Free Kicks vs Corners

[Howards tipple]

We haven't had a great conversion rate from corners for years. Would be interested where we stand vs other teams. Any one post any figures.... Apologise if any one has, haven't read the thread all the way.

 

[Kiwi]

We haven't had a great conversion rate from corners for years. Would be interested where we stand vs other teams. Any one post any figures.... Apologise if any one has, haven't read the thread all the way.

http://www.statsbomb.com/2013/08/corners-goals-for-goals-conceded-from-corners-premier-league/
read this like dot plot. We're about 2.5 % conceded and 2.5% conversion per corners

 

[degsy]

The majority of corner kicks should be taken short.

Statistics show that only 20.5% of corners lead to a shot on goal.

Of that 20.5%, 89% of the shots created from corners are not converted into goals.

Think of that:

4 out of 5 corners don't lead to a shot.

And even when they do lead to a shot, 9 out of 10 times, that shot does not lead to a goal.

short corners it is then, lots of permutations to be had there. We seem to do our best work with triangles left and right side.

Also takes out the WWF / Shawcross option.

 

[Loz]

I find myself on the edge of my seat every time we get a free kick these days....Baines, Mirallas, Barkley....are there really any better free kick takers in the PL now? We all know that Suarez and Gerrard (for example) can hit a good one, but you don't fancy them every time they try, whereas with our three lads I am now waiting to see the net move every time. Great stuff.

 

[tim cahill]

I find myself on the edge of my seat every time we get a free kick these days....Baines, Mirallas, Barkley....are there really any better free kick takers in the PL now? We all know that Suarez and Gerrard (for example) can hit a good one, but you don't fancy them every time they try, whereas with our three lads I am now waiting to see the net move every time. Great stuff.

Toure is the best in the league by some distance. 80% conversion rate. 5 Free kicks 4 goals. Unbelievable really!

 

[evo1878]

I personally think the awful corners are to do with a few factors.

The first being the small area to run up to strike the ball. The second being the plastic corner flag pole about 3 inches from your foot, and the third being the downward slope that most pitches have these days to allow the rain to drain off better.

In one of Bilyaletdinov's first games, he practically curled the ball into the net twice. He had an exceptional left foot, so for the first few it probably felt a bit tight but he managed, then all of a sudden he couldn't take one at all. Obviously with Russia being a massive country, there's loads of room for massive run up areas, usually before the running track surrounding the pitch.

If we were to improve the corner kick area, corners would improve. Our opposition would also take advantage of this though so what's the point.

This. If you've ever stood at the side of the pitch at Goodison you'll notice that due to the camber of the pitch if you're taking a corner for which the run up is a steep short slope anyway, then looking across the pitch you can only just see the top of the opposite corner flag. So you've got an awkward run up to hit the ball at an unnatural angle up a sizeable slope which means it isn't easy to give it a constant height by the time it reaches the middle of the goalmouth.

 

[ijjysmith]

Not sure I buy that the corner taking area is a bit rubbish.

Other teams seem ok with it, and our corners are still rubbish when we play away from home.

 

[Muggins]

This. If you've ever stood at the side of the pitch at Goodison you'll notice that due to the camber of the pitch if you're taking a corner for which the run up is a steep short slope anyway, then looking across the pitch you can only just see the top of the opposite corner flag. So you've got an awkward run up to hit the ball at an unnatural angle up a sizeable slope which means it isn't easy to give it a constant height by the time it reaches the middle of the goalmouth.

It sounds quite ridiculous i know, but i agree.

Not sure I buy that the corner taking area is a bit rubbish.

Other teams seem ok with it, and our corners are still rubbish when we play away from home.

ah, but do they? I can't honestly tell you of anyone who aces corners all the time, and most grounds are similar with space issues. I know it's easier for us to say players are just a bit rubbish and because they're professionals they should do better etc, but there must be a reason.

I'm open to suggestions though....

 

[pfim]

It's a bit pointless putting the ball into the box, especially on Saturday, having no one capable of heading it in. Not really sure how you fix that, probably more short corners.

 

[Roztitute]

I think we do our corners out swinging so if we don't connect with it it comes outside of the box to one of are players so we can keep possession and carry on playing it patiently around the box and keep the team pressed back were as if we done in swinging if we don't connect the keeper will catch the ball and throw it out to a player to counter attack either one has its pros and cons but i think the out swinging corners work better for our possession based style

Yep spot on mate. This was almost very effective against villa where we had a run of corners that almost resulted in pull-backs and goals. They defended well. Outswingers also draw the keeper out. But I am guilty of thinking if you wanna actually head the ball in the back of the net, surely I swingers are better?

 

[evo1878]

It sounds quite ridiculous i know, but i agree.



ah, but do they? I can't honestly tell you of anyone who aces corners all the time, and most grounds are similar with space issues. I know it's easier for us to say players are just a bit rubbish and because they're professionals they should do better etc, but there must be a reason.

I'm open to suggestions though....

You're right that space is the issue for most grounds but i heard that Goodison and Old Trafford also have the highest step up on to the pitch than any other grounds in the country - Man City is completely flat in comparison. Goodison definitely has the highest camber of any pitch in the world ... or so they say on the Goodison stadium tour.

I'm sure someone smarter could say if that makes inswingers or outswingers easier to take. But if the resulting elevation of the ball is going to be unpredicatable form the start then it makes sense to hit an outswinger to be sure the ball is more likely to stay in play once the corner is taken?

 

[WA Toffee]

I think we do our corners out swinging so if we don't connect with it it comes outside of the box to one of are players so we can keep possession and carry on playing it patiently around the box and keep the team pressed back were as if we done in swinging if we don't connect the keeper will catch the ball and throw it out to a player to counter attack either one has its pros and cons but i think the out swinging corners work better for our possession based style

That could be part of it, but also consider that for an inswinging corner from the right, you need a left footer to take it and vice versa. So if Baines delivers an inswinger from the right, as soon as he kicks the ball he is 60 yards out of position.

 

[Ameen]

Problem with corners is that Martinez by his own admission doesn't like them, and that filters through to the team inevitably, so when we get one we don't expect to do much with them - indeed, we play a sizeable amount short.

Martinez won the FA Cup from a corner

 

[ijjysmith]

FFS

We're not even getting the dangerous free kicks to make me feel better about the god awful corners.

Barcelona scored from a corner last night FFS. (Albeit due to dodgy defending, but still!)

 

[Ihaters]

I've found a couple of ways.

Option One: When the short option offers for the ball, he's allowed nearer the kicker than the opposition.

So he runs towards the ball, which is played short to him. The two opposition players start to take a man each, whilst the corner taker overlaps the man with the ball. One oppo goes towards the man with the ball, whilst the other follows the overlapping runner.

This creates a gap through which a pass can be made to a third man who makes a late run towards the corner.


Option Two: Play the ball all the way back towards the half way line (along the sideline on which the corner is being taken) where one of your covering defenders has peeled wide to receive the pass. This is a lot riskier though, as you are bringing one of your covering players into the game, when their sole purpose should be to prevent the quick counter.

Or....We could send an extra man across to receive the short corner.