Free-kick specialists

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Alfreton14Blade

Alfreton14Blade

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Anyone reckon that - like they do with kickers or punters in American football - we should just bring Morgs on as specialist free-kick taker whenever we get a free-kick on the edge of the box? :p

Been a while since we've had a proper free-kick specialist. Jose hasn't really stepped up to the mark. Who was the last one we had? - Beattie maybe?
 



Baxter scored a ridiculous one v Oldham, then proceeded to do naff all from dozens. I'd be interested to see what Adams could do from free kicks. Seems to have a good shot and can weight a pass.
 
Makes you wonder what these kids do all day. If I were a first year pro, I'd practice free kicks every day, like Bale and Ronaldo do.
I read criticism of Clough having a go at MM for not staying behind and practising his shooting. Too right, you get one chance, one opportunity to be the best you can. If you don't grasp it with both hands then you're letting yourself down and committing yourself to a lifetime of mediocrity.
Even if I didn't like Clough, I'd want to work with him on my weaknesses, he was a top striker in his day. He could teach stuff to help you become a PL striker, play for your country and make a stupid amount of money.
 
I recall Jon Harley scoring a couple (Leeds at home and Crewe away in 2004/05 spring to mind?).

So he did at least provide us with something other than a basic Santos-style chant
 
Harley's goal against Leeds was stunning. The most notable thing about that game though was that it featured a genuinely great Ashley Ward performance (he got the other goal). That was the only one I ever saw from him, although apparently he was superb in an away win at West Brom.
 
Guesty said:
Tony McMahon scored two in a game away at Crawley. Did he maybe get one other as well?
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As a sort-of BladesMad veteran I can confirm that Tony McMahon has his supporters over there (or, rather, supporter).

He did take a decent free-kick, admittedly. His only redeeming feature, mind.
 
Alfreton14Blade said:
As a sort-of BladesMad veteran I can confirm that Tony McMahon has his supporters over there (or, rather, supporter).

He did take a decent free-kick, admittedly. His only redeeming feature, mind.
Click to expand...

Having just slagged off Clough on another thread I'm happy to admit one of his better traits was to immediately rid the club of knob heads who he felt would adversely affect team spirit.

McMahon was apparently a big 'I am' which Clough saw through straight away and him and Brandy were immediately out of the door.
 
McMahon, no doubt about it, was a Bjelland.

We've had far too many of them recently.
 
Guesty said:
Harley's goal against Leeds was stunning. The most notable thing about that game though was that it featured a genuinely great Ashley Ward performance (he got the other goal). That was the only one I ever saw from him, although apparently he was superb in an away win at West Brom.
Click to expand...

I've had a pretty stressful day at work and it's nearly time to go home. I have obviously mis-read this post so I'll return to it tomorrow with fresh eyes. For a minute I thought I'd seen the words "genuinely great A***** W*** performance". Time to go as my eyes are obviously fucked.
 



Grecian2000 said:
I've had a pretty stressful day at work and it's nearly time to go home. I have obviously mis-read this post so I'll return to it tomorrow with fresh eyes. For a minute I thought I'd seen the words "genuinely great A***** W*** performance". Time to go as my eyes are obviously fucked.
Click to expand...

Well that's why it sticks in my mind!

I had a mate at school who would swear blind, week in, week out, that Ashley Ward was better than Wayne Allison.

Even after Allison's magnificent performance away at Gillingham (on Sky, Peschisolido hat-trick), he tried to turn it around - 'Guesty, if Ashley Ward had played like that you'd still have said he was shit!'. But Ward never did play like that did he?
 
Our free kick specialists since 1970 (those who have scored direct from free-kicks or from short free kicks)

1970-78 - Alan Woodward
1978-82 - John Matthews
1982-86 - Tony Kenworthy/Keith Edwards
1986-88 - Mark Dempsey
1988-91 - cant think of one
1991-96 - Glyn Hodges
1997-99 - Vas Borbokis
2000-04 - Michael Brown
2004-07 - Michael Tonge
2007-09 - James Beattie
2011-12 - Ched Evans
2012-13 - Tony McMahon

Woody was the best by miles, Borbokis was 2nd and Brown 3rd
 
Silent Blade said:
Our free kick specialists since 1970 (those who have scored direct from free-kicks or from short free kicks)

1988-91 - cant think of one
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Early Bassett era, the reason you're struggling is that we didn't get free kicks but did give plenty away - in Bassett's own words - one of our players would have to get gang raped in the box to get a pen.

John Gannon maybe?
 
coaxingstar71 said:
Early Bassett era, the reason you're struggling is that we didn't get free kicks but did give plenty away - in Bassett's own words - one of our players would have to get gang raped in the box to get a pen.

John Gannon maybe?
Click to expand...
Dont remember Gannon scoring direct from a free kick or from a short free kick
 
BushBlade said:
I read criticism of Clough having a go at MM for not staying behind and practising his shooting. Too right, you get one chance, one opportunity to be the best you can.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that was Lyle Taylor. Went off to get a tattoo instead. Although you're right, Nige probably blamed McNulty for it. :)
 
IOM Blade said:
Pretty sure that was Lyle Taylor. Went off to get a tattoo instead. Although you're right, Nige probably blamed McNulty for it. :)
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Yeah, definitely McNulty's fault, he told Taylor to do it.
Think you're right though, waste of space he was.
 
Taylor lashed in one of the most ridiculous strikes I've ever seen at the Lane from somewhere out near the JSS touchline.

It was symptomatic of his complete inability to make an impact that it came just after the ref blew his whistle to stop play. :)
 
JohnDenver said:
Taylor lashed in one of the most ridiculous strikes I've ever seen at the Lane from somewhere out near the JSS touchline.

It was symptomatic of his complete inability to make an impact that it came just after the ref blew his whistle to stop play. :)
Click to expand...

Similarly he best performance came as a sub away to Coventry in a match we'd already lost before he stepped onto the pitch.
 
Ben Davies scored about one didn't he? Not exactly specialist material.

I'm sure Stephen Quinn got a few. He had great technique and was particularly good at getting the ball to dip once it was over the wall if the kick was right on the edge of the area.
 
Latters said:
I'm sure Stephen Quinn got a few. He had great technique and was particularly good at getting the ball to dip once it was over the wall if the kick was right on the edge of the area.
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Yes, against Portsmouth in 2006-07
 
De Girolamo just hit the underside of the bar with a Free Kick apparently. I don't want to be previous, but our next Free Kick specialist has definitely just arrived.
 



Latters said:
I think I remember him scoring a good goal at home against Villa in the Premier League as well, but that might have been a volley. Something else he was pretty good at.
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Yes, his goal against Villa was a volley. His FK goal against Pompey was at the Lane End but I remember him scoring a FK at the Kop End in the dying minutes a season or two later in the Championship but we were losing at the time and am trying to remember who were the opponents
 
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