retired_provrb7

So you've set up the formation you want and tweaked to the style you'd like to see on the pitch. So you're ready to go really? WRONG! About 8/10 FM players totally neglect set peices (according to Wikipedia ). This is one thing I never do and always look to perfect it with the team that I am playing with. In this thread I'm not going to say that with these set peice information you're going to score bucket loads, it's more to get you intrested in the set peice side and with the right set up you'll score about 20 goals a season alone.

So as I mentioned in the title there is a specific reason why Bolton do so well in the EPL with their low budget side. And no it's isn't the arrival of Anelka although he probably helps. Big Sam spends hours and hours on getting set peices right and Bolton's set peices right now are as effective as say Thierry Henry being one on one with Buffon, they score the majority of their chances.

Now I'm not saying I'm going to post the way Bolton do it but I was going to post some guidelines using the best team in the world, Liverpool ( ). So say I'm using a simple 4-4-2 formation with these players -

GK : Reina
DR : Finnan
DC : Carra
DC : Agger
DL : Riise
MR : Pennant
MC : Gerrard
MC : Alonso
ML : Kewell
FC : Kuyt
FC : Bellamy

So as you can see it has quite a well balanced side. You've got physical and technical players in that mix. Now what I like to do is go with both Bolton's physical approach to set peices and a bit of tecnical as well. So say that Pennant is my corner taker as he is probably the best one in Liverpool's squad although quite average. Now what I want to do next is add some physical presence so I stick Carragher on the near post, Agger on the back post and Kuyt to muscle it out with the keeper. Right so that's done, now for the technical flavour. To make as many options as possible I make Kewell come short to offer a cross (I could also make Riise do this as he is decent at crossing as well). I put Gerrard lurking outside the box as he is a world class range shooter and just shove Bellamy in the box as that's where he is best, feeding off of scraps. Now with Alonso I decided to make him attack the far post just to give an extra danger and another thing for the opposition to think about. Riise is put on stay back if needed so he only comes forward incase there is no opposition attacker and Finnan who is pretty useless at everything bar defending always stays back.

Right now my theory is if you don't score the goal then be first to the second balls. I set Pennant to swing it in near post which will happen the majority of the time but sometimes he will go short to Kewell if he is unmarked which I don't mind because Kewell's crossing is 16 whilst Pennant's corner attribute is 14 so it's almost better to go with Kewell. However if Pennant's ball goes near post I expect Carragher to win it and ether flick it into the back of the net or on for another player. Seeing as the opposition keeper is blocked by Kuyt he is going to find it hard to claim anything in the six yard box. If it spills out short there is Bellamy, if it spills out long there is Gerrard, if it's flick to the far post there is Agger and Alonso attacking it.

The way I see it Pennant has a lot of options depending on what the opposition mark but Carragher at the near post is always an outlet because he is so physical so if you go with this system you want your strongest, tallest and bravest player on that near post. If he decides not to go near post there is also the far post to Agger and attacking Alonso. Or he has got Gerrard lurking outside and you would have your sharpest shooter in those position's but sometimes he is marked and Pennant will again loft to the near post. If he goes with Kewell when unmarked he has a few choices as well and just loft into the penalty area whether it be central, near or far post, there is a lot of options.

So before we move on to Throw Ins and Free Kicks I want to discuss corners a bit with you guys if you'd like to stake any claims you have or maybe even post your corner tactics and what players are needed to fufill that tactic.

retired_fitness08

Great read Justi :thup:. My corner routine is very similar >>

FC/SC (target man type, excellent heading ability) - near post flick on
other FC - stand on far post
DC (the strongest) - challenge GK (I remember M. Pellegrino in Liverpool did that quite well )
other DC - attack far post
Midfielder with good shooting ability - outside the box
AMC (should have good crossing) - come short

corner taker aims to arena pequena (small box in english?? )

DR, DL and DMC stay back

This is my setup which I'm going to test properly in my new game.

retired_provrb7

I think our thinking is the same, physical presence near the goal and more technical outside the box. I think you have set your corner taker to take the corner to the 6 yard box but I think you should try near post seeing as your best outlet is there. Also what are your wingers doing? One taking corners the other?

retired_fitness08

Justi: If I set my corner taker to aim to near post, 90% of corners sends my striker to side net , so currently I'm experimenting with 6 yard box setting. Riquelme often takes his corners like this and they are very dangerous.
One winger takes corners (usually), the other outside the box.

retired_morin

the thing im still having trouble with is defending set pieces. i use the new patch but my team still leave players un marked, dont suppose your have any tips for this do you because the amount of goals and games this costs me

retired_provrb7

Is this corners or generally everything? If again I take the exampel of Liverpool in the 4-4-2 above I would probably have the following -

Reina - Default
Finnan - Man Mark
Carra - Mark Tall
Agger - Mark Tall
Riise - Man Mark
Pennant - Forward
Alonso - Man Mark
Gerrard - Man Mark
Kewell - Near Post
Kuyt - Far Post
Bellamy - Forward

I always leave two players forward otherwise you're inviting too many opposition players forward and inevitably they'll most likely win any 50-50's in and around the box. Reason why I leave a winger and forward forward is because I rather have one wide and one central then two central standing players on the break because of the angle you can make on the counter with one winger and one striker.

Just as long as your tallest players mark the opposition tallest players and one on each post you should be fine tbh.

retired_provrb7

His heading attribute must be bad or your corner takers corners + technique must be bad. I've noticed Carra only heads into the sidenetting when the corner is played a bit too short but if it's bang on the near post he scores or flicks it on really well.

retired_fitness08

Justi: I tested this with Colón in Argie league. My corners were taken by n10 G. Hernández (Corners 15/16) to the C. Grabinski's head (Heading 15/16). So I admit, maybe the attributes should be higher for this corner tactic, otherwise it can't be used in lower leagues.

retired_fitness08

Is this corners or generally everything? If again I take the exampel of Liverpool in the 4-4-2 above I would probably have the following -

Reina - Default
Finnan - Man Mark
Carra - Mark Tall
Agger - Mark Tall
Riise - Man Mark
Pennant - Forward
Alonso - Man Mark
Gerrard - Man Mark
Kewell - Near Post
Kuyt - Far Post
Bellamy - Forward

I always leave two players forward otherwise you're inviting too many opposition players forward and inevitably they'll most likely win any 50-50's in and around the box. Reason why I leave a winger and forward forward is because I rather have one wide and one central then two central standing players on the break because of the angle you can make on the counter with one winger and one striker.

Just as long as your tallest players mark the opposition tallest players and one on each post you should be fine tbh. </BLOCKQUOTE>

+ close down the corner taker is useful too, I'm doing that with my AMC.

retired_abjanicki

this is a great thread, i rarely bother with set pieces but that has just changed!

Is there any chance of hearing about freekicks and throw ins, both attacking and defending?

i would be very grateful