Every time we get a set piece, a free kick around the opposition penalty area and especially a corner, my heart sinks. There are a few basic rules of common sense we seem unable to comply with. It's not rocket science.
1 Do not overload the target area with men to aim at, particularly those who always go up and yet never score.
2 The 'strikers' time their runs so that they don't all go in at the same time and we do not have the situation where they get in each other's way. This has the added advantage that the path to goal will become a lot clearer
3 Our slower defenders should not go up at all. I groan whenever I hear commentators trotting out the line that our 'big guns have gone up for the corner' while focusing on Anton Ferdinand. He and others who lack pace should wait for the breakdown so that they can:
i mop up
ii get the ball back in to the danger zone as quickly as possible
iii prevent the quick break away.
4 Vary the kicks - let's keep the opposition guessing. The only consistent thing should the pace of the ball in.
5 Having said that our players need to know and anticipate what's coming - a bit of communication.
6 Players need to run onto the ball in order to get the lift off which will enable them to outjump the defenders. Too often it's played into the centre of the penalty box when our players are already there and waiting.
7 At least one player should be ready for the ball that is played short, by accident or design.
8 At least one player should not run in at all until the ball has been kicked and should aim to be at the end of the the overhit set piece.
We know that Joey Barton particularly seems to overhit his corners.
9 Vary the person taking the set piece.
10 Players need to be alert and ready to pounce on a rebound or save on the line. Mackie used to do that all the time last season.
11 Practice
12 Show some invention. It's all a bit too obvious at the moment.
13 Why take the risk of ruining your moment of glory by fouling the opposition? If it's six of one half a dozen of the other a penalty will not be given. If it is a clear foul by the defender only, it might.
That's all. Then we can sit back and enjoy
1 Do not overload the target area with men to aim at, particularly those who always go up and yet never score.
2 The 'strikers' time their runs so that they don't all go in at the same time and we do not have the situation where they get in each other's way. This has the added advantage that the path to goal will become a lot clearer
3 Our slower defenders should not go up at all. I groan whenever I hear commentators trotting out the line that our 'big guns have gone up for the corner' while focusing on Anton Ferdinand. He and others who lack pace should wait for the breakdown so that they can:
i mop up
ii get the ball back in to the danger zone as quickly as possible
iii prevent the quick break away.
4 Vary the kicks - let's keep the opposition guessing. The only consistent thing should the pace of the ball in.
5 Having said that our players need to know and anticipate what's coming - a bit of communication.
6 Players need to run onto the ball in order to get the lift off which will enable them to outjump the defenders. Too often it's played into the centre of the penalty box when our players are already there and waiting.
7 At least one player should be ready for the ball that is played short, by accident or design.
8 At least one player should not run in at all until the ball has been kicked and should aim to be at the end of the the overhit set piece.
We know that Joey Barton particularly seems to overhit his corners.
9 Vary the person taking the set piece.
10 Players need to be alert and ready to pounce on a rebound or save on the line. Mackie used to do that all the time last season.
11 Practice
12 Show some invention. It's all a bit too obvious at the moment.
13 Why take the risk of ruining your moment of glory by fouling the opposition? If it's six of one half a dozen of the other a penalty will not be given. If it is a clear foul by the defender only, it might.
That's all. Then we can sit back and enjoy
