Scoring from outside the box

I thought for a long time that it was because of managers wanting goals to come from a number of sources. Players therefore feeling the pressure to get close to make sure before shooting.

There might to some extent reflect coaches over controlling. The by-product of this is a deterioration of Everton's play in the final third (Everton have for seasons poor comparative pass-completion rates in the final third), since now everyone in the final third is a potential shooter.

The problem is they don't have the finishing ability of a goalscorer, and the importance of the art of finishing has got lost in the coaching and training of players.

Good finishing forwards are not sought or recruited as a result – and may even be an afterthought, as this transfer window appears to show.

Apart from the Sharp Anfield goal, the other one which sticks in my memory is Kevin Ratcliffe's daisy cutter, from somewhere near the half-way line, which completely bamboozled Grobbelaar.

I think James Garner has a bit of a dig on him.

Another came from Colin Green against Leicester City from about thirty yards that flew in giving the ‘keeper, Banks? No chance and win the game 3-2. Green was a young Welshman who later went to Birmingham City.

You're are right though, Don, why don't we produce players who will “have a go”? I don't think this present squad has got a player who even tries a long-distance shot which might get a deflection, like Gordon's versus Man Utd last season!!

But plenty of managers, good ones, see having a shot as giving away possession. I remember Kendall saying much the same, taking Gary Stevens to task. "There's a time and a place," he said.

Going back 10 years or more... Baines was a culprit, we seem to have gone totally shot shy even from inside the box.

Shooooot!!!

I've always said Everton and goals has mainly always been an issue (before I get Dixie et al) I'm talking the past 40-odd years. And certainly the Premier League era.

Bilyaletdinov scored the odd screamer for us, the one v Portsmouth was an absolute belter.

Speaking of Baines, there was a free kick against Newcastle. Does that count?

Leighton Baines's Screamer! | From All Angles: Everton v Leicester City

Mirallas. Richarlison. Digne. Gomes. Bolasie. Townsend. Gray. Mykolenko. Arteta. Horne. Barkley. Gordon. Stewart. Billyaletdinov. Not to mention a few rockets for Baines and Sigurdsson

I'm sure anyone prepared to give it more thought would at least treble my list.

It most certainly does. Rooney first PL goal of course v Arsenal, but yes he scored some screamers for Man Utd.

In terms of other clubs, yes Shearer, Le Tissier, Van Persie et al could hit them, but remember Nolberto Solano?

Link

I agree with you totally. As I recall, it was played to him just outside the box, corner of Goodison Road and Gwladys Street stands. Into the far top corner and Springett didn't move.

For me, only equaled by Vargas (?) goal, again in the Street End, in Hungary v Brazil in 66

Do you remember the Roy Vernon howitzer against Man City in 1960? A night match, we won 4-2.

He let fly from well out and we were able to track the ball all the way in from behind the goal. It lodged high up in the net behind the stanchion, and the keeper, Trautman(?), had to dislodge it.

Denis Law played for City that night, and Collins and Vernon ran the show. I think the Echo the following day had the headline along the lines of' ‘Collins and Vernon take Everton to Real Madrid heights'

Lived long in my memory!

Previous seasons we are ranked about the same: 3 goals 2020-21 (James 2, Richarlison) and just 1 in 2019-20 (Sigurdsson?).

So Don is right, we don't score many of late or even try. We did score 9 in 2018-19 but my database fails me who.

Yes, I remember that goal from Steve Watson, he was way out on the touchline when he scored that goal.

Chris (18),

Sorry, I don't remember that Roy Vernon goal although I must have been at the game.

It's no coincidence it was Rooney on his return who drove one in from the half-way line. Technique is the last thing to go.

I scored 3 from the half-way line when I played but I was brilliant!

I am more concerned about our inability to score from inside the box.

Our finishing has been a concern of mine since we lost Fellaini and Lukaku, not to mention Deulofeu and Barkley. We also used to get odd contributions from Coleman and Baines.

The diificulty with scoring from long range in the current game is down to more organized defence these days IMO so the real art is finding a way through and finishing – something we're not very good at.

But yes, not often enough!! Some of our forwards haven't been able to shoot that far.

Grahame Sharp, Anfield. Mini pitch invasion.

Don Hutchinson with his back. Oh, another Derby decision that went against.

Kevin Sheedy. Anfield and the 2 fingers to the Kop.

Kevin Sheedy. Just take your pick.

Leon Osman Amazing Goal vs Manchester City

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62796999

Glad we never have any players involved in off field shenanigans. 😉

Obviously that level of violence can't possibly be condoned but there is some mitigation.

Yes, Dobson scored it in a 3-1 defeat.

A rare goal from Kevin Ratcliffe at Anfield that squirmed under Brucey Balls Up "the Clown" Grobbelaar to trickle over the line.

Gary Stevens' deflected shot in the Littlewoods Cup around the same time.

Others I can recall are upfront :-
Prekki v City around 93 or 94 at GP, Mark Ward the Arsenal, Rooney v Arsenal,at GP Steve Watson away v Bolton away, Ozzie's screamer at GP v Larissa 207/08, Jimmy Mc v Fulham at GP, 2006, Arteta freekick v Fiorentina 2008, Jags v the RS 2014, Siggy v Leicester away 2019, Arteta v the RS 2010, at GP, 19 yards, Ross v City GP 2014, Baines at The Skunks 2011, Baines free kick double v West Ham 2013, Baines vLeicester at GP 2019, Matt Jackson v Bristol City away 1995, Hinchclifee freekick away vQPR 1994, Andy is Our King v RS 1978, Villa 1976, Ronnie G v West Ham away 1976, Tricky Trevor - several home and away 1983-1988, Sheedy - numerous home and away, Andy Gray 1985 v Spurs away, Gareth Farrell v Coventry 1998, Backof the echo v Bristol City away 1999, Sharpy away v RS 1984, Sharpy v Spurs GP 1981, Lineker v City 1986 just about the edge of the box Street End, Ossie v City GP 2013, Peanuts v Villa away 2013, Zico v Norwich FAC 1986, McCall v RS 1989 FACF, Rats v RS 1986, away, Wayne Clarke's chip v Arsenal away 1987, Speed v Soton GP 1996...Snods v Derby home, 1997, Samways v Blackburn Charity Shield 1995, Zico v Chelsea away 1985, Dunc v Charlton away 1995, Wag - scorcher v Arsenal Highbury 1998?, I'm sure Inchy got a couple as well in his time at Everton. Latchford a couple from the edge of the box in his time at Everton.

I remember that one too, fantastic goal and performance. A mate and me grabbed hold of a police horse's tail and stayed behind it through lines of rabid Mancs. Thought we would rather be kicked by the horse than let the Mancs have the pleasure!

I used to have a good memory in my younger days but now I sometimes can't remember what I had for dinner. Dave Abrahams has a good memory, but I doubt that he would reel those names off as readily as you have.

The fact that you say that you can recall those games is tremendous, and every goal from a distance? I don't know how old you are, but does the name Leslie Welsh mean anything to you?

Because I was in the Anfield Road end it's difficult for me to say exactly where Olivier Dacourt was when he scored at the Kop end, but I'm quite sure it was outside of the penalty area. I had to look it up and I discovered that it was 3 April 1999 in a 3-2 defeat.

But the OP is right – we don't score many from distance compared to other teams.

Oh, and who could forget the one and only goal to start a riot?

The best of them all was Sharpie's volley at the Anfield Road end.

As it happens, last season we saw some belters from range from Gray, Townsend and Mykolenko.

This season, I expect to see Gordon, McNeil and maybe Iwobi get in on the act (although Gordon, like Pienaar previously, just doesn't seem to strike the ball with much power).

Given Lampard was a master at it, I expect it's something they're working on.

Genuinely optimistic generally after that last match. I think we're going to give someone a good hiding once a few of the new players get into a good rhythm.

'Peach' as they say.

Nothing will beat Sharpy's at Anfield though.

If my memory serves me correctly, the goal he scored in 1968 against Leicester when we won 7-1 was also from outside the penalty area. If so, it would mean that 100% of Gerry's career goals for us met Don's criterion.

- Gray's game-winner against Arsenal
- Townsend's worldly against Burnley
- Mykolenko's scything volley against Leicester
- James's superb strike against Leicester
- Baines's stoppage time equalizer against Leicester in the League Cup
- Gylfi's game-winner against Leicester (quite a few against Leicester, huh?)
- Gylfi's ridiculous midfield shot against Hadjuk Split
- Digne drilled a couple from range
- Lukaku scored a curling beauty in the first 35 seconds against Bournemouth

The fact that we remember these goals so clearly, points to Don's question. We don't score that many outside the box. And its a long time since we scored that many from inside the box as well! In the last five seasons we scored over 50, once. I remember Alex and Roy Vernon scoring round about that many between them, in our 62/63 League Championship victory.

I looked at our stats over the last 7 seasons and put in the positions that got us anywhere near the top 6 places.

21/22; 43/66

20/21 47/48

19/20 44/56

18/19 54/46 we finished 8th

17/18 44/58 " " 8th

16/17 62/44 7th

15/16 59/55 11th

Since Moyes got us into 4th place our record has slipped downwards till last season when we nearly slipped out!

What I'm hoping that, as Don as pointed out we start improving our goals for and get more form outside the box. I also want to see us get more from inside the box as well!

Hopefully, now that we have improved our defence; and our midfield looks much better, our team can improve their goalscoring as well. I think/hope that now we have a manager who was a prolific goalscorer, we can improve our goalscoring. He will, I feel sure, be seeking a goalscorer to bring in. Not that easy for us at present. We can improve our goalscoring, I think. Though even with Calvert Lewin back, I don't see us really hitting hthe 60 odd to 80 goals a season until we get at least one prolific goalscorer. Someone like Vardy or Salah would do very nicely, thank you. But the old saying is if you don't buy a ticket, you don't win a prize. I think Frank is already working on the team to shoot more; but that's where we're lacking, ever since Lukaku was sold.

PS Bill, there was also Townsend's effort against Man Utd. I thought that was the best worked goal of the season for us.

Hibbo's one and only screamer v AEK Athens in 2012 😁 and did we riot

Trying to remember if the fastest-ever goal in an FA Cup Final (25 seconds?) was also from outside the box, certainly on the edge.

How about Wayne Clarke at Highbury in the Championship run-in in '87? Great lob!

Then we had Spain with their Tippy Tappy football that seemed to suggest that the ball had to be dribbled or walked into the net. Bring back the Bobby Charlton-type strikers, I say.

I remember being soaked to the skin at that game and as we heard Wimbledon winning 2-1 at Anfield, the scenes were brilliant as it got us closer to the title. Very under-rated Wayne Clarke. Shame we was rapidly declining after that '87 season.

Link

For me, Andy King gets the crown.

(But don't depend on my memory) I certainly remember the scoreline. It was 5-1...I think! :)

Slightly of track but linked, I think it's a part of his game that Calvert-Lewin lacks.

When you compare him to Kane, he just doesn't seem to have that in his locker.

I remember that Gerry Humphreys goal too. I've never seen a better goal struck from outside the box at Goodison.

It was against Sheffield Wednesday in a 3-0 win in September 1968.

I used to stand in Goodison road with me dad when I was a kid, and I was behind him when he struck it. I have a memory of following it travel in a straight line right into the back of the net. Glorious.

When was our goal scored against Chelsea? I know it was a big letdown when Chelsea realised they had a feast day attacking down their left!

All in all, this season is looking up, and based on these goals we've all recalled, just think if the club had had as many dips in form in the last 30 years.

Form breeds confidence, and confidence provides the vision to strike, and ideally outside the box.

Let's hope for some more screamers this season, and fair credit to Dwight McNeil, for his superb effort v Kiev in the preseason friendly at Goodison Park.

One of Andy King's three consecutive goals in a derby was a one-each equaliser that's never mentioned partly because it was midweek and just a news camera there. Just outside the box at the kop end. Arguably cleaner hit than his famous one.

As for Calvert-Lewin, I'd be happy if he improves his one-on-ones and stops hitting the goalie.

Any gits older than me (I was 8 at the time) remember it?

You must have literally been standing next to me!

I used to stand on the ledge in front of the barrier in Goodison Road and was also directly in line with the ball as it carried on rising into the roof of the net. Never seen better.

The player I always thought most likely to have a shot from outside the box who was a brilliant player. The best from that era though to score consistently from outside the bow we're Man Utd's Bobby Charlton and Peter Lorimer from Leeds.

There are clearly numerous examples of goals we have scored from outside the box. The sentiment is right but, as others have pointed out, why not simply ask why don't we score enough. From anywhere?

As I type, I'm reminded of a couple of crackers from Duncan Ferguson spinning with defenders up his arse. One against the RS hammered into the bottom corner and the other against Man Utd which flew into the top corner before a world class Schmiechel could even blink.

How did a player with that much ability achieve so little?

Tim Howard's v Bolton, in a midweek Carling Cup game, at GP, Everton lost and the James Rodriguez goal v Leicester 2 years ago at GP.

Rom's sreamer v Dinamo Kiev away, Europa League 2015,

Castillo v Standard Liege Europa League - GP Europa League 2008.

Digne away v Lincoln 2019, Carabou Cup..

Dave Weirs volley v Spurs away in the League, 2002 just inside the box but distance wise on the angle was a good distance strike.

Townsend v Hull away FAC 2022, and v Burnley at GP EPL, 2021.

That was the one I had in mind, Louis Saha, which I believe still stands as the fastest in a Cup Final but not sure which side of the line he stood.

Isn't Tuesday is egg & chips, Jim, or left over blind scouse?

I'm not suggesting he feigned injury or didn't want to play. Nor for one minute doubting his commitment when he took to the field of play.

But he definitely didn't seem happy being in the spotlight of top flight football and I think that affected him and his decisions. On and off the pitch.

That's an opinion and observation, not knowledge based. Only Duncan and those close to him really know. Talent that was never fully realised in my view, for whatever the reason was.

Although he couldn't lace Sharpy's boots, he had talent. Maybe his frame – like Mina's – made him injury prone… who knows?

He has a frame similar to Tomas Soucek who runs about 13 km a match and hardly ever gets injured.

I do t think frame is anything to do with it. Some people are just built for the rigours of elite football no matter what their size or shape and others aren't.

@81. He achieved so little as for whatever the reason may be, he couldn't get a performance out of himself against the lesser clubs. Especially away from Goodison where he'd be largely anonymous in the many away fixtures we lost over the years to the likes of Sheff Wed, Forest, Derby, Leeds etc etc.

Duncan played best when he was riled up, and the occasion was big. Alex Ferguson always said don't upset him as it wakes up the beast. That was so true, United, Liverpool he was brilliant. Palace, Coventry etc and he would disappear.

He was an icon in a graveyard period for the club. One trophy in a period of long struggle. His status certainly more elevated post retirement, than for a large period of time where he was contributed little in terms of goals. Moyes even wanting to cancel his contract.

If a poll was run who our biggest hero has been in the Premier league era, I guess most will say Duncan. Southall had shone far brighter before it. For me it was Cahill. Yes, he didn't win anything, but he gave absolutely everything to the cause.

Easily the best since this 1992 fake-bias football began.

Did anyone ever go to the after-match quiz in the Blue House, back in the day?

There's was a prize of 10 pints, so it was a good bit of fun to start the Saturday night, win, lose or draw.

Good old days.

This is without even trying to think of them. It's confirmation bias, you see what you want to see. Everyone does it. You watch goal of the month every week and ask yourself "why don't Everton score like this", but the simple answer is they aren't that common. They just jam a highlights package together once a month.

I've often said I think he is wasted as a pundit and I'd break my jobs for the boys criticism to have him coaching at Finch Farm.

I've also said this before. The best goal I saw him score was from outside the box with his head against Manchester City. I was in the Main Stand.

Having watched David Silva take a ball from the air with brilliance that led to a City goal for his talent to be appreciated by all of Goodison despite us going behind summed up Evertonians' appreciation of the beautiful game. Poor Tony Hibbert done everything right. You just can't beat brilliance.

But we got back in the game and then all 5ft 8inches of Leon lept like a Gazzlelle to head home the winner from outside the box into the Park End goal.

2-1 Everton.

I remember that game very well, one of dozens of games Moyes took his knife with him and played the first half on the defensive. At the start of the second half with City leading he threw the knife away and started attacking the Stanley Park end, got a goal back and the crowd took over.

City took fright at the sound of the crowd and actually having to defend the increasing barrage of attacks Everton were throwing at them and Leon scored that fabulous header to win the game for Everton.

Moyes never learned from that game that is was just as easy for Everton to attack playing away from home and win games. He continued to take that knife with him when we travelled away, especially against the top teams, and he only won once away against the top four in 11 years.

Unbelievable – even when he was one of the highest-paid managers in Europe and won nothing in those 11 years… except the respect of his bank manager.

That said, it seems the consensus is that we've for years been denied our due in terms of goals from outside the box. Hell, some of us (understandably given the drought of them) still eulogise such goals from decades past!

Iwobi scored a first-minute out-of-the-box gem at the weekend but then we seemed to offensively give up, as has been our decades-long wont, inviting the opposition to pillory us as they saw fit.

We lost, again.

As an amateur player, me and my team-mates knew I had the ability to knock one in from distance and I always tried to do so, sometimes securing us a result.

I've long become used to considering footballers to be generally thick as pig-shit but I despair of that malaise now progressing at Finch Farm, decade after decade, regardless who the manager or DoF of the day might be.

I practised relentlessly, daily for hours, for years in my pre-internet, Channel 4 years to acquire the skill of long-range shooting, It's a skill that can be acquired, if you can be arsed whilst on mega-bucks a week regardless.