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Set pieces

Discussion in 'Celtic Chat' started by celticpro, Dec 8, 2017.

Discuss Set pieces in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. celticpro

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    Don't know if there's been a thread made on this before but I'd be very curious to see if someone has or could compile some stats on our set plays. I think its certainly worth monitoring. Our delivery from set pieces is part of this and are abysmal in my opinion. I've been saying it for a while but it almost merits signing someone who plays for their set piece delivery alone... i.e a Naka or Moravcik. I know Leigh takes corners well but he doesn't always play and should really be in the box anyway. Armstrong & Sinclair should be nowhere near corners or free kicks! It begs the question do they actually practice these at training, surely there should be two or three players in the squad who can deliver a quality ball whipped in at pace.

    I actually can't recall the last time we scored from a free kick or corner before Dembele's against PSG.
    We seem to lose a lot of goals from crossed balls at the back but don't score many at the other end. I don't mean when Griffiths is over a free kick 25 yards out because we all know how dangerous he is from there, it is from crossed balls with an aerial threat that we seem distinctly average and seldom score from. This is an area that needs improving but I am sure that Brendan must surely do regular work on these with the team?

    Perhaps I have just been spoiled growing up seeing the St Martin days when we were leathal from crossed balls!
     
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  2. BR Fenian Army

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    Someone mentioned in another thread, we lack the very strengths that used to win us big European games. Aggression and set pieces. We are too clean and technical. Rodgers is trying to use a philosophy that only works if the teams are evenly matched. Don’t want to go full “yer da” but Celtic have lost that bit of dig and fear factor.

    Set pieces as well. It’s always going to be hard to replace nakamura but I really think we need to sign someone just for their set piece ability as we literally can’t take corners.
     
  3. Callum McGregor The Captain Gold Member

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    Many of us have said it already but our short corners depress me. Once in a while is fine, for variation, but not multiple times in the same match.

    I don't think a professional team won't practice set pieces but I would like to see us whip them in more.
     
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  4. Officer Doofy Come to me, human man Gold Member

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    Yeah we are terrible at corners/free kicks. Boyata is a threat but hasn't scored in quite a while. Lustig and Dembele get the very odd goal from a set piece but they are hardly dominant in the air.
     
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  5. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    When Griffiths is on the park there is a marked difference in quality.

    Problem is it's either him or Dembele. Not both.
     
  6. ILoveTheCeltic

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    Was just mentioning myself there how we won the least headers in the Champions League. 19 of the 32 teams won at least more than double the amount of headers per game than we did.

    It's definitely a problem in our team, I also think it's why Rodgers never plays Gamboa and probably why he doesn't like Sviatchenko either because he is also small and not the best in the air. Because Jozo isnt that great in the air despite his size neither is Bitton, Tierney isnt, Brown isnt, Armstrong etc aren't.

    Really we rely on Lustig, Boyata and when he's fit Dembele to win headers - thats quite *. Under Lennon in Europe we terrorised teams in the air and had Lustig, Ambrose, Mulgrew, Wanyama, Ledley, Samaras sometimes all playing at once guys who all won a lot of headers.
     
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  7. celticpro

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    You're exactly right with what you are saying, we are far too soft as a team and need to toughen up, regardless of how attractive or expansive our game might be!
     
  8. ILoveTheCeltic

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    We are probably lucky as well that domestically no team is really good in the air, the huns, Hibs and Aberdeen are even also * in the air with mostly all wee guys in their teams as well. If there was a team of big * like a Scottish Tony Pulis Stoke no matter how * they are they'd probably cause us big problems.

    But it's telling when we are in Europe now that everyone we play really are bigger than us and much better in the air.
     
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  9. jamieparis

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    I was saying that to my dad at the game the other night weve not had a decent header of the ball since big van hessilink , as ide from Sammy who was hit and miss
     
  10. andybhoy94 Gold Member Gold Member

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    The only corners I can remember us scoring form this season are Sinclair at St Johnstone and Dembele vs PSG and they were very similar goals, when we try the traditional corner it always seems we either fail to beat the first man, or we float it into the back post with absolutely no pace so that its hard for anyone to generate any power from a header.
     
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  11. joemc

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    I actualy felt we got bullied a wee bit from anderlecht ,so probs right we have lost our battle hardened qualities and replaced it with a more technical game ,sometimes you need to roll the sleaves up ,look.at Motherwell since adopting this approach ,its added points they might not have had ,not saying i want that to be a big part of our play but recognise wen its needed .
     
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  12. Celtic_renard News Writer News Writer

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    It’s a shame because Boyata is a massive threat and yet we keep taking it short.
     
  13. Sno'sLeftFoot

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    Not quite a set piece but every time we get a shy in a European game I fully expect us to lose it. We are so poor at retaining possession from them.
     
  14. Marty McFly Whoa, this is heavy

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    Tierney’s are awful. They always seem to be ‘floaty’ or lack any pace or accuracy when required either.
     
  15. thetic19

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    nothing worse than seeing a corner not beat the first man drives me insane, how hard is it for a professional footballer to whip in a good ball...mind you the only players we have good in the air are boyata and simunovic
     
  16. celticpro

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    I don't think I've ever seen Kieran take a corner, you must have been lucky to witness this mate. :50:
     
  17. WolfOfParkhead

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    I dont think were bad at them. Were just not as good at them as we were under lenny. Even under ronny we probably scored more than average

    On the flip side i feel under brendan were much better at defending corners but free kicks are still dodgy. Mats hummels is the only player i can recall scoring from a corner this season and that * up against hamilton when we were cruising
     
  18. Marty McFly Whoa, this is heavy

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    Read the post I was replying to again
     
  19. Creativecelt Gold Member Gold Member

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    To solve this problem, it might be worth employing a specialist skills coach, like they do in other sports that can take them for additional practise of this Art. Make your weakness your strength.
     
  20. celticpro

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    I stand corrected, didn't remember seeing the quote above it this morning.