Fans' Forum [September 2021]

[Elite_Pie]

I think leaving one up is a pointless token gesture.

I think that leaving someone like Cal Roberts forward is a good idea, not just as an attacking threat but equally as a first line of defence. The problem with leaving nobody up is that when the ball gets cleared, their player has time to look up and pick a pass which is usually straight back into our penalty box. If someone is there to harry them, it's more likely to lead to a sideways or backwards pass.

[Bushwacka]

According to IB the idea is that the more of our players we have in the box the less space the opposition has available to attack.

Is correct. According to various research, somewhere between only 2-3% of corners lead directly to a goal. This is because the attackers have just the goal to aim for, whereas the defending team have everywhere else on the pitch to put it.

[jacobncfc]

I think that leaving someone like Cal Roberts forward is a good idea, not just as an attacking threat but equally as a first line of defence. The problem with leaving nobody up is that when the ball gets cleared, their player has time to look up and pick a pass which is usually straight back into our penalty box. If someone is there to harry them, it's more likely to lead to a sideways or backwards pass.

Nah, you want Roberts on the edge of our box to try and run onto a headed clearance for me. He’s effective when he has the ball and is running at players. If you leave him up, he’s not quick enough to reach a ball in behind, or likely to be strong enough to get hold of a long clearance. Pressuring a second ball back in is one thing a player up can do, but it’s all about what you see as most important I guess.

[Elite_Pie]

Pressuring a second ball back in is one thing a player up can do, but it’s all about what you see as most important I guess.

In this case, we'd probably both agree that the most important thing is that we don't concede from the corner. Clearing the corner is good, but not if we have to defend again from what is probably called the 'second phase' these days.

[Elite_Pie]

Is correct. According to various research, somewhere between only 2-3% of corners lead directly to a goal.

I'd love to know the stats from years ago when Masson was taking the corner and Bradd, Needham and Stubbs were waiting to get on the end of it! I'm pretty sure the 2-3% could be trebled at least.

[matt_magpie]

According to IB the idea is that the more of our players we have in the box the less space the opposition has available to attack.

That’s exactly what Ardley said when asked the same at a forum. It’s statistically proven compared to the amount of teams that score from one man being left up.

[laddo]

These qualified coaches know their stuff.

Or they are being lied to.

If there is an increased chance of is not conceding and getting the ball to the halfway line by having more men back that's fine by me.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

That's maybe true but if you leave 1,2, or even 3 players up the opposition will leave more defenders back to cover them in theory at least this should make it easier for our defenders & goalie to do their jobs.

I'm with ancient on this, you keep two up front then they tend to keep three back.
In my opinion With less players fighting for space defending the box this gives your keeper more of a chance to come and claim a cross...
I'm old school and ancient along with ancient though and possibly out of touch with modern ways.!

[Elite_Pie]

These qualified coaches know their stuff.

Or they are being lied to.

If there is an increased chance of is not conceding and getting the ball to the halfway line by having more men back that's fine by me.

I'm sure they know their stuff much more than the likes of you and me, but if it was that simple why don't all of these qualified coaches do exactly the same thing and keep all players back for a corner? Not just in this league, but more particularly in the higher divisions where the class of coach and player should obviously be better. I've seen the last 3 home games, and from our opponents I've seen all players back, one left forward, and two left forward. Maybe they are run by amateurs rather than qualified coaches.

[laddo]

They certainly do, I've maintained that view for decades.

The reason all coaches don't adopt the same approach was nicely summed up by jacob earlier when he said

"I’m not sure there’s a right or wrong really, positives and negatives to both ways". There certainly is.

I'd add also simply because it's a numbers games. There are hundreds of coaches, hundreds of games and hundreds of corners every weekend that will naturally create variations in the approach. There will never be anywhere close to a universal approach.

When the opposition has a flag kick (classic Colin Slater) I'd be far more concerned and interested in keeping them out than trying to increase the chance of a immediate breakaway goal. Allow acres of space in the penalty area for your players to defend is a nightmare for the defending side.