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Left footers

Left footers

A

Al Bumen

Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Messages
76
No left footers in the team? Given that a lot of professionals have probably been coached from the age of 7 or 8, I never understand why they aren't able to kick equally well with either foot. Think Tom Finney and Maradona.
 
Al Bumen said:
No left footers in the team? Given that a lot of professionals have probably been coached from the age of 7 or 8, I never understand why they aren't able to kick equally well with either foot. Think Tom Finney and Maradona.
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I agree and it’s a big bug bear of mine that many players clearly don’t work enough on their weaker foot - but Johnson is left footed!
 
sedgwick__7 said:
And Ben Davies.
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He is, I forgot him!

Being able to use both feet reasonably well has to be helpful in advancing your career, I think Sinclair has a more than adequate weaker foot as an example. I know I’m old fashioned but repetitive ball exercises would surely still help improve a player’s weaker side?
 
Al Bumen said:
No left footers in the team? Given that a lot of professionals have probably been coached from the age of 7 or 8, I never understand why they aren't able to kick equally well with either foot. Think Tom Finney and Maradona.
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I think all pros should be good with both feet but even a lot of prem players are woeful on their weaker foot
 
I think if you look at all the left footers in football they are generally weak with the right foot unlike right footed players who are usually ok with the left foot. Tom Finney was pretty much an exception. Messi is crap with his right , DJ is rubbish, Maradona was ok but not great. Right footed players meanwhile Pele, Ronaldo , Ronaldinho, Ronaldo , Gaza etc all had decent left feet.
 
Al Bumen said:
No left footers in the team? Given that a lot of professionals have probably been coached from the age of 7 or 8, I never understand why they aren't able to kick equally well with either foot. Think Tom Finney and Maradona.
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Maradona was enormously one-footed.

His 'legal' goal against England in 1986 involved 12 touches of the ball to travel over half the distance of the pitch, beating/outpacing 5/6 England players.

Out of those 12 touches - he didn't touch the ball with his right foot once.
 
flippinheck said:
I think if you look at all the left footers in football they are generally weak with the right foot unlike right footed players who are usually ok with the left foot. Tom Finney was pretty much an exception. Messi is crap with his right , DJ is rubbish, Maradona was ok but not great. Right footed players meanwhile Pele, Ronaldo , Ronaldinho, Ronaldo , Gaza etc all had decent left feet.
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Ah yes, the pantheon of world class left footers, Messi, Daniel Johnson and Maradona, in that order.
 
Simply Sage said:
Maradona was enormously one-footed.

His 'legal' goal against England in 1986 involved 12 touches of the ball to travel over half the distance of the pitch, beating/outpacing 5/6 England players.

Out of those 12 touches - he didn't touch the ball with his right foot once.
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Worst defending I’ve ever seen
 
As good and skilful as Maradonna was there was a clip of him doing some absolutely outstanding ball skills in a pre match warm up and he was virtually all left foot between head, shoulders feet.
What a left foot though!!
 
There was something a few years ago I read about that maradona goal v England and giggs’ goal v Arsenal. Both times being within 1/4 of a second. Giggs goal looks slower and felt like Maradona was sprinting.. think football has come on so much in the past few years
 
Simply Sage said:
Imagine if the cheating little B%$$££ could have used his right foot !!!!
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To be fair he didn't really need to other than for balance!
Unfortunately to me and many others and presumably yourself his cheating and lifestyle (he was hardly a role model) taints his legacy.
It seems that If your born left footed and half decent your going to make it as a pro and it hardly matters if your right foot is crap.
Must be some sort of discrimination, footism probably!
 
deepdaledreamer said:
To be fair he didn't really need to other than for balance!
Unfortunately to me and many others and presumably yourself his cheating and lifestyle (he was hardly a role model) taints his legacy.
It seems that If your born left footed and half decent your going to make it as a pro and it hardly matters if your right foot is crap.
Must be some sort of discrimination, footism probably!
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Yes. Only beaten by Luis Suarez for matching his skill with the more questionable of human qualities!

Mmm... apparently only 20% of people are left footed.Based on that, looking at the world greats of the last 30 years I suspect there are a disproportionate number of lefties in that club. Would make an interesting study. So maybe they are more prone to have higher-level football gifts?

Lower down the skill-scale, Yes I do think left footers have an advantage as they are in shorter supply and there's obviously less competition for the left sided positions.
 
I read that Sir Tom when told his left foot was weak, spent hours every week just constantly kicking the ball against a wall using just his left. Results, a truly two footed player.
 
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