The way to strike a ball

[basskadet]

Everyone these days harps on about the way Ronaldo strikes a dead ball or Beckham's angled bodyshape as he takes a free-kick. However, I don't think I've seen, to this day, anyone who strikes the ball quite like Hoddle.

He used completely leave the ground as he kicked it, as if jumping a hurdle. In my opinion it is one of the best strikes of a football I've seen & is way cooler than both Ronaldo's silly 'hunched' run-up/strike & Beckham's lean.

[Spurs_Pete]

I think it depended with which foot he kicked with and distance. He could chip in free kick as well as belt one. Hoddle was as good with his left as with his right. It's why he was so good, he could take a free kick from either side. Without doubt the most gifted player of his time. Although Greaves was my childhood hero Hoddle is the greatest player I've seen live kick a ball.

[basskadet]

That's true. When I was a kid I used to spend HOURS on the practice pitch trying to learn how to 'float' a ball like Hoddle! I had the amazing experience of playing against him in the summer just before he left Spurs. I will never forget it! Unfortunately, all m practicing didn't come off when I needed it to & I wasn't able to repeat one of my chips in front of him! I was the youngest on the pitch tho by almost 6 years as I was only 9!

You are, of course, right but he used this particular method fairly frequently, often when taking corners as well as free-kicks. The amazing thing about it was, altho giving the ball an almighty thump, he still used to make look as tho it was just gliding thru the air!

Like I already said, I've never seen anyone strike a ball in this way like Hoddle but equally, like you say, i've never seen anyone able to chip the ball & put such backspin on it as Hoddle could. Perhaps the closest in the modern game (in terms of 'chipping' or 'floating' the ball) is Frank Lampard. I know many would disagree & he seems totally inapable of producing such skill for England but I have seen him do it regularly for Chelsea. Still, not even close to Glenn's technique!

[Spurs_Pete]

My greatest memory of him at the Lane was 1979 I think, it could have been 1980 (the years all merge into one these days) was the volley he got against Forest, Daines kicked it out it was headed on twice and Glenn volleyed into the net just on the edge of the area. To this day it's my favourite goal of his. The goal but not the build up is on the link on my sig. Traveling back to Cornwall that evening I was on a high and on a bigger one to find out it was on the Big Match the next day.

[Gareth]

Hoddle is one of a kind

[Oldskool Yid]

That goal against Forest was superb and also one of my favourites. I remember a free kick against Wimbledon at Plough Lane in the quarter finals of the FA cup, we were one nil up from a goal by Waddle, and they were both stood over the ball for a free kick way outside the area. Apparently Waddle was telling him not to go for it, just to keep possesion and play the clock down. Hoddle was having none of it and as the ball left his foot, his body was shaped like something of real beauty, both feet off the ground. 2-0. Fantastic!! I cried when he left!

[basskadet]

That goal against Forest was superb and also one of my favourites. I remember a free kick against Wimbledon at Plough Lane in the quarter finals of the FA cup, we were one nil up from a goal by Waddle, and they were both stood over the ball for a free kick way outside the area. Apparently Waddle was telling him not to go for it, just to keep possesion and play the clock down. Hoddle was having none of it and as the ball left his foot, his body was shaped like something of real beauty, both feet off the ground. 2-0. Fantastic!! I cried when he left!

I just watched that game again last night! Bought it on DVD from here:
CLASSIC FOOTBALL DVDs | Over 4000 Classic Matches in one place!

Its listed under 1986-87 FA Cup, catalogue 179. Great game to watch again. Wimbledon could've nicked it as they scored first but it was ruled offside. it was very close until the 85th min when Waddle produced a little bit of genius!

That body shape you described is exactly like the one in he picture of him I posted in the start of the thread (the first of the 3 pictures). It is actually from watching that game again that made me think of writing this thread because he strikes it like that several times thruout the game, corners & freekicks, & I just thought 'that's way better than Ronaldo & Becks!'. I remember him doing like that from when i was a kid but to see it again just brought it all back!

[grimsby yidds]

simply the best player i ever seen in a spurs shirt,

[Oldskool Yid]

No matter who comes and goes memories of Hod the God will live on! He was different class.

[Oldskool Yid]

Thanks Basskadet for the link with the DVD but more for igniting some great memories. Have spent a lot of the afternoon reminiscing over years gone by. I miss them days, standing on the terraces,not having to buy a ticket 6 weeks before the game, being able to afford to go everyweek etc etc.

[basskadet]

Thanks Basskadet for the link with the DVD but more for igniting some great memories. Have spent a lot of the afternoon reminiscing over years gone by. I miss them days, standing on the terraces,not having to buy a ticket 6 weeks before the game, being able to afford to go everyweek etc etc.

No probs, i've been doing the same mate! I found the site after reminiscing over Ossie's testimonial game when Maradonna played for us & decided to do a google search online. I got that site as a result & promptly spent half the day trawling thru it, picking out old Spurs games as well as the testimonial!

Ever since I've been watching them all week in my little time bubble / bedroom!