Corners

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Our attacking corners are still way off but what are peoples thoughts on defending them? I think the whole 11 players in the box idea is crap and it contributed to the Palace goal. There should be 2 players between our box and the halfway line to draw out opposing players and give us a chance to challenge/attack if the ball gets cleared.

Spot on. Why would we not have Navas/Silva and Aguerro up field when we are defending a corner? Bananas.

We used to do this. At times we had three on the half way line meaning at least 4 of not 5 of their players had to stay back.

With us struggling, I just want to see evidence that new things are being tried but I see nothing and this applies to corners and our general play.

It's like Kidd and co get the cones out on the training pitch and just say right lads, you know the drill, have a kick about and then it's pasta and chicken in 90 mins.

 

[Bluekiwi]

Just watched the highlights of the women's game against Sunderland. The winning goal came from a CORNER. Perhaps their coach should show the first team squad how to set up and take corners.

 

[Silva Citizen]

Just watched the highlights of the women's game against Sunderland. The winning goal came from a CORNER. Perhaps their coach should show the first team squad how to set up and take corners.

Solution is easy... Bring back Bobby McDonald as corner coach.

 

[City_Sean]

If we signed Koke we'd score at least ten goals from set pieces a year. His corners are absolutely dynamite.

 

[BlueAnorak]

If we signed Koke we'd score at least ten goals from set pieces a year. His corners are absolutely dynamite.

Doubt it. Not without a manager who is willing to practice them.

For example where are the two players to sit on the keeper and keep him "boxed in"? every team does it - except us of course.

 

[Rolee]

If we signed Koke we'd score at least ten goals from set pieces a year. His corners are absolutely dynamite.

Doubt it. Not without a manager who is willing to practice them.

For example where are the two players to sit on the keeper and keep him "boxed in"? every team does it - except us of course.

We don't practice corners under Pellegrini? You know this how?

Koke's deliveries may be dynamite but that's just half the battle, there has to be a desire from those attacking the corner to get to the ball too, that has been an issue just as much as poor deliveries have.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

If we signed Koke we'd score at least ten goals from set pieces a year. His corners are absolutely dynamite.

Doubt it. Not without a manager who is willing to practice them.

For example where are the two players to sit on the keeper and keep him "boxed in"? every team does it - except us of course.

We don't practice corners under Pellegrini? You know this how?

Koke's deliveries may be dynamite but that's just half the battle, there has to be a desire from those attacking the corner to get to the ball too, that has been an issue just as much as poor deliveries have.

You can just tell, we surely can't practice them and be this bad (and throw-ins too). There are no structures in anything we do at corners, no blocking the 'keeper, no screening for teammates, no set runs, no group work, no runs of another players movement, there never seems to be anything pre-planned and executed, ever. Just a dinked ball in to anywhere sometimes someone might make a run but the ball is never anywhere near them.

 

[Rolee]

Doubt it. Not without a manager who is willing to practice them.

For example where are the two players to sit on the keeper and keep him "boxed in"? every team does it - except us of course.

We don't practice corners under Pellegrini? You know this how?

Koke's deliveries may be dynamite but that's just half the battle, there has to be a desire from those attacking the corner to get to the ball too, that has been an issue just as much as poor deliveries have.

You can just tell, we surely can't practice them and be this bad (and throw-ins too). There are no structures in anything we do at corners, no blocking the 'keeper, no screening for teammates, no set runs, no group work, no runs of another players movement, there never seems to be anything pre-planned and executed, ever. Just a dinked ball in to anywhere sometimes someone might make a run but the ball is never anywhere near them.

Yet we scored the most goals from corners in the PL last season.

The majority of our corners are delivered to the near post for a runner to get the flick on, just as they were last season, the main difference between then and now is the lack of appetite for the runner to get to the ball before the defender stood on the side of the six yard box.

 

[The Chief]

We don't practice corners under Pellegrini? You know this how?

Koke's deliveries may be dynamite but that's just half the battle, there has to be a desire from those attacking the corner to get to the ball too, that has been an issue just as much as poor deliveries have.

You can just tell, we surely can't practice them and be this bad (and throw-ins too). There are no structures in anything we do at corners, no blocking the 'keeper, no screening for teammates, no set runs, no group work, no runs of another players movement, there never seems to be anything pre-planned and executed, ever. Just a dinked ball in to anywhere sometimes someone might make a run but the ball is never anywhere near them.

Yet we scored the most goals from corners in the PL last season.

The majority of our corners are delivered to the near post for a runner to get the flick on, just as they were last season, the main difference between then and now is the lack of appetite for the runner to get to the ball before the defender stood on the side of the six yard box.

Regarding the bit in bold, that may be so, but what was the ratio of success in comparison to other teams? If we're having 200 more corners than them then it's still not really saying much. The near-post flick is a bit too cute to be effective all the time and City just don't mix it up often enough.

 

[Rolee]

You can just tell, we surely can't practice them and be this bad (and throw-ins too). There are no structures in anything we do at corners, no blocking the 'keeper, no screening for teammates, no set runs, no group work, no runs of another players movement, there never seems to be anything pre-planned and executed, ever. Just a dinked ball in to anywhere sometimes someone might make a run but the ball is never anywhere near them.

Yet we scored the most goals from corners in the PL last season.

The majority of our corners are delivered to the near post for a runner to get the flick on, just as they were last season, the main difference between then and now is the lack of appetite for the runner to get to the ball before the defender stood on the side of the six yard box.

Regarding the bit in bold, that may be so, but what was the ratio of success in comparison to other teams? If we're having 200 more corners than them then it's still not really saying much. The near-post flick is a bit too cute to be effective all the time and City just don't mix it up often enough.

We averaged 7.45 corners a game last season, the highest in the league.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues</a>

 

[shemnel]

Did anyone else see that hilarious corner against Palace which actually fell towards Vinny, around the penalty spot area, and he was completely unmarked for a free header and he jumped, missed it, and fell over. that did make me giggle.

 

[The Chief]

Yet we scored the most goals from corners in the PL last season.

The majority of our corners are delivered to the near post for a runner to get the flick on, just as they were last season, the main difference between then and now is the lack of appetite for the runner to get to the ball before the defender stood on the side of the six yard box.

Regarding the bit in bold, that may be so, but what was the ratio of success in comparison to other teams? If we're having 200 more corners than them then it's still not really saying much. The near-post flick is a bit too cute to be effective all the time and City just don't mix it up often enough.

We averaged 7.45 corners a game last season, the highest in the league.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=Leagues</a>

Sorry mate, I'm meaning what was our conversion rate like? I.e. Did we score 1/10,1/20? We may have scored the most but if Chelsea, for example, scored less but put away 1/12 corners, whilst we put away 1/25, it doesn't make us any better despite topping the charts.

 

[fredmont]

Did anyone else see that hilarious corner against Palace which actually fell towards Vinny, around the penalty spot area, and he was completely unmarked for a free header and he jumped, missed it, and fell over. that did make me giggle.

So long since we put one in the middle they've forgotten what they are supposed to do with it.

 

[fredmont]

Did anyone else see that hilarious corner against Palace which actually fell towards Vinny, around the penalty spot area, and he was completely unmarked for a free header and he jumped, missed it, and fell over. that did make me giggle.

So long since we put one in the middle they've forgotten what they are supposed to do with it.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Did anyone else see that hilarious corner against Palace which actually fell towards Vinny, around the penalty spot area, and he was completely unmarked for a free header and he jumped, missed it, and fell over. that did make me giggle.

So long since we put one in the middle they've forgotten what they are supposed to do with it.

Did you forget that you had already posted that?

 

[LWashington]

Can't believe why we don;t leave our smaller players Silva, Kun , Nasri , Navas etc on the halfway line spread out when we are defending a corner. ( 2 at least) spread out .

1) For an outball 2) Forcing them to leave 3 or 4 back to mark. For those who say "man on the post" just refer to Ben Watson's header to see what a waste of time it is .

 

[kiam06]

Set pieces are the reason we haven't won the league this year they are so important yet our club seems to treat them like a joke.

All of the other top clubs in Europe utilise set pieces and make sure each one is a decent delivery into a dangerous area.

For me good set pieces can almost double your win ratio that's how vital they are.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Doubt it. Not without a manager who is willing to practice them.

For example where are the two players to sit on the keeper and keep him "boxed in"? every team does it - except us of course.

We don't practice corners under Pellegrini? You know this how?

Koke's deliveries may be dynamite but that's just half the battle, there has to be a desire from those attacking the corner to get to the ball too, that has been an issue just as much as poor deliveries have.

You can just tell, we surely can't practice them and be this bad (and throw-ins too). There are no structures in anything we do at corners, no blocking the 'keeper, no screening for teammates, no set runs, no group work, no runs of another players movement, there never seems to be anything pre-planned and executed, ever. Just a dinked ball in to anywhere sometimes someone might make a run but the ball is never anywhere near them.

THIS +++++++++++++
Under Mancini we had the best record in the league - and he had to be persuaded by an analyst to do mainly inswingers. Now we are bobbins. For sure we scored a few last season but even so the conversion rate was shocking. This season it has gone down the toilet. 2 goals from 50ish games is just shocking where we average 7 corners a game. No wonder teams are happy to defend deep - they just don't care if we get a corner. Indeed they are more likely than we are to score from one of our corners than we are (at least 3 goals from our corners)!

 

[Len Rum]

As others have pointed out we also waste free kicks , particularly in the opponents half.
Instead of doing something inventive, a free kick usually ends up as a short cheap sideways pass which doesn't take us any further, the receiver off the pass doesn't know what to do with ball, the opposition press , the ball goes sideways then backwards, ends up with Joe who kicks it out either into touch or to an opposition player.
Throw ins are no better. Nobody makes themselves available to the thrower. There is usually poor control of the ball by the receiver or if the ball is taken cleanly there is no movement of players to take the next pass and move the ball away from the throw in zone. Often the throw is straight to an opposition player.
It's got to the point where at best I'm indifferent to us getting the 'advantage' of a dead ball situation , at worst I actually worry and wish the opposition had got the decision ( i.e their goal kick instead of our corner!).

 

[unexpected item]

We should have a 'Practice Corners FFS' banner to hold up after yet another wasted effort.