Willian

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

Willian is seriously inconsistent with his set pieces. How can he be so lethal in shooting directly at goal from a free kick but can't even deliver a decent into the box for someone else to attack? Some of his corners yesterday failed to beat even the first man!

Next year I will celebrate my 50th anniversary as a Chelsea fan so I've been watching this game for a long while. During that period I've heard, and read, similar comments thousands of times but people don't need to be as old as me to have come across it. I've a feeling that, even if you've been a football fan for just a couple of hours, there's a fair chance you'll have heard, or perhaps said, something very much like this. Often the point is made in the form of a question. For example, "How hard can it be just to beat the first man?"

Well, the clue to the answer can be seen in how frequently this issue comes up. Because fans need to complain about this so regularly it must mean that the answer is, "Much harder than it seems." How else can we explain the fact that professional footballers, of all clubs and nationalities, so often fail to manage it?

[Rhino's Skin 972]

Next year I will celebrate my 50th anniversary as a Chelsea fan so I've been watching this game for a long while. During that period I've heard, and read, similar comments thousands of times but people don't need to be as old as me to have come across it. I've a feeling that, even if you've been a football fan for just a couple of hours, there's a fair chance you'll have heard, or perhaps said, something very much like this. Often the point is made in the form of a question. For example, "How hard can it be just to beat the first man?"

Well, the clue to the answer can be seen in how frequently this issue comes up. Because fans need to complain about this so regularly it must mean that the answer is, "Much harder than it seems." How else can we explain the fact that professional footballers, of all clubs and nationalities, so often fail to manage it?

far too much logic in there for some of these to comprehend but as someone just a couple years behind you, I agree totally.

Must be the change of ball every few months ;-)

[Jase 43,479]

Next year I will celebrate my 50th anniversary as a Chelsea fan so I've been watching this game for a long while. During that period I've heard, and read, similar comments thousands of times but people don't need to be as old as me to have come across it. I've a feeling that, even if you've been a football fan for just a couple of hours, there's a fair chance you'll have heard, or perhaps said, something very much like this. Often the point is made in the form of a question. For example, "How hard can it be just to beat the first man?"

Well, the clue to the answer can be seen in how frequently this issue comes up. Because fans need to complain about this so regularly it must mean that the answer is, "Much harder than it seems." How else can we explain the fact that professional footballers, of all clubs and nationalities, so often fail to manage it?

Not buying that. We're talking about something that can be improved in practice/training, not something that can only be done by a few footballers. I'm not saying that we have to score from every corner or free kick but the least a player should do is deliver the ball into the box without hitting the first man. If it only happens once every blue moon, then fine. But it has happened way too often and it's the same problem every time even with different takers - Willian, Fabregas, Oscar etc. It's absolutely criminal that you get a chance to score from a set piece and you can't even beat the first man!

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

Not buying that. We're talking about something that can be improved in practice/training, not something that can only be done by a few footballers. I'm not saying that we have to score from every corner or free kick but the least a player should do is deliver the ball into the box without hitting the first man. If it only happens once every blue moon, then fine. But it has happened way too often and it's the same problem every time even with different takers - Willian, Fabregas, Oscar etc. It's absolutely criminal that you get a chance to score from a set piece and you can't even beat the first man!

Not sure what it is that you're not buying Jay.

I'd have thought the fact that you have given a list of players from our current squad blighted by this problem, that we could all name many similarly afflicted players from every Chelsea squad for as far back as our individual memories stretch and that fans of every club could carry out the same exercise, would all underline the accuracy of what I've written.

Edit: Didn't take notice of the nice quip in your last line at the first time of reading. Clever.

[the wes 7,212]

Willian and Chelsea open talks over new £100k-a-week deal

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/willian-and-chelsea-open-talks-over-new-100kaweek-deal-a3120836.html?

[Jase 43,479]

Not sure what it is that you're not buying Jay.

I'd have thought the fact that you have given a list of players from our current squad blighted by this problem, that we could all give a list of names of similarly afflicted players in every Chelsea squad for as far back as our individual memories stretch and that fans of every club could carry out the same exercise, would underline the accuracy of what I've written.

As far as I remember, this wasn't much of a problem until like 2-3 years ago. It's like we don't even practice taking set pieces in training because if we really do, the deliveries wouldn't have been so inconsistent. Used to remember we have an excellent set piece takers before this current crop of players - Lampard, Ballack, Deco etc (can even throw Mata in there too).

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

As far as I remember, this wasn't much of a problem until like 2-3 years ago. It's like we don't even practice taking set pieces in training because if we really do, the deliveries wouldn't have been so inconsistent. Used to remember we have an excellent set piece takers before this current crop of players - Lampard, Ballack, Deco etc (can even throw Mata in there too).

All the names you've mentioned frequently hit the first man.

You've given a time frame of 2-3 years ago. If I take four years ago as definitely being outside that period and look at season 2011-2012, how much will you give me if I search the archives and find 100 mentions of this problem in that season alone? I'm confident that I would.

[Rhino's Skin 972]

Not buying that. We're talking about something that can be improved in practice/training, not something that can only be done by a few footballers. I'm not saying that we have to score from every corner or free kick but the least a player should do is deliver the ball into the box without hitting the first man. If it only happens once every blue moon, then fine. But it has happened way too often and it's the same problem every time even with different takers - Willian, Fabregas, Oscar etc. It's absolutely criminal that you get a chance to score from a set piece and you can't even beat the first man!

perhaps its the way we always try to 'fizz' it in at lower faster trajectory rather than the odd lofted dolly drop to the far post or pen spot which are easier to defend.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

As far as I remember, this wasn't much of a problem until like 2-3 years ago. It's like we don't even practice taking set pieces in training because if we really do, the deliveries wouldn't have been so inconsistent. Used to remember we have an excellent set piece takers before this current crop of players - Lampard, Ballack, Deco etc (can even throw Mata in there too).

Mata was far better than anyone taking setpieces for us now

[Rhino's Skin 972]

Mata was far better than anyone taking setpieces for us now

bring back Lewis Baker....can take decent set pieces with both feet.

[Jase 43,479]

All the names you've mentioned frequently hit the first man.

You've given a time frame of 2-3 years ago. If I take four years ago as definitely being outside that period and look at season 2011-2012, how much will you give me if I search the archives and find 100 mentions of this problem in that season alone? I'm confident that I would.

But the likes of Willian, Oscar, Fabregas have all been consistently bad at it. Even if you can find examples of Lampard, Ballack etc failing at delivering set pieces in 2011/12, they weren't as bad on the whole as the first trio mentioned there. If the players practice them regularly in training, then the end result wouldn't be so inconsistent.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

bring back Lewis Baker....can take decent set pieces with both feet.

I'm not saying that we need David Beckham, but it's kind of annoying to see footballers in our club almost always hitting the first man on corners.

Putting it in the middle would at least give the players a chance to go for it. In my opinion, they don't put much practice into it

[Rhino's Skin 972]

I'm not saying that we need David Beckham, but it's kind of annoying to see footballers in our club almost always hitting the first man on corners.

Putting it in the middle would at least give the players a chance to go for it. In my opinion, they don't put much practice into it

I know what you mean and it can be very frustrating however I am sure they do practice set pieces a lot and the odd lofted ball into the area rather than the lower fast ones would make a difference otherwise the set pieces become too predictable.

Am sure the likes of JT and Cahill etc would have something to say after getting in position for each one then having to sprint back for nothing

[Johnnyeye 7,441]

Willian has won goal of the week in matchday 4 of the Champions League Congrats.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/goal-of-the-week/index.html

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

"The shit from Spurs, they bought his flight
But Willian he saw the light
He got the call from Abramovich
And off he went to Stamford Bridge
He hates Tottenham, He hates Tottenham
He Hates Tottenham and He Hates Tottenham"

[LDN Blue 7,903]

You look like Pedro.

[DYC. 7,542]

How long will this go on? FK #5 I think.

[Special Juan 27,429]

Different class from a dead ball but do not under estimate his contribution to this team all over the park.