Have our corners improved then?

Our set pieces are fecking awful. We really miss Raylor who is good as any in the league. Cabaye and Benni hit the front man just about every single time. If they don't, they overhit it. Its a real killer because set pieces are excellent way of building pressure and getting a team to crack. If you keep putting quality balls in with pace, a sense of panic eventually ensues. We are getting the set pieces and then letting the pressure drain away by not delivering. They need to find one and quick to replace Raylor, we're back to the Geremi etc days at present. Remember when we had Nobby and Robert fighting over them and Shearer for free kicks. Bastard.

 

Raylor is poor as well, only stands out as our best as the rest are so bad.

 

Each to their own, I think Raylor delivers a superb ball. Dead ball specialist for me and gets the most important thing you need on a dead ball, pace and whip. Free kicks are superb and corners more than decent.

 

Best set-piece taker there is is Grant McCann from Peterborough. Probably a good job, he doesn't do much else, but his corners and free-kicks are undefendable at times.

For charity he did one of those games where you have to throw a tennis ball into a hole to get points, except he did it with a football from about 20-25 yards, and got more points than someone throwing from about 10.

 

They really aren't. There is a reason we rarely score at set pieces, that is we don't have any good set piece tactics/ takers(part from the odd direct free kick goal), I would also say height, but the ball rarely gets to our players anway. We have had dreadful set pieces for the past 18 months, there cannot be any denying that at all. Hell even the old Williamson free kick tactic never worked.

I'm beginning to think if Pardew ever gets them to practice set pieces. We make Stoke tactics look difficult to do.

 

As I say each to their own. I rate Raylor highly, particularly with free kicks. The problem he has had in the last 18 months is getting into the team on the basis of his other attributes. He must have scored 3 or 4 free kicks in the last 2 seasons. Given the opportunities that's a good return. I doubt many in the league have scored more except maybe Larsson. Indeed Raylor is generally regarded as a free kick specialist and his record at free kick scoring backs this up (both at Wigan and ourselves).

Even if he does deliver a good ball we are sadly lacking in attacking them. Williamson is useless in the air, fouling at best. Colo is only half decent and for all he gets on the end of things he rarely troubles the goalie. Ba is a threat every now and then but doesn't always seem to commit fully. Saylor used to be ok but seems to be out of sorts of late. We certainly lack the dominant headers of the past like Shearer and Speed. We're a bit pathetic these days.

The problem we have is that since Cabaye arrived he has been the nominated free kick and corner taker. I'm not entirely sure why on corners because I have yet to see much evidence that he has this in his locker. Benni likewise, ok at free kicks (scored some pearlers in France) but ****e at corners. Its an area that needs immediate attention. Pardew to be fair has made reference to it again after the weekend and is clearly aware.