Set-pieces are not only corners. Corners might be the most obvious choice when you look at set-pieces, but freekicks and throw ins are a vital part of the game as well. My eyes have turned towards League Two and more specifically Cheltenham Town, who have been promoted to League One as champions of their league.
In this analysis I will look at how some of their attacking corners could be seen as a form of corners and in doing so I will look at the routines of the runners, positioning of other player and the behaviour of the team as a whole. I’ve looked at all of the 296 attacking throw ins and have identief five examples which serve as vehicle for this analysis.
Throw in #1
In the video above we see Cheltenham Town having a throw in from the right flank and the side is ready to throw the ball deep into the goalkeeper zone in order to create a goalscoring opportunity.
The ball is played deep and we see four players of Cheltenham in the six-yard box against man-markers which makes it a 4v4 situation. In the penalty area we see another player of Cheltenham moving into the six-yard box, but more centrally. Outside the penalty area we see two players on the edge and these players are both tasked with the cleared balls.
When the ball is thrown the players in the six-yard box move towards the front post, leaving more space in the goalkeeper zone and the far post zone, which the player on the left tries to occupy. The ball is cleared by the opposition, but one of the players outside the penalty area comes in and tries to shoot.
Throw in #2
In the video above, you see Cheltenham Town playing away at Newport County. The ball is being thrown from the left side and has to travel more distance, as it is more diagonally. You could compare this more to a freekick than to a corner.
This time there are four players in and around the six-yard box in the front post zone against four defender and the keeper – because the goalkeeper tries to claim the ball. Two player are standing in the 11 meter zone and are anticipating a ball to to the right, while the two players outside the penalty area anticipate a cleared ball.
When the ball is thrown the players near the six-yard box try to win the aerial duels with the goalkeeper trying to punch it away. The goalkeeper fails to do so and the ball goes towards the two players in the 11 meter zone who don’t score, but can have a shot on target after this throw in.
Throw in #3
In the video above we see Cheltenham Town having a throw in from the right flank and the side is ready to throw the ball deep into the goalkeeper zone in order to create a goalscoring opportunity.
The ball is played deep and we see four players of Cheltenham in the six-yard box against man-markers which makes it a 4v4 situation. In the penalty area we see another player of Cheltenham moving into the six-yard box, but he does this more to the far post zone. Outside the penalty area we see two players on the edge and these players are both tasked with the cleared balls, but also are tasked with the first line of defence in case of a counter-attack.
When the ball is thrown the players in the six-yard box move towards the front post, leaving more space in the goalkeeper zone and the far post zone, which the player on the left tries to occupy. The ball is headed by one of the four-man unit between the front post and goalkeeper zone, but there’s no goal in the end.
Throw in #4
In the video above, you see Cheltenham Town playing an away game. The ball is being thrown from the right side and has to travel more distance, as it is more diagonally. You could compare this more to a freekick than to a corner.
The ball is played deep and we see three players of Cheltenham in the six-yard box against man-markers which makes it a 3v3 situation, in the front post zone. In the penalty area we see another player of Cheltenham moving into the six-yard box, but he does this more to the goalkeeper post zone, and we also see another play who makes his way to the far post zone. Outside the penalty area we see two players on the edge and these players are both tasked with the cleared balls, but also are tasked with the first line of defence in case of a counter-attack.
The ball goes to the front post zone and the idea is to get the ball into the goalkeeper zone for the two players in that position to attack it, but the ball is cleared by the opposition and the danger has passed.
