Goals from corners!

Westend Blue · April 16, 2017

Kev has a great corner in him

Khalekan · April 16, 2017

Mickey said:
We varied our set-pieces yesterday too. Some were short, some to the edge of the box, near post flicks, far post etc. Free kick just before our goal was the same routine Williams flick and jags nearly got in far post obviously something they worked on.

Yip.

Now we need to start working on clever routines from free kicks around the box.

These are currently regarded as shooting "opportunities" and if more than one in twenty results in owt more than the other team getting a goal kick or the ball rebounding off've the wall I would be surprised

sd_1992 · April 16, 2017

Mickey said:
We varied our set-pieces yesterday too. Some were short, some to the edge of the box, near post flicks, far post etc. Free kick just before our goal was the same routine Williams flick and jags nearly got in far post obviously something they worked on.

It can't be a coincidence that williams has the assist for 3 of the goals jags has scored

Khalekan · April 16, 2017

Eggs said:
...set pieces are a rich source of goals that we have failed to exploit for too long. I hope a brilliant free kick expert is one of the criteria for a player we acquire this summer.

The problem is Eggs, no such crittur exists.

Someone posted the stats here a while ago which showed that the world's most successful free kick specialist scored on 17% of occasions.

Ergo he failed 83% of the time

Personally, I yearn for the ingenious little routines where a clever pass from the kicker results in a runner getting behind the defence and seeing the whites of the goalie's eyes :dance:

Jamo Martinez · April 16, 2017

Think I read a quote from Martinez or one of his assisstants that it wasn't worth practising because such a small percentage of goals resulted from corners.

I would have thought that the very reason that percentage is so low is because teams practise defending them. The logical conclusion is that if you are the only one that doesn't practise at either end your percentage conceded wil go up while your percentage scored will go down.

Be interesting to see a statistical breakdown of this season compared to the last few.

I seem to remember we were pretty crap at taking them under Moyes too but better at defending them.

Maybe just my impression.

I maybe slightly drunk.

Please forgive me.

Raino85 · April 16, 2017

Why cant baines go back to taking every free kick where there is a shooting chance?

Woolly Blue · April 16, 2017

big bobs beard said:
What an improvement this season, a far cry from the last regime who couldn't care less about them.
It's great to have that anticipation that something could happen, and while we don't want to be a West Brom and rely totally on them, a goal is a goal!

It's ace isn't it ? We get a corner now, beat the first man and I always feel we have a chance of scoring.

As a bonus, if it's at the other end of the pitch, there's that momentary "did it actually go in" moment, followed by the "I wonder who scored it" conversation with the people around you. I love a scrappy goal.

Barnfred 55 · April 16, 2017

big bobs beard said:
What an improvement this season, a far cry from the last regime who couldn't care less about them.
It's great to have that anticipation that something could happen, and while we don't want to be a West Brom and rely totally on them, a goal is a goal!

“I always believe that a goal from open play is a more satisfying goal,” said Martinez. “The hardest thing in football is to break a team down when everyone is behind the ball. A free-kick or dead ball situation is less in your control. But you are relying more on the bounce of the ball or people switching off or doing their duties."
Well a bounce of a ball or a switched off defender certainly helps.

Echo article from last season.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/evertons-set-pieces-awful-10408985

Imagine how good we'd be if we had a player who was consistently good in taking corners. Mirallas has been OK of late but players like Sigurdsson are on the money all the time.

Barnfred 55 · April 16, 2017

Khalekan said:
The problem is Eggs, no such crittur exists.

Someone posted the stats here a while ago which showed that the world's most successful free kick specialist scored on 17% of occasions.

Ergo he failed 83% of the time

Personally, I yearn for the ingenious little routines where a clever pass from the kicker results in a runner getting behind the defence and seeing the whites of the goalie's eyes

A good set piece doesn't need to be an attempt on goal though mate. I'd be happy with somebody who can put a good ball in the box like Baines and Arteta used to.

Agree though. No reason why we can't mix it up a bit with some sexy routines from time to time. Be nice to see a bit of invention.

ultra · April 16, 2017

In his post-match interview RK said they go into set-pieces in detail in training. It shows. So refreshing after the previous manager.

JonS · April 16, 2017

Eggs said:
...set pieces are a rich source of goals that we have failed to exploit for too long. I hope a brilliant free kick expert is one of the criteria for a player we acquire this summer.

Agreed. It's a shame Leighton has lost his mojo where free kicks are concerned

Ollie d · April 16, 2017

Khalekan said:
The problem is Eggs, no such crittur exists.

Someone posted the stats here a while ago which showed that the world's most successful free kick specialist scored on 17% of occasions.

Ergo he failed 83% of the time

Personally, I yearn for the ingenious little routines where a clever pass from the kicker results in a runner getting behind the defence and seeing the whites of the goalie's eyes

I agree totally with regards the little passes rather than shots, most of the time the wall and defense is so absorbed in stopping any shot that a little clever pass can open up some great angles.

Rook · April 16, 2017

Raino85 said:
Why cant baines go back to taking every free kick where there is a shooting chance?

He's too nice.

As long as Baines takes the pens I'm fine with it. If the free kick is around the box I'm OK with Rom doing it though because he has a decent free kick.

Khalekan · April 16, 2017

Barnfred 55 said:
Imagine how good we'd be if we had a player who was consistently good in taking corners. Mirallas has been OK of late but players like Sigurdsson are on the money all the time.

Oh for a young Andy Hinchcliffe

Khalekan · April 16, 2017

Barnfred 55 said:
A good set piece doesn't need to be an attempt on goal though mate. I'd be happy with somebody who can put a good ball in the box like Baines and Arteta used to.

Agree though. No reason why we can't mix it up a bit with some sexy routines from time to time. Be nice to see a bit of invention.

That is the very point I'm making.

These days any direct free kick from about 35 yards or less is regarded as an opportunity to take a shot.

This baffles me in this stat obsessed era because very few of those shots wind up in the back of the net.

Yes, a good free kick into the box aimed at a big man's head is a valuable and varied option