Quick Freekicks

[coaxingstar71]

I'm amazed nobody seems to have pointed this out particularly from the game against Rochdale but in truth it's something I've seen far too much this season (and last season for that matter).

I lost count of how many times we won a freekick usually around the halfway line, as ever we take it as quickly as possible but then more often than not gets played back to the defence and ends up back with Howard.

In my estimation, Howard is one of the worst keepers I've seen at distributing the ball and especially under any pressure so the result of what should be an attacking freekick to our advantage, ends up with our keeper under pressure and invariably giving the ball away or an aimless punt out of play. Our defenders are not much better with the ball at their feet so why would we think it a good idea to play it back to them?

I can't understand why we don't at least mix it up and sometimes have the defenders go forward and put the ball near their penalty box instead of it ending up in ours. May sound like hoof but I'd rather us pressurise the opposition than us, after all, I think we've already realised this team are much more comfortable up front than at the back.

 

[UnitedBlade]

I'm amazed nobody seems to have pointed this out particularly from the game against Rochdale but in truth it's something I've seen far too much this season (and last season for that matter).

I lost count of how many times we won a freekick usually around the halfway line, as ever we take it as quickly as possible but then more often than not gets played back to the defence and ends up back with Howard.

In my estimation, Howard is one of the worst keepers I've seen at distributing the ball and especially under any pressure so the result of what should be an attacking freekick to our advantage, ends up with our keeper under pressure and invariably giving the ball away or an aimless punt out of play. Our defenders are not much better with the ball at their feet so why would we think it a good idea to play it back to them?

I can't understand why we don't at least mix it up and sometimes have the defenders go forward and put the ball near their penalty box instead of it ending up in ours. May sound like hoof but I'd rather us pressurise the opposition than us, after all, I think we've already realised this team are much more comfortable up front than at the back.

Yes, I agree. Instead of knocking it backwards and losing ground, you'd have thought they could apply some intelligence to get advantage in the final third.

I know you can get a better point of attack sometimes by backwards and sideways but we are just crap at it.

You don't have to resort to hoof, surely they can manage some creativity by moving it forwards.

Corners have improved, I'd like to see them getting more out of free kicks now.

 

[FatLadFromSheffield]

Totally agree, against Rochdale it was painful to watch. What's wrong with playing it down the line to Adams, Done or Sharp to attack the defence.

Adkins is forever talking about practising set plays in training, does this mean they practise passing it back to a CB and then back to Howard

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Er we nearly scored from a free kick - their keeper made a good save from Baxter. I think this was after Coutts was told to retake, he'd originally gone short.

We've used this in at least one other game recently, and on that occasion Baxter also got in at the back post but didn't connect.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Er we nearly scored from a free kick - their keeper made a good save from Baxter. I think this was after Coutts was told to retake, he'd originally gone short.

We've used this in at least one other game recently, and on that occasion Baxter also got in at the back post but didn't connect.

But for that one, there must have been half a dozen that went backwards, so given your examples, why the hell don't we do that more often? (that's not aimed at you, just general frustration!)

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

But for that one, there must have been half a dozen that went backwards, so given your examples, why the hell don't we do that more often? (that's not aimed at you, just general frustration!)

It seems to be SOP in modern football.

I think we could mix it up especially as we are more of a threat from corners it would seem to make sense to occasionally play the ball in.

The idea of the short free kicks is to draw the opposition out and play through them.

That said there was one dreadful free kick on Satdi which ended up with Howard after someone lost control.

On the whole though I just think short free kicks are how the game has evolved, and the pros and cons will have been forensically scrutinised.

Last season we were often in significant danger from our own corners, if we lumped every ball into the box I think we might concede more than we score.

Basically I'd like to see a bit more creativity or variety as well but there are also good evidence-based reasons for going short.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Even if the ball didn't make it all the way back to Howard, quite a few of the quick freekicks didn't give us any advantage, with Baxter or Coutts tapping it to the other, putting pressure on themselves as they were then stood too close together, facing their own goal with no space to play a positive pass. Biggest problem with Saturday wasn't individual players, formation or tactics, it was making the game harder for ourselves with silly little things like that.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It seems to be SOP in modern football.

I think we could mix it up especially as we are more of a threat from corners it would seem to make sense to occasionally play the ball in.

The idea of the short free kicks is to draw the opposition out and play through them.

That said there was one dreadful free kick on Satdi which ended up with Howard after someone lost control.

On the whole though I just think short free kicks are how the game has evolved, and the pros and cons will have been forensically scrutinised.

Last season we were often in significant danger from our own corners, if we lumped every ball into the box I think we might concede more than we score.

Basically I'd like to see a bit more creativity or variety as well but there are also good evidence-based reasons for going short.

Why don't we check what Brentford do?

 

[Bergen Blade]

I'm amazed nobody seems to have pointed this out particularly from the game against Rochdale but in truth it's something I've seen far too much this season (and last season for that matter).

I lost count of how many times we won a freekick usually around the halfway line, as ever we take it as quickly as possible but then more often than not gets played back to the defence and ends up back with Howard.

In my estimation, Howard is one of the worst keepers I've seen at distributing the ball and especially under any pressure so the result of what should be an attacking freekick to our advantage, ends up with our keeper under pressure and invariably giving the ball away or an aimless punt out of play. Our defenders are not much better with the ball at their feet so why would we think it a good idea to play it back to them?

I can't understand why we don't at least mix it up and sometimes have the defenders go forward and put the ball near their penalty box instead of it ending up in ours. May sound like hoof but I'd rather us pressurise the opposition than us, after all, I think we've already realised this team are much more comfortable up front than at the back.

We had very little aerial ability in the forward positions, probably why we didn't try the occasional long ball into the box.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Anyone remember that trick we used to do a few years ago where the supposed free-kick taker would pretend to bump into the other player during the run up then someone would run from behind and whack it? We once hit the post with that clever bit of stealthiness.

 

[wizadry]

We had very little aerial ability in the forward positions, probably why we didn't try the occasional long ball into the box.

You can always pick the second ball up though Bergs.

I'm not advocating the long ball game by any means but we have to keep the opposition on their toes and keep them guessing as to what we're going to do next.

The odd punt forward from a free kick will make them think twice about closing us down and marking us very tight around where the free kick is going to be took, this will then give us a chance to play a short free kick later on and perhaps build a decent attack, it's all about being unpredictable.

All the short passing back to our keeper does is give the opposition an easy out because when they stop an attack by giving a foul away they then know they've done their job in stopping us getting near their box and they'll keep on doing that until they stop getting away with it.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Anyone remember that trick we used to do a few years ago where the supposed free-kick taker would pretend to bump into the other player during the run up then someone would run from behind and whack it? We once hit the post with that clever bit of stealthiness.

These lot don't appear to have the brains to be stealthy !

 

[Fiery Blade]

I actually mentioned this point on Saturday - the number of times we lose possession following a free kick is appalling !
According to Mr Adkins the coaches spend a lot of time on dead ball situations - perhaps he ought to 'look in' to see what they are doing because it certainly doesn't look to have paid any dividends to date and immediately invites pressure back onto the defence that quite clearly can't cope with pressure !

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Anyone remember that trick we used to do a few years ago where the supposed free-kick taker would pretend to bump into the other player during the run up then someone would run from behind and whack it? We once hit the post with that clever bit of stealthiness.

First used in Kevin Blackwell's first game as manager, v Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

Edit: I can remember something like this, but often forget the kids' dates of birth. How does that work?!

 

[stringjunior]

Edit: I can remember something like this, but often forget the

Think it's to do with caring more about the Blades than the rug rats.

 

[Bath Blade]

First used in Kevin Blackwell's first game as manager, v Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

Edit: I can remember something like this, but often forget the kids' dates of birth. How does that work?!

I think we'd first used it before when Blackwell was assistant manager under Warnock (Tonge and Brown possibly).

 

[wizadry]

According to Mr Adkins the coaches spend a lot of time on dead ball situations !

What he means is that they puncture the ball, wait until it's flat then play with the fucker.

 

[BuryBlade]

Noted a number of good free kick routines at the U21 game in leyland last night.
hopefully this will be a part of squad overall...

 

[coaxingstar71]

We had very little aerial ability in the forward positions, probably why we didn't try the occasional long ball into the box.

I can appreciate that Bergs, but as post #3 said, we could play it down the lines if there are no better options. For me it's like we just want to instantly take them without even having a look at what the options are, which more often than not leads to us being under pressure. It's quite obvious some work has been done on corners, so perhaps this is another set-piece area that needs to be worked on, if it isn't already.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I can appreciate that Bergs, but as post #3 said, we could play it down the lines if there are no better options. For me it's like we just want to instantly take them without even having a look at what the options are, which more often than not leads to us being under pressure. It's quite obvious some work has been done on corners, so perhaps this is another set-piece area that needs to be worked on, if it isn't already.

I'd agree with this, especially the part about just knocking it short without even looking at other options and the work done on corners.

That said we could easily have scored from a free kick on Satdi.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I'd agree with this, especially the part about just knocking it short without even looking at other options and the work done on corners.

That said we could easily have scored from a free kick on Satdi.

Kinda proved the point though doesn't it, in that when we played it forward in the, let's say, normal way, we created a scoring opportunity rather than one for the opposition.

Perhaps while the rest of the team are practicing their freekick routines, Howard could practice throwing and kicking accurately! Although to be fair, I noticed we got somewhere for a change when he managed to kick long a few times to Che, who was regularly beating the full back in the air near the touchline.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Gets a mention in the Star

http://m.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-...t-pieces-key-for-blades-says-adkins-1-7512270

 

[coaxingstar71]

Gets a mention in the Star

http://m.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-...t-pieces-key-for-blades-says-adkins-1-7512270

"Adkins’ calculations proved almost spot on on Saturday, as Neill Collins’ header from Jose Baxter’s corner gave United all three points in an otherwise-quiet encounter with top six rivals Rochdale at Bramall Lane."

Otherwise-quiet encounter? What game were they at?

 

[longinthe toothblade]

I'm amazed nobody seems to have pointed this out particularly from the game against Rochdale but in truth it's something I've seen far too much this season (and last season for that matter).

I lost count of how many times we won a freekick usually around the halfway line, as ever we take it as quickly as possible but then more often than not gets played back to the defence and ends up back with Howard.

In my estimation, Howard is one of the worst keepers I've seen at distributing the ball and especially under any pressure so the result of what should be an attacking freekick to our advantage, ends up with our keeper under pressure and invariably giving the ball away or an aimless punt out of play. Our defenders are not much better with the ball at their feet so why would we think it a good idea to play it back to them?

I can't understand why we don't at least mix it up and sometimes have the defenders go forward and put the ball near their penalty box instead of it ending up in ours. May sound like hoof but I'd rather us pressurise the opposition than us, after all, I think we've already realised this team are much more comfortable up front than at the back.

Agree with you 1000%

It's amazing just how many times we rush a free kick, put folk under avoidable pressure, lose possession as a result and / or it finds its way back to Howard who [quite often] simply 'bell ends' it up field. It's non sense.

Last week we won a free kick bag opposite us, half way between the half way line and the box. Instead of getting Collins and co in the box, we knocked it sideways to Coutts who had 3 round him almost immediately. He panicked, passed it no wheres, eventually it got back to Collins [who was under pressure himself], back to Howard who belted up field - one bounce to their goalkeeper. It was f**king incredible but unfortunately, it's all too often the case.

Funnily enough I've seen Chelsea and Man Utd recently and when they get a free kick in a similar position the likes of Cahill and co are straight in the box and an in swinging free kick usually follows them. Might be predictable but it's a deal more effective than simply giving it away.

We have to mix it up more or at least pass it to someone who's ready to receive it.