[Albion] Leaving a man (or 3) up when defending a corner

[Giraffe]

For a very long time I’ve been sad that the tradition of leaving a man up when defending a corner has been long gone. Every team now packs the box so yesterday was a great moment for me. Not one but 3 men on the half way line, and guess what it meant Arsenal had to bring 3 men back out.

I wonder what would happen if they put 4 up…

Well played Fabian.

 

[The Fits]

It was a really clever (even though it’s obvious in hindsight) way of dealing with their tactic. Great stuff from Fab and the staff.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

It was a really clever (even though it’s obvious in hindsight) way of dealing with their tactic. Great stuff from Fab and the staff.

I've seen it discussed as an option on several podcasts recently.



From 40:00 on this one

 

[Big Vern]

Gave them something to think about. However, was still impressed with their set pieces, can see why they are top of the pops for goals from dead ball situations. I believe we have a set piece coach, although you wouldn’t know it..

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

So basically the same tactic that gets roundly mocked when Dave From Seaford suggests it at the fans forum?

 

[timbha]

Gave them something to think about. However, was still impressed with their set pieces, can see why they are top of the pops for goals from dead ball situations. I believe we have a set piece coach, although you wouldn’t know it..

Not sure we have anyone with delivery as good as Rice, etc. We seem to take it in turns, and why we send Estupinan (not last night) 60m to take an easily cleared corner I don’t know.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

It was very clever. I think we should employ it all the time as

1) It means the goalkeeper isn’t sandwiched between two players as much
2) There is much more space in the box, less blocking, making it easier to mark players.
3) Makes the attacking team more nervy as they have to think not only about attacking but conceding possession; if they give the ball away there’s an immediate 3 v 3 counter attack.

 

[ElectricNaz]

Monaco (I think) in the CL did the same thing and it worked well for them. Leaves much more space for the keeper to come and collect if needed, as well as the added counter attack threat.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I do wonder if we left Lamptey and Mitoma up, would Arsenal risk 2 on 2 at the back or leave 3. Whichever, it would certainly clear out our 6 yard box a bit

Well now we know(ish). It was discussed on here after the Arse Brentford game where every player from both sides was in the Brentford box.

Don't understand why we didn't do the same for those free kicks from just outside the penalty box

 

[tedebear]

It was very clever. I think we should employ it all the time as

1) It means the goalkeeper isn’t sandwiched between two players as much
2) There is much more space in the box, less blocking, making it easier to mark players.
3) Makes the attacking team more nervy as they have to think not only about attacking but conceding possession; if they give the ball away there’s an immediate 3 v 3 counter attack.

Seemed to be a lot less agro in the box too last night in the corners...not that its a reason to do it but a nice by product...

 

[Mo Gosfield]

It worked. We picked up Arsenal's runners better. There was less deliberate blocking ( big part of the Gooners strategy )
Is it any coincidence that our new man has just come in? I love a bit of inventiveness and this was effective. We kept 3 quick players upfield and it diluted their impact in.the box.
Their set piece coach was frantically signalling at each corner, trying to rearrange.

 

[goldstone]

Loved to see that happening. It's so fecking obvious that it improves your chances of effectively defending a corner. Your goalie has much more space to do his job. Love it, love it, love it. And do it for every corner, every game. Someone will give reasons why it's a rubbish idea and I look forward to hearing them.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Loved to see that happening. It's so fecking obvious that it improves your chances of effectively defending a corner. Your goalie has much more space to do his job. Love it, love it, love it. And do it for every corner, every game. Someone will give reasons why it's a rubbish idea and I look forward to hearing them.

The reason it works so well against Arsenal, is they don't vary their corners.
90% of their corners are inswinging crosses.

Other teams looking to play short, inswing, outswing makes it harder to defend against.
WIth an inswinger, your best defender is the keeper.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

It was a really clever (even though it’s obvious in hindsight) way of dealing with their tactic. Great stuff from Fab and the staff.

This.

Commented on it as well, great thinking.
If Bart attacks and claims the ball we have a potential 3 on 3

 

[Official Old Man]

We discussed this over a pint pre-match. And it was decided it was a crazy idea that no PL manager would ever do.
Watching, it did always leave Trossard alone on the edge of the box.
As for those free kicks, it was like watching two cogs coming together as their 4 or 5 players ran the wall and dodged in as the kick was taken (failed once and offside). It looked like the plan was to bring an outer player around the back but we had that sussed. Had our wall stepped backwards one step it would have made them sneaking in harder.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I agreed with it but apart from disrupting the arse corners, it was highly frustrating that we didn’t capitalise by Bart throwing the ball out QUICKLY to the three up front left and right instead of standing on the ball letting their defenders and midfielders get back into formation before passing it to JPV then Webster, then JPV , then Webster…….ad infinitum

 

[Marshy]

I was delighted with this, showed some real thought about the opposition. Monaco did it very successfully against them in champions league. Suprised others have no done it

 

[Triggaaar]

For a very long time I’ve been sad that the tradition of leaving a man up when defending a corner has been long gone. Every team now packs the box so yesterday was a great moment for me. Not one but 3 men on the half way line, and guess what it meant Arsenal had to bring 3 men back out.

I wonder what would happen if they put 4 up…

Well played Fabian.

I'd be happy to just leave Minteh up. He's so fast they'd have to leave a couple back.

 

[pasty]

I was delighted with this, showed some real thought about the opposition. Monaco did it very successfully against them in champions league. Suprised others have no done it

As Arsenal failed to score from a corner yesterday, you can bet your bottom dollar some clubs will try the same tactic now.

 

[Bozza]

For a very long time I’ve been sad that the tradition of leaving a man up when defending a corner has been long gone. Every team now packs the box so yesterday was a great moment for me. Not one but 3 men on the half way line, and guess what it meant Arsenal had to bring 3 men back out.

I wonder what would happen if they put 4 up…

Well played Fabian.

I'm not looking to talk down Fab's tactics here, but it was first done by one of their Champions League opponents a month or two back.

Much copied since, and there's nothing wrong with that, as it is effective.