Ricster
Well-Known Member
Last night was another prime example of the failure within the 'zonal marking' system at corners. I cant understand how you can mark the 6 yard box and anticipate the flight of the ball. Below is a diagram of the way City have set out their stall in recent games via the 'Zonal Marking' at corners.
Now to me this diagram shows a clear flaw as the players who are the best headers of the ball mark the 6 yard box. Gareth Barry was where the x is, middle by pen spot, in the diagram and Dunne out jumped him twice scoring one and coming close with the 2nd. The reason Dunne out jumped Barry is because Dunne was running onto the ball. Science will always prove a player running and jumping will always jump further off the ground than a player jumping from a standing position.
Also, since last week, we have taken one of our better defenders at set pieces out of the team which has put more pressure on us defensively. Step forward Micah Richards. While he can be caught out of position on occasions his presence when defending set pieces is huge, and something i feel we have missed in the last 2 games.
Above is a 'man marking' diagram, and while i agree it does look slightly more chaotic, it already looks a lot stronger defensively. While there is a large gap to run into, these players have 2 obsticles.
The 1st obsticle is to get past their marker into that space. As im sure you can see or many of you have experienced in the past, this is more difficult than it sounds.
The 2nd obsticle, if you get past the first is out jumping your marker. With the defender running onto the ball it gives him a better chance of being able to get the height required to get the ball cleared or be able to put the attacking player under a lot more pressure.
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I have to admit, im not a fan of the zonal marking system and in recent weeks i think its flaws have been shown, especially within our team. I have tried to understand why Hughes goes with the zonal sysem but just cant fathom it.
Back to man marking for me.
Now to me this diagram shows a clear flaw as the players who are the best headers of the ball mark the 6 yard box. Gareth Barry was where the x is, middle by pen spot, in the diagram and Dunne out jumped him twice scoring one and coming close with the 2nd. The reason Dunne out jumped Barry is because Dunne was running onto the ball. Science will always prove a player running and jumping will always jump further off the ground than a player jumping from a standing position.
Also, since last week, we have taken one of our better defenders at set pieces out of the team which has put more pressure on us defensively. Step forward Micah Richards. While he can be caught out of position on occasions his presence when defending set pieces is huge, and something i feel we have missed in the last 2 games.
Above is a 'man marking' diagram, and while i agree it does look slightly more chaotic, it already looks a lot stronger defensively. While there is a large gap to run into, these players have 2 obsticles.
The 1st obsticle is to get past their marker into that space. As im sure you can see or many of you have experienced in the past, this is more difficult than it sounds.
The 2nd obsticle, if you get past the first is out jumping your marker. With the defender running onto the ball it gives him a better chance of being able to get the height required to get the ball cleared or be able to put the attacking player under a lot more pressure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have to admit, im not a fan of the zonal marking system and in recent weeks i think its flaws have been shown, especially within our team. I have tried to understand why Hughes goes with the zonal sysem but just cant fathom it.
Back to man marking for me.