Why can’t we defend set plays?

[bat-chain]

We don't concede any other type of goal. It’s so irritating. Whatever people say about Jose if we could defend set plays we'd be top by a long way. I wish the press would actually ask.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

We can defend them, it's just we give so many away that eventually one goes in.

 

[bat-chain]

That’s overly kind to the players in my opinion. But it's possible.

 

[dtxspurs]

We can defend them, it's just we give so many away that eventually one goes in.

I’d be fascinated to see the stats on the percentage of them we get scored on vs other teams.

 

[Zippy1980]

Mainly because we concede too many. Law of averages

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

We can. Our problem is due to our set up (concede possession) were we concede at least 15-20 corners and free kicks in our final 3rd every game. Law of averages says you will concede.

 

[double0]

We are way to negative our behaviour is of a non league side parking the bus and I absolutely detest the way Mourinho plays football now. OK away against the big hitters.

I thought he said he'd change...? If he wins people say it's s a master class performance. Playing as deep as we do, conceding possession corners free kicks as we do, suspect defending at corner as we do, the odd are against us.

We can't even string a passage of build up plays because our mind set is focused on defending if we don't counter we can't score worse now is Kane keeps dropping and basically becomes a defender I really can't blame him not tracking the run for Wolves deserved goal.

If we don't win trophies I really don't want to see this type of football.

 

[Spurs 1961]

We can’t defend because we don’t have enough defenders. We need at least 7 all over 2m tall. You can’t expect Jose to organise things when he has to play the odd forward or midfield player. It’s all so unfair on his master plan

 

[TEESSIDE1]

It’s two fold:

I say as a team but Winks, Sissoko and Davies are notorious for giving away stupid free kicks in dangerous positions

The players responsible for defending corners/free kicks simply aren’t good enough.

Our best player at defending crosses is Kane and he’s a striker.

Alderweireld - decent at headers and very good with his feet
Dier - poor positional awareness and despite his size is easily bullied off the ball
Davies - way too weak and is also easily bullied
Reguilon - blows away in the wind
Sanchez - our tallest centre back but another who is poor positionally and is very poor at heading the ball
Aurier - strong but he’s another who can’t control his headers
Sissoko - plays like he’s heading a cone not a football
Doherty - half asleep most of the time and despite his size he’s also easily bullied

With the exception of Alderweireld none of our regular defensive players are good in the air, with their feet and are poor positionally

It probably explains why we’re reportedly after Milenkovic - 6ft 5, strong, decent pace and very good with both his head and feet and we’re still linked to Skriniar.

 

[rossdapep]

We can defend them, it's just we give so many away that eventually one goes in.

Exactly.

At some point a cross that simply can't be defended will come in.

Wolves corner today was one of those. Superb cross, excellent movement, renders it difficult to defend.

You play a team like City or Arsenal and you can probably defend those crosses because they tend to lack presence and its not their strengths (despite Arteta believing so).

Defend this way against Palace, Wolves, WBA, West Ham or any team that has presence and quality dead ball players then you are inviting the opportunity.

Today, I could understand why Jose wanted to sit deeper, as Neto/Traore/Podence can exploit space but we allow teams to get to the byline too often which increases the chances of conceeding corners.

Jose needs to find a solution to this. Either sign a quicker CB and push the line up or tell the team to not drop as far back and force teams inside more.

 

[wiggo24]

We can defend them, it's just we give so many away that eventually one goes in.

Yep. On average a goal from a corner is scored 3.5% of the time. We conceded 18 corners against Palace, Wolves, Leicester, Liverpool, so you'd expect us to concede about one if you consider that a lot of those corners were in high pressure moments late in games where concentration might lapse/panic sets in.

Carry that on over the course of a season and all of a sudden you've conceded 9/10 goals from corners which (considering the top teams usually concede around 25 total) is pretty poor.

Doesn't include set-pieces from wide either which imo are actually our weakness, more so than corners.

 

[SpursSince1980]

Morons giving away free kicks, when not needed.
Idiots incapable of clearing the ball from their box.
Muppets who lose focus at crucial moments.
Lazy asshats who seemingly can’t win the ball when cleared.
But, yes... it is all Jose’s fault, because of the way we play. He demands the team park the bus, deliberately give the ball away, make untimely fouls, and coaches them to want it less than the opposition.
West Ham... perfect example of Jose’s idiocy. Sissoko and Aurier needlessly foul opponents going nowhere. Sanchez brilliantly scores an own goal, just like Jose taught him. And Winks forget how to close down a player before taking a shot, cos the coaching staff have made it a priority for our players to stand still like they’re a deer in the headlights, any time we are under pressure.
Jose out. Jose out. Jose out.
blah, blah, blah.

 

[Hercules]

Simple reason is we concede far too much dead balls by our style of play. Enough high balls into the box and percentages says one must result in a goal. Reduce giving away so many dead balls in final third by not sitting so deep. I rather higher up the pitch with Sanchez (with his faults), bringing in Rodon, play both with Dier, with Aurier and Reggie (who has been poor of recent) we will then concede much less dead balls, especially corners. Why? Because we have pace out wide, and in the middle.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I hate the new approach of defenders putting their hands behind their backs when defending as yes it reduces the chances of giving a penalty away but it’s not a natural position and it’s resulting in attackers gaining an extra half yard as the unnatural position is leaving defenders flat footed and slow to respond. This is resulting in more crosses/balls into the box than we used to see.

 

[Dazza71]

It is hard for our players to practice defending corners in training when we do not have anyone at the club that can put in a decent cross from a corner.

 

[dirtyh]

Morons giving away free kicks, when not needed.
Idiots incapable of clearing the ball from their box.
Muppets who lose focus at crucial moments.
Lazy asshats who seemingly can’t win the ball when cleared.
But, yes... it is all Jose’s fault, because of the way we play. He demands the team park the bus, deliberately give the ball away, make untimely fouls, and coaches them to want it less than the opposition.
West Ham... perfect example of Jose’s idiocy. Sissoko and Aurier needlessly foul opponents going nowhere. Sanchez brilliantly scores an own goal, just like Jose taught him. And Winks forget how to close down a player before taking a shot, cos the coaching staff have made it a priority for our players to stand still like they’re a deer in the headlights, any time we are under pressure.
Jose out. Jose out. Jose out.
blah, blah, blah.

could have stopped after the first word tbh, spot on

 

[SpursSince1980]

Simple reason is we concede far too much dead balls by our style of play. Enough high balls into the box and percentages says one must result in a goal. Reduce giving away so many dead balls in final third by not sitting so deep. I rather higher up the pitch with Sanchez (with his faults), bringing in Rodon, play both with Dier, with Aurier and Reggie (who has been poor of recent) we will then concede much less dead balls, especially corners. Why? Because we have pace out wide, and in the middle.

Easier said than done. I don’t think Jose sets out for his team to fall back so deep. would think he has been coaching long enough that to sit so deep, on purpose is far too risky. But then again, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe that’s what Jose wants. If so, maybe he needs a rethink. Right now we are absolute toilet going forward. We are inept and pathetic attacking-wise at the minute. That begins and ends with harry and Sonny. They have both been awful for a couple of weeks. Overplayed? Maybe. But the Liverpool front line have played a ton, yet seem to be much fitter and focused by comparison. Not sure what the answer or fix is here, cos it’s a conundrum that I don’t think will be solved overnight.

 

[JCRD]

I hate the new approach of defenders putting their hands behind their backs when defending as yes it reduces the chances of giving a penalty away but it’s not a natural position and it’s resulting in attackers gaining an extra half yard as the unnatural position is leaving defenders flat footed and slow to respond. This is resulting in more crosses/balls into the box than we used to see.

The funny thing is - the hands behind the back is in an unnatural position - i mean who the fuck walks and runs around with hands behind their backs being natural?

Thats what the ruling has made all players do.

 

[cliff jones]

It is hard for our players to practice defending corners in training when we do not have anyone at the club that can put in a decent cross from a corner.

funny but Son whips a good ball in.

I thought you were going to question how they organise matches in training- you have it, no you have it!

 

[DannyNZ]

Because we are not organised, Saiss is a tall centre back and we have Ben Davies marking him, just seems stupid. Then having created a mismatch Davies doesn’t do his job.