"The spirit of Stoke City's legendary ball flinger lives on with the long throw-in enjoying a renaissance in the Premier League this season. Indeed, statistics show that the number of long throw-ins per match has more than doubled from last season, pointing to a very real and meaningful trend. It's a trend bemoaned by some, including Jamie Carragher, who in his punditry has taken issue with the way long throw-ins disrupt the game (the game's lawmakers are considering taking action too)."
"Others have different gripes, seeing long throw-ins as a low-brow, primitive shortcut to goal in violation of the spirit of the sport. If scoring is now as simple as launching the ball into the box at every opportunity, why would anyone bother coaching technical skill? Brentford are sticking it in the mixer more than any other team in the Premier League this season."
"For years, the best teams focused on pressing with intensity high up the field. Now to counter that, opponents are going direct quicker. Passing in the Premier League is at a 15-year low this season and long throws are an extension of the desire to get the ball forward quicker no matter the means. So yes, long throws are changing the game."
Long throw-ins have surged across the Premier League, with the number per match more than doubling from last season. The technique traces back to Rory Delap's influence and is now used by teams from Brentford to Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham. Critics argue long throws disrupt play and represent a primitive shortcut that undermines technical coaching, while pundits and lawmakers consider potential responses. The rise in long throws ties into a broader tactical shift: opponents counter high pressing by going direct, contributing to a 15-year low in passing. The effect on the quality of the game remains a matter of perspective.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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