Saints players that are two footed

[Graffito]

Never ceases to surprise me that footballers can enter an academy at a very young age and benefit from years of coaching and training provided by the best available coaches and by the time they break into the first team the majority seem still to be predominantly one footed. Whereas left handers and left footers in sport probably have an advantage, it seems to me a far greater advantage to be equally good on both sides. Which Saints players would you describe as two footed? Does it even matter if a player is one footed e.g. Maradona?

[Saint-Armstrong]

Lallana. Lambert can certainly finish with his left, he showed that at Palace away especially.

[Alain Perrin]

AFIK they all have two feet.

[GAS]

Never ceases to surprise me that footballers can enter an academy at a very young age and benefit from years of coaching and training provided by the best available coaches and by the time they break into the first team the majority seem still to be predominantly one footed. Whereas left handers and left footers in sport probably have an advantage, it seems to me a far greater advantage to be equally good on both sides. Which Saints players would you describe as two footed? Does it even matter if a player is one footed e.g. Maradona?

I would say in the modern game to be both footed is becoming a must. The speed of the game makes it beneficial for a player to have two good feet and therefore have essentially two options when receiving and giving the ball. The pedestrian and predictable nature of England's international team I think upholds this?

[Turkish]

It's true you know. Most people I know learnt to write at the age of about 5 and have been writing all their lives, some are In their 60s and 70s. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people with 50 years writing experience that can only write with one hand. It's outrageous.

[Graffito]

Lallana. Lambert can certainly finish with his left, he showed that at Palace away especially.

I had those two in mind and coincidentally, perhaps, our two best players. Schneiderlin maybe? How's Ramirez?

[GAS]

Lallana. Lambert can certainly finish with his left, he showed that at Palace away especially.

Yes, and I'd say without question our two best players (Schneiderlin there also).

[Saint_clark]

Mayuka is meant to be good with both feet.

[ericofarabia]

Brian O'Neil back in the 70's.

Most of his tackles were two footed and normally about shin height

[Golden Balls]

It annoys me so much that professionals at a very high level are so one footed.
It's not a difficult skill to learn either. I grew up right footed but wasn't exactly the most naturally gifted player. I worked on my left foot and after time became as good, if not better with my left. This was as a teenager and led me to one point playing at a far higher level that I should have really. Playing with both feet meant I could play in more positions meaning I always got a start.

[Turkish]

Look at Rocky Balboa. He was a south paw but to fool Apollo Creed he learnt to fight right handed. I reckon we should make players train for hours and hour where they are only allowed to play using their wrong foot. If some illiterate Itie who started life in a meat factory can do it it should be easy for highly paid and pampered soccerballists.

[Window Cleaner]

Look at Rocky Balboa. He was a south paw but to fool Apollo Creed he learnt to fight right handed. I reckon we should make players train for hours and hour where they are only allowed to play using their wrong foot. If some illiterate Itie who started life in a meat factory can do it it should be easy for highly paid and pampered soccerballists.

Using the "wrong foot" only for long periods is a bog standard coaching technique for young players. In fact I'd doubt whether
any young player would get into a pro academy without being able to use both feet adequately. It's what happens in the academies that's important, developping the mental that lets you use either foot instinctively according to the situation at hand.

[scotty]

Using the "wrong foot" only for long periods is a bog standard coaching technique for young players. In fact I'd doubt whether
any young player would get into a pro academy without being able to use both feet adequately. It's what happens in the academies that's important, developping the mental that lets you use either foot instinctively according to the situation at hand.

Thats the point though, isnt it, somebody naturally right or left sided will always be more effective using that side. Most players could spend all of their training hours trying to become as adept at using their wrong foot as their natural side, and it isn't going to happen. Unless you happen to be genuinely ambidextrous, like Ronnie O'Sullivan, your natural side will always be stronger. That theory was tested for years when left-handed kids at school were forced to write right-handed.

[supersonic]

Lambert is one-footed. He may have scored a goal v Palace with his left foot but most touches are with his right.

I wouldn't say we have one player who looks completely comfortable kicking with either foot. Lallana/Cork/Morgan are probably our best.

One reason why Hammond isn't with us anymore.

We do have some players on our books who don't look like they are either footed

[supersonic]

Thats the point though, isnt it, somebody naturally right or left sided will always be more effective using that side. Most players could spend all of their training hours trying to become as adept at using their wrong foot as their natural side, and it isn't going to happen. Unless you happen to be genuinely ambidextrous, like Ronnie O'Sullivan, your natural side will always be stronger. That theory was tested for years when left-handed kids at school were forced to write right-handed.

Pedersen at Blackburn was right footed but his Dad told him he wouldn't make it pro unless he became left footed. His left foot is now his strongest foot

[VectisSaint]

Does it even matter if a player is one footed e.g. Maradona?

Not when you can use your hands instead. Cheating b'stard.

[Graffito]

Pedersen at Blackburn was right footed but his Dad told him he wouldn't make it pro unless he became left footed. His left foot is now his strongest foot

There are fewer left footers so there's an immediate advantage in being considered so sensible advice. There are advantages too during play considering that the opposition will be predominantly right footed. Not sure they are so great as they appear to be in cricket.

[supersonic]

There are fewer left footers so there's an immediate advantage in being considered so sensible advice. There are advantages too during play considering that the opposition will be predominantly right footed. Not sure they are so great as they appear to be in cricket.

Left footers definitely help, they help to give more balance to a team. A right footed player will automatically look to go right, and defenders know this. If you have a left footer who will go the other way, can open up new opportunities.

Left footed players tend to be more creative too

[tpbury]

You need to be able to at least whack the ball with your wrong foot. I've dinned this in to my 10 year old and he's got a few goals this way. MLT rarely shot with his left however, preferring to sit the defenders on their arse before a right foot cracker. It is not difficult to make your wrong peg into an effective weapon - takes about 4 weeks.

[ant]

There are fewer left footers

Gah, I wish that were always the case. 3 or 4 LM/LW players in the team I play for which makes chances more limited!

Anyway I suppose it depends on the most commonly held definition of two-footed. At the top of this thread it says equally good with both but I've always taken it to mean having an adequate, perfunctory weaker foot? Clyne seems to be able to cope with using his left, although even when playing at LB he was more often tempted back onto his right.

Mayuka gets 4/5 on FIFA for his weak foot although EA are partly informed by the fans so that could be tosh.

[captainchris]

It's true you know. Most people I know learnt to write at the age of about 5 and have been writing all their lives, some are In their 60s and 70s. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people with 50 years writing experience that can only write with one hand. It's outrageous.

Your sarcastic analogy is completely out of context. Any professional footballer should be able to kick with both feet, you cannot play football one footed....unless you six and haven't yet learnt to kick with both feet! If you find yourself in the fortunate position of being a professional footballer and one footed you should practice, practice, practice until you can do it.....

[Graffito]

Left footers definitely help, they help to give more balance to a team. A right footed player will automatically look to go right, and defenders know this. If you have a left footer who will go the other way, can open up new opportunities.

Left footed players tend to be more creative too

There's something about the angle left footers run at defenders, think Gareth Bale who just seems to wrong foot defenders even though he's very direct, or maybe it's the body position of defenders as they address left footers they are less used to playing against.

[hypochondriac]

Your sarcastic analogy is completely out of context. Any professional footballer should be able to kick with both feet, you cannot play football one footed....unless you six and haven't yet learnt to kick with both feet! If you find yourself in the fortunate position of being a professional footballer and one footed you should practice, practice, practice until you can do it.....

Odd then that you have players that play on certain sides. Almost as if they have a favoured foot...

[Turkish]

Pedersen at Blackburn was right footed but his Dad told him he wouldn't make it pro unless he became left footed. His left foot is now his strongest foot

He's the standard of player all of ours should be trying to emulate.

[skintsaint]

Your sarcastic analogy is completely out of context. Any professional footballer should be able to kick with both feet, you cannot play football one footed....unless you six and haven't yet learnt to kick with both feet! If you find yourself in the fortunate position of being a professional footballer and one footed you should practice, practice, practice until you can do it.....

Well Valencia does alright, In all the Utd games I've seen him in he has never used his left foot....

[Turkish]

Well Valencia does alright, In all the Utd games I've seen him in he has never used his left foot....

I bet he wishes he was as good as Morten Gamst Pedersen.

[Golden Balls]

Your sarcastic analogy is completely out of context. Any professional footballer should be able to kick with both feet, you cannot play football one footed....unless you six and haven't yet learnt to kick with both feet! If you find yourself in the fortunate position of being a professional footballer and one footed you should practice, practice, practice until you can do it.....

Why bite?

[eurosaint]

Your sarcastic analogy is completely out of context. Any professional footballer should be able to kick with both feet, you cannot play football one footed....unless you six and haven't yet learnt to kick with both feet! If you find yourself in the fortunate position of being a professional footballer and one footed you should practice, practice, practice until you can do it.....

Ashley Cole is reputed to be one of (if not the!) best full backs in the world !
I can't remember seeing him even 'touch' the ball with his right foot !
(not saying that this is right, mind!).

[david in sweden]

Lallana.

well.? I really like Lallana's playing style and he doesn't look out of place in the Prem.either ....BUT on several occasions I've seen him waste chances when in good shooting positions inside the box ..he needed
time to change foot and get it onto his right foot....by which time the chance had gone, or the eventual shot was blocked.

I've seen it happen more than once and asked myself the same question ..if he's two-footed . WHY ?

[david in sweden]

[QUOTE=Turkish;1500078] It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people with 50 years writing experience that can only write with one hand. It's outrageous.[/QUOTE]


I think you've missed (or maybe didn't know about)....
..... the fact that there was..(hopefully not still) ..an active campaign amongst generations of teachers in different lands to discourage pupils from writing with their left hand.

Don't laugh now...One of my (adult) son's is naturally left-handed, but teachers in his infant school actively tried to "change him " and even suggested that he was " handicapped " in some way as he was unable to write clearly .... with his right hand. He got one of the best-rated diplomas in his college, and plays guitar to an excellent standard.

Another man I know, had a similar experience when growing up in a country in the Middle East.....he was even punished when attempting to write left-handed.
He was by no means " handicapped " either intellectually or physically and now works as a diplomat for his country.

Before comdemning all us " oldies ", you should understand that " left-handed " people were actively persecuted for many past generations .

For the record, I am right-handed and can just about hold a fork correctly with my left.. and do most of my typing right-handed.

[david in sweden]

.....and as an additional fact; somewhere between 20% -25 % ** of mankind (and womankind too, I presume) ...are naturally left-handed....but not necessarily left-footed.

The aforementioned son (above #30) is naturally left-handed, but kicks only with his right foot.

Given those sort of stats.**..... it means that (in normal circumstances) we would have about 4-5 natural " lefties" in the squad, unless we go out of our way to recruit more than the average.

[Saint Luke]

Has taken me 4 years to get my right footed son to kick with his left foot with confidence.
It comes with practice.
They need to go for the 'weaker' foot instinctively - if thye have to think about it then they're not quite there yet.
My son still has some way to go but has scored 2 goals this season with his left foot - and not just tap ins.