22 Jan 2015 11:08:07
Not sure I agree with this one.
Our very own Juan Mata has been named the deadliest free kick taker in the Premiership over the last 14 years.
As much as I love him, he wouldn't be at the top of my list on that one.
It's done on percentage fresh, so whether you agree or not statistically he has the best goals to free kicks taken ratio.
22 Jan 2015 11:59:59
Yes those are just statistics.
In our current team I think he is the best FK taker.
Better than Ronaldo, Beckham? No chance.
You need to also bare in mind that Mata has spent significantly less time in the Premier league than some other have and as such has taken less free kicks.
He is an excellent Free kick taker but to claim he is the best on the stats is only telling half the story. For one point how important where those free kicks? Were they vital goals or the third in a comfortable 3-0 win?
To sum it up he is a great free kick taker but you can't really compare so many players over such a long period of time in so many varying circumstances and come to a conclusive conclusion.
You also need to consider where those freekicks are taken from. Ronaldo & Beckham would shoot from range, whereas Mata is very niche, the position has to be just right for him to take it.
22 Jan 2015 15:31:23
Ronaldo had the ability to score a free kick from almost anywhere, and he scored some incredible goals but he was so inconsistent, for me though mata doesn't come close to beckham
22 Jan 2015 16:40:00
Shappy,
Not sure it matters what time of the match it is and whether they were vital goals, a goalkeeper doesn't let it in if they have already lost the game does he?
I think Beast is spot on with where the free kicks are taken from, Mata can only take them from one place on the pitch, I would imagine most of his free kicks have been from there.
22 Jan 2015 17:21:47
Mata scores a higher percentage of frees because his ego is so big that he shoots from ridiculas situations. If you put no wall in front of mist free kiscks taken from 30+ yards out there will still be no danger.
Ronaldo shoots from no hope positions and usually misses so if the odd one flying in and the other 98% go wide over the bar etc that does not constitute great free kick taking
Of course it matters when and how important it is.
Why do so many english players when faced one on one with the keeper in open play 15 yards out normally score yet when its a penalty shoot out one on one with the keeper from just 12 yards fluff their lines.
Its the pressure of the situation. If whether you score this free kick or not doesn't matter to the team then there is significantly less pressure on you and you can relax when shooting. Obviously certain positions on the pitch make a difference too, I can't remember Beckham scoring too many free kicks from the wide right position for example yet he gets remembered as the best and Mata who doesn't score many from the same position on the left gets berated for it.
I think a big factor is nostalgia as well. Like when you remember being at school and thinking what a great time that was, yet when you were at school you didn't like it. Our memories play tricks with us over time. We all remember those great goals scored by Beckham like the goal from the half way line, if you close your eyes you can pitch it now. Yet can you remember how many times Beckham was unsuccessful in trying to repeat the feat?
Gds is right mata only tends to take free kicks from a certain area .
Stats can be misleading
Ronaldo was never consistent with regard to our free kicks, for me the most consistent of the lot is Baines
Deeps.
22 Jan 2015 20:42:43
Well blow me down, jred :)
99
I know, it feels odd
22 Jan 2015 23:06:07
I am in shock! :)