Defending corners

[Houdini Logic]

Does anyone else get frustrated when Leicester are defending a corner and we don't leave a player up so we don't have an out ball. Pearson seems to know what he is doing, but i don't understand why he doesn't get a player of even 2 players to stay near the half way line when we are defending a corner as it will push them back and give us more options. I had to add this topic as it has been annoying me from last season under Holloway as he done the same and i wanted to know what you think

[jonno24]

I blame Bin Laden or possibly Beer i aint decided yet

but in all honesty i think i will leave it to pearson to sort out we have only lost 1 game all season in the league so i think he knows how to sort things out

[DB11]

What's the point? I mean who have we got to leave up there?

Howard and Fryatt it's pointless. I'd rather have Howard in the box heading them away cos he won't do anything up field. Fryatt will just run in circles before getting tackled. Dyer and Adams you need them back a bit to get the ball to start playing it away, as with Oakley and King who pass it from defence to attack and the back four are there to, well, defend.

[Anish]

Of course you're not going to leave Howard up front, he's one of our better headers. But I agree with Houdini, we should at least keep one man up front in case we clear the ball. Dyer isn't great in the air so he should be up there to chase down clearances and put defenders under pressure, instead of allowing them time to pump the ball back into the box or keep possession easily.

[demon_dog]

Seems to be the way with the way the game is played these days, even Premiership teams tend to have everyone in the box.

Personally I do agree though, would like to see 1 or 2 players up front. Dyer seems like a good idea due to his pace.

With 1 or preferably 2 people upfront means the opposition need to have 3 or 4 players back to cover.

This means less bodies in the box, thus giving the defence and especially the goalkeeper more room to deal with the ball.

Ok it gives the opposition more room too, but there's not so many of them are there.

[ThorpeAstleyFox]

A lot of managers go for this as it has been "proven" that having all of your players back results in you conceding less goals from set plays. However, whilst this is true (and it is btw), what the reasearch didn't take in to account is how likely you are to create a chance at the other end if you leave a player up.

Personally I'd leave Dyer up and smack the ball as hard as we can as soon as we can <_<

[Corky]

Why don't we work on taking decent corners instead?

[Father Ted]

Well, if we leave 2 up then that means they'll have to leave at least 2, maybe 3 back in defence.

[Jimmy]

the guy I sit next to said during the Millwall game we should leave Gradel and Dyer on the half way line stood on either touch line cus if we did they'd probably have to leave 4 back

I agree with him actually we should have faith in our defenders that they'll get the ball clear then with Dyer and Gradel's pace we'd be a danger on the counter

[Munzie]

Why don't we work on taking decent corners instead?

Yep! We are dreadful at the moment. Adams first was too deep and the second didn't clear the first man. I was so willing the third to be just right...but...no! It seemed to just hang in the air until Hartlepool's defence sorted themselves out, all got in the correct position, adjusted their kit, made sure their laces were tied tight, and then cleared it!!

Adam's wasn't our only culprit, but if I were Pearson, I'd have them staying behind in training for a little bit more practice.

[dandannieldanok]

the guy I sit next to said during the Millwall game we should leave Gradel and Dyer on the half way line stood on either touch line cus if we did they'd probably have to leave 4 back

I agree with him too, Gradel and Dyer are no good to us in defence and if the ball did get cleared to them our counter-attacks may actually lead to something.

[scott8941]

whats the stats on how many goals are scored from a defensive set piece?

I dont just mean for us, but is it possible to find out from say, every prem/champ/L1/L2 game played last season and get the average?

Then if that can be found, Id guess you could find teh stats for the difference between goals conseded from corners with everyone back, compared to leaving 1 or 2 up.

Only then could you say for definate what the better option is.

[surrifox]

Yep! We are dreadful at the moment. Adams first was too deep and the second didn't clear the first man. I was so willing the third to be just right...but...no! It seemed to just hang in the air until Hartlepool's defence sorted themselves out, all got in the correct position, adjusted their kit, made sure their laces were tied tight, and then cleared it!!

Adam's wasn't our only culprit, but if I were Pearson, I'd have them staying behind in training for a little bit more practice.

Totally agree

there were times last season when our most potent or indeed only attacking options were McAuley and Kisnorbo headers from free kicks and corners - it's an important part of the game and something of a Leicester tradition . The current crop of players cannot deliver and this could well cost us. On the positive side we are getting goals from midfield again but good sides threaten from all attacking situations