on experience I will pick Mexico for spot number two.
Group B: Spain, Holland, Chile, Australia
I feel so sorry for the Aussies. Though they may be obliterating our cricket side down under, but they have been dealt a ridiculous hand for the World Cup. The reigning champions and the runners up, with the Alexis Sanchez-inspired Chile, makes up an incredibly tough task. Though for the neutrals this group will be interesting, as I could conceivably see Holland exit at this stage, the two Europeans are favourites to progress.
Group C: Columbia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
One of the more cut-and-dried groups. Though Japan may seem capable of springing a surprise, Ivory Coast and Columbia must be favourites to progress. Unfortunately for Greece, despite their recent improvement, I can see them getting the dreaded nul point in Brazil.
Group D: Uruguay, England, Costa Rica, Italy
Though 5.2% (and I suspect more) of England fans will not want to admit it, this too appears to be a fairly obvious choice. Uruguay, with one of the greatest strike forces in world football (for those of you that do not follow football, that is Paris Saint Germain's Edinson Cavani and Liverpool's Luis Suarez. But if you don't follow football, that probably means nothing to you either!) And Italy, the side that eliminated England from Euro 2012, and with a rejuvenated Mario Balotelli since his move to Milan. Though Costa Rica will be the proverbial whipping boys of the group, I expect England to suffer their first group stage exit since 1982.
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
The group that England wanted. And typical it should fall to France. So enigmatic in international competitions in recent years, we have seen France reach the final of two of the last five World Cups, but they have also perished in the group stage of the same amount. The other three have never really had much success in recent years, with Switzerland's rise into the top 8 of world football being greeted with derision by many. I think that France will return to their best to take top spot, and after a hard scrap, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ecuador in second.
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzagovina, Iran, Nigeria
At least we will be able to see the skills of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero on show, because Argentina should cruise through this group, scoring plenty of goals in the process. The competition's only debutants, Bosnia, should also feel relatively confident about their chances to progress, as neither Iran nor Nigeria fill international football sides with dread. I think those two will progess, and the Bosnian fairytale can continue.
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Another intriguing prospect. The two European giants will be the favourites to progress, but we have seen what happens to Portugal when Ronaldo gets isolated. The Iberians are too often reliant on the Real Madrid striker, and I would imagine that Ghana, though not back by a continent like 4 years ago, will be there to capitalise should the Portuguese stutter.
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea
Belgium's meteoric rise has been commented on by many, as they have been the side to slip under the radar for the majority of the qualifying campaign. With the likes of Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku and Simon Mignolet, they have some of the Premier League's best players, and I would expect them to progress easily here. Russia would be my second choice, as though we hear little of them in the years between, they seem to turn up for international competitions.
As I mentioned, England have not failed to progress from a World Cup group since 1982. However, I would argue that they have not had a weaker squad since that point than the one we find ourselves with at present. Though the future looks promising, with youngsters like Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshere and Ravel Morrison making headlines in the Premier League this season, we may have to go through a spell of under-performing before we return to the knockout phases once more.
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