Set Pieces - Corners in particular

[allen]

McGeady does this absolute belter, it loops up high then dips sharply........doesn't ever clear 1st man, like, but it's nice to look at.

Just rewatching yesterday's game. McGeady's goal came from him being over on that side taking a (pretty garbage) corner.

 

[LAToffee]

It's fine for Martinez to be the type to rather score a good pass and move goal than a corner, may aswell just take short corners. One thing he must do is put a few hours in on defending set pieces, because although we don't utilise them ourselves, plenty of other teams will.

This. All day long. I could lose the scoring from corners, but we were appalling at defending against them. We look totally rattled. Don't remember this being a liability in the past (aside from the occasional Howard flap). What's happened?

 

[allen]

Regarding the argument that Martinez doesn't go in for corners - that's either complete tosh or he's got a massive blind spot. And I don't believe it's the latter.

Even if you argue that he doesn't like the crowded box, sling a ball in nature of corners, he does like possession football. So why doesn't he simply tell the players to play it short and work an opportunity?

That fact that we don't do that very often suggests to me that he does approve of the standard whipped-in corner. If he didn't, we wouldn't be doing it. I just don't think he's very good at coaching how we should actually go about it.

The idea that he doesn't care for them so offers no coaching direction on how we should is, with respect, a massive cloud of guff.

 

[thirdmantackle]

Funny.
Cause it is definitely one area a team can improve hugely on.
Just spend loads of time on it.
However, Roberto may have other priorities

 

[Joey66]

I'd throw Duffy in the mix. Distin and Jagielka seem to poo themselves every time a cross comes in.

100% with you on that point - we have no one at the back dominant in the air - its about timing your jump and heading the ball well clear from long balls , and set pieces , and being handy to be available to score from our corners - remember Derek Mountfield as the best example for us - Distan can not time his leap for the ball and Jags is just too small - Stones is classy but lacks the physical part to win a header all the time - Duffy would have been ideal yesterday, as Leicester just hoofed it high!

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I'd imagine (without seeing detailed stats) that we concede more from set pieces against teams who feel a need to base their game on set pieces.

The top teams generally prefer to proritize open play. Having the quality to do it obviously.

Maybe we should mix it up a bit more though as we don't have that quality in depth.

The rs got to within a hair of the tiltle mixing set pieces with a good counter attack.

 

[Neiler]

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.

More interestingly is defending corners, yesterday we didn't have anyone on the posts, the first goal was totally unavoidable with someone on the post - doesn't seem that Martinez thinks it's useful, I'm going to keep an eye on it this season!

Thought Howard was poor for the second btw!!

 

[mrb85]

I found the stat I was looking for - 1 in 5 corners lead to a shot on goal. 1 in 9 shots lead to a goal, therefore there is a less than 2.25% chance of scoring from a corner.

Teams score from a corner statistically 1 in every 10 games, so corners are almost insignificant when considering the likelihood of scoring.

So perhaps we ought to try and work out how come Skirtel alone got 9 goals from corners in less than 50 games last season. That's twice the average.

 

[Boss_Blue]

So perhaps we ought to try and work out how come Skirtel alone got 9 goals from corners in less than 50 games last season. That's twice the average.

Witchcraft

 

[degsy]

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

and for his sins Jelavic. Jags and Distin have been 'covered' up to a point by these players and others and helped in no short measure by the general 'keep it tight' whole team ethic of OFM,TGT.
Could be the lack of those players and that 'careful' mind set plus the passage of years are finally catching up with our dynamic duo??

Or;

Are we doing some sort of semi smart a*se zonal marking space thing...thing is I have never seen 'space' listed as a goal scorer in any game ever.

Defending or attacking, you have to attack the ball, that takes a certain amount of skill, confidence and last but not least, GUTS or maybe only attitude

 

[degsy]

So perhaps we ought to try and work out how come Skirtel alone got 9 goals from corners in less than 50 games last season. That's twice the average.

And Mountfield, you have to buy a ticket to win a raffle...you have to put your head in there where it may hurt...that's why they used to say that Centre forwards and goalies had to be a bit mad.

 

[L4Everton]

Last good set of corners I saw down Goody were by AVDM. And that involves consistency.

 

[hktoffee]

and for his sins Jelavic. Jags and Distin have been 'covered' up to a point by these players and others and helped in no short measure by the general 'keep it tight' whole team ethic of OFM,TGT.
Could be the lack of those players and that 'careful' mind set plus the passage of years are finally catching up with our dynamic duo??

Or;

Are we doing some sort of semi smart a*se zonal marking space thing...thing is I have never seen 'space' listed as a goal scorer in any game ever.

Defending or attacking, you have to attack the ball, that takes a certain amount of skill, confidence and last but not least, GUTS or maybe only attitude

This. Like 3-5-2, it just does not work for this team.

 

[sharkey1001]

Moyes used to place Big Dunc on edge of 6 yard box and tell him to forget marking and just attack the ball. I'd say 40% (pure guesswork) of corners fail to beat the first man (90% if its Arteta taking them!). Have someone there who can attack the ball and get rid ASAP.
Regarding attacking corners, we need to practice these. We never take a short corner or even vaguely look like scoring. Think of Lukaku's derby goal... practiced well they are definately a weapon! 1/2 hours a week. Mix it up... in-swingers and out-swingers, Have all men attack the ball from outside the box (confuses defenders), a bit on ingenuity and invention! Come on Roberto ffs!