Set pieces

[dagraham]

There have probably been numerous threads over the years on this subject, but I couldn't be bothered to trawl through the archives.

I still cannot get my head round why we are so abject at set pieces.

We have a player in Christian Eriksen that is clearly our best outfield player, who would not be out of place in the top teams, with fantastic technique and the ability to score direct from a free kick...........

........and yet he can't take a fucking corner!

The thing is, when he first came here his corners and free kicks were far better. Not metronomic by any means, but at least they beat the first man.

I can only conclude that whoever the manager is at Spurs, regardless of playing style, we still don't prioritise or practise set pieces. Which is simply not good enough. Set pieces are a vital part of the game and are not just the preserve of crappy teams fighting relegation. Chelsea, Utd, Liverpool and to a lesser extent City and Arsenal all pose a threat from set pieces.

If it's good enough for them it's good enough for us.

 

[chris_theo]

Agree that it's long been a problem for us. Would be interesting to see goals from corners/set pieces in the league for the last few years. I'm sure we'd be near the bottom.

 

[worcestersauce]

My heart sinks when we get a corner, I'd rather have a throw in at least we can just start playing again immediately rather than waste 30 seconds giving the ball to the other side.

 

[dagraham]

My heart sinks when we get a corner, I'd rather have a throw in at least we can just start playing again immediately rather than waste 30 seconds giving the ball to the other side.

Exactly. A corner is simply no advantage to us whatsoever. I wouldn't mind if we had a team full of midgets or we regularly looked threatening but there is clearly no work on the training ground being done either on delivery or movement and attacking the ball etc.

It's been this way for years and it does my head in. We supposedly have double training sessions now as well so we can't say we don't have time!

 

[mpickard2087]

Totally agree, and as has been pointed out the problem isn't just poor delivery. We had a couple of corners at the weekend where the first one everyone ran towards the near post, then the next everyone went to the far. When stuff like that happens its hard to conclude anything but that we put little time or thought into them.

 

[dudu]

looks like we average around one goal in every 3 being from a set piece.


2013/2014

2014/2015 so far

 

[nicdic]

looks like we average around one goal in every 3 being from a set piece.


2013/2014
View attachment 17315

2014/2015 so far

View attachment 17316

Massively skewed by putting set pieces together. Eriksen and Kane have scored direct free kicks which make up most of that number. Corners we've got at least one league goal from, Vertonghen's goal on Saturday was from a wide free kick.

 

[cwhite02]

I remember Modric was the same, the boy could ping the ball short and long but give him a corner and he would hit the first man! Crazy.

I don't know why Eriksen hits the first man so often as well?

 

[Japhet]

Certainly needs a rethink. For one Eriksen can't get the ball past the first man, but more importantly in my opinion, the player I want on the edge of the box to pick up any scraps is............Christian Eriksen.

 

[dudu]

Massively skewed by putting set pieces together. Eriksen and Kane have scored direct free kicks which make up most of that number. Corners we've got at least one league goal from, Vertonghen's goal on Saturday was from a wide free kick.

True, ill see if i can find more in depth info - we have scored maybe 2 from corners this year i think.....

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

We've scored for a few corners this season. Chiriches' goal vs Burnley was from a corner.

 

[dudu]

this season

Last season

 

[Coyboy]

...Chadli and Kane at Villa and Swansea I think; Dier at home to QPR also.

But I agree with the general point. If anything it's an argument to make set pieces better consistently. If we were getting them past the first man frequently, that would be one thing but too many are just woeful.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

The biggest problem with our corners is that we deploy a shit corner taker. A successful corner presupposes a skilled and accurate executer. Lamela is the closest thing to such a player, but Eriksen is the one constant appointed the task.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I still panic when we concede any kind of set piece. It goes right back to the Ardilles days. Which is insane when you think how every thing has changed except our ineptitude defending them.

 

[dagraham]

The biggest problem with our corners is that we deploy a shit corner taker. A successful corner presupposes a skilled and accurate executer. Lamela is the closest thing to such a player, but Eriksen is the one constant appointed the task.

Yet he has the technique to regularly score direct from free kicks. Also, when he arrived his corners were far more consistent, beating the first man more often than not.

Sorry, I don't buy it. It's clear to me we don't give much thought to them or practise them at all.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Yet he has the technique to regularly score direct from free kicks. Also, when he arrived his corners were far more consistent, beating the first man more often than not.

Sorry, I don't buy it. It's clear to me we don't give much thought to them or practise them at all.

There is an obvious difference between aiming accurately from a free kick as hard as you can and score, and delivering good corners. In fact, the techniques in question aren't that similar at all.

 

[dagraham]

There is an obvious difference between aiming accurately from a free kick as hard as you can and score, and delivering good corners. In fact, the techniques in question aren't that similar at all.

I don't think Eriksen's technique from free kicks is to hit them "as hard as he can". He aims for a spot and bends it over or round the wall. Surely if a shit journeyman pro can practice aiming a corner over the first man in an area where the keeper can't easily get it, then Eriksen is capable doing the same?

 

[SlunkSoma]

The success rate of corners in general it pitifully low, and that's for all aspects. Reaching your player, resulting in an effort on target, or resulting in a goal/assist: it's a waste of possession. I would be happy with short corners from now on, as that's much smarter. But the "get it in there ffs" brigade wouldn't have it.

We should pioneer a new corner technique, where players sit deeper rather than crowd the box. It would freak defences out, and work better in our favour. There's a reaso CBs are tall, so playing into their hands (or heads as it were) is daft when you think about it.

Regarding throw-ins, we weirdly don't seem to have much of a set plan. It's ab oversight to my mind.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Pochettino prefers short corners normally I believe, and even started that way with us.

And I read an article once where it gave evidence that short corners give a higher percentage rate of chances created (and conversion rates) and also, obviously, mean you maintain a higher proportion of possession than when you just throw a ball in the box.

Unfortunaley there are massive groans around the Lane whenever we try a short corner.

It's just like the quantitative evidence points to zonal marking as being more successful than man to man. (again read in a really interesting article that I now struggle to find)

The media and also us as fans have slightly antiquated view of some aspects of football, such as set pieces, which doesnt allow them to evolve.

This is obviously a different point to the one about a good player being able to cross accurately, as Eriksen during open play can whip a a fantastic ball in. So I agree it is strange. Lamela and Paulinho have both shown they can take a good corner and I would have thought Townsend can whip a decent one in as well.