The importance of set pieces

We could start by finding someone other than Smallwood to take corners. At least 80% of his efforts are either overhit or fail to beat the first man. It’s ridiculous that he still keeps taking them.

And a massive bugbear of mine - why don’t we (and plenty of other teams tbf) station a player on the far side of the penalty box at corners, so that any overhit corner can be headed back into the mixer instead of going straight out for a throw or goal kick? It’s baffling.

 

I would like to see this given priority. We buy a player who has a long throw and knows how to take a corner and free kick.

 

Haven’t we been down this road very recently?

Hodges was hailed as a set piece “specialist”

That went well.

 

I refuse to believe that Smallwood is the best set piece taker in our starting 11. Got to be 1 in 10 at best that land in a good spot.

Was a problem last season too, wasn't it the Northampton game right towards the end of the season when a defender scored their first goal? To say we always had 2 or 3 in the box every set piece, it was a shocking stat.

 

We did bring in a player in the summer with a very long throw but in the last couple of games when he's been in the team, he hasn't been the one taking them.

 

Regarding Smallwood and his overhit crosses is it me being simple or why do we not put a man beyond the far stick to counter it ?????

I know we shouldnt but we can guess that a high percentage are gonna land there so why not one of the players

 

Almost anyone in the squad to be put on set pieces EXCEPT Smallwood. How is it possible everyone other than the coaching team and analysts ( with all the stats) are still unable to see that he is abysmal.
Our defenders don’t score enough but never have a clue where the ball is going to go ( and mostly doesn’t reach anywhere near them anyway.

 

Walker being injured has lost a very good set piece taker. I think corners are a bit overrated as a really good scoring chance when the stats show that very few corners actually result in a goal. This season a few of the defenders have missed big chances .

On the subject of set pieces and watching the Arsenal game, at the other end so many fans complain about us having everyone back from corners despite the vast majority of teams doing it. Arsenal have just scored a goal from a defensive corner where they had all of their players back. I've never understood the accusation it is a negative idea to have everyone back and if it was then you wouldn't have managers like Arteta doing it.

 

You mean have Ormondroyd stood at the far end of row z in the kop ?

 

Absolutely agree, Smallwood is the problem as he’s too inconsistent, Walker and Bobby to a lesser extent, were far better.

 

Walker , yes, Bobby yes , Chappy no because he won’t get in the side, which is another debate all together?

 

Dont be stupid i was think the first row of the midland rd stand

 

As most posters have said Smallwoods set pieces are unacceptably poor.
However there’s something that bothers me when we defend corners and free kicks, we defend with 10 outfield players players which means on corners and free kicks we have 10 defenders in the box and the opposition have 9.
If we left a player in the centre circle it would mean the opposition leaving 2 outfield players outside our box, also there goalie wouldn’t be able to stand between his 18 yard box and the half way line. Much less crowded 18 yard box for us to defend and a territorial gain when we regained possession
It’s nothing new, everyone used to do it

 

I've seen a bunch of players taking corners and none of them look any good at it.

Smallwood's free kicks are better than his corners, though sometimes he totally overhits them.

I can't remember the last time we signed a set piece specialist. Tony Mc? Bridge-Wilkinson? It seems to get overlooked.

 

I seem to recall GA acknowledging in a recent interview (possibly a post match) that we don't have a specialist set piece taker. For me, when looking at players to sign, their ability to take a set piece should be a high priority. For instance, if we were looking at 2 LWBs and one of them was a set piece expert then I'd prioritise signing them over the other player.

The last player we had who could take corners and free kicks was Watt. He got a lot of assists last season and I think a lot of which were from his set piece delivery. Not saying we need to re-sign Watt by the way (although I believe he'd be a decent addition to this squad to be fair)!

 

I remember Swindon I think it was when they had mckirdy flying for them, when we got a corner he deliberately walked over to the midland road side and stop right on the halfway line where it met the touchline.

He was almost blending in with the crowd and twice we missed him which ultimately led to them braking.

I thought that was a really clever move and surprised I've not seen many other teams try it at various points

 

I have been harping on about this a good while.
Especially at home when teams are set up to defend , time waste and try and grab a win or a goaless draw the key is for us to br dangerous at set pieces. It can break the stale mate and the opposition have to open up and this leaves gaps hopefully leading to more City goals. Also, if we have a dangerous set piece takers it makes the opposition defender more indecisive, they make errors as they are trying to prevent fouls around their penalty area..