A LONG THROW-IN is a tactic the English Football League is no stranger to, and it seems like the trajectory of this trend is headed back to the Premier League. But why?
Firstly, just cast your mind back to the 2007/08 season, to a place called Stoke. A certain man named Rory Delap hurled a ball across the training pitch in an early pre-season competition, surprising manager Tony Pulis with its immense distance.
Pulis then implored his tactics, catering to the Irishmen’s power, instructing the ground staff to minimize the size of the Britannia pitch in order to maximize the effect of Delap’s ‘secret weapon’.
Dubbed the ‘Delap Special’, the threat of a throw in struck fear into opposing defenders – and even keepers. I’m sure everyone remembers that clip of Boaz Myhill, who chose to kick the ball out for a corner, rather than concede a throw in.
Now, nearly 20 years on, they’re back.
Opta have revealed that there have already been 262 long throw-ins into penalty areas in the Premier League this season – 45% of the entire total for the whole of the 2024/25 season.
Brentford’s Michael Kayode has emerged as a standout candidate this season, actually managing to reach the opposing area from the half-way line against Manchester City last Sunday.
Benjamin Sesko netted his second Premier League goal for Manchester United against Sunderland, tapping in – guess what – a long throw in.
Thomas Frank even introduced ‘Long Throw-In Auditions’ in his first training session as the new Spurs boss. Guess what the winning goal in Frank’s first Premier League game with Brentford came from…
Yep.
These set-pieces cause chaotic scenarios, disrupting defensive strategies and confusing everyone involved. The sheer unpredictability makes it incredibly difficult to defend. Bear in mind, no one can be offside either.
A nightmare situation for any defensive unit, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another rendition of Boaz Myhill’s panic dealing.
