Tony Pulis famously made long throws his trademark at Stoke City. Years later, the English Premier League now sees many teams adopting this tactic. Throw-ins have become a powerful attacking platform.

Last season, teams scored 20 goals directly from throw-in routines. This term, with just eleven rounds of fixtures played, 12 goals have already been netted. The average distance of these throws is also increasing steadily. Two seasons ago, it stood at 16.5 metres. Last season, it rose slightly to 16.7 metres. This season, it has jumped significantly to 18.6 metres.

Opta defines a long throw as anything exceeding 20 metres. This indicates that clubs are increasingly integrating long throws into their weekly strategy, moving beyond just an occasional trick play.

Michael Kayode: Brentford’s Long Throw King

Brentford has taken this strategy further than most. At the forefront of their approach is Nigerian-born Italian right-back, Michael Kayode.

Kayode joined the club in January. He arrived with a growing reputation for strength and accuracy in his throws. During his time at Fiorentina, he delivered 23 long throws in the 2023-2024 campaign. He added another 24 before his mid-season departure.

His output has exploded since moving to England. Last spring, despite making only six starts and six substitute appearances, Kayode managed an impressive 21 long throws.

This season, his numbers are even more remarkable. He has already launched 54 long throws into the penalty area from just 11 starts. Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele follows with 46, while Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards is third with 29.

Kayode also leads the league in average throw distance. His throws cover an average of 33.2 metres. Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall is next, averaging 30.6 metres from 16 attempts.

The Growing Trend Across Premier League Clubs

Several other Premier League clubs have adopted this tactical approach. Burnley utilizes Kyle Walker, while Bournemouth features Antoine Semenyo. Leeds relies on Ethan Ampadu. Everton employs Jake O’Brien and Vitalii Mykolenko for long throws.

Conversely, some teams rarely use this tactic. Chelsea and Manchester City have recorded no more than one long throw each. Liverpool and Brighton have only two between their entire squads.

Kayode’s longest throw this season traveled 38.5 metres away at Fulham. Interestingly, he isn’t even Brentford’s furthest thrower. Mathias Jensen achieved 45.4m at Nottingham Forest and 42.7m at Palace. Kevin Schade also takes long throws for the club.

This collective effort means Brentford has consistently produced the longest throws at five Premier League stadiums this season. This is notable, considering they have only visited six grounds.

Goal-Scoring Impact of Long Throw-ins

Brentford’s use of throw-ins is not merely for show. The tactic yields significant goal-scoring opportunities. Last season, Brentford scored five goals directly from these routines. They have already secured three goals from throw-ins this current term.

Fabio Carvalho scored against Chelsea from a throw-in. Dango Ouattara found the net against Liverpool. Kevin Schade also scored against Newcastle United using this method.

Crystal Palace has matched Brentford’s tally this season, with three goals of their own from throw-ins. Burnley has two. Everton, Newcastle, Manchester United, and Sunderland have each scored one goal from this particular set-piece.