MICHAEL OWEN’s theory that would change football has appeared to be immediately proven wrong.
The former Premier League striker claimed that teams should do away with walls when defending free kicks from over 30 yards.
Owen, 45, made the claim in the fallout from Liverpool’s win over Arsenal on Sunday.
A stunning free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai decided the game as he found the net from 32 yards.
The Hungarian bent his effort over the Gunners’ wall and past a flailing David Raya as the ball clattered in off the post.
Owen claimed that without a wall, the goalkeeper would be able to stand in the middle of the goal and cover both sides of the goal.
He also suggested that free-kick takers want a wall in place as it gives them a “point of reference” and can unsight the goalkeeper.
However, following his comments, Reading seemed to implement his theory against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy.
The Royals did not put up a wall as Will Wright lined up a set-piece in the 47th minute.
And in typical fashion, the centre-back powered home an effort into the net.
Fans were left in hysterics as Owen’s theory appeared to be disproven so quickly.
One posted: “Puts that theory to bed…”
A second wrote: “Reading really listened to Michael Owen ffs.”
A third commented: “Well that rubbishes what Owen had to say.”
However, some fans did point out that the strike took a deflection off of one of the Reading defenders.
This could have changed the flight of the ball, leaving the goalkeeper unable to react in time.
What Owen said?
Michael Owen had a theory that teams should stop putting up walls for free-kicks if they are over 30 yards…
He told PLP: “At 32.2 yards, to be honest, if you put a ball there and say ‘can you score from that far out?’, then I’m probably saying no.
“Probably. I’ve said it before, I think the wall in this situation is a hinderance.
“I don’t know but I think soon, when the ball is that far out at over 32 yards, if the goalkeeper stands in the middle and there is no wall, I bet he doesn’t even have to dive, he could just shuffle and catch it.
“The wall in that situation is a hinderance. They don’t get to see it, it gives somebody a target to hit it over.
“The goalkeeper always has to shuffle to one side of the goal or the other.
“If he just stands in the middle and there is nothing in front of him, what would happen is the opponents would start blocking and the opponents would make their own wall.
“That just shows you that the free-kick taker wants a wall there! It gives them a point of reference.
“Don’t get be wrong, 20 yards out you do need a wall. But over 32 yards out, I think a wall is a hinderance to a goalkeeper.”
One claimed: “Took a deflection tbf.”
Another added: “Literally proving Owen right.. it was deflected in.”
Owen played 297 times for Liverpool over an eight-year stint, scoring 158 goals.
He later moved to Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as earning 89 caps for England.
Owen was just the fourth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.
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