The Frustration of Citys Set Pieces

Quite simply if I were manager of Exeter City I would impose a fine (and a significant one) for every opportunity wasted by clueless quick short pass, be it from corners or free kicks. I am by no means an advocate of Sam Alardyce (although I would defend Pullis and Stoke) however I cannot understand this trend which has been my one and only criticism of Ryan Harley this season.

Corners

Over the years, especially in the conference, I have seen Exeter City be highly effective from corners in particular. However in the last year a short corner combination, particularly between Harley and Nardiello, has wasted many a good opportunity. Although nominating Ryan as corner taker has helped to make us less predictable at corners and removed the reliance on inswinging corners (which quite simply are much more ineffective than outweighing ones from my observations by a very long way), we have consistently failed to deliver good quality deliveries with pace. I would really like to see Liam given the chance to deliver our corners next season as he has a powerful, flat (in a good way) and accurate cross. I would also like to see us practice a little more: as Harley admitted himself he does not see the value in practising set pieces. With Matt Taylor now leaving we need to learn to make the most of Troy’s aerial presence and Duffy’s movement (alle Huddersfield – also outswinging) and not to mention Logan who should fill the old Flack role if standing two feet out in the centre of the goal.

A further issue I have is lightly floated crosses to the near post which are always dealt with by the defence. If you play a ball to the near post it absolutely has to be whipped in at pace and needs to be attacked a perfect example of this was at home to Rovers last season, in the 90th minute, when James Dunne scored from an (outswinging!) corner that kick started our survival push. My final issue with corners is that there has never been a manager who has put one player on the far side of the box. I would guess that around 20-30% of corners are over hit and having just one player with a bit of aerial prowess attacking from the far side of the area, I have always thought could bring dividends over a season.

Free Kicks

Harley may have scored some excellent free kicks for us away at Colchester and Stockport last season and Yeovil this season but was far too inconsistent. He also wasted so many opportunities by playing a quick short free kick to an unprepared or under pressure team-mate or simply going backwards. Now this might be appreciated by the purists but it is, or so it appears to me, an idiotic waste and there has not been one occasion that I can think of that I have seen this tactic be effective or create anything. Promisingly however we have seen David Noble provide some excellent deliveries from set-pieces from deeper positions. The two that spring to mind are the Matt Taylor header at the back post from a deliver deep on the right hand side against Dagenham and a wonderful drilled throughball for Danny Nardiello’s goal against Wallsall. I would much rather see us looking to create these chances and making the most of set-piece situations when they arise. however, we could do with someone able to hit the target in and around the area. While Harley had the talent he did not have the consistency when he went at goal from a dead ball it might be a little homework Tis could give to someone whether it be Liam, Noble, Bauza or even one of the strikers.

Practice does make perfect I remember after working with Perryman former city winger/striker Gareth Sheldon became deadly from set-piecesvery rapidly as he worked on them.

Throw Ins

Ever since Paul Tisdale took over we have set out for throw ins with one thing in mind…’shape’ with movement seemingly prohibited. I understand this and although is sometimes frustrating I can see the benefit of keeping the play under control and rebuilding rather than making the throw in really work. We also attempt the occasional long throw but this needs a bit of practice for net season if it’s ever going to produce.

Penalties

This could prove interesting next season Ryan Harley has been a godsend from the spot and with him departing it raises a few questions. Every City fan will remember our conversion rate in League Two which cost us the title in the end and anyone at the Walsall game will remember the debacle that resulted in Nardiello missing: Harley was not available, O’Flynn won the penalty and then had a (non-violent) bust up as Nards stole the ball and people have also said Jamie Cureton wanted to get in on the act although I thought he was supporting O’Flynn’s reasonable claim to kick. Personally I like O’Flynn and think this season he will come into his own a lot more he also took a confident penalty earlier in the season but this really is for Tisdale to appoint and as long as we score them and don’t see any more squabbling I’ll be happy.