28 Nov 2017 18:51:58
Massive fan of this site. Read it daily. It's like crack, so addictive.

I have a question for the Eds. I don't understand why we don't put men on the posts when defending corners, it seems common sense as we always concede from corners. Is there a reason for this?

{Ed001's Note - it is the modern thinking, very few teams do so now, it frees up an extra player or two to mark zones in the area. Personally I think a player on the post is of more use, but very few modern coaches agree for some reason. You would think with no one leaving players up field any more they would have at least one spare to cover a post!}

1.) 28 Nov 2017
28 Nov 2017 20:10:15
so many shots from corners head towards the corner. makes you wonder if there is any use having that extra player marking a zone aye? doesn't seem to stop the headers lol!

2.) 28 Nov 2017
28 Nov 2017 20:16:55
Wouldn't leaving players upfield make the opposition drop players to cover them as well?

3.) 28 Nov 2017
28 Nov 2017 21:32:06
Put one player on the near post and one player just outside the box, in case of a pass or clearance, that would cover quite a bit .

4.) 28 Nov 2017
28 Nov 2017 21:33:49
Pet hate of mine blossom, how many defenders would the opposition need to cover Mane and Salah sat on the half way line whilst they take a free-kick/ corner,4would be my guess.

5.) 28 Nov 2017
28 Nov 2017 21:46:23
Ed why do they being everyone back.

This night be abit simple but I was always coaches and brought to understand that if you leave a striker up then two defenders must stay back, 2 strikers and 3 defenders

We never leave someone on the half way line. What good is salah in the box. Stick him in the circle. And there is no way he's getting left. Either target him with a header or a soon as we can get migs the ball he can attempt to hit him straight on the break.

{Ed001's Note - I have no idea why teams now bring everyone back. It is ridiculous if you ask me.}

6.) 29 Nov 2017
28 Nov 2017 23:04:40
Spot on, TB and Ed. Normally, the player who is too short to mark someone in the box, is the one either outside the box on the D or up front for the counter. Same with having players on each post, these are the fundamentals of football and the last time I saw two men on the posts was in the last friendly btw Nigeria and Argentina where there was a Nigerian defender on each post on every corner with also players outside the box ready to break. Again, football is a simple game, made complicated by control freaks who parade themselves as managers.

7.) 29 Nov 2017
29 Nov 2017 06:19:34
Agree Anfieldblossom. I always leave one player on the last defender and another in the middle of our half. I had a parent one time come and tell me I should get them both in the box (think he watches lots of telly) . I said "OK, watch this. " Next corner I sent them both back. What happened? 2 of the opposition just followed them into the area.

8.) 29 Nov 2017
29 Nov 2017 08:57:00
Thanks for the replies!
Especially since were that strong on the counter it would definitely relieve pressure when defending against set pieces.

9.) 29 Nov 2017
29 Nov 2017 10:20:17
I think the no one on the post may have something to do with ridiculous offside rules these days and it is just one more thing to confuse the officials with is he or isn't he offside?

Personally as a former very average GK the guys on the post can help but if they ae not disciplined in their positioning can also be a problem for the keeper. However I do think the offside is more relevant these days.

10.) 29 Nov 2017
29 Nov 2017 20:37:32
From memory when Mourinho was running RM, he used to have one player defending short corners (who would be ready to bomb forward if opposition didn't take short corner) and 2 just on edge of box. All 3 would be ready to counter. They had so much speed that teams had to either leave players back or mark them. If they marked them then their superior speed would invariably lead to a counter attacking goal. Either way it took a lot of pressure of corners.
Personally I think a guy on far post is not that valuable. If you have one there then his job should be to look for and deal with players who make late runs at far post. Near post is worth it but only if he is good at anticipating the ball and so helps out if ball is directed short for a flick on.
In the end what you really want are defenders who attack the ball instead of watching it. Our biggest problem seems to be players are hoping someone else will sort it out (or too busy trying to work out whos responsibility it is if the ball hits a certain "zone") rather than being the solution.