GoalWatch vs Millwall

[Bergen Blade]

From a corner, a Millwall player is blocking Simonsen on his way to the ball, which means his punch is weak. The ball falls to the unmarked Lisbie who shoots into the empty net.

1 I think Simonsen will be unhappy with the player (probably Jordan) who was supposed to protect him on the line. Jordan allowed the Millwall player to block Simonsen.
2 Too many Blades players are going for the header, though was there a clear shout from Simonsen?
3 Two Millwall players are unmarked (red circles), one of whom is Lisbie
4 A player on the back post may have saved it on the line

It is not easy though. The corner is swung in well, and dips just where Millwall have three big strong players challenging for the ball.

 

[Ollessendro]

Cheers Bergen. Although Simmo is primarily at fault, it shows that we could still have dealt with it. There are 10 Red and White shirts in there and only 7 Milwall players. Yet we leave 2 players completely unmarked. Simmonsen has to get something strong on it or catch it. Either that or not come for it at all. It would have been better to stay on his line and let Collins and Cressy battle with the Milwall big boys. Not having someone on the line is suicide (especially in the circumstances) but schoolboy erros (like marking) is simple. Dear, dear. This picture is horrific. The 90th minute, defending a slender lead and we are defending like Stocksbridge Steels female under 7's side.

Good corner and clever play from the Milwall big guys. They had obviously done their homework. How many more teams are going to do this to us and how many more points will flappy cost us?

 

[sheffielder]

strewth. What do we do on the training ground? Not set pieces judging by this and our own corners

 

[raul]

Everyone is in their zone Bergs, what's the problem??

 

[Bergen Blade]

Everyone is in their zone Bergs, what's the problem??

I have no problem with man marking at set pieces, but it's pretty important that all opposition players in the box are marked...

Is it a bit surprising that 6'2 Bogdanovic is positioned outside the box when we're defending a set piece in the final minute? Monty seems to be the zone man, jumps for it, but doesn't get high enough.

---------- Post added at 11:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------

With hindsight, maybe it would have been clever by Adams to make a substitution in the final few minutes of the game? We had the likes of Ertl and Nosworthy on the bench, while Quinn, Doyle and Yeates were still on the pitch. A bit added height and marking ability may have been useful?

 

[raul]

I have no problem with man marking at set pieces, but it's pretty important that all opposition players in the box are marked...

Is it a bit surprising that 6'2 Bogdanovic is positioned outside the box when we're defending a set piece in the final minute? Monty seems to be the zone man, jumps for it, but doesn't get high enough.

---------- Post added at 11:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------

With hindsight, maybe it would have been clever by Adams to make a substitution in the final few minutes of the game? We had the likes of Ertl and Nosworthy on the bench, while Quinn, Doyle and Yeates were still on the pitch. A bit added height and marking ability may have been useful?

All eminent suggestions as per, though I'd counter that we have a track record of inviting pressure on to us when we make defensive substitutions and I'd always prefer us to at least offer some sort of counter attacking threat to try and keep the opposition as deep as possible. But it would be nice to know one way or another whether we are supposed to have a man on both posts at corners and someone forgot, or whether we just leave it to chance.

I'd be interested in a goalwatch still of the last second chance they had to win too.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Defending corners all comes down to leadership at the back, and your leader telling everybody where they are supposed to be. I can't imagine morgs letting 2 players go loose.

Who's the leader at the back at the moment?

 

[SESKU Blade]

It is not easy though. The corner is swung in well, and dips just where Millwall have three big strong players challenging for the ball.

Compare that with our corners, during the 2nd half I think Quinn put a half decent corner into the edge of the six yard box. We had no player blocking the keeper and about 1 player trying to attack the ball - result, easy claim for the keeper and counter attack for Millwall.

Pretty shocking defending that, just like a junior league everyone drawn to the ball.

 

[madeinsheffield]

As the corner was kicked I made the point why do we never seem to have a player on the back post, moments later 2 points went down the toilet, I thought these were basics

 

[BerksBlade]

Bergen - I agree with your point about too many defenders going for the ball. That was my first impression when I saw it on TV, and your picture backs it up. If Simonsen's going to come for that he *has* to get more on the punch. I used to criticise Paddy for staying on his line at corners, but if Simmo had done the same here then we may have got 3 points. Cruel world, eh?
So many basic errors highlighted by 1 picture!

 

[boo radley]

Just to throw a little spanner in the works. Could it be that Simmo has no confidence in his defence so thats why he keeps coming? (I think He is at fault by the way). I've said it before, Keeping has changed a lot in the last few years and keepers should stay on their line and definately no more than 3 yards at these type of set pieces. Unless they can get a clean take or good punch. You see so many keepers done by flapping and thats exactly how we were and same against Norwich.
In the first half The almost exact same thing happened. From a shot Simmo half saved then slapped the ball out for a corner. from the resulting corner, deliverd no more than 7 yards out a milwall payer flicked on and another milwall player at back post had a free header from no more than 3 yards out. Simmo was at the back post area to save.

 

[Toronto Blade]

If you are going to come off your line for corners you had better be tall enough to be able to claim the ball Simmo isn't.

 

[beechblade]

Just to throw a little spanner in the works. Could it be that Simmo has no confidence in his defence so thats why he keeps coming? (I think He is at fault by the way). I've said it before, Keeping has changed a lot in the last few years and keepers should stay on their line and definately no more than 3 yards at these type of set pieces. Unless they can get a clean take or good punch. You see so many keepers done by flapping and thats exactly how we were and same against Norwich.
In the first half The almost exact same thing happened. From a shot Simmo half saved then slapped the ball out for a corner. from the resulting corner, deliverd no more than 7 yards out a milwall payer flicked on and another milwall player at back post had a free header from no more than 3 yards out. Simmo was at the back post area to save.

It could be but that also swings in roundabouts, could the defenders be so poor because they are constantly worrying about what happens if they allow a player through? I.E. them having no confidence in Simmo.

---------- Post added at 02:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:41 PM ----------

If you are going to come off your line for corners you had better be tall enough to be able to claim the ball Simmo isn't.

Either that or strong enough to hold the ball.

---------- Post added at 02:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:43 PM ----------

Defending corners all comes down to leadership at the back, and your leader telling everybody where they are supposed to be. I can't imagine morgs letting 2 players go loose.

Who's the leader at the back at the moment?

We certainly need a leader but Simmo should also be the one organizing the box too, its his area and he needs to command it more, Keepers tend to scan the area before a corner or free kick is taken and can see these gaps. This goal isn't just his fault but if noone else is doing Morg's work, you'd like to think a keeper as experienced as Simmo could at least command his area better than he does.

 

[Darthblade]

From a corner, a Millwall player is blocking Simonsen on his way to the ball, which means his punch is weak. The ball falls to the unmarked Lisbie who shoots into the empty net.

1 I think Simonsen will be unhappy with the player (probably Jordan) who was supposed to protect him on the line. Jordan allowed the Millwall player to block Simonsen.
2 Too many Blades players are going for the header, though was there a clear shout from Simonsen?
3 Two Millwall players are unmarked (red circles), one of whom is Lisbie
4 A player on the back post may have saved it on the line

It is not easy though. The corner is swung in well, and dips just where Millwall have three big strong players challenging for the ball.

I think the problem here is that the defence (who were generally quite good on saturday) seem to not have much confidence in the keeper. He has developed the nickname of "dracula" as he doesnt deal with crosses well. For a big lad he doesnt command his area in any way. Compare with the Leicester and Millwall keepers recently who were both catching crosses in their 6yd box despite our players crowding them. I, for one am concerned that nobody in the Management at the Lane seems to be looking to bring in a competent keeper. Unfortunately, Wright seems to be injury prone and therefore not much of an option.
UTB

 

[Bergen Blade]

Defending corners all comes down to leadership at the back, and your leader telling everybody where they are supposed to be. I can't imagine morgs letting 2 players go loose.

Who's the leader at the back at the moment?

I think Morgan may have been vocal and made sure everybody was focused, more than actually instructing fellow players who to mark, and where to stand, which surely should be practiced to perfection on the training pitch.

 

[super_pig]

opposing teams have clearly identified this as a weakness

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

I think that our problems lie with the constant changing of the defence. As a keeper I know that it takes a few games to get to know your defenders and them to know you. I feel a bit for Simmo in the fact that he has different players in front of him every week and he never gets to know them. If we get the defence sorted out and settled then we will start seeing an improvement.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Bergen - I agree with your point about too many defenders going for the ball. That was my first impression when I saw it on TV, and your picture backs it up. If Simonsen's going to come for that he *has* to get more on the punch. I used to criticise Paddy for staying on his line at corners, but if Simmo had done the same here then we may have got 3 points. Cruel world, eh?
So many basic errors highlighted by 1 picture!

Here's another photo, showing how Simonsen collides with the Millwall player on his way to the ball. He almost loses his footing, but does manage to get a desperate hand (no real punch) on the ball, though he doesn't get much help, not from his protector Jordan, not from the teammate supposed to mark Lisbie, nor from someone on the back post.

It's easy to blame Simonsen and I bet he feels a bit let down.

 

[oaklandrdblade]

I think the problem here is that the defence (who were generally quite good on saturday) seem to not have much confidence in the keeper. He has developed the nickname of "dracula" as he doesnt deal with crosses well. For a big lad he doesnt command his area in any way. Compare with the Leicester and Millwall keepers recently who were both catching crosses in their 6yd box despite our players crowding them. I, for one am concerned that nobody in the Management at the Lane seems to be looking to bring in a competent keeper. Unfortunately, Wright seems to be injury prone and therefore not much of an option.
UTB

Are you certain they aren't looking? That would be very strange given that Adams dropped Simmo in his first game in charge (presumably on the advice of the keeping coach).

 

[boo radley]

Here's another photo, showing how Simonsen collides with the Millwall player on his way to the ball. He almost loses his footing, but does manage to get a desperate hand (no real punch) on the ball, though he doesn't get much help, not from his protector Jordan, not from the teammate supposed to mark Lisbie, nor from someone on the back post.

It's easy to blame Simonsen and I bet he feels a bit let down.

Which all points to what i said earlier. Simmo has no confidence in his defence. He end up about eight yards out when the ball goes in the net. If he patrols the goal line he has a far better chance. He has to have confidence that his defenders give no free headers. If he does this then in htat crowd of players it would have to be a real good header to beat him.
We also have no boddies on posts so the goal is the full 8 yards of empty net that he has left.