springbank_lad
Academy Prospect
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2026
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- 12
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Been looking at our numbers this season and theres a clear pattern that explains a lot of our inconsistency
Set pieces. We are awful at defending them.
Goals conceded from set pieces this season is well above the Championship average. Corners, free kicks, even throw ins into the box, we look vulnerable every single time. The zonal marking system we seem to be using just isnt working.
Few things I've noticed
Our xGA from set pieces is around the top 5 worst in the division. We're conceding roughly one goal every three games from dead ball situations alone. Compare that to the top 6 teams, most of them concede from set pieces once every six or seven games.
Its not just the goals either. The number of shots we concede from corners is alarming. Teams have clearly worked out this is a weakness and are targeting it. Watch the patterns, nearly every team whips the ball to the near post or goes short and delivers to the back post. We fall for it every time.
Frustrating part is this should be one of the easier things to fix. Set piece defending is about organisation discipline and repetition in training. Its not about individual quality its about structure.
On the flip side our open play defending is actually decent. xGA from open play is mid table which suggests the overall setup isnt terrible. Its specifically dead ball situations dragging us down.
I'd like to see us switch to man marking on corners. Assign specific players to specific threats. Put our biggest lads on their biggest lads. Simple but it works.
Am I overthinking this or is this genuinely our biggest fixable problem right now?
Set pieces. We are awful at defending them.
Goals conceded from set pieces this season is well above the Championship average. Corners, free kicks, even throw ins into the box, we look vulnerable every single time. The zonal marking system we seem to be using just isnt working.
Few things I've noticed
Our xGA from set pieces is around the top 5 worst in the division. We're conceding roughly one goal every three games from dead ball situations alone. Compare that to the top 6 teams, most of them concede from set pieces once every six or seven games.
Its not just the goals either. The number of shots we concede from corners is alarming. Teams have clearly worked out this is a weakness and are targeting it. Watch the patterns, nearly every team whips the ball to the near post or goes short and delivers to the back post. We fall for it every time.
Frustrating part is this should be one of the easier things to fix. Set piece defending is about organisation discipline and repetition in training. Its not about individual quality its about structure.
On the flip side our open play defending is actually decent. xGA from open play is mid table which suggests the overall setup isnt terrible. Its specifically dead ball situations dragging us down.
I'd like to see us switch to man marking on corners. Assign specific players to specific threats. Put our biggest lads on their biggest lads. Simple but it works.
Am I overthinking this or is this genuinely our biggest fixable problem right now?
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