So I was wondering who everyone else fancied from the current squad to bang in free kicks. I am as big of a Lampard fan as there is, but I never feel totally confident in his free kicks. Just wondering what everyone else thought.

I guess for the sake of this let's say position is dead center and about 25-30 out.

Look no further than our boy ALEX!!!!

Sorry Lamps, it has to be Alex.

Dead center I would probably give it to Lamps or Alex, I said Alex. But I fancy Ballack to hit a curler if its closer to the left side, and I must say I can't think of many Drogba free kicks that haven't troubled the keeper.

Dead center I would probably give it to Lamps or Alex, I said Alex. But I fancy Ballack to hit a curler if its closer to the left side, and I must say I can't think of many Drogba free kicks that haven't troubled the keeper.

Yeah, I always wonder why Drogs doesn't take more, especially those right in line with the right goal post (the goal that didn't count against Juve comes to mind)....although I'll still always prefer his one on the left two years ago against Newcastle.

I voted for Alex as well, if he is consistently starting I see no reason why he shouldn't be trying them more....his one against Boro last season and of course the Pool one were just thunderous. Of course Lampard has no reason to be ashamed, he's still the best PK taker in Europe.

Firstly, are we talking about freekicks that need finesse or power or perhaps a bit of both.

When it comes to raw power I doubt anyone can shoot harder than Alex. But I'd like to see him curl one around a wall (it'll probably end up at another stadium). I guess Malouda, Ballack and Drogs are better there.

When it comes to the freekicks that need both power and some finesse then I guess Ballack and Lamps are the best at it.

Secondly, do we take into account the success rate?

I mean, look at Alex. How many of his freekicks does any harm? If he takes 20 I bet only 1, maybe two, hits the target. The rest ends up in the wall, which might be a good thing of course since the chances are high that atleast one opponent will have to leave the pitch due to shattered ribs or crushed gonads.

Lamps used to be extremely accurate, but it seems to me that he has dropped in form over the last season or two. He's still really good at it, but his accuracy is not what it used to be. On a positive note however, his freekicks are very tricky and even if the keeper saves them chances are there's a rebound.

As for Drogs and Ballack they both seem pretty accurate, atleast when they curl the ball. They are far from the best, but they're not bad.

Malouda doesn't take freekicks too often so it's hard to judge him. It seems to me that the few times he actually get to take one it's usually meant to drift into the box and not actually be hit directly on goal.

One thing I'd like to know is if we have any youngsters who are good at this? If not, then add that to the training they get because it might pay off. For example, a young player in my favourite team in Sweden has for the past year or so trained corners and freekicks like an hour every day. In the pre season he got to take a freekick and he scored. He has also appeared in a few league games and his corners have been great.

So we really should encourage the youngsters to train hard on that because we all know how important set pieces are nowadays.

Just dont let Ballack take it. I can't remember the last time he made the GK put up a save. He always took the most straightforward one, and pop over the bar just about every single time. Deco is a good choice, if he ever makes on the field. I haven't seen Alex took one from within 30 yards, but the pace he put on the ball is just scary. Imagine if he see a little gap in the wall and blast the ball in from 20 yards out, it will take a brave GK to try to touch that.

Just dont let Ballack take it. I can't remember the last time he made the GK put up a save. He always took the most straightforward one, and pop over the bar just about every single time. Deco is a good choice, if he ever makes on the field. I haven't seen Alex took one from within 30 yards, but the pace he put on the ball is just scary. Imagine if he see a little gap in the wall and blast the ball in from 20 yards out, it will take a brave GK to try to touch that.

I had Deco on there originally but yeah, he's never around to take one. Ballack has had some pretty choice free kicks for Germany in the last year, just wish they would occur more in England.