Defending crosses and headers

[nick61]

Is It just me or does anyone else feel we concede goals way too easily off diagonal free kicks and corners? Does anyone have any stats on it? It feels a really obvious weakness but we don't seem to be addressing it. What do others feel?

[ZonkoVille77]

Interesting question really.

Generally I feel your sister, sometimes diagonally.

[Randy Marsh]

Totally agree. The ball in from Wilshere was good but Giroud was in far too much space to make that free header. Agger gets caught totally under the ball. How we miss a dominant centre back in the Hyypia mode. Aerially we are beaten far too often, the full backs to are responsible for that.

[corro]

We should do better defending set plays no doubt.

I am more concerned about the amount of time and space we afford opposition wide players to put dangerous balls into the box.

This should be prevented further up the pitch and should be cut out.

I think it's another example of the lack of football intelligence shown during the course of a game.

Rodgers needs to drive this as it's costing a lot of points.

From the Stoke game onwards Skrtl and Agger's form has definately dropped a level which isn't helping.

[Dracco]

Yes, we get goals very easy and I have to say that is the only wakness in Agger´s game so far this season, but it is major factor in our results. Agger always looses his man during set pieces or crossess and fair share of goals were scored by "his" player. And if it is not his, then its Glenn´s.

 

But it is probably Skrtel´s fault.

[LFC64]

There was the Arsenal goal, Oldham before that, and the mancs 2nd goal. the latter 2 the crosses weren't whipped over and the defence had time to adjust.

 

So yes I'd say we do have a weakness there at the moment.

[Paulie Dangerously]

We are a team of vanpiews

[laddo]

Jan Molby blames zonal marking.

[Guest The Big Green Bastard]

When i was between the sticks i would inform my back four to push a player out wide, never let anyone inside and keep them in the outside channel. It was easier to deal with crosses than having the oppo come inside or through the middle.

If the FB does his job of pushing the winger wide, it gave me time to organise the CB's into a goalside position and reminding them who they are marking.

 

I don't think our problem is with the ability to deal with set pieces and crosses it's lack of communication i feel. The constant altering of the rear-guard does not inspire any keeper either to perform well.

 

Asking the defence or a 6ft+, 12-15 stone player to perform pass and play is taking the piss. These guys are purely physical and need to be to perform tackles and headersand generally should put there body on the line, you can't polish a turd.

[lifetime fan]

Jan Molby blames zonal marking.

 

I can't tell if we zonal or man mark we're that poor.