Set Piece = CONSISTENT FAIL

Leinstersqspur

Our free kicks and corners are abysmal..... HR stated lately that we don't have enough big men but I don't think we know who takes our set pieces... Apparently we've had the second most corners in the EPL with one of the lowest conversions rates. When it comes to frees BAE and Younes seem to like a pop lately?!

When Bale first arrived at the Lane he was lauded as a free kick specialist and I can remember him placing a peach of a free kick in to United's net, although I think we eventually lost that game 3-1 that was probably the last of Gareth's role as a dead ball specialist.

Vdv seems to be our corner taker, but he's probably our best goal poacher, the man you want in the box when the balls breaks out of a corner scramble. Also, he is failing to beat the first man more than ever!

Luka appears to have little confidence in the role but the free kick that was the break in play where Vdv was subbed on Saturday saw Luka swung in a lovely flighted ball which Gallas should have scored with really.

Do we practice free kicks? Surely the likes of Gallas, Kaboul, Sandro, Walker, Adebayor and Bale possess a reasonable ariel threat?

For dead balls I think Luka should be the crosser when needed and GB should shooting when the opportunity arises.....

Wonder what you guys think?

Hatch99

Good point.
Our set pieces have been crap for ages now.
I said it after everton, kaboul trying to kick the ball as hard as he can for attacking free-kicks, laughable, disgraceful.

Normally I'd say Bale should take all free-kicks and corners as he has a great left peg, but the thing is he's great in the air too and a great threat in the oppositions box. Huddlestone used to take a good set piece.

VDV has taken corners quite a lot and they have been awful. Never beats the first man.

I'm not sure who I want taking them. VDV is the obvious one, needs to do a bit of practicing though :eek:

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Modric on corners, simples. I'd like to see vdV on frees, he was getting close last year iirc. I don't now who from the left side, our free taking options really are quite poor! I very much doubt Harry practices any dead ball routines in training, "just fire it in" is probably what he says. I would love to see us try something like this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwdPBzu9l5Y

Leinstersqspur

Why not Luka? Sometimes I think he's living a little in Vdv's shadow. I could be wrong but he's our smallest player and I'd much prefer Vdv loitering around the box than Luka....

Found some interesting stats "Spurs have won 205 corners in the Premier League this season – the second-highest number in the top flight – but have mustered just five goals from the ensuing deliveries"

A conversion rate worsened only by Villa and Fulham.... http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/2935/Stages/5476/TeamStatistics/England-Premier-League-2011-2012

This reaffirms my lack of expectation every time we're standing over a dead ball.

bradolf pittler

i read in the paper yesterday that we've gone 127 corners without scoring from one and that we havn't scored directly from a free kick since jan 2011....depressing stats to be honest.
i'm sick of seeing kaboul standing over a freekick from a long way out and the commentator saying "he can really hit them from here",when has he ever scored 1 for us??????
its the corners that are even more depressing,how come players like modric and vdv can ping passes around the pitch from all angles but not from a dead ball situation??????

Everything In Its Right Place

also we also rarely score headed goals. why am I not surprised man united have scored the most penalties

mickman

our set pieces were much improved on saturday, luca floated some lovely balls in and even vdv put in one or two.

Sugarlumps

They try to hit Bale on the near post constantly, the coaching is nonexistent. You see certain teams come up with some clever free kicks, obviously worked on in training, why not us?

T-b0n3

Ye I have to echo what people have said, it really is depressing and embarrassing. Surely we can do better than what's being done at the moment. Those stats are terrible, really terrible and something needs to be done to address it asap if it's not already being done.

I hate doubting Harry as he has been great for us. But things like this make me question him.

Emoran

Closest we've seen in months with that VDV free :P

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

THFC wrote: »

I'd like to see vdV on frees, he was getting close last year iirc.

Came close there! More poor set-pieces tonight though, I don't think we've had 1 attemps from 5+ corners. Delivery has been by and large good though.

Emoran

200 corners later

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

T-b0n3

Ye about time that stat ended. Hopefully we can start scoring a few more from them now.

Emoran

Set piece MASTERS.

Hatch99

Emoran wrote: »

Set piece MASTERS.

:D:D

Leinstersqspur

Emoran wrote: »

Set piece MASTERS.

2 in 2...... Unbelievable!

mushykeogh

Great ball by VDV from the corner, just inside the six yard box. Hopefully he can deliver a few of them to Ade or Kaboul against Sunderland next week.