Biggest opportunity for improvement?

[El Jefecito]

Some would say less rotation would enhance our results. Some might say an upgrade on Kuyt at RW would make the difference.

Personally, I think the area where we underperform most is on attacking set pieces. We hardly ever score from them. Corners rarely beat the first man and we don't have players strong in the air that can ATTACK the ball like a Drogba or a Vidic. Did you know we have the least amount of headed goals in the EPL!!!

If we can address that during the transfer window that we could get at least an additional 15 goals.

Someone posted the # of goals from open play for the top scorers in the EPL and Torres was top. Ronaldo still had 10+ more goals than him, just goes to prove how much room there is for improvement.

That's make take anyway.

[fah-q]

I agree, sometimes we seem to lack a bit of aggression in the last third and esp in the penalty box. Just a thought but Barry is very good at dead ball delivery, so maybe Rafa is trying to rectify this.

[El Jefecito]

I agree, sometimes we seem to lack a bit of aggression in the last third and esp in the penalty box. Just a thought but Barry is very good at dead ball delivery, so maybe Rafa is trying to rectify this.

Now Barry + Luca Toni would be nice

[fah-q]

Toni is someone who I always thought would adapt very well to the english game. Big, strong and fairly mobile (for a big man) plus he has an eye for goal. Although his goal celebration is a bit crap.

[Parm]

lets face it, jar has lost his freekick touch, stevie isnt a specialist and both he and pennant are poo at corners. thought aurelio would have been a bit more cultured. Perhps barry and bentley will add that extra quality/goals

[El Jefecito]

lets face it, jar has lost his freekick touch, stevie isnt a specialist and both he and pennant are poo at corners. thought aurelio would have been a bit more cultured. Perhps barry and bentley will add that extra quality/goals

Admit, I've been disappointed w/Aurelio too, he came with such a reputation as a dead ball specialist as well. SpeedyG scored from more set pieces than he has.

Perhaps SG et al aren't that bad on corners, but it's just that we don't have the right type of players attacking the ball. Dunno! Do you think w/Vidic we'd score enough from set pieces?

[wiw]

It's incredible how **** we are at corners/set pieces. The delivery isn't very good, and I don't know...I'm not really sure what goes wrong in the box Whether it's timing of runs, lack of strength, badly timed jumps..**** knows..i'm sure dww does

[El Jefecito]

It's incredible how **** we are at corners/set pieces. The delivery isn't very good, and I don't know...I'm not really sure what goes wrong in the box Whether it's timing of runs, lack of strength, badly timed jumps..**** knows..i'm sure dww does

That's a no-brainer

[Rishi73]

I'd just like to add I think Gerrard poses more of a threat at the other end of the set piece. He can shoot from distance and is fairly decent at heading the ball. I don't understand why Alonso doesn't take free kicks and corners when he's playing as he is much better at picking out a pass than anyone else in the team.

[Skillz]

Some would say less rotation would enhance our results. Some might say an upgrade on Kuyt at RW would make the difference.

Personally, I think the area where we underperform most is on attacking set pieces. We hardly ever score from them. Corners rarely beat the first man and we don't have players strong in the air that can ATTACK the ball like a Drogba or a Vidic. Did you know we have the least amount of headed goals in the EPL!!!

If we can address that during the transfer window that we could get at least an additional 15 goals.

Someone posted the # of goals from open play for the top scorers in the EPL and Torres was top. Ronaldo still had 10+ more goals than him, just goes to prove how much room there is for improvement.

That's make take anyway.

Couldn't agree more and this is why Rafa want's Barry IMO. Better delivery into the box and we need a better header of the ball, hence why Crouch is being moved IMO. Torres has shown to be very adept at finishing by the head this year when he has quality service.

Another striker who can head the ball would be nice. Ashton, Jones?

[Rich]

Skrtel has 8 goals in 24 international appearances; Hyypia has always been a threat at corners/set-pieces. I think we do have a couple of good attackers of the ball in the squad, obviously a couple more wouldn't go amiss. I believe it's all down to the quality of the ball into the box; too often we're found wanting and it does cost us.

[hamshanks]

we don't score more goals from corners and freekicks coz Rafa doesn't play Crouch enough

[Rishi73]

we don't score more goals from corners and freekicks coz Rafa doesn't play Crouch enough

Are you kidding!?! Put a perfectly floated ball onto Crouch's head and he will completely balls it up. Float one around knee hight and he scissor kick it into the back of the net. I'm sorry but Crouch is possibly one of the worst headers of the ball, for some reason he ducks when it comes near him or when he does make contact it lands softly into the hands of the goalkeeper.

[hamshanks]

Are you kidding!?! Put a perfectly floated ball onto Crouch's head and he will completely balls it up. Float one around knee hight and he scissor kick it into the back of the net. I'm sorry but Crouch is possibly one of the worst headers of the ball, for some reason he ducks when it comes near him or when he does make contact it lands softly into the hands of the goalkeeper.

that's not the point, he creates havoc in opposing penalty areas with his mere physical presence alone - and his heading is getting better, but I'll concede he's not the best

[cled the red]

that's not the point, he creates havoc in opposing penalty areas with his mere physical presence alone - and his heading is getting better, but I'll concede he's not the best

A gust of wind would knock Crouchie over!!