Defending corners

[magneto]

Apologies if this has been discussed before but one thing that concerned me on Saturday was our defending from corners.

 

I noticed for the first time that we had no cover on either of the posts.

[Maldini]

It's been happening for the last few weeks, obviously something Rafa has decided to change. I think Keane stays further forward now too.

[Bailo]

Has to be said we have improved that aspect of our play 100% from last year.

[Woodsyla]

Don't you just f***ing love Zonal marking

[Chili Palmer]

Has to be said we have improved that aspect of our play 100% from last year.

 

 

pellegino?

[Bailo]

pellegino?

I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian.

[Guest spk]

ayes its definitely something thats been happening more and more. any ideas why rafas gone in this direction? sticking at least one man on the near post is part of footy basics 101 so rafas got me a tad confused

[Chili Palmer]

I'm sorry, I don't speak Italian.

 

It means 'big wooden player but better coach'

[Woodsyla]

ayes its definitely something thats been happening more and more. any ideas why rafas gone in this direction? sticking at least one man on the near post is part of footy basics 101 so rafas got me a tad confused

Perhaps it's because as you become better at zonal marking the need to have a last gasp man on the line diminishes. Therefore when everyone knows his job you can afford to have 1 man left upfield. I'm just speculating, but I see no need in a zone to mark the front post, the keeper should have that covered if he doesn't have to worry about the 6yd box zone.

[Bailo]

It means 'big wooden player but better coach'

Ah! Indeed, I agree. Or I should say, "Accosento".

[Guest spk]

Perhaps it's because as you become better at zonal marking the need to have a last gasp man on the line diminishes. Therefore when everyone knows his job you can afford to have 1 man left upfield. I'm just speculating, but I see no need in a zone to mark the front post, the keeper should have that covered if he doesn't have to worry about the 6yd box zone.

 

cant really see how zonal marking would make any difference if im honest. the reason for having a fella on the near post is for defending against the likes of sami ... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kRCNmhKz0qU

 

sorry thats the first example ive found and while not from a corner it illustrates the point and we've all seen sami get those from corners and free kicks over the years and a man on the near post is better insurance than either man marking or zonal marking imo, and also handy when a ball takes a deflection with the keeper in no mans land.

[Woodsyla]

sorry thats the first example ive found and while not from a corner it illustrates the point and we've all seen sami get those from corners and free kicks over the years and a man on the near post is better insurance than either man marking or zonal marking imo, and also handy when a ball takes a deflection with the keeper in no mans land.

You are wrong, the whole philosophy behind zonal marking is that the attacker doesn't EVER get a clean header/strike at the ball, the ball will always arrive in one of the defenders zones and they attack the ball (not the man) to prevent anyone getting a clear run on it. If the ball takes a deflection past the keeper, bad luck, what happens more often IMO is the ball being knocked in after a keepers save by an attacker played onside by a man on the post who hasn't got out quickly enough.

 

Your example just illustrates the problem with a decent ball in the box when your centre backs are too far apart.

[Drexl]

ayes its definitely something thats been happening more and more. any ideas why rafas gone in this direction? sticking at least one man on the near post is part of footy basics 101 so rafas got me a tad confused

I can't say for certain, but usually its the goalie that decides whether to have someone on the posts or not.

[Chili Palmer]

I can't say for certain, but usually its the goalie that decides whether to have someone on the posts or not.

 

 

from what I've read and heard about Rafa, I think he decides EVERYTHING!

[johngibo YPC]

posts don't score goals, players do

or something

[Flasher]

Mascherano now stays on the edge of the box too, and is the first to burst foward as soon as we have the ball.

[Maldini]

I wonder how long it will take Andy Gray to cop onto it and blame all our woes on it.

[kop205]

Mascherano now stays on the edge of the box too, and is the first to burst foward as soon as we have the ball.

 

He's done that for a while as far as I can remember.

[cymrococh]

The one where the whole defence just stands in a line looks really odd and as if it shouldn't work.

 

But it does.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Mascherano now stays on the edge of the box too, and is the first to burst foward as soon as we have the ball.

 

You barsteward, that was my 'kinda-unrelated-post' to this thread.

 

Its great watching on tele when we clear a corner and it reaches one of the last men and suddenly he races into action to do something with the ball and then you see the reason why - Mascherano is chasing him down like a lunatic.

 

First noticed it against Utd this season

[Woodsyla]

You barsteward, that was my 'kinda-unrelated-post' to this thread.

 

Its great watching on tele when we clear a corner and it reaches one of the last men and suddenly he races into action to do something with the ball and then you see the reason why - Mascherano is chasing him down like a lunatic.

 

First noticed it against Utd this season

I f***ing love that, he chases it back to the keeper, every f***ing time, hounds them back and back and back until it's the only option.

[richwilks]

I f***ing love that, he chases it back to the keeper, every f***ing time, hounds them back and back and back until it's the only option.

 

Mascherano is great at that. He's so quick at covering the ground.