ToffeeWeb - Season 2010-11

The Mail Bag

Set Pieces!

We all know about the performance yesterday, and I'm sure there will be many a rant, and rightly so. The point I wanted to cover, and it is by no means a new one, was that of set pieces.

Countless times we see our corners / free kicks hit the first man, and we fail to get anything out of it. Then watching MotD, I see that Pienaar is now Spurs corner taker! I'm sure he did, but I cant think of him ever taking them for us. Good balls in, allowing spurs to be dangerous with their corners. So my point really is, what happens on the training pitch, and why do Everton players become so poor at set pieces?

I recall when Billy first came, him whipping in some really good corners, and now even though he's getting a run in the team, he never goes near taking one. Arteta really needs to face the fact he is no dead ball expert, and in fact his delivery is very poor, Baines is a touch better, but for the height and threat we have in the box, the balls are still just not good enough.

So what happens, why can we not utilise our threat? and why the hell can on one put in a decent ball?!?!
Chris Dwyer, United Kingdom Posted 14/02/2011 at 11:26:04

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Alex Rowland
1 Posted 14/02/2011 at 15:51:40

Report abuse

Absolutely agree.... did you see their dead balls y/day?? All got over the 1st man and gave us real problems and gave them the first goal. Maybe the manager feels Arteta (who I think has been great for us before this season) needs to take them to show his worth in the side???? But we have other players in the side, ie, Bily and Baines who could easily take corners etc...

One last thought on yesterday though, and believe me, I thought we were rubbish and this is in no way an excuse, is how can the ref give that free kick against Anichebe when Robinson lunged two-footed????

James Stewart
2 Posted 14/02/2011 at 16:40:07

Report abuse

I was also shocked to see Pienaar taking the corners.

Just goes to show you that Arteta has them on lockdown in his contract for us sadly.

Liu Weixian
3 Posted 14/02/2011 at 16:58:36

Report abuse

The hardest free kicks and corners to defend are usually those that are driven at pace to the far post, in the area between the last defender(s) and the keeper. Arteta should either watch a few clips of how Beckham delivers his crosses and learn, or let others more accomplished in the art do the job.

Eric Myles
4 Posted 15/02/2011 at 05:44:45

Report abuse

That season Arteta was out injured Pienaar took all the corners on the right side, Baines on the left.
Our corner taking was much better then than with Arteta before or after. Arteta must have it written in his contract or seomething.

Col Wills
5 Posted 15/02/2011 at 13:07:53

Report abuse

Tell you what I don't get, how come no-one practises then in the warm-up? Surely that would help. And why is there no improvisation at free-kicks any more? What's wrong with a step-over or someone running down the line every now and again, or knocking it square for a blast or lucky deflection.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.