Defending set pieces

pedro789 · February 4, 2021

Can someone explain why this seems to be working so well.

Our deep defensive line scares me (we’re dropping off on to edge of 6 yard box) but we’re winning everything.

Last night being a perfect example - lots of corners, wide free kicks with good delivery and we won every single header apart from one Olsen tipped over in 1st half.

I always thought high line to give keeper space, mitigate opposition winning header/flick on and potential for offside made more sense.

Carloblues · February 4, 2021

Probably because we sometimes play with 4 Cbs, two of which ( Keane and mina ) are very good on the air, then you have doucoure DCL and Richarlison who are all tall and/or very good in the air.

Amokachi1995 · February 4, 2021

I think it's partly cos we're a big team, particularly when Olsen plays.

And the deep line makes it difficult to get a free header close to the net (Callum Wilson aside). Whereas with the high line if you beat it you can get a good look at the goal. Thinking DCL against Tottenham.

In reality though. I know absolutely nothing about this type of thing...

LocalNative · February 4, 2021

The only worry was that Newcastle found a way around it with Wilson coming shorter to flick it on. That's where zonal can get a bit shaky as teams know we're going to win 9/10 balls into the 6 yard box.

Terrarian · February 4, 2021

Because defenders are attacking the ball as opposed to the striker, makes loads of sense.

marsh · February 4, 2021

zukai12_ · February 4, 2021

Could be as simple as sitting deeper gives more time to adjust to the ball and oppositon

Mkjjones · February 4, 2021

Amokachi1995 said:
I think it's partly cos we're a big team, particularly when Olsen plays.

And the deep line makes it difficult to get a free header close to the net (Callum Wilson aside). Whereas with the high line if you beat it you can get a good look at the goal. Thinking DCL against Tottenham.

In reality though. I know absolutely nothing about this type of thing...

Wilson wasn’t near the net though

Amokachi1995 · February 4, 2021

Mkjjones said:
Wilson wasn’t near the net though

Told you I didn't know what I was talking about.

I suppose it was a free header in the area which we haven't really given away that often. But yeah, he still had a lot to do.

TheBigIguana · February 4, 2021

Because zonal marking is the superior system

blue61 · February 4, 2021

It's obvious, just before the kick is taken, Ben Godfrey whizzes around the box at the speed of sound, tying all the oppositions boot laces together.

TheBigIguana · February 4, 2021

LocalNative said:
The only worry was that Newcastle found a way around it with Wilson coming shorter to flick it on. That's where zonal can get a bit shaky as teams know we're going to win 9/10 balls into the 6 yard box.

Richarlison needed to do his job better especially on the one that hit the bar. The one that he scored goes in 1 out of every 25 times or less. He just hit a perfect header. If that's the only spot they can score from on set plays we're fine.

MACCA75 · February 4, 2021

Credit to Davide Ancelotti. I don’t see any other team defend free kicks like we do, it was a bold, innovative, and so far, effective move.

DaChunk · February 4, 2021

Partly due to having 3 of the best CB's in the league. And Holgate.

paulbefc · February 4, 2021

Harder to attack the ball for the opposition and easier for the defenders?

Not sure, but I am massively grateful for the work that's been done on the training ground as not long ago under Silva there was a period when a corner was effectively a penalty for the opposition. I said back then I'll never take good set piece defending for granted again. I take as much satisfaction from the way Keane and Mina defend set pieces as I do most everything else we do.