Free Kicks / Corners

[The Mak 4,459]

We don't really have a specialist anymore and I hope we acquire one in the summer. It really would be a shame to have it as our weakness going forward - especially when you compare some of the teams around us who seem to have them in abundance: Yaya, Silva, Kolarov, RVP, Rooney, Mata, Suarez, Coutinho, Gerrard etc. can all take consistently great, sometimes, WC set-pieces. Then you look at Willian being unable to beat the first man for a corner for about the third time in one game, it's disheartening! It's something that we're really lacking right now.

For now I would say Hazard/Oscar. Luiz is waaaaaay too inconsistent. So many times he doesn't even hit the target.

[NishC300 1,865]

This and adorability are two areas where we miss Mata massively. I don't think anyone in particular's exceptional in this area, so whoever feels confident out of Lamps, Luiz, Willian and Oscar should take it.

Was an absolutely incredible set piece taker. Gave the two corners in Munich and Amsterdam!

he could be our new Alex

ah! The one he banged into the roof of the net against the Scousers at home!

Lovely!

Moreso than fks, its the corners I worry about...

FKs, oscar, willian, schurrle are all somewhat decent.

Corners on the otherhand, Im not sure anyone is cept Lampard.

Whenever Luiz takes fks, I usually do the xavi impression (in the confed. cup champ game).

It's a pity that we struggle at giving good Corner deliveries since we're so good in the air with Luiz, Matic, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic all on the pitch together!

[Joshybizzle 109]

It's a pity that we struggle at giving good Corner deliveries since we're so good in the air with Luiz, Matic, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic all on the pitch together!

That's a very good point, with the height and heading ability we've got in the side we really should be threatening more from set pieces

[didierforever 7,349]

willian should probably have a clause in his contract. everytime he clears the first man in taking corners, he get 5k, everytime his delivery is cleared by the first man, 5k get subtracted. that would probably be the only way to improve our corners.

in my opinion it is CRIMINAL to hit the bloody first man when u have players like JT, GC, iva and DL in the box.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Before Mata left we didn't really have a problem with set piece takers but hopefully in the summer we sign a CM (like Kroos or something) who does have the ability to deliver accurate set pieces.

[manpe 10,861]

Willian is frustrating. He seems to deliver the corners and indirect free-kicks either too low (most of the time), too high or just plain inaccurately. When Lampsy plays, he's a nailed on corner and indirect fk taker for me. I'm worried if Willian is the best we got to be honest, because we got so many good box scorers in our team it's not even funny anymore that we don't utilize this strength to the maximum. Given our lack of efficiency from open-play, making use of set-pieces can make the difference between 3 points and 1 point.

I would like to see Hazard taking a direct free-kick now and then. If he really wants to be a complete player, he should start doing so. Real leaders usually take the responsiblity. I don't believe he lacks the skill to do it, maybe he just doesn't want to or doesn't work on it, which would be a shame. Otherwise I have no idea who could take our free-kicks, all of them pretty much suck at it. Luiz can score the odd goal every once in a while and so can Oscar apparently, but the rest haven't given me any reason to think they would be any better either... except for maybe Lampard, who isn't a regular anymore and he still fancies hitting the wall more than the goal, so who knows.

Oh, and what about Ivanovic? I think he has hit some piledrivers for Serbia. Could be worth a shot (pun intended) from distance.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Willian's deliveries from both freekicks and corners have been pretty awful in the last couple of games. Oscar obviously has practiced, which is good cos he usually plays. The problem with both Luiz and Lamps is for every freekick scored they hammer 30 in the stands or in the wall. IMO you should always try to get them at goal, even if you know you can't score, so a deflection or a bad save from the keeper can still lead to a goal.

Also one of our problems is that we got no left footed set piece taker any more. So Matic or Salah should learn to take freekicks. In general I am always surprised that professionals who get shitloads of money to practice playing football for years need dozens of tries to get some decent set pieces together. Even as an amateur I used to hammer one in the top corner once in a while. However I guess the pressure does indeed play a part.

so I'd have

Indirect long range free-kicks 30m+

Lamps

Direct long range free-kicks 30m+

Lamps, Luiz

Direct medium range freekicks 25-30

Luiz, Schürrle

Indirect medium range freekicks

Lamps,

Close range direct less than 25m

Oscar, Lamps

Close range indirect

Lamps, Oscar, Willian (if he gets his shit together)

Corners

Lamps, Oscar, Willian

but as said above, anyone feeling confident about the kick should get a chance. Thing is, if you are no regular taker the pressure is even higher, so the players should communicate in advance.

In general set pieces are something we really have to work on. Mata has left and Lamps will probably leave in summer, so our only natural set piece takers are gone,w e have to find new ones.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

It's all about the technique these days.William has got a mean cross especially coming from a 7-8 o'clock position to swerve the ball into the crowded area from 30+ yards out

Direct FK from that sort of range should be left to Luiz or Lamps, if he is playing, since only those have the confidence atm to go for it and the technique is quite accurate as well.

Closer to the goal, I'd go with Oscar or Hazard.

And we do miss Mata at corners so much. Lamps at corners is the next best thing we have with Willain not providing that extra bit of magic like we had with Mata.

Is it just me or are FK/Corners from left footed players more aesthetic?

[boshman 1,073]

In my opinion the art of taking great corners seems to have been lost. More often than not they hit the first man or fly overeverybody and out for a throw. I find it so frustrating!!

Freekicks for me has to be oscar, hazard or willian just outside the box and luiz or lamps further out.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

This is where someone like Cabaye would be very useful.

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

Our goal/setpeice ratio has to be one of the lowest in the league. Pretty poor considering Iva, Cahill and Terry are in the box

[AndersonBLUE 819]

Luiz obviously scores free kicks in training otherwise he wouldn't be taking them. Lampard is a good option for long range kicks as he is good at dipping the ball on the area in front of the keeper.