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Rory Delap: The human rocket launcher
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AP Photo/Jon Super
You’ve probably seen this ridiculousness already if you pay attention to the EPL, but we haven’t mentioned it yet on this site.
Stoke City, in their first Premier League season since the '80s, is sitting at 12th in the table right now with 14 points in 12 games. And without midfielder Rory Delap, there’s not telling where the club would be.
Delap has a God-given ability to throw a soccer ball harder, lower and longer than you’ve ever seen in your life. Seriously, if he had taken up baseball I bet his fastball would be untouchable. Whenever Stoke gets a throw-in anywhere past midfield, Delap’s rocket-slinging arms send a certified missile into the penalty box that functions as an extremely dangerous free kick.
Not a believer? Well check out this five-minute highlight clip and then get back to me.
Count Arsenal among the first-hand witnesses after Delap’s throws produced both goals in Stoke’s 2-1 victory on November 1. His unusual skill means that defenses have to deal with far more aerial threats each game, which means there are that many more chances for headers, deflections, etc. It’s a keeper’s worst nightmare, and it gives Stoke the ability to threaten the goal even when they aren’t controlling the possession in a game.
Football purists might have mixed reactions to this phenomenon. Throw-ins are certainly never thought of as the type of offensive weapon Delap has made them, and the very idea of someone’s hands being able to impact a game meant for feet is interesting. But the rules of football are the same, and Delap has simply used this particular aspect to employ a different strategy.
Do you like the potential that his throws have to impact a game? Why or why not?
And as my fellow Soccer Examiner pointed out, check out Arsenal’s youth tonight – they’ve been incredible thus far in the Cup.
