Don’t know about you but rather often these days I find myself during a match saying, “What the heck do they do on the training ground?” An obvious candidate is, Corner Kicks 1. We just don’t seem to pose any threat. In the last few games Kara has been taking the corners from the right (usually they end up too close to the keeper) and Bryan the ones on the right (can’t remember when he got one past the first defender). They no doubt practice corner kicks at Motspur Park but the Cottage is so different - short run-up only possible but specifically there is a vicious dip in the ground right at the corner flag. I said this more than a year ago but ask the question again. Why do they not spend some time practicing corner kicks at the Cottage. 2. Another aspect is the position players take waiting for the kicks. I’ll use Hangeland as an example (but it could apply to others equally), He tends to jostle with the opposition just outside the six yard box and when the ball comes over jumps from a standing position. Why does he not make a late run from the edge of the penalty box and attack the ball ? If someone is marking him out there a) he has more chance of winning the ball because of his height and because the will be going backwards and b) it will take one or more players out of the area and potentially leave more room for others. 3. Just on a general point about how we position ourselves - it tends to be in a line parallel to the goal. Why not line up ’single file’ facing the goal and run in at different angles - making it more difficult for the defence to know who to mark and more importantly for them to keep an eye on the ball and the man. Another candidate is, Free Kicks 1. Those outside shooting range and especially in our own half. Sideways or backwards seems to be the order of the day which allows the opposition to be higher up the field and we invariably end up on the back foot. I’m not advocating a meaningless punt forward but some sort of game plan. For instance, both wingers automatically go wide or (I don’t know - maybe watch a ManUtd video - they don’t waste many) 2. Those in shooting range. At least have a nominated kicker before the game starts. On Saturday there was Petric, Richardson and Ruiz arguing about it and they ended up taking ‘chances each’. Far cry from the day when (allegedly) there was the big fall out because Jol wouldn’t let BZ practice free kicks since he wouldn’t be taking them in matches. Recently team selection has been difficult especially in midfield because of injuries. In reality a number of players have been asked to play out of position (the obvious one being Bryan on Saturday). I could be wrong of course but except for the one fleeting glimpse of Alec Smith, there has never been any consideration given to the 'reserves' (as Jol calls them). And more importantly in my view, in all the clips we see of the squad training there are never ’reserves’ among them. Why not? Shouldn’t there be likely prospects training regularly with first team getting to know them and the ’system’. Or is the Academy just a waste of time and money? Finally, we seem to have acquired an awful lot of backroom staff with weird titles, but who concentrate on stretching and mental exercises. What’s happened to the good old fashioned coach who concentrated on basic football skills.? Just as an example, when was the last time you saw our defence and midfield moving together ? Not sure if 'like synchronised swimmers' or 'Guards on parade' are corrrect analogies but hopefully you get the drift. Anyway, I do question the efficacy of the current coaching and what they get up to (or don't it would seem) on the Training Ground.
Interesting point regarding free kicks, I've noticed that we have 'several' quality set piece takers in the squad, yet cannot remember the last time we actually scored from one. Where has Riise's dangerous left foot been from his time at Liverpool? Same goes for Petric and his Hamburg free kicks?
You read my mind Cottager. Comments on the free kicks are spot on! I knew of a basketball player Drazen Petrovic, top of his generation in Europe. After every practice he practiced 100 3-point shots. That made him the top player he was. Just wonder if any of our players is doing something similar. Not going into our position during corner- and free- kicks as they are awful! Can remember the last time. Actually worked against Villa when Baird made a move. Is that supposed to be a move but nobody bothers?
Last decent free kick I remember us taking was Bryan's against Everton, the one that came off the post and hit Tim Howard (and was the subject of much deliberation before being awarded to Bryan).
Bryan was really unlucky with one late(ish) on against Swansea. That was what annoyed me particularly on Saturday - the first two free kicks we had were from a similar position but he let first Petric (whose one against us was from the other side) and then Richardson (who if you remember hit the bar with one for Sunderland against us, but that was also on the other side) bully him out of taking them. I'm not for a minute making excuses for Bryan and his iffy performance but little things like that can affect a player's onfidence/attitude/contribution. Must stop hedging - what I'm really saying is Bryan might have been 'royally p****d off'. The main point however is that Jol should have given them clear instructions beforehand. It smacked of the Kasami penalty incident against Chelsea where Jol (apparently) told Sa (I think it was) privately to take them but nobody else
