As half-mentioned upthread, I both had grown to respect and actually quite enjoy watching Deco play. I think he's fantastically skilled, and very clever on the ball. He is excellent at moving into dangerous areas around the box and drawing a foul.

I still think he dives and cheats (just like any other player), and remember him doing quite a bit of both in the last world cup. (Along with Ronaldo, and practically everyone else.)

It is really just a pity that he'll play for Chelsea. Now I'll probably have more opportunity to see him play, but can't even half-heartedly hope he does well.

It's too bad he won't be playing alongside Lampard. They would have combined for 20 goals scored from deflections, at least.

Shall I pull out my number of actual deflected Lmaprd goals stat here, or shall I just leave it?

Put it! Put it!

OK then, from a couple of years ago.

QUOTE:
But we have done the necessary on Lampard's five-and-a-bit years at Stamford Bridge, and are surprised - and disappointed - to report that only six of his 73 goals for Chelsea have been deflected: a miserable 8%. If you take away penalties, that rises to just under 10% (six out of 62). Either way, it would seem that Lampard's deflected glory is not as great as the nation's many Frankophobes would have you believe. Still, he's getting better: none of the deflections came in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

I can't find a more up-to-date one I'm afraid Chris. Sorry.

That'll do.

Except we need to compare it to the figures for all other players, to make a proper judgement.

Joe Cole scored a few deflected goals for Chelsea around the same time and these seem to have been conflated with Lampard's.

There were a couple of months around late 2005 where every second Chelsea goal seemed to hit at least one opposition player before going into the net.

Because he's so good it makes it even more annoying when he 'wins the foul'.

This could be a very good signing for Chelsea who played the straightest of straight lines football under Mourinho, and had no real discernible style under grant. Deco is the first really good clever midfielder they've signed in ages. It's like they've decided to buy an effective and talented player, rather than an effective and big player. He does seem to be the anti lampard.

That said there is a reason that he's being run out of barcelona on a rail.