Should most free kicks be defended without a wall?

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Reply 20

internetguru

I thought about this a while ago but then decided that without the wall it would be even worst.

Reply 21

DeanoGk1

Original post by Vintage

Not sure about without a wall. But why do teams not keep a man on each post for free-kicks nowadays. I know its for offsides. But as a former goalkeeper, I always liked a man on each post. If its on target its normally in the corners. So could be easily blocked on the line?

1 simple reason not to have defenders on the posts for free kicks it will obviously encourage the attacking players to also sit on the posts or goal line as the they can't be offside it's different for corners which is normal to have defensive players on both posts or 1 post because you can't be offside from a corner as the ball is played sideways not forward........It will become common practice that goalkeepers will not set defensive walls when faci ng freekicks all the previous posts don't get the fact that all players will have to be level with the ball and not at all be in the goalkeepers way because if the attacking players are forward of the ball there offside as soon as the ball is either passed forward or struck forward with a direct shot at the keeper which has complete sight of the ball from the second it leaves the takers foot.

Reply 22

DeanoGk1

Original post by TrulyEpicLawls

It seems far too often the goalkeeper lets in a free kick because he has to properly react only when the ball is past the wall. Without a wall, he can watch the ball right from the kick.

Perhaps a wall was a good idea at first, but now the football world has more experience of placing free kicks and getting it past a wall, especially with certain players, surely it's better to let the keeper see it all the way. The vast, vast majority of goals are scored in the penalty area, the vast, vast majority of distant shots balloon over the goal or are hit right at the keeper. The vast majority of long-range shots on target are saved. I also think the vast majority of long-range goals happen thanks to the power of surprise and unexpected flair, rather than preparation and knowing where the shot is coming from and when.

While a few free kicks hit the wall, would more be saved if there was no wall?

Especially for the ones even further away than the edge of the penalty area, that still for some reason has a wall setup. If the guy's going to shoot from all the way over there, the keeper would have no trouble stopping it unless it's beyond his reach somehow.