Arsing about in the corner, giving the opposition the advantage…

[Hillsboro Blade]

Once again we’ve been caught out by this tactic which boils my piss. Time and again, a corner in injury time, arse about for 20 seconds trying to waste time, McBurnie goes down shielding the ball then thinking he’s been bummed by John Holmes starts his arms outstretched act (which is really starting to get on my tits) moaning, gives away a free kick. Forest re-group, they score. Also, why the fuck don’t we have a player on each post on a corner? Learn the lesson please United for fucks sake. If your not going to whip it into the box from a corner in injury time, at least play it to the half way line, anything but this wasting time bollocks. It just doesn’t work, we’ve been found wanting enough times to now know it doesn’t work.

 

[Inter_blade83]

60 seconds to go, 1-0 up, and they have a corner. You know they are throwing everyone forward, so stick someone on the back fucking post.

It's schoolboy stuff.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

At that time we were cruising and so much on top. But yet again our game management has let us down. Ben Osborn’s inclusion seemed to spark us into life. We retained the ball better and went forward at every opportunity...Forest were all over the place and couldn’t cope with us. But sadly in the dying minutes we resorted to our old bad habit of handing over the ball and defending for our lives. Going into the corners always seems to be a tactic of team out of ideas.

 

[1889]

Jebbison hesitated for a split second when the corner was taken. It wasn’t a great cross and he should have easily have been first to it and headed it clear but instead he made some half hearted token gesture.
Inexperience or age is no excuse and he’s got to learn from it. That is often the price you have to pay when giving young players their chance.

 

[BettingBlade]

Aye theyve thrown everyone forward so lets stick two of our players on the posts leaving two of theirs unmarked.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

60 seconds to go, 1-0 up, and they have a corner. You know they are throwing everyone forward, so stick someone on the back fucking post.

It's schoolboy stuff.

Or schoolgirl.

 

[Middle Aged Blade]

Once again we’ve been caught out by this tactic which boils my piss. Time and again, a corner in injury time, arse about for 20 seconds trying to waste time, McBurnie goes down shielding the ball then thinking he’s been bummed by John Holmes starts his arms outstretched act (which is really starting to get on my tits) moaning, gives away a free kick. Forest re-group, they score. Also, why the fuck don’t we have a player on each post on a corner? Learn the lesson please United for fucks sake. If your not going to whip it into the box from a corner in injury time, at least play it to the half way line, anything but this wasting time bollocks. It just doesn’t work, we’ve been found wanting enough times to now know it doesn’t work.

You took the words right out of my mouth! Why not just pass the ball around and keep hold of it. Or maybe even go for another goal. There has never been a positive outcome from trying to fanny about near the corner flag.
If it makes you feel better, my piss has been boiling over the same issue.

 

[JJBlade]

United aren't good enough to close games out.
The only reason we beat Blackburn is because we scored with the last kick of the game.

If we'd scored 10 minutes earlier we wouldn't have won because panic would have immediately set in.

The fans of other clubs can celebrate a goal 10 minutes from time in a tight match, but not United fans, our fans are experienced enough to know that it's downhill all the way from that point on.

 

[1973Blade]

I agree with 90% of this, particularly the attempts too play the game out with short corners. But it was the first goal we've conceded at Bramall Lane since 30th October, we've not done that bad!

 

[JJBlade]

I agree with 90% of this, particularly the attempts too play the game out with short corners. But it was the first goal we've conceded at Bramall Lane since 30th October, we've not done that bad!

Yes
This is a play off contention team, it's not a promotion winning team.

We've seen promotion winning teams before and this team is nowhere near it.

We could sneak into the play offs, but sadly United will be overrun by their own lack of belief, inferiority complex, and feeling of not really belonging there.
They'll play for a draw in a knock out competition, and get knocked out.

 

[Revolution]

The fans of other clubs can celebrate a goal 10 minutes from time in a tight match, but not United fans, our fans are experienced enough to know that it's downhill all the way from that point on.

Peterborough
Birmingham
WBA
Blackburn

All closed out with no trouble whatsoever.

Don’t speak in absolutes. It does you no credit

 

[Guesty]

Holding the ball in the corner is stupid for a couple of reasons:

Referees clearly hate it and will often manufacture a fake offence against the team doing it, so it rarely wastes much time

More importantly, it says to the opposition "we have no intention of trying to play any more football, come at us because we're clearly just desperately holding on now".

 

[Swannyblade]

Referees clearly hate it and will often manufacture a fake offence against the team doing it, so it rarely wastes much time

Is it technically an obstruction offence to shield the ball in the corner without intention to play it? If so, why not just apply that rule instead of making up fouls - would stamp it out altogether. Once again, it’s the inconsistency that’s infuriating.

 

[bladesmanluke]

They'll play for a draw in a knock out competition, and get knocked out.

God that's made me feel ill to read. The realisation that you're right and we've seen it all before

 

[1889]

Is it technically an obstruction offence to shield the ball in the corner without intention to play it? If so, why not just apply that rule instead of making up fouls - would stamp it out altogether. Once again, it’s the inconsistency that’s infuriating.

It’s not obstruction if the ball is a close enough distance to be within the players control. Keeping it in the corner is like shepherding the ball out of play for a corner/goal kick.

It doesn’t seem to be an infringement recognised by the modern ‘Match official’ In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve seen a free kick given for obstruction since the late 70’s

 

[Swannyblade]

It’s not obstruction if the ball is a close enough distance to be within the players control. Keeping it in the corner is like shepherding the ball out of play for a corner/goal kick.

It doesn’t seem to be an infringement recognised by the modern ‘Match official’ In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve seen a free kick given for obstruction since the late 70’s

The shepherding thing is just as annoying! Defenders are practically wrestling the attacker to stop them getting to the ball. Needs sorting and enforcing because it spoils the spectacle of the game. Similar to the back pass rule

 

[Guesty]

Is it technically an obstruction offence to shield the ball in the corner without intention to play it? If so, why not just apply that rule instead of making up fouls - would stamp it out altogether. Once again, it’s the inconsistency that’s infuriating.

Aye there are probably associated fouls, you're right, but sometimes the refs clearly make up a foul just to get out of there, not that I blame them.

 

[1889]

The shepherding thing is just as annoying! Defenders are practically wrestling the attacker to stop them getting to the ball. Needs sorting and enforcing because it spoils the spectacle of the game. Similar to the back pass rule

Can’t say I agree, keeping yourself between the ball and the opposition is pretty much the basis of retaining the ball in almost every situation in football.

When players block or impede each other, with the ball six foot away and it goes unpunished is what frustrates me

 

[Revolution]

In my 40+ years of Blades fandom i recall 2 players who were consistently good at keeping the ball in the corner to waste time:

Glyn Hodges
Clayton Donaldson

Everyone else screws it up more often than not. I wish we’d stop it.

 

[wizadry]

Our mistake was bringing on the sub we made after 84 minutes, he brings absolutely nothing to the side whatsoever.

 

[100% part time blade]

I’d say that’s

Can’t say I agree, keeping yourself between the ball and the opposition is pretty much the basis of retaining the ball in almost every situation in football.

When players block or impede each other, with the ball six foot away and it goes unpunished is what frustrates me

I’d say using your body to shield the ball is fine, unless a defender hasn’t touched it, has no intention of touching it, and is trying to block the opposition from getting it, while hoping it goes out of play. I think that should be defined as obstruction if it isn’t already.

 

[JJBlade]

Is it technically an obstruction offence to shield the ball in the corner without intention to play it? If so, why not just apply that rule instead of making up fouls - would stamp it out altogether. Once again, it’s the inconsistency that’s infuriating.

Making no attempt to play the ball and just shielding it is okay, but shielding the ball is not what players do. They hold defenders off, and that is a foul.

I personally think a ref should turn a blind eye if a defender comes steaming through and wipes a player out who has no intention of playing the ball.
That would stop it

 

[Middle Aged Blade]

Our mistake was bringing on the sub we made after 84 minutes, he brings absolutely nothing to the side whatsoever.

It was definitely a strange one. Surely a more defensive substitution would have been better, although McB is usually decent for us at the back. We need to try not to give away silly free kicks and corners at the bitter end. Row Z please

 

[Varkanoid]

I agree with 90% of this, particularly the attempts too play the game out with short corners. But it was the first goal we've conceded at Bramall Lane since 30th October, we've not done that bad!

I agree with you but on the flip side it could have been easily avoided and arguably we would have won.
For me personally the best way to 'waste time' is trying to get the ball in the oppositions goal and if it goes in then there is no need to waste time.

We simply cant waste time in the corner.


also agree about the Glynn Hodges comment he was a master at doing it.

 

[jt64]

60 seconds to go, 1-0 up, and they have a corner. You know they are throwing everyone forward, so stick someone on the back fucking post.

It's schoolboy stuff.

I wonder how many goals have been prevented from corners by sticking someone on the back fucking post compared to the number of goals prevented from corners by said guy on the back fucking post actually winning a header so said chance on goal never happens in the first place?

Edit - as usual the Athletic have done the work for me - https://theathletic.com/2861228/202...o-longer-on-the-posts-when-defending-corners/ (paywalled), cliffs are putting men on the posts costs you goals

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Personally, I hate the sort of time wasting we indulged in last night. Not just the corner, but changing the side of the goal kick, taking ages to get off the pitch when being subbed. Normally, I would go mental if we scored a last minute equaliser against a team that did this. I would be in favour of the time keeping being taken out of the referees hands and the clock being stopped every time the ball went out of play. Obviously, this wouldn't stop in the corner shithousing.

 

[Northernsoulblade]

If u want to keep it in the corner then Robinson and Egan should have been there not lightweight McB

 

[Snowflake]

60 seconds to go, 1-0 up, and they have a corner. You know they are throwing everyone forward, so stick someone on the back fucking post.

It's schoolboy stuff.

Each one on the line is one less defending the corner.
There are arguments both ways.

 

[Inter_blade83]

Each one on the line is one less defending the corner.
There are arguments both ways.

I'd agree at any other point in the match. But last minute of injury time, it's time to get men on the line.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Men on the line normally also means that if the ball is cleared but headed back in to the box, everyone is played onside.