Corners

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Its like I say, just get Drogba to take/practice them. The one thing he does well is deliver a ball with fizz & pace, this means the slightest deflection goal-wise from Ivanovic or Terry will beat the keeper (unless it's Joe Hart, who can just about reach anything!)

[Lampards Bitch 21]

Its like I say, just get Drogba to take/practice them. The one thing he does well is deliver a ball with fizz & pace, this means the slightest deflection goal-wise from Ivanovic or Terry will beat the keeper (unless it's Joe Hart, who can just about reach anything!)

I totally agree there. I originally thought that not having Dids in the box was a bad idea as he is a goal threat but JT as we know will do anything to try and get the ball and Ivanovic does too like you said, And fizzed in ball is good weathr a Chelsea player scores or it ends up as an own goal by the opposition. Like I said we havent had decent corners for years and it needs to be sorted.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Since he is our new defensive midfielder, we might as well let Anelka play them

[Tomo 21,681]

Since Duff and Rooben left i dont think we have had the best corner takers and free kicks out wide.

We use to cause havoc with their corners and score a lot of goals with them, like for example the Man.City game on the 1st day of 06/07 for Terry's goal as soon as Rooben stuck that free kick in i knew it was 1-0 before JT touched it.

[Peace. 4,352]

Since he is our new defensive midfielder, we might as well let Anelka play them

That's not a bad idea at all ! But... I wonder if it isn't still too near of the box for him

The fact that we only have Lampard to kick decent corners highlight one of our weakness -> we lack of creative players. Every good team has a good (at least) creative player - Barcelona has Xavi and Iniesta; Madrid has Ronaldo and Ozil; Arsenal has Nasri and Fabregas; ManU has Nani; etc...

Once again, we come to this conclusion : that's why we have to buy a right winger and/or an attacking midfielder...

[Madmax 9,219]

We've got two now to talk about

The first today was entirely down to JT's flick on. Horrible initial cross from Malouda (again). We were lucky nobody tracked Terry while he peeled away for the first header.

The second saw better delivery and hence Ivanovic's ability could shine.

Sums up what I've been saying all along - our failings with corners have more to do with the delivery (the lack thereof) than anything else.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Our failed corners actually work to our benefit LOL

Even the opposition doesn't know how to handle them! Hence Lampard's goal vs Ipswich and the Ivanovic strike today where there was total chaos in the box - Maybe that's the tactic?

[Madmax 9,219]

Our failed corners actually work to your benefit LOL

Right because i'm only interested in proving my point

I do think though that we lack creativity in set piece situations.

When it's a freekick outside the box you know it's going to be Drogba looking to sidefoot it with power. When it's a corner you know it's going to be Lampard/Malouda looking for a near post flick-on.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Right because i'm only interested in proving my point

Typo LOL I mean *our

My bad

[Kostas 1,468]

Pardon my French but..

ABOUT FUCKING TIME

It looked like we finally trained taking them and it won us a game.

Can't resist adding that our barren run was ended by Kakuta's corner

[BlueLion. 21,491]

It may not yet constitute a revival, but Chelsea's 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers certainly heralded a collection of positives for beleaguered Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Last weekend's 7-0 demolition of Ipswich in the FA Cup has certainly aided confidence amongst the Italian's struggling charges, perhaps most importantly for Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard; both returning to goalscoring form.

Amongst the myriad of goals that were scored on Sunday by a team looking to become the first side to win three consecutive FA Cups since 1886, were two goals that came as a result of set-pieces. The first was a tremendous, teasing ball whipped in from the near side by Lampard; diverted into the corner by Ipswich's Carlos Edwards for an own goal. The second was equally fortuitous - a dangerous Gael Kakuta corner was deflected the way of Chelsea's number 8, who leathered the ball with aplomb past Martin Fulop.

But, considering a recent forum discussion referring to a lack of quality and variation in the delivery of corners, it was through a delicious swoop of irony that again, two Chelsea goals came as a result of set-piece prowess.

Saturday's win over Blackburn led to goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka, both goals coming from corner kicks. The goals were perhaps not representative of Chelsea's early season attacking form, but considering the Blues' stuttering recent form, to have collected three points and recorded back-to-back victories will offer Ancelotti some solace - especially since the Blues have since moved back into the Champions League places.

Ivanovic's goal - the crucial opener before the hour - came as a result of corner kick variation. With Yury Zhirkov and Frank Lampard both recently out of the team, Chelsea's corners had become predictable. With only one designated corner taker in Malouda, corner kicks were essentially becoming a pass-back to the opposition goalkeeper.

That's not necessarily a bad reflection on Malouda's delivery - the Frenchman consistently puts the ball into dangerous territory - but it is through the fact that they are too consistent; too predictable. Even when Didier Drogba came over to take the odd delivery, through the fact both he and Malouda whip balls in with ferocious pace, the type of delivery was simply too similar and lacked variation. And when the Ivorian did come over to take them, Chelsea lost an important, six-foot-three presence in the penalty area.

The return of Lampard to the field has seen a different style of corner return; Lampard's lofted delivery can be very difficult to defend against - he will sometimes hit the ball in with great pace to the front post, or add more height and direct it towards the penalty spot and far post area.

And though both goals came as a result of Malouda's delivery, the variation in play made that all possible. Lampard and Malouda shared corner-taking duties, whilst Drogba also got in the act after the Frenchman was offered an early bath as Kalou entered the fray. Because of that, it was very, very difficult for Blackburn to defend against the Blues when it came to set pieces. The differing type of delivery ensured that the previously-predictable nature of Chelsea's set-piece routines made Rovers - a side renown for their defensive resilience - seem to be chasing shadows.

The first goal was testament to the excellent movement of the Chelsea's players in the penalty area. John Terry's front post run was not picked up, allowing the Blues skipper to find Ivanovic at the far post, who duly shot beyond Paul Robinson.

For the second goal, Chelsea's excellent movement in the box again outfoxed Blackburn's defenders, who were utilising the risky zonal marking system. Ivanovic was allowed a free run on goal from the penalty spot, allowing him to direct another Malouda corner goalwards. Whilst the Serb's effort was a worthy one, Anelka made sure with an intelligent flick beyond the goalkeeper's despairing dive.

And Chelsea's set-piece prowess might have yielded further success earlier on, when Ramires launched a half-volleyed effort against the woodwork, and also later when John Terry's headed effort fell just wide of the post after Lampard had returned the ball into the danger zone.

The corner kick routine was proving a rich source of attacking opportunity for Chelsea. Drogba headed an effort over whilst Essien also headed high, wide and handsome. But whilst the game finished with a respectable 2-0 scoreline - one that did not constitute embarrassment for the visitors but still representing the degree of comfort with which the Blues had achieved victory - the game yielded much promise from dead-ball deliveries.

It makes a refreshing change to see the Blues return to their best from a set-piece perspective. Previously, Chelsea had been so impotent, yet four of the last nine goals registered at Stamford Bridge over the course of their mini-revival suggests the Blues have re-located the second string to their bow - incredibly important considering the fact that at this point in time, any goal and any result will constitute a happy and fruitful return from a Blues point-of-view.

Similarly, it now means that opposition defenders might actually need to bother when Lampard, Malouda or Drogba pops up to smack a delivery into the box.

[chrismada9 1,948]

Lampard should always be on them.

totally agree!

[Porspa 3]

2 against Blackburn from corners