Set-pieces - ROUTINE required!

[CAD]

WHAT IS GOING ON??!!

70 set-pieces in the first 7 matches and ZERO goals!

We had 10 corners against Bolton and never looked like scoring on any of them.

Why are we so ineffective on freekicks and corners? In every away game we have had at least 15 corners or freekicks into the box and we have scored 0 ZERO goals! We havn't scored at home either where we have even more set-pieces. We have to assume that Rafa and the boys train set-pieces to no end.

It seems to me that we have no steady routine on corners. Only the inept attempt to play the ball from cornerkicks to Riise or Alonso who then are supposed to volley the ball directly into goal from outside the box. Surprisingly that hasn't happend yet.

Strange that Rafa doesn't implement a routine on corners. It should be simple enough!

Same kicker (if possible) from left and right. Same runs to create room for the tall players. I haven't seen us hit the ball consistenly for the back or front post at anytime under Rafa.

We have no routine!!!!

If we want to win the EPL, this is the area we we have to improve the most IMHO.

[ronan]

ive said it before and i'll say it again but gerrard is useless at corners.
he would be better off hanging around outside the box looking for any knock downs or balls being cleared.

[Mumsafan]

ive said it before and i'll say it again but gerrard is useless at corners.
he would be better off hanging around outside the box looking for any knock downs or balls being cleared.

I agree with this completely. It annoys me so much!

[Shaggy]

Yep, been saying it for ages. GET GERRARD OFF CORNERS.

Surely he’s not such an ego-maniac that he can’t see how bad he is at taking them? Gonzalez put more great corners in in one game against Spurs than Gerrard ever has done for us. A strong, six foot plus lad like him should be in the box, and he’s shown before that he’s good in the air.

We all know he thinks he’s better than everybody else but this has got to stop NOW.

[Bob]

ive said it before and i'll say it again but gerrard is useless at corners.
he would be better off hanging around outside the box looking for any knock downs or balls being cleared.

It's strange, more so because his delivery from inside right is spot on usually!

[lfc4ever]

Maybe somebody should text Rafa the stats, him being a stat lover etc.

[PTP]

set piece routine - put the ball in the ****ing mixer

[Bob]

Maybe somebody should text Rafa the stats, him being a stat lover etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnMnZyV1QR8

Don Rafa Benitez - the stat lover!!

(subtitled)

[hockin_monster]

set piece routine - put the ball in the ****ing mixer

Couldn't have said it better myself

Aurelio should take out corners from the right and whip them in. In an ideal world Gerrard should be able to do that from the left. I think he tries to hard to put it on a specific head, when he sould concentrate on getting it in fast just outside the 6 yard box. Even a quick swerving ball onto the oppositions head can create a chance.

[lfc4ever]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnMnZyV1QR8

Don Rafa Benitez - the stat lover!!

(subtitled)

They look like most of my DVDs actually! oops!!

[PTP]

exactly, the ball needs to be swinging in between the 6yd box and pen spot, beat the first man(how so many professional footballers fail to do that is discgraceful), with plenty of pace, get your 2/3 big men attacking that area, someone on the keeper and everyone else dotted about to pick up the pieces.

Bob's your uncle, fanny's yer aunt.

[NICKZS]

Yep, been saying it for ages. GET GERRARD OFF CORNERS.

Surely he’s not such an ego-maniac that he can’t see how bad he is at taking them? Gonzalez put more great corners in in one game against Spurs than Gerrard ever has done for us. A strong, six foot plus lad like him should be in the box, and he’s shown before that he’s good in the air.

We all know he thinks he’s better than everybody else but this has got to stop NOW.

Good post, and I especially agree with the Gonzalez comment. We actually looked like scoring from the corners he was whipping in and the one that was forced onto the post was a beauty.

He should be taking them when on the pitch

[lfc4ever]

exactly, the ball needs to be swinging in between the 6yd box and pen spot, beat the first man(how so many professional footballers fail to do that is discgraceful), with plenty of pace, get your 2/3 big men attacking that area, someone on the keeper and everyone else dotted about to pick up the pieces.

Bob's your uncle, fanny's yer aunt.

I dunno, that sounds awfully hard like.

[PTP]

fair do's - I forgot we were talking about premiership players - this formula should help them

Goal=c+h

C=cross H=header

[zimbo]

As we seem incapable of getting it past the first defender, I don't know why we don't stick someone next to him and try for a flick on at the near post every now and again. Even if it comes off the defender's head it's likely to cause problems as it's very hard to defend against if executed correctly.

We started doing this in 1983/84 after years with virtually no end product from corners, much like now. Fatty Robinson was planted on the near post for the flick on and we actually scored a few if memory serves. Given Crouch is more effective at helping it on than getting great power in his headers, plonk him on the near post, aim for his swede and await the imminent chaos that would inevitably ensue.

Simple.