An Ode to the Toe Poke
Barcelona came back to beat Chelsea and Milan was thoroughly professional in getting an away goal and keeping ManU at bay. A good day.
While sitting and watching the Milan game at Jack Demsey's, an innocuous little play in the 68th minute set me thinking. Wayne Rooney had the ball. He was charging down the touchline on the left. He got past Kaladze. Threatened to cross it into the box, and was all set to let it rip - no one in the frame on the TV set. What followed is: A flash of white appeared on the bottom right of the screen. An AC Milan sock and boot - that effortlessly (or so it seemed) poked the ball away from 'the Wayne'.... away from danger... crisis thwarted - even before it germinated.
How many times have we been told and taught and shown that we kick, pass and shoot from the side of the foot, or the ball of the foot for power?! The exception is the toe poke. A potentially disastrous move to your foot if done in any situation other than that which warrants it. There are many toe pokes (or shots from the front of the foot - but the toe poke with no real power in it - that's a thing of beauty!).
The defenders' lunge: This outstretched piece of poetry - best displayed by Maldini and Nesta... is a result of sheer timing. A fraction early, and the ball is dragged away. A fraction late, and the ball has left. It is the one play that could make the difference between 0-0 and 4-0. It is performed about 5-10 times a game... depending on how often the ball is brought to a stop in the "danger zone". No one has mastered it quite like the Italians. A thing of beauty - especially for the defenders. If there's one reason I've listed it first... it's because defenders always get the short stick - and I figured I (being primarily a defender myself) should pay homage to the oft-overlooked move.
The scorer's poke: Also called the Kluivert poke.... no one does it better or more often. This is opportunism at its best. It is done as effectively the minute you come on as following 89 mins of play. Probably why it's the most common method of scoring - by the super-substitutes. It could be the result of a great cross, a spill by the keeper and/or a run across the face of the goalmouth. Almost always a goal - almost always credited to the one person who barely got his foot to the ball.
The Nip-in-the-Bud: This is usually the most effective play by a defender or defensive midfielder. The attacking playmaker is looking to let the ball fly - presumably to a waiting striker. The defender (or midfielder) ignores the many shimmies and focusses steadfastly on the ball. At the point of the ball's ascent, a well judged poke causes the ball to fly harmlessly away - into touch or into open play. Another one of those plays that rarely makes the highlight reels... but a technique few have mastered.
The sliding boomerang: Boomerang for two reasons - it is usually followed by a surge from defending side...a swift counterattack.... and because the slider's foot has to be retracted just as quickly as it is put forward. In the modern game, the ball-handler is only too happy to take a dive at the slightest of touches. A steady, dependable sliding toe poke can cause a dramatic shift in momentum.
The Goalkeeper's save: Usually outside the box or at the edge of it - where the use of hands may be dubious or off-limits. Needless to say, this can often save games!!
There are numerous other instances where it may be employed... and it is always a thing to watch. I really do think it should be taught a lot more at the grassroots level.
While sitting and watching the Milan game at Jack Demsey's, an innocuous little play in the 68th minute set me thinking. Wayne Rooney had the ball. He was charging down the touchline on the left. He got past Kaladze. Threatened to cross it into the box, and was all set to let it rip - no one in the frame on the TV set. What followed is: A flash of white appeared on the bottom right of the screen. An AC Milan sock and boot - that effortlessly (or so it seemed) poked the ball away from 'the Wayne'.... away from danger... crisis thwarted - even before it germinated.
How many times have we been told and taught and shown that we kick, pass and shoot from the side of the foot, or the ball of the foot for power?! The exception is the toe poke. A potentially disastrous move to your foot if done in any situation other than that which warrants it. There are many toe pokes (or shots from the front of the foot - but the toe poke with no real power in it - that's a thing of beauty!).
The defenders' lunge: This outstretched piece of poetry - best displayed by Maldini and Nesta... is a result of sheer timing. A fraction early, and the ball is dragged away. A fraction late, and the ball has left. It is the one play that could make the difference between 0-0 and 4-0. It is performed about 5-10 times a game... depending on how often the ball is brought to a stop in the "danger zone". No one has mastered it quite like the Italians. A thing of beauty - especially for the defenders. If there's one reason I've listed it first... it's because defenders always get the short stick - and I figured I (being primarily a defender myself) should pay homage to the oft-overlooked move.
The scorer's poke: Also called the Kluivert poke.... no one does it better or more often. This is opportunism at its best. It is done as effectively the minute you come on as following 89 mins of play. Probably why it's the most common method of scoring - by the super-substitutes. It could be the result of a great cross, a spill by the keeper and/or a run across the face of the goalmouth. Almost always a goal - almost always credited to the one person who barely got his foot to the ball.
The Nip-in-the-Bud: This is usually the most effective play by a defender or defensive midfielder. The attacking playmaker is looking to let the ball fly - presumably to a waiting striker. The defender (or midfielder) ignores the many shimmies and focusses steadfastly on the ball. At the point of the ball's ascent, a well judged poke causes the ball to fly harmlessly away - into touch or into open play. Another one of those plays that rarely makes the highlight reels... but a technique few have mastered.
The sliding boomerang: Boomerang for two reasons - it is usually followed by a surge from defending side...a swift counterattack.... and because the slider's foot has to be retracted just as quickly as it is put forward. In the modern game, the ball-handler is only too happy to take a dive at the slightest of touches. A steady, dependable sliding toe poke can cause a dramatic shift in momentum.
The Goalkeeper's save: Usually outside the box or at the edge of it - where the use of hands may be dubious or off-limits. Needless to say, this can often save games!!
There are numerous other instances where it may be employed... and it is always a thing to watch. I really do think it should be taught a lot more at the grassroots level.
posted by Harish at 16:56
2 Comments:
Actually, the reason the poke is not taught to kids, is because it is the last line, kind of a thing.
The basic advantage of a poke is that it is an extremely quick-action thingie, and you hardly need a backlift for it, and no follow through either. So the real effectiveness of it comes at a goalmouth melee. And the real scare too. Anybody knows why I have a broken right toe? That is the reason.
And Sups, forget the defender's dive.... how did you like Zizou's dive?
Hmm... true. It's a last resort thing. But I still think it should be taught. I hurt my foot a number of times as well - until I got the hang of when and how to do it. It's sort of like a drop shot in tennis. It's not to be used a lot - and is risky... but when it has to be done - it has to be done. And it can't just be picked up on the field with no prior practice. It needs to become a reflex action... through practice.
Post a Comment
<< Home