Players lying down behind the wall during a free-kick

[Solius]

Why is this becoming so much more common?

I swear there's been about 3 free-kicks that have been scored under the wall in the history of football, yet it seems like this defensive move happens during almost every FK in the Prem right now.

 

[The Oracle]

Classic case of 'Monkey see, monkey do'

...especially with every game being on TV at the moment

"Oh that might work, let's give it a try"

 

[wr8_utd]

I saw this kind of become a regular thing in La Liga after Messi's free kick exploits over the last year or two (and the one he scored under the wall). It feels like teams almost always have a player under the wall now for his free kicks. Seems to be spreading elsewhere too.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Yea feck Fred.

 

[Havak]

I remember Ronaldo sliding one under the wall for us, but how long ago was that now? It didn't start a trend then.

I haven't watched much of the other leagues for a while, maybe there has been a surge of free kicks being scored under a jumping wall elsewhere? If so, it was only a matter of time until someone like De Bruyne or Bruno tried it.

 

[big rons sovereign]

Maybe they should start hanging from the crossbar in the corners too.

 

[Eckers99]

This and the sneaky mouth covering are 2 of modern football's most irritating trends.

 

[horsechoker]

Can't wait until the players hold up a team mate to make the wall even taller

Or maybe each man in the wall gives a team mate a piggyback that way you could make an 8-9 foot wall.

 

[Lay]

Anderson distracting the goalkeeper is the best tactic

 

[just4fun]

Hand ball VAR penalty on this..

 

[The Oracle]

This and the sneaky mouth covering are 2 of modern football's most irritating trends.

Yeah I thought that much when I noticed it during the Newcastle v Fulham match earlier, a player was doing it when talking to the referee

 

[OleBoiii]

One day some poor fecker is gonna get stamped on by 4 teammates. And it's gonna be glorious.

 

[sillwuka]

Fred will trip up one of players leading to an own goal, I can see it so clearly.

 

[big rons sovereign]

Yeah I thought that much when I noticed it during the Newcastle v Fulham match earlier, a player was doing it when talking to the referee

Pretty sure it started back when one of the lad mags used to use lip-readers on games and print the juicy stuff each week.

 

[Red_toad]

Wait until an attacker trips over them and they give away a penalty!

 

[predator]

If it stops an under the wall goal then its a good trick.

 

[JJ12]

Matter of time before it results in a penalty - hand ball is my guess

 

[charlenefan]

Why is this becoming so much more common?

I swear there's been about 3 free-kicks that have been scored under the wall in the history of football, yet it seems like this defensive move happens during almost every FK in the Prem right now.

Yep they do this but no one puts a fecking man on the post at corners anymore

The games gone

 

[Cheech Wizard]

Wasn't you guys one of the first that started this? I remember McTominay kneeling against Southampton last season I think and Ward-prowse scored over the wall anyway. Could've been another team but it sticks out in memory because of Mark Goldbridge.

Now it's morphed in the plank technique. Arsenal & Fulham today.

 

[The Oracle]

Pretty sure it started back when one of the lad mags used to use lip-readers on games and print the juicy stuff each week.

Ha no way, I remember that now from my Nut's and Zoo magazine reading days!

 

[Spaghetti]

It started when players began trying more under the wall free kicks, which led to walls being reluctant to jump and, therefore, more over-the-wall goals being scored.

The player lying behind just covers that option and allows the wall to jump in confidence. It works in my opinion.

There probably will be a Christmas DVD moment with it at some point, but the player lying down is very quick to bounce up after the kick being taken.

You haters should get used to it, because it’s not going away.

 

[Withnail]

Anderson distracting the goalkeeper is the best tactic

That was quality

 

[Shane88]

This and the sneaky mouth covering are 2 of modern football's most irritating trends.

That's weird but I get it. You'll have everyone on Twitter lip-reading, being nosey cnuts.

 

[VeevaVee]

This and the sneaky mouth covering are 2 of modern football's most irritating trends.

Yes! It’s just that. A trend. You’d think the manager would tell them to be more useful

 

[Hansi Fick]

It really is strange, and I guess we will have to assume that there's such a thing as fashion trends also in the realm of defending football set pieces

 

[Chief123]

Why is this becoming so much more common?

I swear there's been about 3 free-kicks that have been scored under the wall in the history of football, yet it seems like this defensive move happens during almost every FK in the Prem right now.

To be honest, I’m surprised it’s not been done for every free kick much sooner. It makes complete sense. It doesn’t really affect you negatively by having a guy on the floor. But it helps positively in that the whole wall can afford to jump and not worry about the low shot. It also means the GK does have to gamble as much because it would have to be something special to go in the goal on the wall side if the whole wall jumps.

So yeah surprised it’s taken this long to see it happen so often.

 

[JJ12]

That's weird but I get it. You'll have everyone on Twitter lip-reading, being nosey cnuts.

I remember we won the title years ago and MOTD were lip reading Beckham celebrating on the pitch and they guessed he said ‘I’ve had offers’ or ‘I’m gone’ - can’t remember which.

As if he would speak about that, at that time.

 

[Red00012]

Worse than a defender with his hands behind his back trying to defend

 

[nuanced]

Maybe they should start hanging from the crossbar in the corners too.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

I'm surprised teams didn't start doing it sooner. Especially with free kicks right on the edge of the 18 where it is very hard to get it up and over the wall and still keep it on target. There may not be a lot of "under the wall goals" but having that guy lie there takes that option away. After all, in those cases it's because a shot is being taken so it's not like that guy lying down should be marking someone...

 

[Mindhunter]

Now I get it. Duh!! I was intrigued to find a defender lying on the pitch in the aftermath of a free-kick. It's an expedient way of blocking the under the wall free kicks but I would like to see statistics around how many of them are scored per season. I don't think there are very many to be honest.

I personally don't like it to be honest. Any new thing that eliminates a path to goal is bad for the game in my opinion.

 

[Tapori]

I want some one on the posts

 

[P-Nut]

I was sure this got banned at the same time they said attacking players had to be 1m away from the wall

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Can't wait until the players hold up a team mate to make the wall even taller

Or maybe each man in the wall gives a team mate a piggyback that way you could make an 8-9 foot wall.

That's low level.

Medium level - sitting on shoulders.

Spoiler

Highest Level - standing on shoulders.

Spoiler

 

[Van Piorsing]

On the other day, Anderson trying to obstruct Szczęsny's sight was borderline experimental.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

The problem is not players laying down behind the wall during a free kick. It is a good time to rest, for few minutes. And yes to block cheeky ground shot.

The problem is they're not making it cool, it's insulting, the least they can do is make cool poses.
For examples...

Spoiler

 

[renandstimpyfan83]

It really does look ridiculous and probably does more harm than good as the guy lying down is basically taken out of the game. The previous fad of the guy running back onto the line was equally daft and just seemed to cause chaos and confusion in his own defence.

I also think it’s time we questioned the orthodoxy of the wall in general. There are instances where it is necessary but not every free kick situation requires a wall.

 

[Needham]

This and the sneaky mouth covering are 2 of modern football's most irritating trends.

Plus players being excessively friendly with each other pre and post match.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

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[Superden]

I watched that clip for 3 mins. Just waiting for the fk to be taken..