Here is a still from the goal that was disallowed for offside. We got lucky as it was a very close call. The ball is circled and this was a high punt from a free kick. Is wasn't particularly quickly taken. I would say I would be disappointed in the team I coach at U15s if they set up to defend a free kick like this. Efe has a choice of two to mark, Dylan is shocking at sensing danger and tracking back, Hanlon and McGregor far too often both go in for the same ball. Lewis is slightly off his man and McGinn just fancied standing there. Surely we have a game plan when we are a goal up in the later stages. Either Lennon isn't organising us or players don't understand their orders or can't be bothered following them. These are good defenders its just down to organisation.
For all everyone moans about our set pieces we are just as badly organised and execute just as badly when we are facing set pieces. I would have thought at this level of football that players would be absolutely sure of their role at set pieces but from what I can see there is no plan when taking or defending them.
I would say that, occasionally, there have actually been some really good short corners recently and some nice moves around set pieces. To me it looks like the moves have been thought out and worked on a few times. The players know what they are but they haven't been drilled so they end up clunky and usually fail without much good defending being required. Compare that to say a club rugby team at a line out where every move is co-ordinated with in an American football style call to make sure everyone knows their job. I would expect a professional football team to have a number of set routines where players are instructed to block off defenders discretely, dummy runs are made and we know exactly where we are attempting to deliver the ball. These should be practised often and be second nature to players. That doesn't require brilliant players just some time spent on the training ground.
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