Unai Emery

[astonvilla82]

Not getting my hopes up about Uani, because with previous managers I won't be let down again with expections

Be careful not to spill that half empty glass

don't worry I won't

[Toronto Villa]

yet we have in that time we have had many players who have more than enough ability to score directly. In our time back we have had Conor, Coutinho, Digne, Ash to name a few

[DeKuip]

Our failure to score direct from a free kick is all down to piss poor technique rather than any coaching. If Luiz can get them on target when all he can see is the outside of one post, you'd think he'd do a bit better when he can see the whole of the goal.

Yeah I don’t get that either.

You don’t get a wall in front of you at a corner!. Or a draught excluder!

[LeonW]

Emery can't start until tomorrow because he's obviously got duties as the Count somewhere tonight.

[Smithy]

I meant direct

They don't get any more direct than Luiz's goal against Arsenal!

I'm not talking about corners. I get they were great and they count in the overall calculation. But we don't ever score direct free kicks which you have to think are easier than direct from a corner.

I'm sure it's to do with highlights packages and the proliferation of Internet clips, but goals from direct free-kicks are actually very rare. Only about 6% of direct free kicks result in a goal. Yes, it's exciting, and there is anticipation when we get one, but the number that are scored is actually tiny - not just for us.  If you had a direct free-kick chance in every single league game, you'd still only score two all season.

Last season, only Southampton and Newcastle scored more than one direct free kick all season, and seven teams (including us) didn't score any at all.  Ward-Prowse bagging two against us is SO incredibly rare it should probably be classified as impossible.

Compare that 6% of direct free kicks leading to a goal to corners, and it's down to about 3% - BUT - teams obviously get a lot more corners than direct free-kicks, so they will lead to more goals.  You can understand the celebrations when a set-piece routine works, because actually, it's VERY unlikely that they will.

[LukeJames]

When was our last one? I have no idea off the top of my head. Probably Hourihane at some point.

[PaulTheVillan]

When was our last one? I have no idea off the top of my head. Probably Hourihane at some point.

Alan Thompson

[PeterWithesShin]

In the PL the last one was Benteke against QPR.

[N'ZMAV]

In the PL the last one was Benteke against QPR.

Didn't Hourihane get one against Newcastle at Villa Park?

[RamboandBruno]

When was our last one? I have no idea off the top of my head. Probably Hourihane at some point.

Hourihane, Derby away November 2018 perhaps?

[LukeJames]

Yeah I think he did in one of our 2-0's. I have zero anticipation when we get a free kick in s dangerous position.

[PeterWithesShin]

In the PL the last one was Benteke against QPR.

Didn't Hourihane get one against Newcastle at Villa Park?

That wasn't a direct goal, he touched it to Grealish and then scored.

[Toronto Villa]

Rare i can accept. We redefine rate by having none since before we went down.

[Steve67]

Good luck tomorrow Unai.  Make us proud.

[Drummond]

Our failure to score direct from a free kick is all down to piss poor technique rather than any coaching. If Luiz can get them on target when all he can see is the outside of one post, you'd think he'd do a bit better when he can see the whole of the goal.

Yeah I don’t get that either.

The corner thing is a defined distance and can be practised over and over. Free kicks will always be in a slightly different place and distance so therefore harder to practise.