WoIfsong

In the 8.0.1 full patch, the 'near post flick on' set up of attacking corners does not work anymore, I tried it for 2 whole seasons with a targetman of 17 jumping and 18 heading, I scored 1 goal from corners. So I decided to explore new ways of corner set ups.

The most successful set up, to my surprise, mainly involves setting corner takers instructions to 'mixed' and have the player with highest jumping 'challege GK'. This set up has averaged me 13 corner goals per EPL season for 3 consecutive seasons, which is far higher than any other setups.

One key in this set up is not to set anyone to near post flick on or attack near post, near post rarely works now. The other key is not to send too many players forward in corners, because that will just attract more defenders in the box and your players will never find space.

The set up details are as follows:

GK: Default

DR: Stay back

DL: Stay back

DC: Go forward (player will simply choose a position of his own in the box, but he will not choose near post from my experience; the corner taker will cross to this player when he seems fit, e.g. when the marker of this player is low in jumping. This player provides about 3 goals per season)

DC2: Go forward (same)

DM: Stay back (if he has higher jumping than one of your DCs, swap the instructions)

Winger 1: Lurk outside the box (to catch any poor clearance balls and build a second attack)

Winger 2: Offer short option (to have more variety in corners, the corner taker will pass to him when he is not marked, and he will give a better cross)

AM: Stand on far post (this is just to attract a defender away from the middle of the 6 yard box, so your striker challenging GK can score)

Fast striker: Attack from Deep (again this guy never really scores, but simply disctracts the opposition defence)

Targetman striker: Challenge GK (This guy scores 80% of the corner goals. Simple and effective.)


Creativity freedom for corner taker is left at normal. Setting his instruction to 'mixed' instead of '6 yard box' gives more freedom to the AI taker, and from my experience the AI is smart in choosing what to do. 80% of the times he crosses to the highest jumping, who is challenging the GK. The other 20% of the times he crosses to other players or passes short, the corner always causes trouble to the opposition at least. My corner taker has 18 corner taking, 17 crossing and 16 creativity, 15 decisions.

The other advantage of this setup is that your team is not prone to counter attacks when taking corners, with two fast fullbacks staying back, and a DM staying back as well.

Of course if you do not employ a targetman striker, or if the jumping stats of your DC is higher than your striker, then feel free to have your DC challenge the GK.

Try this out and give me feedbacks!

mrhairyman

This sounds great. I've got a tall, good jumping and heading team and have been driven nuts by constant near-post nonsense. Will check it out and let u know.

WoIfsong

I have further tested my set up and found that if I change the winger who is offering short option to lurk outside the box as well, then there is a higher chance of my team gaining the ball cleared. Also the player offering short option now seems always to be marked by a opponent player and a lot of times he fails to provide a cross.

So change the offer short option winger to lurk outside box if you like

the_gaffa

Sounds like a good logical corner routine. Fewer players in the box seems like a good idea (hopefully less fouls are conceded this way too) and I've also been trying to implement this myself recently.

Anyway, I'll see if I can adapt this to work with my 4-5-1 formation and let you now how it goes. Cheers!

jamesy247

Yes i've found that too. It's so anoying when he's marked and your corner taker gives him the ball! But on a plus side i've had 2 players mark the short option and then my corner taker swings one in it leaves less opposition players in the box to clear, so it can have it's advantages!