I don't know the exact definition, but I do know that short corners and scrambles are indeed included. The exact timings used to determine whether it's "from a corner" or not are sadly a mystery from the data provider.
Here's an absolute shocker of a stat. Everyone knows it's nearly four years since Lord Almen of Abdi was the last player to score a direct free kick for us but apparently that's the only one we've ever scored in the Premier League. We've played 256 games and scored one direct free kick. Hard to believe that Daniel Toszer scored five in the season we got promoted!
What's the average number of free kicks scored per season in the Premier League (including all teams)?
I remember reading something recently, possibly on The Athletic, but I can’t remember for certain, that only 6% of direct free-kicks result in goals, and that figure has remained fairly steady over the last few years. It does feel like we don’t see as many free-kicks resulting in goals. They tend to be more memorable, but I struggle to recall the last time I saw a free-kick smashed into the top corner in any game, let alone ours.
That's my feeling on this too, hence why I'm curious as to what the stats say. Outside of the very top players I think relatively few free kicks end up converted on a regular basis (although I think we're still lower than average on that front).
After numerous players failing to convert for us from direct free kicks, maybe someone should give NP a call and try something different. Who remembers Sweden’s free kicks (could of been a European championship or WC in the 90’s ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Strange to see Deulofeu back on a couple of free kicks on Saturday. There was one with about 20 minutes left and a chance to cross, penalty area fully loaded...and his free kick didn't make it into the penalty area. Needless to say he started flapping his hands and signalling it was the other players fault and not his.
Sweden were still good at set pieces in WC 2006 - they absolutely battered us with corners in their group game with us and scored both their goals from them, after we were looking comfortable until half time and ended up lucky not to lose. Watching Watford's collapse against Everton reminded me somewhat of that game. Or maybe Sweden weren't that good but we just for whatever reason totally lost our heads as England (like Watford) are apt to do...
I've emailed my contact at Watford and offered 50% off my corner analysis services for the rest of the season. That's £250 a month. Pocket money for a PL who are statistically one of the worst teams from corners in Europe.
Well whoever is doing the job right now is not doing a good job, so I would have thought £250 pm is not a bad investment as long as you are not expecting a legal contract with the club at this stage.
Just 1 goal would make it a worthwhile investment in terms of finances. We've got Liverpool after Man Utd - I recently posted how to attack Liverpool's set-up on my Twitter: https://twitter.com/From_The_Wing/status/1224400285277343751 - the Liverpool throw-in coach then rang me to speak to me about it, the head analyst at Man City liked it among others. It's not a bad way to go.
