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[Albion] Defending Corners



el punal

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2012
12,553
The dull part of the south coast
What I would like to see sorted out is this short goal kick routine, everyone can see we cant do it and we nearely give the ball away every time we try it.

Okay, not the short goal kick routine, but with a couple of Everton players hovering Mat Ryan rolled the ball out to Alzate and ten seconds later - Bingo! - we score. THAT would not have happened if it had been a traditional long kick clearance to halfway with the likelihood of the opposition snaffling up the ball. Instead we were brave, we retained possession, some beautiful inter passing, dangerous cross in from Trossard - goal!

As the saying goes - fortune favours the brave.
 




studio150

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2011
30,246
On the Border
A new question for the Amex Forum next August.

Why do you not have a defender on the near post when defending corners.

This is the downside to leaving Connolly upfield.
 


kjgood

Well-known member
So I watched Liverpool play this system yesterday and Spurs put no pressure on the defenders from a goal kick, yet teams have worked out if they push right up on us and have runners attacking the two defenders either side of the goal we panic. Several times on Saturday we were very very lucky in our own box with the way we were knocking it about.

Unfortunately players like Bong and Duffy who have their particular strengths but who struggle with this tactic as you rightly say play for us, and they amongst others cant seem to play in this way. I'm really not trying to run our players down but we have a weakness in using this tactic from what I have seen. As for leaving the fastest player we have up in an attacking position when defending a corner I agree with that, they will need to have two back defending instead of one on the halfway line and another ten yards in front ready to sweep any clearance up.



We can't do it? Many opportunities have opened up for us because of our persistence in playing it out from a GK.

Yes it's nervy at times, but we have the players to do it.

Problem arises when we have players like Duffy and Bong in the team who have their strengths, but possession football is not one of them.
 


Gazwag

5 millionth post poster
Mar 4, 2004
30,747
Bexhill-on-Sea
So I watched Liverpool play this system yesterday and Spurs put no pressure on the defenders from a goal kick, yet teams have worked out if they push right up on us and have runners attacking the two defenders either side of the goal we panic. Several times on Saturday we were very very lucky in our own box with the way we were knocking it about.

Unfortunately players like Bong and Duffy who have their particular strengths but who struggle with this tactic as you rightly say play for us, and they amongst others cant seem to play in this way. I'm really not trying to run our players down but we have a weakness in using this tactic from what I have seen. As for leaving the fastest player we have up in an attacking position when defending a corner I agree with that, they will need to have two back defending instead of one on the halfway line and another ten yards in front ready to sweep any clearance up.

Once this season its gone wrong enough to give away a penalty, at Villa this tactic was a joy to behold. How many times have we done it this season, well we have had 76 goal kicks so I would say 50 probably so 1/50 isn't bad enough to worry about.
 


crabface

Well-known member
Mar 24, 2012
1,887
What I would like to see sorted out is this short goal kick routine, everyone can see we cant do it and we nearely give the ball away every time we try it.

You obviously didnt watch us away at Villa where it was splitting them open each time we took a goal kick. Its something you are going to have to get used to.
 




Dick Swiveller

Well-known member
Sep 9, 2011
9,534
It sucks at least 3 oppo players in and around our box which leaves them vulnerable I like it and think we’ll develop it better throughout the season
It works when the opposition only close down the defenders. When they tight mark our midfielders as well then we get in trouble. When they don't then we can slice through them like butter - as with Watford and Spurs
 




dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
55,603
Burgess Hill
Once this season its gone wrong enough to give away a penalty, at Villa this tactic was a joy to behold. How many times have we done it this season, well we have had 76 goal kicks so I would say 50 probably so 1/50 isn't bad enough to worry about.

Absolutely. Even with 10 men it was allowing us to carve Villa open..............................the risk/reward equation is simple. We'll concede now and again doing it but we'll gain far more than we lose.
 




BensGrandad

New member
Jul 13, 2003
72,015
Haywards Heath
Conceding a goal from a corner like v Everton is a consequence of having 3 CB all over 6ft but 2 being poor in the air. I am surprised other teams haven't twigged our goal kicks Ryan to a full back who passes it to Stephens in the middle who then plays it to the other full back, happens nearly every time.
 


Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
So I watched Liverpool play this system yesterday and Spurs put no pressure on the defenders from a goal kick, yet teams have worked out if they push right up on us and have runners attacking the two defenders either side of the goal we panic. Several times on Saturday we were very very lucky in our own box with the way we were knocking it about.

Unfortunately players like Bong and Duffy who have their particular strengths but who struggle with this tactic as you rightly say play for us, and they amongst others cant seem to play in this way. I'm really not trying to run our players down but we have a weakness in using this tactic from what I have seen. As for leaving the fastest player we have up in an attacking position when defending a corner I agree with that, they will need to have two back defending instead of one on the halfway line and another ten yards in front ready to sweep any clearance up.

I disagree, the players weren’t the ones who panicked it was just us fans :smile:
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,888
West west west Sussex
You can't lose Duffy from defending cornering and expect everything to carry on as it was.

Simple as.
 




dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
55,603
Burgess Hill
Conceding a goal from a corner like v Everton is a consequence of having 3 CB all over 6ft but 2 being poor in the air. I am surprised other teams haven't twigged our goal kicks Ryan to a full back who passes it to Stephens in the middle who then plays it to the other full back, happens nearly every time.

Yes, it's amazing all those professional analysts at the other clubs haven't picked this up.....................or possibly they haven't found an effective way to counter it and instead are content to rely on winning the ball back in midfield. If they extend the press, they immediately expose their own midfield - with Ryan, 2 CBs and Stephens you'd essentially need to commit 4 players forward - leaving someone else free (Propper or one of the FB/WBs).
 


BensGrandad

New member
Jul 13, 2003
72,015
Haywards Heath
If the tactic was employed against us we would push the wing backs up on the full back to stop them playing it down the line and and a striker on to the player playing the Stephens role. The midfield is still then in place to contain any attack down the middle
 






wallyback

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2011
1,406
Brighton
I thought this was also last seasons problem?

Or is my brain going?

If so, Duffy was a regular then.
 


Questions

Habitual User
Oct 18, 2006
25,515
Worthing
I do think we miss Shane and Glenn at corners and look much more vulnerable without them. As well as the first goal conceded Saturday, other Everton corners looked dangerous. Also, although I like the idea of leaving Connolly up the pitch, if the oppos fake or work a short corner routine, we can be short of numbers in the box.

Perhaps it's just a price we have to pay for Potterball.

Views?

Absolutely no reason to bring Connelly back for corners whatsoever. If he carries on like he is the opposition will keep two back when he stays up.
 


AZ Gull

@SeagullsAcademy @seagullsacademy.bsky.social
Oct 14, 2003
13,103
Chandler, AZ
I thought this was also last seasons problem?

Or is my brain going?

If so, Duffy was a regular then.

:thumbsup:

December 2017 - Defentding Set Pieces

Same problem as the year we finished 3rd in the Championship. Hughton signed Duffy last year to alleviate the problem but it's reared its ugly head again. Has to be down to the way we set up for them. ....

January 2018 - Discuss our current strategy for defending corners....

How would you setup to defend corners, as something's not working?

April 2018 - defending corners....what's the problem...??

with supposedly one of the brightest rising stars in LD partnered by Irish , International player of the year SD at the heart of our defence , what the feck is the problem with defending set pieces .....they are both good in the air so why the hell don't one of them attack the incoming ball , work it out between themselves who's going to go for it , and just get the ball away from our goal asap......our record of defending corners and set pieces woefully bad and unfortunately our defending in last three or 4 games ..(since Arsenal) has shown some age old , creaky , panicky signs ......
 


stss30

Registered User
Apr 24, 2008
9,546
Regarding the point about the short goal kicks, I had people all around me moaning about those for the whole game on Saturday. "Just hoof it" was the call.

I think people fundamentally misunderstand why we play like this. Once you beat the press you have time and space to pick passes and counterattack. Most of the game at the weekend wasn't a good example as our midfield's passing was really poor for the most part.

Sometimes you do have to switch things up, I think even Potter would admit we overplayed the short game at Chelsea away and just put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, however on Saturday, even though Everton got close to dispossessing us at times, we were retaining possession at our best in defence imo.
 




One Teddy Maybank

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 4, 2006
23,003
Worthing
Not sure why - or even if - we look more vulnerable. Even without Duffy, we're not exactly midgets at the back; should be competitive in the air.

And leaving Connolly upfield - yes, yes, yes all the way! Keeps two of their defenders out of our penalty area. I was a great fan of Hughton, but his insistence that no-one be left upfield was the one thing that always baffled and annoyed me. TBH. I think the likes of Knocky scampering around in the penalty area was more likely to get in the way of defenders rather than helping them out!

Physically though Webster and Burn seem weak when challenging.

Connolly, yes 100%......


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