Ronaldinho’s Forgetting Teammates Already

By: chris | October 31st, 2008

“He’s a great champion. I hope he’s happy with us. We’ll take turns taking free kicks,” Ronaldinho speaking on the incoming David Beckham.

Beckham’s a nice free kick taker, Ronaldinho’s not bad himself. But perhaps he’s forgotten that the Rossoneri are currently employing someone many consider the best free kick take in the world, a certain Andrea Pirlo. Becks can bend it all he likes, but he’s no Pirlo. I’d pay a great deal of money to watch Andrea sit over free kicks for 90 minutes, leaving Becks with nothing to do but scratch his goldenmcnuggets.

Which makes you wonder if bringing in a player whose main attribute is still a distant second on the squad is such a good idea…

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: World Football

Tags: AC Milan, Andrea Pirlo, David Beckham, Ronaldinho, World Football

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• Rob |  October 31st, 2008 at 5:12 pm

  
  
  

  Yeah, I think I said something about this a couple weeks ago, Pirlo is probably only second to Juninho in the free-kick department, and thats debateble. Mind you - you wouldn’t want to be the keeper who has Beckham, The Dhino and Pirlo stood over the ball for a FK, because they all have different styles.

  Posted from United States

  

• Brian |  October 31st, 2008 at 7:02 pm

  
  
  

  If you squint in the right way this looks like more evidence that Pirlo’s injury trouble is worse than they’re letting on.

  Posted from United States

  

• cha |  October 31st, 2008 at 9:25 pm

  
  
  

  says the italian biased roma blogger who hates anything english.

  pirlo has been shit this season and most of last…don’t act like he’s played like any sort of superstar within the last 12 months.

  Posted from United States

  

• Chubby |  October 31st, 2008 at 10:40 pm

  
  
  

  May be I was watching different games… Yes, Pirlo has ability to score from free kicks, but Juninho does it consistently, while Pirlo is not. Even Ronaldinho does it better. Now for Becks. He can send a dead ball better then anyone in the world, aforementioned players included. Pirlo is good, but little overhyped. His vision and long pass are his main assets. Free kicks? Math lesson abound.

  Posted from United States

  

• Tommy Wong |  October 31st, 2008 at 10:49 pm

  
  
  

  Are you guys kidding me? Have you watched any MLS this year? Beckham’s freekicks look effing TERRRRRIBBLE. Every single one goes into the wall. Also Chubby, Andrea Pirlo is not overhyped, the way he plays just makes you take him for granted. His delivery for indirect free-kicks and corners is also very very good. Also he has a decent shot from outside the box (although he looks to pass it because that’s his job). Pirlo is the magic man.

  Posted from United States

  

• Tommy Wong |  October 31st, 2008 at 10:49 pm

  
  
  

  What I’m getting at is Beck’s has lost his touch, and Pirlo is better overall anyway

  Posted from United States

  

• ish |  October 31st, 2008 at 10:49 pm

  
  
  

  i have to agree, pirlo is excellent with vision. His free kicks are good but i guess the big problem is the way he kicks him. Beckham also is a pretty decent RM. Now beckham and pirlo both kick from the same distance, but pirlo doesnt bend the ball the way that beckham does, pirlo is able to make it bend away from him which confuses the keeper. Ronnie is amazing up close because he can make it dip very fast which messes with the keeper. If only they had a player who could make it go straight and dip last second like drogba/c.ron free’s.

  —–pirlo–flamini—-
  beckham—seedorf—-ronnie
  ——–kaka————
  ———–pato———–

  not a bad attack but look at the combined age of that midfield, if flamini wasnt their it would be 30’s.

  Posted from United States

  

• Jennifer |  October 31st, 2008 at 10:54 pm

  
  
  

  Juninho is the best freekick taker I’ve ever had the luck to watch. 33 and still has it going.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ranjeet |  November 1st, 2008 at 12:04 am

  
  
  

  Pirlo is class. he has had an indifferent year. I still want him to take Milan’s freekicks.

  Posted from United States

  

• swapnil |  November 1st, 2008 at 10:16 am

  
  
  

  what a superb video!!!!

  Posted from India

  

• Weston |  November 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 am

  
  
  

  thank you chris! amen

  Posted from United States

  

• Weston |  November 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 am

  
  
  

  also ADP has been making upper 90’s on free kicks like theyre free. in the Champs league against . . . .whoever they played before the last cl game and beat 1-0, and most recently against roma! nobody ever notices these but when christy ron-ron scores one they all get high over it.

  Posted from United States

  

• A. |  November 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm

  
  
  

  Pirlo’s free kicking taking was not good last season. Ronaldinho’s is erratic too. Beckham *was* the best of the lot when it’s in a narrow zone around 25 yards out.

  IMO, none of them can quite Juninho or Riquelme in still ball striking, even at their peaks.

  And they might aswell kiss Mihajlovic’s boot laces if they want to be truely graced.

  Posted from Australia

  

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