Crosses and corners

Don't know why we bother with corners, we must have the worst conversion rate in world football. In addition to that, why do we persist in crossing the ball against stoke like teams. We have one man in the box if we're lucky, but inevitably don't even get near it anyway.

Makes us so frustrating to watch.

 

That corner by Suarez proves your point!

 

I was going to do an article on our corners when I saw this bit on the sky sports website http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,12038_8565403,00.html

It actually shows that we are "mid table" when it comes to converting corners with a 3% conversion rate. We've had 210 corners scoring 6 goals (when this peice was written) far greater than Newcastle (1 goal in 162 corners) and even Everton (4 from 187). Less surprising was Arsenal & Swansea being down the bottom as well.

United are actually the best in terms of goals scored and conversion rate (13 in 165 = 8%) followed by Stoke, Wigan & west Brom all on 6%.

Also shows that Gerrard is one of the best, which 3 goals coming from his 101 corners, only matched by De Guzman (3 in 107) and Brunt (3 in 79). Bale, who is quoted as a brilliant set peice taker, hasn't assisted 1 goal from a corner this season, even after 88 attempts.

So overall, it may seem like we are the worse, but in fairness we are actually about average when compared to the rest of the league and Gerrard, who we often say never beats the fiest man) has the joint most assists from corners this year.

 

I agree mate. We played to their strengths at times.

 

Interesting post I suppose it seems worse because we do seem to get a hell of a lot of corners per match. Maybe if we had 2 or 3 corners a game instead of the usual 10-15 at the same scoring-rate none of us would even consider it a problem.

 

We frequently get 10+ corners each game, I feel like we should just do what Barca used to do and use it as a chance to get the ball moving around again. God knows we never look like scoring from them. Although we're mid table for corners, other sides look more like scoring or get the shot blocked on the line - ours just get headed straight out the box.

 

This. So very much this!

 

Or, you could look at it this way:

Newcastle have taken 161 useless corners, Everton 183, and Liverpool 205!

 

blame those i nthe box. coutinho put i nsome sweet ones... so did suarez.

since skertl got "dropped" we've hardly even won a header, agger when he makes any contact skys them..

was wodnering what sturrdige thought he was doing today. wouldn't get in the box wouldn't stay wide. played to deep, dropped off etc.

 

Drop deep in the hope Collins would track him to free Suarez up? I reckon Collins was asked to man mark Suarez today, MOTM for me.

 

Man marked? At times there were 4 Wham players around him!

...although playing a 7-3 formation helps

 

I'v often wondered how many points Man United earn each season from set pieces. How many times do they get crucial winning goals and equalizers from corners? A lot.

If we can get really good at corners we could improve our points total nicely.

Lower teams can stay in the league with set piece goals.

 

no ithink he came on on the right and just abandoned it. suarez was up top and stayed up top and collins just ate him for breakfast cos he kept his legs to gether and stood tall. good for him... donkey still but good on him for showing what a bit of spine can do.

I think on the set pieces, just get a hyppia... get height in there

 

Maybe a bit mean to call Collins a 'donkey'. Takes a lot of game intelligence to consistently stop someone like Suarez from knocking it past you at every opportunity.

On your second comment, what about Coates? I really don't want to give up hope on him because I think in a couple of years he'll be a phenomenal centre back but I don't know if he's ready for first team yet.

 

Coates is as good as sold. No idea where he's going, but he wants out and BR doesn't seem to like him as a player. He won't be here next season.

 

Sad to say that I agree with you. Feel sorry for the lad because he hasn't really put a foot wrong (too much) when's played, he's excellent in the standing tackle and he's got an obvious aerial presence. Not to mention Suarez probably likes having him around.

 

You can swap "Coates" name for Skrtel also. good as gone. Big fall out with BRodge which won't be resolved, plus were depserate for funds so even more desire to sell him. Just hope he goes abroad.

 

Gerrard is very poor when it comes to taking corners (I don't care what the stats say!). Having said that, we don't have any targets and in the unlikely event that a corner reaches our man, we can't head the ball.

Skrtel and Gerrard are our best headers of the ball - Skrtel doesn't play and Gerrard is the main corner taker.

 

We need a Sammi. Or a Vertonghen.

 

Thoroughly agree. 3% conversion is shocking, I bet that would double if we converted to short corners and continued to pass it, or just even a short corner passed to someone outside the box who then pot shots! works for me in FIFA