Conceding From Corners

[lakedistblade]

Stop it. We are nearly always overpowered in the air Ampadu, Basham, wing backs not strong enough against most teams with tall powerful forwards and central defenders. Mcburnie usually our best defender, pity he didn’t get on in time last week. Not too easy to solve at the moment. But why aren’t we putting any one on the posts ? - far too many easily clearable attempts are floating in past an empty post. I dread corners against now when last season I was relaxed that we would defend it. Tight margins in games and we load the dice against us.

 

[robbiez666]

We are a small and weak side with a keeper who doesn't dominate his area, but the organisation and marking has been shambolic this season.

The team next year needs to be:

Taller
Stronger
More athletic
Quicker

Big ask

 

[Davalon]

We are a small and weak side with a keeper who doesn't dominate his area, but the organisation and marking has been shambolic this season.

The team next year needs to be:

Taller
Stronger
More athletic
Quicker

Big ask

Most of that was also last summer's remit in our manager's own words. Not sure who we missed out on to fulfil that. Maybe Robinson? Not sure Cash or Swift fit that bill.

 

[Jon Bon II]

The team next year needs to be:

Taller
Stronger
More athletic
Quicker

Sheffield United, a team barely alive. We can rebuild it. We can make it better than it was before. Taller, stronger, more athletic, quicker. But it will take more than six million dollars, man...

---

 

[FriethBlade]

We are a small and weak side with a keeper who doesn't dominate his area, but the organisation and marking has been shambolic this season.

The team next year needs to be:

Taller
Stronger
More athletic
Quicker

Big ask

Nail on head, lots of us have been saying this, we are so unathletic it's untrue. We have a couple of strong players but they are slow and most of the rest look like they've come out of division one. The only ones with premiership type pace and power are Burke who is too inconsistent and terrible in front of goal, Bogle who has the attributes to make it and Moose who is never on the pitch. Fleck at his best just about tick's the box and Bash isnt far off.

Brewster was signed to be one of those players and still could be but all our summer recruitment needs to centre around giving the team more penetration, more pace and more.power

 

[bladesince64]

Footballers have progressed in recent years into super fit athletes and seem to be a lot taller, particularly defenders.
The key thing though is not necessarily winning the header (obviously preferable) but making a strong challenge to the ball. This is often enough to stop (or knock off balance) the attacking player.

 

[lakedistblade]

And the posts issue ? What am i missing - if we are defending zonally or man to man it isn’t working .

 

[RMBlade]

Most of that was also last summer's remit in our manager's own words. Not sure who we missed out on to fulfil that. Maybe Robinson? Not sure Cash or Swift fit that bill.

Last season we had Egan, O’Connell, Basham and McBurnie defending corners almost every game. This season O’Connell and McBurnie have been out injured most of the season.

West Ham for example had Dawson (6ft2), Diop (6ft4) and Soucek (6ft 4) vs Egan (6ft1), Basham (6ft3) and Ampadu (6ft).

I think when everyone is fit we have plenty of big players who are good in the air, however we have been missing the best 2 for the most of the season. Nobody on the posts is pretty strange though.

 

[robbiez666]

Last season we had Egan, O’Connell, Basham and McBurnie defending corners almost every game. This season O’Connell and McBurnie have been out injured most of the season.

West Ham for example had Dawson (6ft2), Diop (6ft4) and Soucek (6ft 4) vs Egan (6ft1), Basham (6ft3) and Ampadu (6ft).

I think when everyone is fit we have plenty of big players who are good in the air, however we have been missing the best 2 for the most of the season. Nobody on the posts is pretty strange though.

I think our problem is largely how bad the team is at heading.

Even some of our taller players - Berge, Lunny, Ampadu, Bryan, Stevens, Burke are all pretty rubbish in the air. It's not a strong point for Basham either.

Then Fleck, Norwood, Bogle, Sharp, Brewster, McGoldrick, Osborn,

The only smaller player who competes well in the air in Baldock and he can get caught under the ball.

We don't have the physicality to block players that well either imo.

 

[Withington Blade]

Doesn’t bode particularly well for the next 8 weeks given that Egan has looked the only person half competent at defending corners and set pieces this season. I can see McBurnie getting a run of games for that reason alone, we’ll be sitting ducks aerially otherwise.

 

[Bladesince59]

Nail on head, lots of us have been saying this, we are so unathletic it's untrue. We have a couple of strong players but they are slow and most of the rest look like they've come out of division one. The only ones with premiership type pace and power are Burke who is too inconsistent and terrible in front of goal, Bogle who has the attributes to make it and Moose who is never on the pitch. Fleck at his best just about tick's the box and Bash isnt far off.

Brewster was signed to be one of those players and still could be but all our summer recruitment needs to centre around giving the team more penetration, more pace and more.power

As far back as I can recall (1960) we have been a team of relative pygmies with very few exceptions. Is "less than 6 foot" a job requirement.

 

[BobblesBlade]

Sell Rammers for 6 million

buy 6 x 6ft 11 players job done.
oh and make the goal smaller.
Smyths sell a 4ft kids net for 60 quid.

 

[RMBlade]

I think our problem is largely how bad the team is at heading.

Even some of our taller players - Berge, Lunny, Ampadu, Bryan, Stevens, Burke are all pretty rubbish in the air. It's not a strong point for Basham either.

Then Fleck, Norwood, Bogle, Sharp, Brewster, McGoldrick, Osborn,

The only smaller player who competes well in the air in Baldock and he can get caught under the ball.

We don't have the physicality to block players that well either imo.

I’m sure I saw a stat last season that Basham had the most headed clearances in the league or something like that. Watching the games though I would agree that he doesn’t look particularly strong in the air.

maybe that stat was buffed with deep crosses and he’s competing vs a winger or something.

 

[robbiez666]

I’m sure I saw a stat last season that Basham had the most headed clearances in the league or something like that. Watching the games though I would agree that he doesn’t look particularly strong in the air.

maybe that stat was buffed with deep crosses and he’s competing vs a winger or something.

He gets his head on most things. Doesn't mean it goes where he intends it to!

 

[Weasel]

With the problems JOC had towards the end of last season with injuries (and subsequently most of this season), Bash not getting any younger, Ampadu brought in for midfield but not being dominant in the air, a new keeper coming in (who seemingly struggles to command his area), problems with our wing back position, and Robinson who looks a liability at times, I find it absolutely bizarre that we haven't at any stage looked to bring in another big lad at the back to come in and provide decent cover / competition to the lads at the back.

Jags should only have been here predominantly in a coaching capacity, working with the younger lads and providing cover in a serious injury crisis only. Why we havent looked to bring in another big physical lad at the back I will never know.

This isn't being wise after the event, this was a concern to some before the season started. When we kick off in the championship next season, we need to have a few more strong, big, powerful fuckers in the team as it is an unrelenting division and whilst not technically great, it is physical. Most teams bang it long and play for set pieces. Our set piece defending has been woeful with mistakes week after week.

If nothing else is learnt this season, we should rectify this in the summer. Another brick shit house of a defender at the back please who can do the basics of defending very well) and more physicality in the engine room. To not rectify this obvious shortcoming in the pre season will be bordering on negligence.

 

[XM657]

Stop it. We are nearly always overpowered in the air Ampadu, Basham, wing backs not strong enough against most teams with tall powerful forwards and central defenders. Mcburnie usually our best defender, pity he didn’t get on in time last week. Not too easy to solve at the moment. But why aren’t we putting any one on the posts ? - far too many easily clearable attempts are floating in past an empty post. I dread corners against now when last season I was relaxed that we would defend it. Tight margins in games and we load the dice against us.

ing.
The answer is in the question. McBurnie.
Play him in the centre of the back three
Every thing comes to him, he plays facing the way United are kicking, he don't have as much running to do, equals more energy to jump, harass attackers( his awkwardness makes him ideal for this) and tackle.
I don't believe he would cop out either, he seems up for a little argie bargie.
CWAK like to play him, club are getting something for their money.
Come on you know it makes sense, he who dares an' all that, nowt to loose may even gain a back 3/4 defender for the Championship.
After all United are fucked this season, think out the box, surely no worse than some of the subs and selection this season.
Is it a square peg in a round hole? Well he seems to be up front, give the lad a chance to redeem himself.
Are You Hooked .