How do we solve our set piece issue and which signing this summer is the most important?

[lcfc sheff]

Key really is to add height where we reasonably can… in goal, midfield and maybe a tallish right winger but that would probably be unlikely. 

[UHDrive]

7 hours ago, Guest454545 said:

If you look at the numbers, I think you are the worst team for crossing accuracy. It might be corner accuracy. It's one of them. But your accuracy is something like 27% for one of them, and the average is 45% 

Thomas doesn't excel in crossing or corners in particular. Barnes isn't great either especially when running with the ball. RW we have options but again, not with dead ball situations and relying on madders.

[sacreblueits442]

8 minutes ago, UHDrive said:

Thomas doesn't excel in crossing or corners in particular. Barnes isn't great either especially when running with the ball. RW we have options but again, not with dead ball situations and relying on madders.

...Thomas when he first came on the scene was a revelation in getting balls into the box!!!

  We seemed to have drilled all his better qualities out of him. His inconsistency is mirrored by the rest of the team.

  It does seem the longer some players are in our team, the worse they become.

[UHDrive]

6 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...Thomas when he first came on the scene was a revelation in getting balls into the box!!!

  We seemed to have drilled all his better qualities out of him. His inconsistency is mirrored by the rest of the team.

  It does seem the longer some players are in our team, the worse they become.

True. He seems to have stopped those dinked crosses into this box where he would be running with his head up down the flanks. Not sure why he stopped doing that but it's a theme that's the same down the right as well!

[lcfc_forever]

23 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Get a set pieces coach in. 
 

This team is largely the same one that had one of the better defensive records in the league during the previous two seasons to this. The players we have at our disposal aren’t as bad as we think. 
 

The keeper needs to come to claim the ball more often. It has been a weakness of Kasper’s but the set pieces coach could correct it. 
 

It’s also notable that we concede more set piece goals without Ndidi. So if the Tielemans replacement is over 6 foot that would be an advantage. 
 

But in general the reason we concede so many is because we don’t attack the ball. Arsenal had similar issues, signed a set piece coach and fixed it. 

Fully agree. There's a mentality/confidence issue clearly now as well. 

 

Real Madrid gave an exhibition in the CL final on how to defend set pieces. Yes, they have more physical players but it was their attitude - they wouldn't let anything get past them and defended on the front foot. I wasn't sure whether they did much man-marking, the key was attacking the space and not going too deep. Courtois also helped with his positioning, but that's something Schmeichel is very unlikely to replicate. 

 

We're simply too passive from corners, almost waiting for other players to take responsibility. A mental reset is key. 

 

A set piece coach should also make a massive difference along with having Ndidi and/or another imposing presence. 

Edited 29 May 2022 by lcfc_forever

[JimmyC74]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Agreed, although we will miss many aspects of him when he's gone, it would make Brendans life much easier if Kasper made the decision to leave rather than the club. If he said he wanted to go this summer (doubt he'd give up a year of £150k a week) then we'd have a real opportunity to correct all aspects of this issue. If he stays then we'll have to be exemplary at commanding the 6 yard box and penalty spot area at set pieces which needs more than 2 decent centre halves in the air.

Don’t see Brendan replacing Kolo or whoever is in charge of set pieces.
 

Whoever is in that role is very fortunate to still be there.

[sacreblueits442]

31 minutes ago, UHDrive said:

True. He seems to have stopped those dinked crosses into this box where he would be running with his head up down the flanks. Not sure why he stopped doing that but it's a theme that's the same down the right as well!

...I  would say the coaching he has received!!!

 Imagine if the quality of coaching in the academy is better than the Coaches for the first eleven. What he initially brought to the table was refreshing with whipped balls going into the box.

  It won't matter much who we bring in to the team to counter the lack of goals or our defensive frailties   the Coaches will knock that stuff out of them quick smart.

[sacreblueits442]

30 minutes ago, lcfc_forever said:

We're simply too passive from corners, almost waiting for other players to take responsibility. A mental reset is key. 

...this!!!

[yorkie1999]

Do what Liverpool do, make a corner/ free kick, an oppotuneaty to counter attack. At the moment we just look like we're grateful to have stopped another going in. Every team that we come up against know that they can almost push their whole team up because we're too slow and ponderous when our goalie gets the ball, giving them as much better chance to get back into position. Leaving a couple of players out in the midfield positions and getting rid of zonal marking would be a start.

[sacreblueits442]

1 hour ago, pmcla26 said:

Very speculative. How can you criticise something that you haven't seen? Also, goes against the fact that pretty much all the players that Rodgers inherited have improved since he's been here. 

.. who..!!!

[kushiro]

Think it was bad last season? Here's Mark Wallington talking about defending set pieces in the Jimmy Bloomfield era:

 

 

[Countryfox]

[yorkie1999]

On 29/05/2022 at 12:35, lcfc sheff said:

Key really is to add height where we reasonably can… in goal, midfield and maybe a tallish right winger but that would probably be unlikely. 

Key is being aggressive then moaning at the ref for being shoved over, and a goal that dives over players and then goes down holding his face and yelping

[Tom12345]

People talk about us having a team with short players. That is true. But we were one of the better teams when Morgan was still around (together with Evans) and we were not taller otherwise. Morgan and Evan (same as Huth) could deal with everything that gets lobbed into the box. Morgan and Huth were just commanding and strong - no one wanted to go near them. Their presence was intimidating in itself. I think it starts off with our defenders. 

 

And then Kasper needs to come out more and be more demanding.

 

[An Sionnach]

All I know is , with Rodgers at the helm our vulnerability will continue particularly against teams that sit back against a high line. Frustrate and focus on set pieces is the way to undermine Rodgers's game plan. Its only when we are forced to concede possession that we tighten up defensively. Real Madrid was the perfect example of how to beat high line tactics and Chelsea did the same to Man.City the year before. Rodgers needs to seriously rethink his tactics for next season.

[Pliskin]

Sign a CB who attacks the ball. 

[Dames]

Hypnotism. 
 

Harvey Barnes needs to be hypnotised to attack the ball like he attacks a night in Terrace.

 

Hamza needs to be hypnotised to attack the ball like he attacks girls inboxes on Instagram.

 

Soyuncu needs to be hypnotised into attacking the ball as if its insulting Unders honour.

 

etc and so on. 

[Guest Col city fan]

On 30/05/2022 at 13:07, pmcla26 said:

I take it you're asking who's improved since he's been here? 
 

Ricardo (before his injury) 

Soyuncu (poor season this year, but he's definitely still become a better player overall) 

Evans (has been immense throughout BR's time here) 

JJ 

Wilf (again, not his best season, but definitely better than he was when Rodgers arrived) 

Tielemans (much better than he was at Monaco, but similar to Cags and Wilf - although, even then I think some of our fans make out that he's had a worse season than he actually has) 

Barnes 

Maddison 

Vardy (would say he's the most complete he's ever been now, even if injuries are catching up and maybe the decline will start in the near future) 

Iheanacho 

 

They’re the ones who have had a significant impact for us.. you could then also say Mendy has played his best football for us both this season and last, as has Amartey this season. Then Chilwell as well before he got his move, even if his last few months were pretty crap (don't think his heart was in it anymore). KDH is getting better all the time - I would imagine some of that is also to do with working with Rodgers and his coaching team, too. 

 

So yeah, basically most the squad, as I said. 

Funny how we all see football so differently 

Personally:

Cags, Tielemans, Barnes, Soyuncu and Ricardo have all started well under Rodgers but have actually gotten worse in my eyes. For the life of me I can’t see how anyone can say that Caglar has gotten better?

I agree re Maddison

Vardy is just Vardy. He’s just stayed very effective 

[Lesta2014]

Simplest outlook is to find someone who’s a beast in the air like Walsh/Elliott/taggart but has attributes to fofana. Easier said than done and I’ve no idea who fits that bill. People are obsessed with ball playing central defenders. There aren’t enough defenders who are out and out defenders saying you are not getting passed me. 
 

the way Rogers likes teams to play means the players we get in will be ‘nicer’. I’ve said before we too easy to play against the set piece issue and also too honest. Times teams would give away clever fouls and not get booked for it. We don’t do that no where near enough. Not saying foul people all the time but there’s definitely times your watching the game thinking foul him now we don’t and it’s a goal! For example, Tottenham’s winning, youri gives ball away, whoever’s closest foul the player with the ball, times up, we don’t lose! There’s other examples I could think of if I went through last season. 

[deep blue]

On 30/05/2022 at 11:33, pmcla26 said:

Very speculative. How can you criticise something that you haven't seen? Also, goes against the fact that pretty much all the players that Rodgers inherited have improved since he's been here. 

Who, for example? 

[ian__marshall]

The thing that frustrates me the most about the whole set piece issue is that we have an abundance of ex players still actively engaged with the club from the O'Neill days who were some of the best in the business for defending/attacking set pieces who I'm certain would happily spend time with current crop talking them through the best ways to manage these situations, yet we never seem to utilise the resources at our disposal. 

[sacreblueits442]

11 minutes ago, ian__marshall said:

The thing that frustrates me the most about the whole set piece issue is that we have an abundance of ex players still actively engaged with the club from the O'Neill days who were some of the best in the business for defending/attacking set pieces who I'm certain would happily spend time with current crop talking them through the best ways to manage these situations, yet we never seem to utilise the resources at our disposal. 

...I  said exactly thr same recently...there is far too much experience around this club for us not to draw on their input!!!

[Vardinio'sCat]

Get Wilf back regular and sign Attila the Hun(garian) from Fenerbache.