The near post

[Stevie H]

two things at dead-balls. one, we don't have anyone attacking the near post (which given that many of our corners only reach that far seems a bit daft) and two, we tend to hang around in the area when there might be more joy to be had starting a run deeper and later and attacking the ball in at a gallop.

[Raj]

two things at dead-balls. one, we don't have anyone attacking the near post (which given that many of our corners only reach that far seems a bit daft) and two, we tend to hang around in the area when there might be more joy to be had starting a run deeper and later and attacking the ball in at a gallop.

 

does seem very strange that we dont have anyone attacking the near post at corners.

Gary Mac used to drop the ball in that area, for flick ons, all the time in the treble season. We seemed to score a number of goals from people attacking the flick on. I remember Babbel scoring a few like that

[BG]

does seem very strange that we dont have anyone attacking the near post at corners.

Gary Mac used to drop the ball in that area, for flick ons, all the time in the treble season. We seemed to score a number of goals from people attacking the flick on. I remember Babbel scoring a few like that

 

It's not just corners. It's virtuallyevery time the ball goes in the box. I'm hoping Robbie will do some fo this (as he did once or twice against Arsenal).

[tomasjj]

Are our attacking players scared of the thing?

 

I have noticed this too.

Our players arrive too late, and no one seems to bother gunning for the first post.

[anny road]

crouch flicked one past the post from there on sunday

[Stevie H]

crouch flicked one past the post from there on sunday

 

from open play though wasn't it?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

we are poor attacking crosses into the box regardless of whethe rit is from open play or set pieces.

[abc]

I've been going on and on about this to my mates everytime I watch matches. I'm surprised Rafa hasn't picked up on it and forced the players to attack the near post.

 

Robbie's return will ensure we have some better movement and positioning in the box. Even if he doesn't score too many.

 

Morientes and Crouch seem to pick the same spots to run into. There was a cross from the left on Saturday which was slotted in nicely for a player to attack on the near post, but when you see the replay, Crouch and Moro were about 2 feet apart from each other both at the far post.

[realtarragona]

we are poor attacking crosses into the box regardless of whethe rit is from open play or set pieces.

 

I think so too.

 

Maybe Gerrard isn't the best set piece taker in the world but he's not as bad as some make out.

[Billy Talbot]

Yup.

 

We're all good in the air. Even Lil' Luis. Dunno why someone / more than onem hasn't been told / made it his / their job to attack the near post. Esp as nearly all our set pieces (unless some kind of training pitch abortion) end up headed way by defenders there.

 

Very odd.

 

Goes someway to explain why "We never score from corners".

[surf]

I wouldn't mind seeing Alonso taking a few more corners, the one he took against Benfica was placed perfectly. He certainly has the technique. Stevie is a bigger goalscoring threat so i'd prefer him in or around the area anyway.

[Stevie H]

I wouldn't mind seeing Alonso taking a few more corners, the one he took against Benfica was placed perfectly. He certainly has the technique. Stevie is a bigger goalscoring threat so i'd prefer him in or around the area anyway.

 

agree 100% with this. i don't understand why gerrard takes all our corners.

[treble2001]

As well as being unable of putting a cross in past the near post, why do we try short corners that never do anything. As taught from Sunday league, aim for the penalty spot.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I think so too.

 

Thing I understand about our attacking game:

 

We love putting crosses into the box.

 

Things I don't understand about our attacking game:

 

Why is the positioning of our strikers in there so poor?

 

Why does happen so often there is only one guy in there?

 

Why is that when we have the tallest striker in the league and a striker billed as one of the best attacking headers of the ball in Europe, that we are not scoring goals from crosses galore?

 

Why is a player like gerrard so often absent running into the box to receive a pullback from the wing?

Bit harsh to critisise our best player and topscorer for not getting into position, but there's a gaping hole there almost everytime. If we using wing play we should have that option 9 times out of ten at the ready.

[Buzz]

Luis is often level with the near post at set pieces, it's just that he is also level with the penalty spot.

[floyd the barber]

always find it strange how gerrard takes most of the corners.....most of the time his corners are to be honest...s****.

 

Added to the fact that hes pretty handy in the air, and it makes me wonder the reasoning behind him taking the corners.