Creating a Set Piece Tactic Including Corner & Throw-in Routine
Last time, I wrote about the 4-2-3-1 formation, but I didn’t pay attention to additional options: Set Piece → Corner → Throw-in Routine.
Therefore, it is time to correct the mistake. Firstly, I don’t like to spend too much time tactical settings but it’s not wise to leave everything by default.
For example, imagine a scene the final of the Champions League, and your team concedes a goal in the 91st minute from the corner.
To make things more interesting, it was a winning goal!
Of course, this can happen regardless of whether the team has a “plan” or not for unpredictable situations. But …
When you concede the goal several times in the same way, it means something is wrong with tactics.
The Best 11
This is the starting point. If the aim is to experiment with the options, I want only the best players on the screen of my monitor.
Maybe a player is injured or is only 17 years old, but it doesn’t matter at a given moment.
However, it takes time to get to know the players in the new club. The season lasts for a long time, and every match is a story for itself.
What cannot be questioned is a selection of the best 11!
Set Piece Takers
If we think logically, Free Kick Taking is the most important attribute for a free-kick taker.
Based on personal experience, the specified attribute is number 1 only for lower league management.
Otherwise, other indicators have the advantage: the mental side of a player, left/right foot and Technique.
On the other hand, the corner taker is usually a playmaker in the team, and for throw-ins, I choose the players at the DL/R and MC positions in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
Corners
I don’t want to concede a goal in the 91st minute of the match. That’s why it’s nice to have a plan, and mine is very simple.
I want Defending and Marking inside the penalty area, and outside – only Pace or Acceleration.
In other words, slow players are close to the goal, and around them are the ones who have the speed and creativity.
If the aim is to attack the opposing goal then the corner taker has the following options available: short, near or far post, penalty spot, and 6-yard box.
I choose the “mixed” because I love the dynamics, not statics.
If I would choose one of the options offered, I’m sure my team would be much more dangerous from the corner.
But I like to see 5 different ways to score goals, not just one.
Free Kicks
There is no need to complicate things but to choose the right players for the wall and someone who has the necessary qualities to be an excellent free-kick taker.
It’s easy to say but it’s hard to do.
However, I have found a system that works well for my team.
Bundesliga is not an easy league, and Hamburger SV has a good result in the past 50 matches: 10 scored vs 3 conceded.
In the end, if you want your player to score a goal from a long distance, I suggest the next training task – Hit Free Kicks With Power or Tries Long Range Free Kicks.
Throw-ins
As I said, the throw-in taker has an “office” on the DR/L or MC position. This is my choice for the 4-2-3-1 formation.
But what to do when the main attribute is not at a satisfactory level?
Then it’s best to try the following: training → individual → additional focus → long throws.
Of course, there are other training tasks that can be of great help: Posses Long Flat Throw and Uses Long Throw to Start Counter Attacks.
Penalties
Three attributes are in the game: Finishing, Composure, and Penalty Taking.
I don’t know how smart it is to set up a young player as the first option because away matches can be a problem.
I think this is a risky move, but everything depends on the squad’s potential.
Let’s see my TOP 5 Penalty Takers.
That’s it. There is always a possibility for some more serious experiments by selecting the option “create new routines”, but I don’t want it.
Why change a system that works well? When I would play online, I would certainly have prepared a surprise.
Thank you for your attention and time.
Author: Alen Stefanovic Game: Football Manager 2017
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