Set Pieces - Corners in particular

[TheAlmightyFloater]

So what's the deal with corners these days, eh?

I know it seems hasty, after all we're only one game into the new season and players are bound to be a bit rusty and all that, but wasn't it the same last season?

Where once a corner would have left us excited at the prospect of a tasty delivery from one of the best left foots in the league, we now sigh half heartedly as it sails over the box.

Every time it happens, I wonder why don't we just play it short and try to create something - as is the Martinez way.

Does Martinez not place as much importance on corners? Or is it one of his weaknesses as a coach?
Yesterday I found myself wondering if we even practice them in training.

Because of our new attacking playing style, the number of corners we get per match is probably going to rise, so why shouldn't we expect a little more from them?

Then there's defending set pieces - both corners and free kicks. As soon as the whistle goes and everyone piles into our box, that hopeless feeling, that sinking expectation sets in. You just know that it's going to end in a chance for our opponents.

Anyone else feeling it?

Except direct free kicks, we're boss at them.

 

[mites]

figured this was gonna be how terrible we are at defending corners

 

[TheAlmightyFloater]

figured this was gonna be how terrible we are at defending corners

Well yes, that too.

 

[hktoffee]

Since Cahill and Fellaini were gone, we were a bit lost when defending set pieces??

 

[TheAlmightyFloater]

Since Cahill and Fellaini were gone, we were a bit lost when defending set pieces??

I was never Fellaini's biggest fan, but that was one of his best strengths. He was always a threat in their box, and a giant obstacle in ours.

 

[Carl Freear]

Need better deliveries and need to defend better at corners aswell

 

[The Esk]

Statistically top club sides (i.e. those playing in the top leagues in Europe)are several times more likely to score from open play than the traditional corner flung into the box.

I'll dig out the statistic when home...

 

[The Esk]

Since Cahill and Fellaini were gone, we were a bit lost when defending set pieces??

Agree re Cahill but Fellaini frequently lost his opposing runner when defending corners

 

[ultra]

I posted this earlier today in another thread:

1. We can't defend corners (opponents get there first).
2. We never score from our own corners (opponents get there first).
3. We always struggle with teams who play hoofball.

 

[Professor Toffee]

I posted this earlier today in another thread:

1. We can't defend corners (opponents get there first).
2. We never score from our own corners (opponents get there first).
3. We always struggle with teams who play hoofball.

Agreed then too

 

[hktoffee]

Agree re Cahill but Fellaini frequently lost his opposing runner when defending corners

Timmy Cahill was always the one who headed the ball away when defending set pieces.

 

[The Esk]

Timmy Cahill was always the one who headed the ball away when defending set pieces.

Yep very rary beaten at the near post, almost always first to the ball

 

[sageyefc]

Delivery needs to improve, no blame can be on martinez, look at the quality we have they should be able to put it in the box. Attacking it is a different thing all together though, we dont have anyone who'll just throw themselves at it like cahill or felli did, duffy does but hes obviously not a starter yet, jags is [Poor language removed] in the air, and distin for someone whos built like a brick wall is [Poor language removed] at attacking the ball both offensively and defensively, he got bullied by the two leicester lads yesterday, which just should not happen

 

[Abraders]

I don't think i'm going to be able to dig this out and find it, but didn't Martinez say last year that statistically only 1 in every 7 corners ends in an actual goal scoring chance for a team? Thus meaning 1 in even more actually results in a goal... idk

 

[evertony]

The way we lined up at every corner we defended was odd yesterday....in a line from goal-line to 18 yd box line, as opposed to across the width of the box.