Corners (again)

[Chippy_boy]

....or better still, why don't we try something different (we seem to have the last couple of games) than putting the ball into the box almost every time, which is the point the thread is actually trying to make, not that we need a "crouch".

Quite.

 

[cibaman]

I would guess so, but I don't know how many we've scored (my memory is crap and I haven't seen it in the stats).

As I said in an earlier post, perhaps I should have changed the thread title to reflect that what I am really talking about is headed goals from corners. We are probably getting around 3% overall, based on the general ensuing mêlée when the ball is bouncing around in the box. Rather than scoring directly.

But firing crosses over when we are one of the shortest teams around, and our tall players can't head for toffee, would seem like a dubious strategy to me. I'm all for us mixing it up a bit... or learning how to head the ball. Just imagine if we could lift that 3% to 5 or 6%, and the extra points we might pick up.

One of the studies that I refered to did address the question "if the conversion rate is so low why bother banging the ball into the box?" Their conclusion was that, even though the % conversion rate is low, its still better than any other alternative.

 

[Chippy_boy]

One of the studies that I refered to did address the question "if the conversion rate is so low why bother banging the ball into the box?" Their conclusion was that, even though the % conversion rate is low, its still better than any other alternative.

As a generalisation, that may well be true.

But surely you have to tailor your tactics to fit your personnel? If you have a Crouch or a Carroll in your side or you're stacked with big strong players, it would surely make sense. But when you have the opposite, I can't believe it's the right tactics.

 

[cibaman]

As a generalisation, that may well be true.

But surely you have to tailor your tactics to fit your personnel? If you have a Crouch or a Carroll in your side or you're stacked with big strong players, it would surely make sense. But when you have the opposite, I can't believe it's the right tactics.

I suppose if you dont have a Crouch or a Carroll (or at least one more big man than the opposition) then there are no right tactics. A well organised defence just shouldnt concede at corners if they have a height advantage.

 

[blueparrot]

As a generalisation, that may well be true.

But surely you have to tailor your tactics to fit your personnel? If you have a Crouch or a Carroll in your side or you're stacked with big strong players, it would surely make sense. But when you have the opposite, I can't believe it's the right tactics.

To be fair recent games show you're right but also Pep has changed things too.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I suppose if you dont have a Crouch or a Carroll (or at least one more big man than the opposition) then there are no right tactics. A well organised defence just shouldnt concede at corners if they have a height advantage.

In terms of crosses fired over, I think you're right, although even well organised defences make mistakes and disorganised ones make more.

But given how much Pep values possession, I can't see the sense in lumping it in and "hoping" and probably having a 50% chance of losing the ball. Surely we'd be better off passing it short and drawing the opposition out so we can open up gaps and try to develop things that way. Just lumping it across seems about as "non-Pep-like" as the keeper hoofing it up field.

 

[NorCalBlue]

Despite what many pundits tell us I always prefer a good zonal system for defending corners. I remember reading a few months ago that Bayern and Barcelona dont put players on the posts, the idea being for the amount of goals that saves it is better to have more defenders in the box cutting out the ball in, or picking up the second ball. I can't say I've looked but if we arent putting players on the post it could also explain our better defending of corners.

You also get more offside decisions without players on the posts.

 

[abellwillring]

I've noticed this year that essentially any time Kev takes one he tries to hit someone at the near post for a flick on. It rarely works but I think Pep must just feel like it's our best option because it's been consistent. Silva has tried it quite a bit too.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I've noticed this year that essentially any time Kev takes one he tries to hit someone at the near post for a flick on. It rarely works but I think Pep must just feel like it's our best option because it's been consistent. Silva has tried it quite a bit too.

That hitting the 1st man thing is just Dave's normal corners.

 

[aguero93:20]

So we've nailed 3%?

The average is 1/46 or 2.17%.