Dead ball specialist

Are these a dying breed?

Who's the best in the Premiership?

Beckham imo peaked in 1999-2000 and even in his last couple of years at Man U (let alone since) was overhyped as a free-kick taker.

Liverpool don't have a direct free-kick wizard. The closest we've had in recent years has been Gary McAllister (still remember his 40+ yard marvel against Everton and his UEFA-Cup winner).

Is this another casualty of the increasing drive for pace and physicality at the expense of ball skills?

Laurent Robert was the daddy, we all know that.

Ballack wrote: Frank Lampard is the best in the Prem

If that's true its a terrifying thought Ballack. Lampard is of the Shearer 'thump it really hard' school.

Ronaldo pulled off a couple of good ones last season but I don't recall any this term.

I think these days its more about delivery than directness.

Roger Hunt wrote:

Ballack wrote: Frank Lampard is the best in the Prem

If that's true its a terrifying thought Ballack. Lampard is of the Shearer 'thump it really hard' school.

Ronaldo pulled off a couple of good ones last season but I don't recall any this term.

Shearer usually "thumped it really hard" right into one of the corners, are you suggesting that's easy?

Robin van Persie is the best in England.

Bale is coming ,heard he takes it well , Baines isnt that bad.
Who else , Van Persie I think.

Agooner wrote:Robin van Persie is the best in England.

I made a bet with myself that you would say that. I win.

Kimbo wrote:Laurent Robert was the daddy, we all know that.

But inconsistent I think? You watched him more than me Kimbo.

In recent years I'd find it hard to choose between Juninho Pernambuco and Zidane. The latter's free kick against England (?) in Euro 2004 was just unstoppable.

Being fair van Persie is a very stong candidate.

His corners are superb and he scored some good freekicks in the last campaign.

pederson's pretty good if i remember right

Solano is one, but he doesn't seem to take them anymore. Emre takes them and he is shite at it. He's still living off that free kick against the mackems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-iBB5cExg

Ballack wrote:

Agooner wrote:Robin van Persie is the best in England.

I made a bet with myself that you would say that. I win.

I also made a bet with myself someone is going to comment on me associating "the best" with an arsenal player. So i win

MGP is an excellent set piece taker.

debaser wrote:pederson's pretty good if i remember right

another good candidate, Bentley is another.

Kimbo wrote: Shearer usually "thumped it really hard" right into one of the corners, are you suggesting that's easy?

Its easier than hitting one hard that really bends to deceive the keeper and still ends up in the corner.

Roger Hunt wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Laurent Robert was the daddy, we all know that.

But inconsistent I think? You watched him more than me Kimbo.

In recent years I'd find it hard to choose between Juninho Pernambuco and Zidane. The latter's free kick against England (?) in Euro 2004 was just unstoppable.

I'd say he was the best during his first season here, 01/02, then he got lazy and big headed, but even then he would bang in a free kick every now and then.

I remember thinking every time we had a free kick in the final 3rd that there was a good chance we could score from it. He didn't need a particular angle(like Beckham), he could either curl it in or go for a Carlos style piledriver.

Yes I can remember a few MOTD specials. I was actually quite upset when you signed him, thought he'd have been good for us.

Roger Hunt wrote:Yes I can remember a few MOTD specials. I was actually quite upset when you signed him, thought he'd have been good for us.

We only signed him because Zenden backed out of a deal at the last minute to sign for Chelsea, close shave.

Pederson.

Shame it's really the only thing he's excellent at.

Aye Robert & Solano were ace from dead-balls. Add Sheare into the mix, and you had every type of free-kick threat coming from Newcastle in those days.

At Spurs we don't really have anyone. Jenas is still living off a couple from last season - and Huddlestone is more about corners & deliveries than pot-shots at goals.

Bale could change all that, however

I'd Say Van Persie is very good, as is MGP. An underrated set-piece taker, IMO is Geremi of Chelsea. Remember an absolute cracker he scored against 'pool at Anfield when he was at Boro.

It will be Bale next season if he joins Spurs or Man U.

He's scored 4 free-kick goals for us this season, and has hit the woodwork countless other times.

Van Persie...
Not biased his free kicks have swerve and unbelievably power...
Henry isnt bad at all either.

Ronaldo's free kicks are the most overrated (im not sure if they're actually rated, but they are just $h!t).

Kevin mk 2 wrote:
Ronaldo's free kicks are the most overrated (im not sure if they're actually rated, but they are just $h!t).

Are we on to worst free kick takers then?

Parks lives wrote:

Kevin mk 2 wrote:
Ronaldo's free kicks are the most overrated (im not sure if they're actually rated, but they are just $h!t).

Are we on to worst free kick takers then?

Aren't i allowed to voice a fucking opinion?
its called a digression.

He's hit a couple of good ones this season - against Pompey I seem to remember one - but he does seem to hit the ball really hard and rely on the changing shape of the ball to create swerve, rather than spinning it - which means if its on target it's damn near unstoppable but if it isnt its in the stands.

But what was the fucking point of that?

It's like me saying Nesta is the best centre back (in the best centre backs thread) but Senderos is the worst.

Spastic.

Calm down children.

You can look forward to uniting to take the piss out of me tomorrow if we lose.

Kevin mk 2 wrote:

Parks lives wrote:

Kevin mk 2 wrote:
Ronaldo's free kicks are the most overrated (im not sure if they're actually rated, but they are just $h!t).

Are we on to worst free kick takers then?

Aren't i allowed to voice a fucking opinion?
its called a digression.

digestion*