Why are we so crap at corners?

[Neil Young]

We don't really have a problem because other teams don't usually score many goals from corners. We only notice it because we let in so many thanks to zonal marking which, as all commentators are only too happy to point out, is terrible. Other teams don't use zonal marking, that's why we never score against them.

Seriously, Sheffield United, Everton and Chelsea are all quite big teams (as in have large players), more capable of defending corners than many. Perhaps that's why the first two were relatively comfortable conceding so many.

[Helios Creed]

Against Chelsea it appeared that we were trying to exploit John Terry's weakness in the air.

[TheStig]

We don't really have a problem because other teams don't usually score many goals from corners. We only notice it because we let in so many thanks to zonal marking which, as all commentators are only too happy to point out, is terrible. Other teams don't use zonal marking, that's why we never score against them.

Seriously, Sheffield United, Everton and Chelsea are all quite big teams (as in have large players), more capable of defending corners than many. Perhaps that's why the first two were relatively comfortable conceding so many.

Don't know if you saw the stats on letting in goals at corners/set pieces, but we actually were the best team in the league at defending them .

[nobbylad]

1 simple reason - Steven Gerrard insists on taking them. And as of yet, staff included, no-one has had the bollocks to tell him that hes got Ronnie Whelan syndrome. I.E. one of the best in the world at striking a moving ball, but for some reason, less than ordinary at striking a dead ball. Alonso, Aurelio, Garcia, Agger should ALL be ahead of stevey in the queue for dead balls. It really is that simple.

I thought Pennant had taken his fair share this season?

[nobbylad]

We've played 4 league games this season and we've not scored from a corner as yet. Now after only 4 games, that not all that surprising.

But have a guess how many corners we've had in those 4 games? Maybe about 16, thats 4 a game. No, more than that. 20 then , 5 a game. No guess again. 24 then, thats 6 a game. No. In 4 games we've amassed 32 corners. 32 bloody corners & we've not scored 1 goal. In 2 of the games, we've managed double figures, 12 against Sheff U & 11 against the Blue****e. In those 2 away games we had 23 corners, didn't score from 1, & collected only 1 point. You'd think on the law of averages if you just banged the ball in the box, it would sometimes fall to one of our players but no.

What makes this all the more surprising is we are a big side, good in the air. Our 2 central defenders Carra & Sami are brilliant in the air. SG is more than useful as well. Even Garcia & Xabi are decent. Both have scored goals recently with their head. Not for LFC of course, but for Spain. Upfront we have either Crouch or Kuyt most games, both of whom are decent. So in any 1 game we'd have two from carra/Sami/Agger, Kuyt or Crouch, Sg or alonso ( 1 of the 2 usually take the corners) & maybe Garcia. On top of that we'd have usually Bellamy or Robbie sniffing around for knockdowns.

Its not a new problem of course, we've always been ****e at corners. Even during our 1970's & 1980's heydays we were ****e. We invented the ****ty short corner. many a time I've known the short corner ending up back in Clems or Brucies arms as we managed to cock another 'training pitch' masterpiece up.

What surprises me is that Rafa is such a meticulous planner. I'd expect him to practice different corners, have a few moves up his sleeve. But if he has we aint seen them yet.

Even last season was woeful. An anorak mate of mine came up with some rediculous stats on our corners last season. we scored from every 37th corner or some such ****e.

So then corners...why are we so crap. And have we scored from a corner since Tommy Smith in Rome 1977. Probably, but not many!!!

Fab! We'll defo score against Newcastle tomorrow then!

[Resu]

I actually don`t think we`re that good in the air going forward.
Sami is class, but Carra ain`t that good at attacking the ball. So he`s great at defensive header because of his placment, but when he has to get past someone to get to it he`s not that good.
Crouch is big, but lacks power.
Gerrard isn`t bad, but since he takes them we lose him.
I think Kuyt will come good, and I Momo should be able to get on the end of a few as well.
Fowler is very good at getting to ball, we just need some better balls in.
But even a good header like Morientes made nothing of corners.

[Graybach]

This is something that's wound me up for a long time now. We're so bad I'm sure there was, and maybe still is, a Fanzine called 'Another wasted corner!' Totally agree that Gerrard shouldn't take them. I think that our wide players should take them. They're playing in that position because the can 'deliver a good cross' eg Pennant.

Another possibilty is Alonso. How many times do you hear 'there's no better passer of the ball'! Well go on then Xabi, pass the ball onto the forehead of that six foot plus bloke running in from the edge of the box!

Gerrard would be a good attacking headerer or waiting outside the box to launch back a clearence.

[Graybach]

I'd be interested to read season by season's stats on corners won to goals scored and compared with other teams.

[Depth_Charge]

[QUOTE=Graybach]This is something that's wound me up for a long time now. We're so bad I'm sure there was, and maybe still is, a Fanzine called 'Another wasted corner!' QUOTE]


Bah! - Beat me to it...

Yup - we are, and always have been, absolutely ****e at corners.

And like just about everyone else it seems I'm constantly wondering why Stevie G. takes them? Another wasted corner indeed...

[Morph]

I'm glad you posted that because I was just thinking about that when watching the Chav match. The last person I can remember who scored from corners on anything near a 'regular basis' was Paul Ince, and lets be honest that's not saying much.

I think there's two main problems, one has allready been mentioned is Steven Gerrard, he's complete **** at corners, anyone else notice how free kick duties seem to have been taken away from him these days in favour of JAR, Alonso and Aurelio. Same needs to happen for corners, Aurelio definately needs to take the left footed ones and Alonso the right footed ones. it just makes too much sense, two of the best dead ball players in the team, and neither are likely to score from a corner, so lets have them taking them from now on.

The second reason is as a team we're ****e at attacking corners. Sami is okay when one gets delivered to him, and Luis is a good header of the ball but no one else strikes me as a good header of the ball. Maybe Kuyt but we've yet to see that in red shirt. Gerrards good at the odd header and is good at hitting them on the Volley, so it seems obvious he needs to be in the box.However I particularly like those ones were Gerrard kicks the ball well outside the box from the corner and JAR comes running in to hit them on the volley. But they only work once in a blue moon.

But some nice research there, confirmed what I already thought.

[Nic83]

1 simple reason - Steven Gerrard insists on taking them. And as of yet, staff included, no-one has had the bollocks to tell him that hes got Ronnie Whelan syndrome. I.E. one of the best in the world at striking a moving ball, but for some reason, less than ordinary at striking a dead ball. Alonso, Aurelio, Garcia, Agger should ALL be ahead of stevey in the queue for dead balls. It really is that simple.

Spot on.

He is a sh!te corner taker.

[Bob]

Delivery.

Remember Macca taking a wicked corner!

Should have Pennant/Aurelio picking out Crouch to lay it off. We don't mix them up enough, and with the players we have we should be a real force at set plays.

[Dhav]

Gerrard should not be taking corners, not only because he is so **** at them, but also because he should be around the edge of the box looking to unleash one of his shots from a loose ball.

I dont understand why Xabi doesnt take em.

[Bob]

I dont understand why Xabi doesnt take em.

He ain't much better. Pennant and Aurelio are the best at the club at the moment. Not sure about Speedy's delivery yet.

[Mattshark]

We scored from a short corner against Man U in the FA Cup last season!

Only one I remember mind.

Biscan against bolton was from a short corner too.