Set Piece Delivery / Crosses - Need Worked On.

[King Street Loon]

Anyone else concerned about the absolute lack of quality we are showing from set pieces (apart from Pens)?

The delivery has been pathetic, strangely since McInnes came in.

Even crosses into the box are not what they should be, or have been.

Willie Miller touched on this last night. Pointing out that Hayes and McGinn aren't getting quality balls in regularly for our strikers.

I recall McGinn scoring a good few free kicks when he first arrived, but sadly these seem to have dried up.

 

Definitely needs working on the training ground.

[fine-n-dandy]

Anyone else concerned about the absolute lack of quality we are showing from set pieces (apart from Pens)?

The delivery has been pathetic, strangely since McInnes came in.

Even crosses into the box are not what they should be, or have been.

Willie Miller touched on this last night. Pointing out that Hayes and McGinn aren't getting quality balls in regularly for our strikers.

I recall McGinn scoring a good few free kicks when he first arrived, but sadly these seem to have dried up.

 

Definitely needs working on the training ground.

Agreed. The Utd game was dreadful. Professional players not beat the first man (so often) was fkn criminal.

 

If we could improve on this we'd be even harder to deal with. Certainly needs worked on.

[dave_min]

Aye.

[fine-n-dandy]

As McInnes says himself "there is ALWAYS room for improvement" & that is most certainly one area we really need to up our game in.

 

I always thought our "target" hitting percentage was pretty poor compared to most teams but we have improved on that.

As long as you make the keeper work we are improving & whilst Rooneys header was straight at him, he still had to do very well to keep it out & not put it back into play. On another day that was a goal more than likely from a rebound.

 

Baby steps. We can afford slow & steady whilst we are doing so well in all other areas but set pieces/crossing is a bit of a weakness at the moment for sure.

[Poodler]

Bring back the Ebbe train

[fine-n-dandy]

Bring back the Ebbe train

Lol but nae use if the ball doesn't even get there

[rossafc92]

I'd say the difference in our set-piece game has been massive since McInnes came in - and for the better.

 

In Brown's last season we managed one goal from a set-piece (discounting pens): McGinn's equaliser at Tannadice in October of 2012 from a Ryan Fraser corner. I firmly believe we didn't work on attacking corners under Brown.

 

We've scored our fair share of set-piece of goals under McInnes so far. I would agree with the OP that the delivery, particularly this season, has been a bit off at times. The opening league game was especially bizarre. You just have to look at Saturday though. We've a couple of free kicks in the second half that hit the first man on its way, and then send one in that causes total panic in the Celtic defence, we capitalise and score. In the main we're doing alright with them. It's just that we get more of them now, so more chance of poor deliveries/attempts.

[tommo1903]

Also quite conservative at corners. We put Ash Taylor on the front post at corners last night to take their biggest guy out of the equation in the box. What we should have done is realise that he wins every header and put him in the mix & put MacLean on the front post to score one of his famous flick ons.

 

We are brilliant defensively from corners these days, but we could definitely do with better deliveries in.

[fine-n-dandy]

I'd say the difference in our set-piece game has been massive since McInnes came in - and for the better.

 

In Brown's last season we managed one goal from a set-piece (discounting pens): McGinn's equaliser at Tannadice in October of 2012 from a Ryan Fraser corner. I firmly believe we didn't work on attacking corners under Brown.

 

We've scored our fair share of set-piece of goals under McInnes so far. I would agree with the OP that the delivery, particularly this season, has been a bit off at times. The opening league game was especially bizarre. You just have to look at Saturday though. We've a couple of free kicks in the second half that hit the first man on its way, and then send one in that causes total panic in the Celtic defence, we capitalise and score. In the main we're doing alright with them. It's just that we get more of them now, so more chance of poor deliveries/attempts.

Don't agree.

 

We are failing to beat the first man (especially from set plays) far more often than before. From open play it's slightly better but we need to improve on it, no question.

 

Just hope we don't go back to doing stupid short corners all the time like we did in the past.

[ericblack4boss]

was craig browns mantra when defending corners kicks not along the lines of

 

an empty box favours the attacking side.

[minijc]

Not many teams actually score from a corner though so it's not that big a ideal, freekicks though really need improved on.

[The Oxford Don]

I'm less worried about set-piece delivery than I am about crosses from open play. We have two of the best wide players in the league (in fact, truth be told I can't think of any better than Hayes or McGinn, including at Shellic) and we are very good at working the ball to them in space, but so often the cross that follows is absolute mince and easily dealt with by the opposition defence.

 

It's really frustrating and yes, it definitely needs to improve.

[Tord31]

It annoys me how when we've had a corner, or free kick, and the ball is cleared the player that picks up the ball keeps the normal mantra of retain possession rather than thinking we've still everyone in the box lets pump it back in.

 

Change against Hamilton was we stopped doing the two lads over the ball at corners

[Redstar]

I'd like to see Jack step up to plate a bit more at set pieces...he's got a decent shot on him...just can't remember the last time he took either a free kick or a corner?

[Oregon Red]

I though a lot of our crosses against Celtic were a big improvement from last season.

[mutant]

Jacks shooting is Awfull keep him away from free kicks . Think Flood was the last to score direct from a free kick .

[the sheep]

Unfortunately the best crosser of a ball is sitting on the bench. Robson's delivery is always spot on and done with plenty of pace. Maybe Robson should be offering additional training to McGinn and Hayes.

 

The crosses from McGinn and Hayes needs some work. Not enough pace and too often the wrong choice of cross/pass. Countless floating crosses that are easy to defend when a cut back to the on coming midfielder or some real pace on the cross would be a better option.

 

I think the free kick duties could be given to McLean for a spell. McGinn seems to have lost the ability to beet the wall.

[The Boofon]

I'd like to see Jack step up to plate a bit more at set pieces...he's got a decent shot on him...just can't remember the last time he took either a free kick or a corner?

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh7xmHoAeIA&

[Foster14]

Considine header v Celtic

Considine miscontrol at back post v Celtic

McLean header v Celtic (foul by Rooney)

McLean glance attempt v Celtic

Quinn goal v Celtic

 

McLean heaver v Hamilton (perhaps a bit far out but still well picked out)

Rooney header v Hamilton

 

That is chances I can remember off the top of my head that were all chances where one of our own players were picked out and were great goalscoring chances. On top of that you still have good crosses that that are well defended, and chances that have come from decent wing play, but not direct from the cross (McGinn off the bar being an example).

 

Like everything that happens on the pitch, it should be getting worked on, but I don't think it is as much an issue as some are making out.

[weapon]

When we have a set pieces on our right hand side Hayes should take it and on the left side McGinn should take it as he did against Tims as these crosses are much harder to defend against and just need a touch to go in as they are already on their way towards the goal.

 

There was a free kick against Celtic on the right hand side that McGinn took and he didna even beat the boy just standing in his way, wisna much of a wall.........was pathetic attempt. I think McGinn has got the I want to take everything attitude.

 

In normal play Logan's crosses are generally pants and we play too many floating crosses, we need Bechham-esque whipped crosses into the box with some curl not these half punts that float in the air for an age and the defenders can see coming for miles.

 

Play a good ball into the box and Rooney will score barrow load with his nut!!

[Foster14]

When we have a set pieces on our right hand side Hayes should take it and on the left side McGinn should take it as he did against Tims as these crosses are much harder to defend against and just need a touch to go in as they are already on their way towards the goal.

 

There was a free kick against Celtic on the right hand side that McGinn took and he didna even beat the boy just standing in his way, wisna much of a wall.........was pathetic attempt. I think McGinn has got the I want to take everything attitude.

 

In normal play Logan's crosses are generally pants and we play too many floating crosses, we need Bechham-esque whipped crosses into the box with some curl not these half punts that float in the air for an age and the defenders can see coming for miles.

 

Play a good ball into the box and Rooney will score barrow load with his nut!!

 

Not sure if that is the case to be honest. I don't recall him having a great scoring record with his head for us. Probably because he is always closely watched. Which this season has allowed McLean to score a few headers as it has freed up space for him.

[Pudgie]

It seems to be the way football is nowadays. We spotted it in the CL games last night. I don't know if it's the lighter balls, or what, but there's so many games in world football where it just looks like there's an issue outside practicing.