WESTY_SUFC
Guest
As someone rightly pointed out in another thread that we seem to lack a presence in the box for corners, I thought a new thread to cover set pieces should be discussed.
This season in particular we don't seem to be a threat from them. Not just corners but free kicks and throw-ons. Without looking at any stats I think a fair percentage of goals are scored from set pieces in all levels of football and should be considered an important part of the game.
What worries me the most is not that we don't have a big enough side but our lack of ideas. Every corner seems to be aimed/attempted to be put in the same area and throw ons are repetitively long to the same target (which is rarely even reached).
A least a few variations of set pieces should be practiced and known by the team. It gives us that extra advantage of knowing what is planned to get in the right areas first and keeps the opposition guessing.
Basics like looking to throw the ball long with a late runner going short, or someone who isn't an aerial threat going to the corner taker to bring out 2 of the opposition, players running in space for the option of a quick free kick. We just don't seem to try anything different. No big players on the pitch....why not roll one to the edge of the area for someone to have a crack. Do we not practice set plays? We don't we even attempt to do any of this.
Defending set plays including goal kicks against Wimbledon wasn't even thought about. Our defence couldn't handle Akinfenwa's strength one on one, it didn't take long to work that one out. Why didn't we double up on him with someone standing in front and behind him when he was the target every time. Basic stuff again.
This season in particular we don't seem to be a threat from them. Not just corners but free kicks and throw-ons. Without looking at any stats I think a fair percentage of goals are scored from set pieces in all levels of football and should be considered an important part of the game.
What worries me the most is not that we don't have a big enough side but our lack of ideas. Every corner seems to be aimed/attempted to be put in the same area and throw ons are repetitively long to the same target (which is rarely even reached).
A least a few variations of set pieces should be practiced and known by the team. It gives us that extra advantage of knowing what is planned to get in the right areas first and keeps the opposition guessing.
Basics like looking to throw the ball long with a late runner going short, or someone who isn't an aerial threat going to the corner taker to bring out 2 of the opposition, players running in space for the option of a quick free kick. We just don't seem to try anything different. No big players on the pitch....why not roll one to the edge of the area for someone to have a crack. Do we not practice set plays? We don't we even attempt to do any of this.
Defending set plays including goal kicks against Wimbledon wasn't even thought about. Our defence couldn't handle Akinfenwa's strength one on one, it didn't take long to work that one out. Why didn't we double up on him with someone standing in front and behind him when he was the target every time. Basic stuff again.