I still have a nag we maybe a bit light upfront

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Yep, don't think there is much to work out. Physical presence in the box with loads of options, different routines, and brilliant delivery. There's no special trick to defending that.

I do wish we'd score more direct FKs. When was the last time we did that? Titi used to be great once he'd taught himself to do that and take corners. Santi in the cup final.

But can anyone remember when we last scored a direct FK and how many we've scored in the last few years of playing well?

Surely Ødin, Dec and B should be able to hit the top corner from 25 yards.

[redgunamo]

Yep, don't think there is much to work out. Physical presence in the box with loads of options, different routines, and brilliant delivery. There's no special trick to defending that.

No, there isn't. It mainly works because coaches lack humility, feel set-pieces are beneath them.

[redgunamo]

I do wish we'd score more direct FKs. When was the last time we did that? Titi used to be great once he'd taught himself to do that and take corners. Santi in the cup final.

But can anyone remember when we last scored a direct FK and how many we've scored in the last few years of playing well?

Surely Ødin, Dec and B should be able to hit the top corner from 25 yards.

It's a good point. I'm not sure ANYBODY scores them often.

[redgunamo]

If they felt that way, would they be over valuing the sale of their women’s outfit and shifting hotels between sister companies ? All seems a bit clandestine.
Perhaps it’s a complex tax dodge that Clearwater can play out amongst their network of companies? There’s no way this is about squad building, no one’s buying that. The concept that a bunch of investors are revolutionising player transfers, in order to produce success on the pitch, by rotating a squad of 50 players via a revolving door is laughable.
No, there’s something amiss here.

They're taking the piss, knowing that ultimately the PL will be able to do nothing about it.

[Peter]

No, there isn't. It mainly works because coaches lack humility, feel set-pieces are beneath them.

I'd also argue that the majority of coaches are in fact pretty ****. Lazy, one dimensional and don't do their homework.

Example- Sheffield United last season. They clearly told their left back to show Saka outside and force him there by offering the space. Now that may have worked two years ago but Saka's right foot has improved beyond recognition since then. He absolutely murdered them again and again. Now I'm not saying they could have coped with us had that been different but it is a very obvious example of lazy coaching.

Defending really good set pieces is seriously tough. We are pretty good at it but we would struggle to defend our own, if you see what I mean

[Peter]

They're taking the piss, knowing that ultimately the PL will be able to do nothing about it.

Which kind of makes it even more important that the league do something about City. If City get off and Chelsea get away with it, every other club that has adhered to the rules would have a strong legal case against the league.

Ignoring the rules, what Chelsea are doing is utterly ridiculous. As someone else said above, something is going on here.

[redgunamo]

Which kind of makes it even more important that the league do something about City. If City get off and Chelsea get away with it, every other club that has adhered to the rules would have a strong legal case against the league.

Ignoring the rules, what Chelsea are doing is utterly ridiculous. As someone else said above, something is going on here.

Yeah, you've worn me down at last; I am now convinced they will do nothing

[Peter]

Yeah, you've worn me down at last; I am now convinced they will do nothing

I have thought that since the start but ever since they punished Everton I have started to wonder..... they've put themselves in a really awkward position now.

[redgunamo]

I'd also argue that the majority of coaches are in fact pretty ****. Lazy, one dimensional and don't do their homework.

Example- Sheffield United last season. They clearly told their left back to show Saka outside and force him there by offering the space. Now that may have worked two years ago but Saka's right foot has improved beyond recognition since then. He absolutely murdered them again and again. Now I'm not saying they could have coped with us had that been different but it is a very obvious example of lazy coaching.

Defending really good set pieces is seriously tough. We are pretty good at it but we would struggle to defend our own, if you see what I mean

Agreed. The difference now is we take real pride in defending, and the whole ground goes up when we win a corner (not set-pieces as a whole, just corners), like the days of Willie Young or TA6. We do not consider them "unfootballistic".

Pushing young Nico to the touchline, as the designated expert to conduct things is a real boss move. He's basically the same as having a hundred-million pound striker; twenty-two goals!?

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

It's a good point. I'm not sure ANYBODY scores them often.

So it's not just my memory. We haven't scored a direct FK in ages, then.

We need to work on that. If everyone knows we're great at corners but shîte at FKs, then they might as well scythe us down on the edge of the box as opposed to risking giving away a corner.

Remember when Titi started? We all mocked him for taking corners {our CF should be in the box, ffs} and his first season attempting FKs. Then he got great at dead ball delivery - the FK against Buffon, the CL final etc.

If Ødin, B and Dec can take such good corners, why can't they teach themselves to score a direct FK?

If we can't, maybe we should get a routine where we knock the FK diagonally backwards towards the wing and then curl it into the box for the big lads who keep, Ganpati willing, scoring corners.