Set pieces.....what's the issue?

[DangerFox]

Hasnt done cardiff or fulham much good. It could be than an over reliance on set pieces could get a team relegated.

The key point is that the number of goals you scorefrom set pieces doesnt have a significant bearing on league position. However, scoring goals from open play does.

Prem set piece table

1 Liverpool 48 8 23 10 4

2 Manchester City 53 4 18 6 5

3 Chelsea 41 4 14 5 2

4 Fulham 16 1 13 2 2

5 Cardiff 16 0 13 0 1

6 Everton 34 2 12 2 3

7 Southampton 33 2 12 3 0

8 Hull 18 2 10 2 2

9 Manchester United 41 1 9 4 1

10 Tottenham 27 4 9 4 4

11 West Ham 22 2 9 2 2

12 Sunderland 13 3 9 4 0

13 Swansea 28 0 7 2 8

14 Stoke 26 1 7 3 1

15 Aston Villa 21 4 7 2 1

16 Arsenal 44 3 6 3 0

17 West Bromwich Albion 29 1 6 2 2

18 Newcastle United 26 3 6 2 1

19 Crystal Palace 12 1 6 4 1

20 Norwich 20 1 4 1 0

Top teams don't rely on one set plan, whether it be skilfulness or set pieces, top teams use a variety of tactics, eg. I take you back to Liverpool again.

[LAprice_]

I'm not sure if it's already been said but does anyone agree with the theory that we put too many people in the box when defending set-pieces? I know a few people who moan about how we have 11 players in the box. Does the overcrowding do us any favours? I'm undecided. Same could be applied to attacking set-pieces as well.

[Col city fan]

Attacking set pieces this season, I don't see as a problem. Genuinely, I don't believe Pearson does either. We've scored enough goals from open play, we've won the league.

Next season, it's defending set pieces effectively which will be crucial.

You lose the aerial battles to West Ham and Stoke, for example, you'll be punished.

[asasas]

You just watch, now you've you've made this thread we'll defend brilliantly from set pieces today and score from a couple as well!

[Zapp]

To be honest I don't understand why we don't play short & try to build an attack again

As other have said we rarely threaten from them.

 

 

Those devilish inswinging free kicks from wide 15-35 yards out we always look dangerous

 

But corners, lets play short, lay it off then maybe swing it in after, because the dead balls just don't feel like they are going to hit the target, let alone score 

[Zapp]

as for defending

 

whatever marking system is in place isn't working

 

if we saw every goal we've conceded from a set piece in 1 handy vid maybe it could be deciphered what is actually going wrong

[A fox for life]

We cant be perfect

[DangerFox]

You just watch, now you've you've made this thread we'll defend brilliantly from set pieces today and score from a couple as well!

Hope so! I will certainly eat my own hat!

[DennisNedry]

[Tuna]

For fooks sake!

[Stadt]

You just watch, now you've you've made this thread we'll defend brilliantly from set pieces today and score from a couple as well!

Well just errr....no

You just watch, now you've you've made this thread we'll defend brilliantly from set pieces today and score from a couple as well!

Well just errr....no

[Col city fan]

The issue is.. we can't!!

[Long Eaton Fox]

It's fairly straightforward really. We are a small team in midfield and up front so any free kick means 4 big guys against our 2. Normally we control the game and our quick passing style of play means we score our goals from open play and very rarely from corners for the very same reason we concede from them. On balance though we are top of the league and anyone moaning about the few goals we do concede can go away.

[Foxy harry]

What annoys me is that we know we aren't a big side, yet we never try to do anything smart from corners or mix up positioning etc. It seems like the same attempt every single time.

 

The opposition just put a man on Kasper ans he never move form behind them to help deal with them.

id rather have drimky there get knocky starting a counter if he gets it

[Cropwellfox]

From "the back-room team" article in the Yeovil match programme:

Mike Stowell: "...Nigel has also entrusted me with the attacking set plays, as well as the unit work with the back four this season"....."Shakey does the defending set plays,..."

I don't know much about Mike Stowell's coaching ability, but reading that did explain a lot. How can someone who has played in goal his whole career, and then become a goalkeeping coach, have a good enough perspective on how to devise attacking set plays?

I'm all for Nigel giving his staff the opportunity to expand their skill sets, but this is surely a step too far. Our attacking set plays have been toothless all year and NP needs to take more control here or bring in some specialist coaches for the PL next year.

Stand up super Kevin Phillips. Fox in the box responsible for coaching Vardy, Mahrez, Nuge, Knocky, Blyth, Hopper and a couple of newbies.

Yes please

[theessexfox]

We looked a tad more threatening from them tonight, just not sure how our two CBs couldn't beat Pearce to the ball. Top header though. 

[dylanlegend]

The centre backs aren't tall enough. 6"1 isn't tal for a defender. We need a decent tall centre back next season for set pieces not only to score a few but mainly to defend them as we will get punished next season no doubt. You can get away with one "short" cb not two

[dylanlegend]

Look at Walsh, Elliott, srktel, Agger etc etc all 6"3. Morgan, Moore, wasa all 6"1 or less..... Oh dear

[Kitchandro]

God knows. It''s certainly Nigel's priority in the summer though. I don't mind conceding to a Suarez screamer but any side can prepare themselves for set pieces. Also, goals are going to be priceless next season, we need  to be more of a threat from corners and free kicks.

[Kitchandro]

Where's the evidence for any of this? We have scored a couple from set pieces in recent games. Hammond at Wigan and Knocky against Sheff Weds. You need some STATS to back this up else this is a pointless debate.

Perhaps it's just that we score so many goals from open play, that the proportion of set piece goals seems lower than average?

Few teams score many goals from set pieces. And hardly anyone scores goals from corners.

 

Ah, here comes the awkward one in this thread.

 

If you can't see we struggle from set pieces you're in a dream world.

 

We've scored plenty of goals this season, and that's great, but very few have been from set piece deliveries. The proportion doesn't seem lower, it is lower. I bet I could count them on one hand. And that is low, for the amount of goals we've scored.

 

As for conceding them, well, facts do back it up. From all the goals we've conceded in the last 10 games, almost all of them have been from set pieces. It's the biggest issue we have by far. Compare the amount we concede from with the amount we score (even threaten) from, it's worrying.

[Manwell Pablo]

Ah, here comes the awkward one in this thread.

 

If you can't see we struggle from set pieces you're in a dream world.

 

We've scored plenty of goals this season, and that's great, but very few have been from set piece deliveries. The proportion doesn't seem lower, it is lower. I bet I could count them on one hand. And that is low, for the amount of goals we've scored.

 

As for conceding them, well, facts do back it up. From all the goals we've conceded in the last 10 games, almost all of them have been from set pieces. It's the biggest issue we have by far. Compare the amount we concede from with the amount we score (even threaten) from, it's worrying.

 

 

Well not really we've been bad at it for about a month and probably conceded 5 direct (i.e one touch after the free kick) set pieces at most. It's being blown out of proportion slightly, you can't really count Yeovil either there isn't alot you can do to defend someone pinging it straight into your goal. Although we looked uneasy defending them all night tonight again.

 

Attacking them we've been woeful over the season but I can't see that getting better.

[Kitchandro]

Well not really we've been bad at it for about a month and probably conceded 5 direct (i.e one touch after the free kick) set pieces at most. It's being blown out of proportion slightly, you can't really count Yeovil either there isn't alot you can do to defend someone pinging it straight into your goal. Although we looked uneasy defending them all night tonight again.

 

Attacking them we've been woeful over the season but I can't see that getting better.

 

Well there you are being picky and if you mean 5 all season I'd suggest we have conceded more.

 

There is one touch after a free kick but then that doesn't mean goals we've conceded haven't been caused our failure to deal with a set piece. We've probably ad 5 in the last month let alone all season and yes I can count Yeovil if people are counting our direct free kicks like Knocky against Sheff Wed or all of Nugent's penalties.

[Bettsj2]

Pretty simple as some have said. The two centre backs are too short.

If Was was 6ft 3 instead of 6ft, he'd clear the cross for the goal. Plus Kasper isnt tall or in any way physical so he wont be able to command the area to any great effect.

[casablancas]

All we heard last night from the pundits was how. 'Good' Readings set pieces were, and how much of a 'threat' they were. But for the last 4 odd weeks we have looked remarkedly vulnerable from set pieces and crosses. Now I'm not moaning and I'm thrilled with the season and the team have been fantastic. But this is going to need addressing over the summer. Just look at how organised Pulis has got the palace back four and how well it's served them.

[dayday]

As said we are not the biggest side and will always look suspect due to this,people can waffle on about stats all they like,but every time the opposition get a set piece they look dangerous from them, for me,we need to do cut out giving the needless free kicks and corners away.