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Is it possible to have "too many" left footers?

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
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We seem to have a make up of left footers in our team that we haven't seen the likes of before, and I wondered if this can cause problems?

It occurred to me yesterday as there was a couple if occasions where Dembele didn't notice an easy ball to the left to an overlapping player and chose the natural route for him which was cut inside.

I also noticed a few occasions when Bale, Dembele and Holtby got caught in very tight passing triangle without any real outball due to wanting to go in the same direction.

Lastly there where a few occasions when a ball was played into space but at the wrong angle for the on running playe (I.e lefty played it forward with a natural rightwards curl which the other lefty tried to stretch with his left foot to reach but missed, rather than letting it run to his right foot)

Now I'm sure you could have a whole team of right or left footed players and succeed but once we add BAE and Vertonghen to yesterday's lineup that's half of our team that are leftys!

Does anyone with more tactical knowledge than me know if this could cause a problem or infact be beneficial?
 

Damian99

Well-Known Member
Mar 17, 2005
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Now I'm sure you could have a whole team of right or left footed players and succeed but once we add BAE and Vertonghen to yesterday's lineup that's half of our team that are leftys!

Can't see a problem really, as surely the other half must be "rightys" :confused:
 

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
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Can't see a problem really, as surely the other half must be "rightys" :confused:

Agreed, but what if all the "creative players" are leftys? I'm not saying it is definitely issue but I'm bored at work and when watching yesterday it caught my attention.
 

Damian99

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Mar 17, 2005
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Agreed, but what if all the "creative players" are leftys? I'm not saying it is definitely issue but I'm bored at work and when watching yesterday it caught my attention.

Dude you must be extremely bored ;). It shouldn't really ever be a problem as professional footballers should (i know it's not always the case)be able to play, pass, shoot with their so called weaker foot.
 

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
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Dude you must be extremely bored ;). It shouldn't really ever be a problem as professional footballers should (i know it's not always the case)be able to play, pass, shoot with their so called weaker foot.

Yup incredibly bored! Do any other teams have as many starting leftys as we do?
 

mattdefoe

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2009
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watch holland teams at there best mate and that will answer your question over the years.

Rafa
Rvp
Robben
David's

To name a few have played in sides full of leftys no different to a team full of rightys
 

Yid121

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
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IF THE LEFT FOOTEDNESS MAKES AN OUNCE OF DIFFERENCE..I think it's actually an advantage given we need to get the ball to the left side and Bale as often as we can!!!!
 

Gilzeanking

Well-Known Member
May 7, 2005
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I'm slightly more concerned about the one footedness of many players . As soon as JD gets the ball I'm thinking , shit , hows he gonna get that on his right foot to shoot...same with Lennon...shit , hows he gonna cross from there ? its on his left foot .
Same with the lefties like Bale . These guys don't seem to trust their 'weaker' foot if they can possibly avoid it . It makes players much more predictable .

Thing is that they often have good 'weaker ' feet . JD has scored plenty with his left , AL has a nice low shot to the near post when he turns inside .

As to having too many lefties , it may be poss mathematically to prove that a team of left footers could only do circular moves...
but maths is not my subject...and we have plenty of righties anyway .
 

sim0n

King of Prussia
Jan 29, 2005
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nope,... not possible to have too many left footers.... scientifically proven :playful:
 

AngerManagement

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2004
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I don't think there's an excuse for any top level footballer to not be effective with either foot

George Best had a weaker foot so he worked on it so long and so hard that it became his dominant foot
 

chinaman

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Jul 19, 2003
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In baseball, left-handed pitchers are seen to have a slight advantage as batters are more used to facing right-handers. Not sure whether left footers have any advantage?
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
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Personally I do think it is advantageous to have one of each stronger foot in all the central positions - CB. CM ST.
 

Matthew Wyatt

Call me Boris
Aug 3, 2007
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IF THE LEFT FOOTEDNESS MAKES AN OUNCE OF DIFFERENCE..I think it's actually an advantage given we need to get the ball to the left side and Bale as often as we can!!!!
But it's right-footed players who more naturally push the ball to the left.

In baseball, left-handed pitchers are seen to have a slight advantage as batters are more used to facing right-handers. Not sure whether left footers have any advantage?
Same in cricket. Lefties are over represented in sport when you consider them as a proportion of the general population.
 

Yid121

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
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But it's right-footed players who more naturally push the ball to the left.
Explain please...?!?!

Dembele always dribbles to the left as he is left footed.... Left wingers play on the left as they run down the left side, if they're on the right they cut into the middle-side (so their left).
 
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