THREAD:

One of the most important biomechanical elements in football is shooting technique; it heavily influences a player's ability to score.

This short thread will analyse finishing and how Marcus Rashford's efficiency can improve in this regard based on his biomechanics.

Firstly, players tend to shoot either with the straight-legged in-step or with a rounded in-step. At times, they may opt for the safer straight-legged side foot which is often described as “slotting the ball past the keeper” à la Thierry Henry.

When players are in situations that require them to strike the ball they will use one of these three techniques depending on what the situation requires and what they feel is best. However, not every time will they choose the optimal technique.

We have often seen players miss great chances due to them “putting their foot through the ball” (i.e. straight-legged in-step) with the ball just deflecting off the keeper. So, it should not be viewed as a given that players choose the optimal technique when trying to score.

Some players break the mould of what is expected from particular shooting techniques. A younger Cristiano Ronaldo was able to get the ball up and down quickly whilst using more of the front of his foot than the side. This is incredibly difficult to do.

Others, such as Bale, have opted for a greater body lean whilst following through with the side of their foot. This creates a similar sort of outside swerve on the shot but does not generate as much lift. This is why Bale has scored some FKs which have bounced before the net.

In terms of finishing alone then the rounded in-step or side foot is considerably more efficient than the straight-legged in-step. This is because a player can guide the ball's direction and trajectory with greater control whilst the straight-legged in-step generates more power.

Look at the body and leg positions of Greenwood, Martial and Rashford. The former two use the rounded in-step almost exclusively whilst Rashford tends to choose the straight-legged in-step.

Notice how Greenwood and Martial's shooting leg swings over whilst Rashford's doesn't.

This is also why we have seen Rashford score incredible goals. Due to his technique he generates a high amount of power and it's why the ball thumps the net when he scores.

However, it is similar to striking a penalty hard. The risk is great.

This is Rashford's technique when he scored that FK vs Chelsea. Notice that his bodily position is very similar to his finishing position. This is problematic with regard to his efficiency due to the decreased control he has.

Let's look at the data next.

In all competitions (2019/20), he attempted 82 shots from open play (11.62 xG) whilst scoring 13 times.

With the straight-legged in-step, he shot 41 times (3.56 xG) and scored just twice. With the rounded in-step or side foot, he shot 32 times (5.58) and scored 10 times!

Examples of him using the rounded in-step or straight-legged side foot are his goals vs Norwich and Chelsea amongst others.

Rashford is definitely capable of improving his technique but he has this habit of wanting to strike through a football.

Is this a Rashford-specific issue? No.

In Europe's top seven leagues (what I have collected data for), shot accuracy, conversion and efficiency rates are all higher for rounded in-step or straight-legged side foot finishes.

Simply put, it is *the* optimal finishing technique.

Another issue with using Rashford's technique is that he lowers his raw accuracy. When he uses his normal technique his finishing accuracy is 50% and his conversion is 9%. When he uses the better technique those figures rise to 62% and 38%!

Rashford's 38% conversion from the optimal finishing technique is actually one of the highest in Europe and a lot of this comes from two reasons:

1. He leg speed when shooting is v. quick
2. He generates high amounts of power

The next statistic supports this too.

In 83% of his finishes with optimal technique, the ball has past the keeper before he has touched the ground from diving. In short, the ball beats the keeper before he can even attempt an adequate save.

This is due to Rashford's ability to generate high amounts of power.

So, Marcus doesn't actually need to use the normal suboptimal technique he currently holds to. He is so powerful that he can generate more than enough force with the rounded in-step or the side-legged side foot finish. This will only enhance his accuracy and, thus, conversion.

Summary:

• there are three main finishing techniques
• players know how to use each one but are more comfortable with one or two
• there is an optimal technique for finishing
• when Rashford uses it he is amazing however he doesn't use it enough
• it's easy to fix

Conclusion:

This was a short exercise on the biomechanics of shooting. I tried to simplify the science elements as that is not what this account is for. So, there is more information regarding how it is applied as opposed to just the biology of the foot.

I hope you enjoyed it.

End of Thread.