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Author Topic: Direct free kicks  (Read 1476 times)

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mushRTID

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Direct free kicks
« on March 15, 2026, 07:52:15 am by mushRTID »
I wonder if we practise them?

A couple of shockers yesterday. I recall Lee nearly clearing the south stand roof on Tuesday.

We’ve got to get better at these, when was the last one we scored from?



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Donnywolf

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #1 on March 15, 2026, 07:56:58 am by Donnywolf »
Agree ... if we concede one in similar position I instantly fear "goal". Think Stockport

Yet we get one and I am only "hopeful"

Chris Black come back

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #2 on March 15, 2026, 07:59:58 am by Chris Black come back »
Hopeful? I know exactly what is going to happen. No need for hope!

Harrogate Rover

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #3 on March 15, 2026, 09:43:31 am by Harrogate Rover »
We've been having a 'When did we last score directly from a free kick' debate for a few weeks. I went back to Brian Stock at Elland Road, but surely that wasnt the last time?

Barmby Rover

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #4 on March 15, 2026, 09:53:17 am by Barmby Rover »
When a wall is formed why not go old school and pass it off sideways for somebody to run onto and have a blast at goal? Nobody does it now and it does depend on having a player who can shoot accurately!

RoversInSpain

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #5 on March 15, 2026, 10:13:27 am by RoversInSpain »
When a wall is formed why not go old school and pass it off sideways for somebody to run onto and have a blast at goal? Nobody does it now and it does depend on having a player who can shoot accurately!
Seems to me there’s a lot of basic play has been lost to over coaching and mangers making football more complicated than it is.
Good example of going back to basics is the big comeback of the long throw.   

NormAl

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #6 on March 15, 2026, 10:18:46 am by NormAl »
Not an excuse but the height of the Blackpool wall matched the resorts famous icon. It would have been a challenge for Messi to up and over it.

selby

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #7 on March 15, 2026, 10:22:08 am by selby »
  I bet there are a lot of keepers who regret not smacking it to the half way line from a goal kick over the last few years.

Donnywolf

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #8 on March 15, 2026, 10:32:07 am by Donnywolf »
We've been having a 'When did we last score directly from a free kick' debate for a few weeks. I went back to Brian Stock at Elland Road, but surely that wasnt the last time?

Moly scored a beauty at Morecambe recently well April 6 2024 lol


Wow , how did I remember that ?


https://youtu.be/Qa06UouVuw0?si=Ln4x5EOltemQ1vvi


There HAS to be a more recent one or two or even three
« Last Edit: March 15, 2026, 11:14:06 am by Donnywolf »

Donnywolf

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #9 on March 15, 2026, 10:38:43 am by Donnywolf »
  I bet there are a lot of keepers who regret not smacking it to the half way line from a goal kick over the last few years.

Or out of play either to the left or right !


Thorney

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #10 on March 15, 2026, 12:09:15 pm by Thorney »
They have been bad lately.

We dont even get that whoooooo (hope you get my drift) moment.

GazLaz

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #11 on March 15, 2026, 12:13:40 pm by GazLaz »
Just another detail of the game we are not very good at.

Was nice to see in swinging corners yesterday. Appears that we have got to March and realised they are more of a threat. How did they not now that in August and what led to the change in approach I wonder.

Filo

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #12 on March 15, 2026, 12:52:59 pm by Filo »
Our throw ins are on a par with our free kicks

drfchound

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #13 on March 15, 2026, 08:06:39 pm by drfchound »
I’m sure that refs used to get the wall back ten yards only a few years back.
It is very difficult for the taker to get up and over a wall which is only seven or eight yards away.

Donnywolf

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #14 on March 16, 2026, 07:01:27 am by Donnywolf »
Agree , that's another "variable" among Referees. It is supposed to be 10 yards but very rarely is.

They are inconsistent in measuring it out and I saw 2 games ago the Ref v Luton pace out 11 steps and mark the Line ( it was at South West end ) . The Luton players could be seen "creeping" and then a Luton player and Rovers player started pushing and shoving

The Ref took ages to walk to far post and when he had sorted it the Luton players had crept even nearer the ball . The foam had gone , so the Ref paced it out again and got to 8 , coincidentally where the players had crept to , stopped and then drew the line in front of where they were stood

He'd been conned and didn't think anything of it. With the Wall much closer the Free Kick was as we have noticed on this thread " compromised"

People may think "nah" but I would not be in the least bit surprised if Teams plan for such situations. To me that looked staged and how odd that Refs and Linos are so keen on making sure a Corner is taken exactly as the rules dictate yet let free kicks be taken from any arbitrary spot often 2 yards less than the 10 dictated under the rules

Donnywolf

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #15 on March 16, 2026, 07:11:24 am by Donnywolf »
And now I've started , I've noticed another Free Kick " anomaly" creeping in more and more

That of Free Kicks often in a Teams defensive half where the opposition simply stay within 5 or 6 yards of the Ball when the kicker is ready to play

The Ref makes no attempt to move the player blocking the Kick and the Lino usually with a great view does nothing and the Kicker himself never seems to protest either , meaning ( and I've seen us do this more and more recently we play the ball back or across the pitch rather than forwards.

The opposition have won and they should not have as they are supposed to be 10 yards from the ball.

However get the ball 1 millimetre out of the Corner quadrant and the Lino is watching and will make the player move it in there or Ref will walk 20 yards at SE or NW corner to check

Like me it's stupid

drfchound

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #16 on March 16, 2026, 07:14:30 am by drfchound »
It goes on all the time Wolfie.
In the Blackpool game the were two free kicks at the south stand end where the wall was only about eight yards back.
When the ref began his “count” he made three or four bigger steps then the remaining ones got ever smaller.

Petche

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #17 on March 16, 2026, 08:04:29 am by Petche »
Did'nt make the Blackpool game so not sure if anything changed but what has happened to Gotts taking set pieces? He was the 'new' danger man and he seems to have stopped getting involved as much, certainly the case against Luton.

nightporter

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #18 on March 16, 2026, 09:21:26 am by nightporter »
We need to be smarter. The conversion rate for Direct freekicks is  7%   Rest of the time is giving the ball away.

Donnywolf

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #19 on March 16, 2026, 09:44:58 am by Donnywolf »
https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=290351.msg1296983#msg1296983

This should be a 2 years old post on same subject ... Wall not at 10 yards

welloffside

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #20 on March 16, 2026, 01:07:35 pm by welloffside »


Many years ago I qualified as a ref. It was carnage and mayhem, anyway.

During the two week or so course the instructor laid out a rope on the grass and invited us each to indicate where we thought 10 yards was.

After our efforts he smugly pointed out that in fact the rope was 10 yards long. It's far more that we picture it and yes, some pro.refs. seem very relaxed about it.


idler

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #21 on March 16, 2026, 01:34:34 pm by idler »
They should issue them with one of those laser measures that builders and estate agents use. Press the button and it gives you an immediate reading.

Alan Southstand

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #22 on March 16, 2026, 01:46:30 pm by Alan Southstand »
Just give the ball to Robbie Gotts and let him have a go. Didn’t he take most of Barrow’s dead ball situations?

Barmby Rover

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #23 on March 16, 2026, 02:34:00 pm by Barmby Rover »
They have been bad lately.

We dont even get that whoooooo (hope you get my drift) moment.


Lately? set pieces are non-existent to Rovers, what amazes me id that a former goalkeeper is our set piece coach, hardly the right background for delivering the right ideas.

Lesonthewest

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #24 on March 16, 2026, 06:32:26 pm by Lesonthewest »
Just give the ball to Robbie Gotts and let him have a go. Didn’t he take most of Barrow’s dead ball situations?

Yes Alan, 9 times out of 10 Gotts is on the money with crosses & set pieces, should be 1st choice with free kicks for me.

Chris Black come back

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Re: Direct free kicks
« Reply #25 on March 16, 2026, 06:48:22 pm by Chris Black come back »
Gotts has been absolutely superb for several weeks now. Amidst obviously hardly a tsunami of contenders, he must be up there for player of the season even though he’s only actually been playing for half a season. Top player.

 

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