Set pieces.

[Nolucklcfc]

Genuinely, is there a worse team in the EFL at attacking set pieces than us? 

 

This isn’t a new thing either. Since the Rodgers days we’ve been frankly awful at them. The last time I can remember us being a genuine threat was when we had Maguire. Every time we get a corner, you just know we won’t have anyone attacking them. When do we ever make first contact? 

 

The delivery is often very poor which doesn’t help and why the **** is Ayew on corners?! Feels like it’s just a chance for the opposition to break on us, more than us score! 
 

Andrew Hughes, what are you doing? 

[Stadt]

5th for goals, 10th for shots, 12th for xG. 1st for set piece goals conceded (as in the fewest with 0), 4th most shots conceded, 4th for set piece xG conceded.  We're actually massively over performing at set pieces.

 

I hate how we're so lucky it masks just how shit we are, really covers Top and Rudkin's ineptitude a lot of the time.

Edited 22 October 2025 by Stadt

[RonnieTodger]

Ayew corners are a new low. They were embarrassing at Preston, how the **** is he still taking them?

Edited 22 October 2025 by RonnieTodger

[Aleksz]

This is why I'd cut Andrew Hughes some slack, bloke came in with rep as a top set piece coach and we haven't got one decent corner taker for him - has been the case probably since Maddison went. Ayew's corners are absolutely mind numbing. 

[Lambert09]

5 minutes ago, RonnieTodger said:

Ayew corners are a new low. They were embarrassing at Preston, how the **** is he still taking them?

Really hoping JJ is the answer because the alternatives are all honking. 
 

We’re not far from putting vesty on them 

[Noahfence]

Would love to know what discussions led to Ayew being on corners 

[SecretPro]

Ayew and Luke Thomas on Corners is probably the worst thing I've seen at the club in a while. 

[Nolucklcfc]

4 minutes ago, SecretPro said:

Ayew and Luke Thomas on Corners is probably the worst thing I've seen at the club in a while. 

There was a corner early in the second half when we were just starting to build momentum and Ayew crossed it out of play. Honestly, it’s absolutely infuriating 

[Shane]

Hopefully Braybrooke has a future here. His set pieces are excellent.

[rugbyblue]

Your average sunday league player can hit the penalty spot with a corner.  Why cant our players even clear the first man half the time?  Its ridiculous.

[RoboFox]

We’ve been an absolute disgrace from corners especially for years. Never seen a bunch of players who can’t even beat the first man so consistently. Pure dung.

[iancognito]

Was watching Kingy every time we had a set piece against Pompey. He was doing various hand signals for each routine and every time we gave the ball away or wasted the chance. Not sure if it was not doing what they were supposed to or just not executing it right but he was getting massively frustrated with the takers.

 

Over about a decade since we've been without Huth and Morgan we've been shocking. Everyone knows how many we conceded under Rodgers from them but I'd struggle to name the last set piece goal, certainly where we've won the first header and scored. Given how Arsenal have made set pieces fashionable again, its odd that we just don't seem to practice at all.

[RowlattsFox]

They weren't much better when Ayew didn't start on Saturday. 

 

 

[Free Falling Foxes]

25 minutes ago, iancognito said:

 

Over about a decade since we've been without Huth and Morgan we've been shocking. Everyone knows how many we conceded under Rodgers from them but I'd struggle to name the last set piece goal, certainly where we've won the first header and scored. Given how Arsenal have made set pieces fashionable again, its odd that we just don't seem to practice at all.

Bloody awful that was. It was as if we had conceding a penalty when the opposition had a corner - almost certain to score.

[AyewJoking]

2 hours ago, Stadt said:

5th for goals, 10th for shots, 12th for xG. 1st for set piece goals conceded (as in the fewest with 0), 4th most shots conceded, 4th for set piece xG conceded.  We're actually massively over performing at set pieces.

 

I hate how we're so lucky it masks just how shit we are, really covers Top and Rudkin's ineptitude a lot of the team.

Our set piece strategy seems to be based on luck.

 

i think there should be a new rule where you have the option to save your corners til you get 7 in a row and then you get awarded a penalty, the corners go back to 0

 

[l444ry]

 

[Vacamion]

 

So - 

 

Defensive set pieces - good

 

Attcking corners - bad.

 

And worth mentioning that attacking direct free kicks haven't really generated much of a frisson of anticipation since Maddison left, which is a shame.

 

 

[NewburyFox]

Just me that thinks Ayew's corners, which are no means great, are the best option available? James's at the weekend were worse. He then swapped with Thomas who promptly overhit it by 20 yards.

Edited 22 October 2025 by NewburyFox

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 hour ago, NewburyFox said:

Just me that thinks Ayew's corners, which are no means great, are the best option available? James's at the weekend were worse. He then swapped with Thomas who promptly overhit it by 20 yards.

Bewildering to my eyes.

Professional footballers who cannot deliver with some degree of accuracy, in a dead ball situation.

 

[sporter113]

We should definitely be trying different takers. Maybe Fatawu or Winks?

[Suzie the Fox]

Don't think we had anyone that decent taking corners since Madders left. 

[daddylonglegs]

1 hour ago, Suzie the Fox said:

Don't think we had anyone that decent taking corners since Madders left. 

Absolutely hideous that your recollection of Maddison's corners is that they were good. 

 

He stank the place out with them. Would stroll over (even if we were losing) and regularly not beat the first man ffs. 

Edit: having said that, he wasn't the only one stinking the place out 2022 onwards. 

Edited 23 October 2025 by daddylonglegs

[Nolucklcfc]

There is a strong argument for souttar to come in for this reason alone. 

[Foxin_Mad]

Just a sign of the general malaise and ineptitude at the club

[5waller5]

21 hours ago, Nolucklcfc said:

There is a strong argument for souttar to come in for this reason alone. 

Is he fit now??