One-footedness

[Madmax 9,219]

An aspect of our roster and thus, play in general that really surprises and disappoints me. Cole, Zhirkov, McEachran, Sturridge, Malouda, Essien ... the list goes on. Time and again we see players getting into threatening positions, only to be closed down swiftly, thanks in part to how one-footed they are. You have to take an extra moment or two to steady yourself and make a decision on what to do with the possession. Inevitably, the ball is passed backwards again and we've got to start from scratch. Too much to expect atleast a decent weaker foot from top-of-the-line professionals at a club like Chelsea?

Thoughts?

[- 25 - 167]

I think the problem is in their heads, not their feet. Either that or the fact that our team is so static sometimes, there seem to be few options going forward.

[eldo 868]

Josh isn't really one footed.

[Liquidator 5,176]

As -25- mentioned it could be a problem in their heads. it could be that 2 footedness is not worked on in training and so they dont have the confidence to use their weak foot. If you look at Barcelona in attacking positions there is so much movement from every player so they have more than one option

[Madmax 9,219]

If confidence is all that they're lacking, surely they could practise those drills in training?

[manpe 10,861]

I've thought about it too. Some footballing legend said a while back, that for him the best players are those who are two-footed, because they virtually have no weaknesses. I think it's players choose to be in their comfort zone and try to be as good as they can with their better foot, because it's easier and less time consuming for them. And it's not a problem in Chelsea only, top class players all over the world are mostly one-footed, some more than others... You must give credit to the likes of C.Ronaldo though, he takes free-kicks with his left when needed. It frustrates me too when a player gets into a good shooting or crossing position, just to see him fumble the ball as he's trying to get it on his better side... Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But it definitely shows lack of confidence in a player on his weaker side. Many world-class players are one-footed and have adapted their game so that it doesn't bother them too much... although it's always better to be able to surprise the defenders when they don't know from which side you are going to cut in... I noticed that problem a lot with Robben, for example. Defenders mostly know his moving pattern, but he has the skill to shake them off... Messi is similar.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Using both feet is something you learn while developing as a young player. This is defnitely a problem here at CFC. Zhirkov, Malouda, Sturridge, Cole, Kakuta... how often do they kick a ball with their right foot ?

Their technique makes it easier for opposition defenders to close down and don't give them a lot of space.Full backs usually know which side Malouda or Sturridge are gonna pick to dribble.

You can have one or two players on the pitch who use only one foot, but others must be able to control and pass the ball with both feet(just like Barcelona does with Messi). Balance is key.

[Madmax 9,219]

I've only ever played when having a kickabout with mates, so obviously I don't have the first idea about what it takes to play 'proper', organised football. But self-development not in a player's psyche? An interesting article about the same, for those interested - http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/7413/38/

[madalista 30]

Josh isn't really one footed.

he is one-footed...and it isnt ideal in a central midfielder...he should really improve on using his right foot

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Madmax raises an excellent point. Sturridge is far too one-footed to play on the right. As a winger you get to the byline and cross in on the near foot.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I'm really annoyed because I can't remember who said this now..

But I think it was Lampard or Terry who said, under Ranieri they were made to practice with both feet till the weaker was not that weak. He even said he wished similar would happen now, but it does not. He said it really helped because they could easily improvise in tight situations with the other foot giving them a better advantage vs the opponent. I think it was Terry who said it, come to think of it. But it's certainly something to applaud for the Tinker.

[Wilson 358]

Fuck off get Malouda off that list. He is left footed but has improved with his right extremely well.

[bombayblue™ 55]

Remember Robben? Wasn't too bad for a one footed player was he?

Then there's always Giggs amongst a host of one footed players who have made it to the top.

[SeB 1,281]

Cole, Zhirkov, McEachran, Sturridge, Malouda, Essien ...

Thoughts?

All the players you quote are left footed, I don't know if you have ever noticed that left footed players, especially good ones, have a very very good left foot and a right foot a bit weaker... For a left footed man, it's easier to have a very very good left foot rather both ones ; a right footed hasn't the same difficulties to work on his two. Left footed have often a best left foot than the right foot of a right footed player. Even with the training, a right footed will not reach necessarily the level of the left footed player and his left foot

I don't know if I was understood...

I think -25- is right, the lack of movement in the team makes the players giving the ball to the defenders rather than go forward and try relays (?) so they use their best foot.

I think the problem is in their heads, not their feet. Either that or the fact that our team is so static sometimes, there seem to be few options going forward.

Cole hasn't really the necessity to have two excellent feet. On the other hand it's more problematic with Sturridge (even if he can score good goals with his right foot, as vs Ipswich Town ; he can also miss some great opportunity he should have took with his right foot, I saw some ones during his spell at Bolton). With Malouda I think the problem is wider, his entire atitude has changed a lot for the last 12 months ; he plays differently, as an off centered offensive midfielder whereas he played more as a winger in 2009/2010... He doesn't defends as much as before, he keeps being useless offensively on the build up of the goals, the next to last pass before the goal... But he uses exclusively his left foot maybi because he becames lazy ?

[Styles 9,790]

There are plenty of players that are predominately one footed and it doesn’t hinder them in the slightest. Somebody like Xavi for instance almost always only uses his right foot and nobody would dare say he is a bad player because of it.

The players have problems are the ones that lack dexterity and speed of thought. Sadly quite a few of our players seem to fall into this catergory.