08 Feb 2015 12:29:38
Eds, any idea why many professional footballers struggle to beat the first man when taking a corner?

We send our CBs up plus have other 6ft outfield players waiting on a delivery and I've seen both Gerrard and Coutinho having their ball in headed away at the near post or we start to play it short.

I'm no pro, so I'm not paid to train and practice, but during school, county, juniors, Sunday or Saturday leagues I've never not been able to swing a ball into the middle of the box, past the first defender. I can't get why any international player, with years of professional playing time sends a corner in waist or shin hight to the first defender?

{Ed002's Note - That is an easy one, if you look at all of the best corner takers (Ronaldinho, Koke, Riquelme, Nilis, Recoba, Cubillas, Zola etc.) they all have one thing in common - webbed toes. That is why you and all of the Liverpool players are so poor at taking corners.}


1.) 08 Feb 2015
It's probably that they are trying too hard to get pace and dip on the ball and with the modern ball it's difficult to judge the amount and timing of swerve and dip.

{Ed002's Note - Nope, it's the toes.}


2.) 08 Feb 2015
I think most teams score less from set pieces nowadays and we concede less from them as well. Teams learned how to defend them better. Still quite shcoking how littel we create from them. More generally we don't score from crosses or anything coming from the wings. It is almost only coming from the centre and it is very crowded there.


3.) 08 Feb 2015
08 Feb 2015 17:11:04
Sorry if it seemed a stupid question, wasn't soley LFC related. Even watching Newcastle Stoke today and WBA Burnley, the amount of corners taken by professional players, international level that seem to go in low at shin height and just hoofed away by the first man was loads. Teams bring up 6ft plus players intent on heading the ball at goal and the corner goes nowhere.
Just thought maybe at this level it's so basic they don't coach or train taking corners or is it the ball being too lightweight etc?

If webbed toes is genuine fair enough and thanks

{Ed002's Note - Newcastle haven't had a player with webbed toes since Ginola, so that accounts for their problem.}


4.) 08 Feb 2015
Its down to the pace they have to try get on the ball I think any how


5.) 08 Feb 2015
To me, it is down to work ethic and technique and maybe webbed feet (lol). Seriously tho, set-pieces is a learnt-skill and not a talent hence, players of today are a bit lazy and don`t work as hard on their game as they should be, IMO hence, they are poor at the most basic of things.


6.) 09 Feb 2015
Search for the pat nevin video on the BBC website he addresses part of this.
run ups are shorter, the surface changes, the keeper is a lot more protected by ref so crosses have to go further out usually, which means generating whip and dip is harder.
Also Coutinho just isn't that great at dead ball set pieces.


7.) 09 Feb 2015
09 Feb 2015 05:11:09
Ed002, How does Howard Webb come into this?