90% my ar5e. This is where the last 3-4 years have clouded your judgement. In the prem his free kicks were consistently on target. And your memory's so bad you cant even remember I'm the only one who's mentioned Drogba! please log in to view this image
I think the last two years of his time at Man Utd as muddied your view. He was brilliant in those final two seasons but shocking before that. Of course, all players have to learn their way, even Beckham got better with age!
Its not like Beckham was the first player of that type in the English game, its that he got showcased because of his club and because of his status as a style and fashion icon. His deadball skills and passing accuracy are unquestionable.
Toure had an awesome reckon last year from direct free kicks to be fair. You can quite easily sort this out by finding some stats about conversion for direct free kick etc
Shocking at free-kicks? I think last 3 years (2006-2009) he certainly improved and just got better and better. He wasnt as good at dead balls before then and he was also lower down the pecking order with Giggs taking most. Dont think that mrans he was shocking though. Are you on a wum about gerrard? It's not always about goals scored from deadballs, its also all round distribution, accuracy and goalscoring opportunities created.
Are we talking about set times periods for players then? I was on the understanding we were discussing players during their entire PL career. Gerrard's hit a few decent freekicks (ie they went it) but he's in no way the best freekick taker when considering his whole career. I would say he was one of the cleverest freekick takers though, rarely whipped, powered and curled it, usually pick a spot that the keeper wouldn't reach but that meant e often missed the target too. Loved the pass into the corner ones he took a few years back though. RE; shocking / C.Ronaldo... he used to try and power them and blazed most over, sometimes miles wide too. It wasn't until later in his Man Utd career that he mastered them.
No contest, have to be Charlie Adam: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Dead ball covers all aspects not just direct free kicks so.... Beckham is the correct answer. Phil Jones a close second.
Free kicks - shooting, clearly Beckham But for me John Arne has to be in there For corners and passing free kicks, Jan Molby
Wow this list: Ronaldo is shocking at free kicks. he'll score a worldie 1 in 30 free kicks and then everyone will cream themselves (a bit like when rooney scores a free kick). Granted he's a class act and can do most things but free kicks he should be staying away from. Beckham was the most deadly set piece taker from corners and putting free kick crosses into the box. Direct Free Kicks though i'd say he was good, one of the best but not right up there. I can't remember myself much as i was fairly young but my teacher mentioned Zola was a fantastic free kick taker. Anyone confirm? Suarez last year when he finally kicked Gerrard off free kick duty showed how good hes set pieces were. It's a shame he only showed us for one year but he was fantastic as scoring them! Yaya Toure was sick at them last year too but he's slowed down a bit this year so going to have to put him within the 1 season wonders So my list: 1. Suarez 2. Beckham 3.Still early but i'm chucking in Christian Eriksen, everytime i see a free kick for Spurs i'm thinking this is a great chance 4. Mata 5. Solano
Yeh Gerrard was sh1t Nah, I havent questioned what you said but you seem to have missed the point I was making about gerrard that I've highlighted above. It's not just goals scored.
From Arsenal Henry, Van Persie and Pires all had pretty mean free kicks.(a few peaches from ozil and Sanchez this season but it's too early to include them yet). Overall it has to be Beckham though.
