Only one headed goal this season

[Peebles Rover]

Saw an article in the DFP that said we only had one headed goal this season. Is that true? Maybe I misread it. Sounds an astonishing fact to me given the number of goals we’ve scored.

[Campsall rover]

We have had more than one surely?

[donnievic]

Who was it??not joe Wright at Northampton!!!!

[Branton Rover]

Fejiri at Swindon

[donnievic]

Fejiri at Swindon

yes forgot about that already lol

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I would also think we've scored one of the fewest set piece goals which means we've probably scored the most through open play.

This a great as we're not reliant on set pieces but it does highlight areas which we can improve.

[selby]

  We must have had more and scored more with shots from outside the area though, apart from Whiteman we have been poor over the last few seasons to actually have a go from distance.

[Barmby Rover]

  We must have had more and scored more with shots from outside the area though, apart from Whiteman we have been poor over the last few seasons to actually have a go from distance.

Must have been a bit of a shock for Wimbledon then!

[graingrover]

Copps said during match commentary that Paul G was in charge of set piece coaching so no doubt there will be some discussion between him and DM now .

[sedwardsdrfc]

Given we've been playing at least 3 centre halves for much of the season this is one area we can aim to improve on massively

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Given we've been playing at least 3 centre halves for much of the season this is one area we can aim to improve on massively

Totally agree.

Generally when we get a free kick just inside their half, we opt to play it short and carry on with open play. Fair do's although we know certain teams will use any excuse to bomb the box.

Free kicks in wide areas. Seen a mix of crosses from good ones to absolute food and drink for keepers. Too many floated balls in.
Occasionally, we see what looks like a planned move.... But then we never see it again! Surely, it's worth persisting with these as practice makes perfect.

Free kicks within shooting range. We just don't have a player who excels in this area. Many have tried but it seems to be down to 'whoever fancies it'. Maybe this will change with Bostock who looks to be a dead ball specialist.

We just don't seem to have a repertoire of free kick/corner routines to choose from that have been practiced over and over, seemingly preferring off the cuff moves.

[Alan Southstand]

I think part of the problem is our vertically challenged team. There’s Fej, Anderson and Butler and that’s about it. No big lads in midfield up to Bostock signing. The quality of crosses have left a bit to be desired, at times, and that doesn’t help matters. I think this maybe one of the reasons for going for another (taller) striker?

As far as dead ball free kicks are concerned, it was usually Whiteman or Copps, but both Halliday and James have good shots within them, particularly Halliday. Bostock will certainly add to the list of takers.

[DearneValleyRover]

Copps said that set pieces were something we needed to work on

[sedwardsdrfc]

I think part of the problem is our vertically challenged team. There’s Fej, Anderson and Butler and that’s about it. No big lads in midfield up to Bostock signing. The quality of crosses have left a bit to be desired, at times, and that doesn’t help matters. I think this maybe one of the reasons for going for another (taller) striker?

As far as dead ball free kicks are concerned, it was usually Whiteman or Copps, but both Halliday and James have good shots within them, particularly Halliday. Bostock will certainly add to the list of takers.

We've played John, Anderson, Butler, Wright a fair few times this season. We should be an absolute hand full at attacking set plays. It's a minor thing overall when were going so well in the league but getting more goals out of set plays could be the difference between playoffs and automatic.

[Chris Black come back]

Copps said that set pieces were something we needed to work on

Aside from a few good direct free kick specialists (Danny Andrew springs to mind) our set pieces have been dreadful for as long as I can remember.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I think part of the problem is our vertically challenged team. There’s Fej, Anderson and Butler and that’s about it. No big lads in midfield up to Bostock signing. The quality of crosses have left a bit to be desired, at times, and that doesn’t help matters. I think this maybe one of the reasons for going for another (taller) striker?

As far as dead ball free kicks are concerned, it was usually Whiteman or Copps, but both Halliday and James have good shots within them, particularly Halliday. Bostock will certainly add to the list of takers.

We've played John, Anderson, Butler, Wright a fair few times this season. We should be an absolute hand full at attacking set plays. It's a minor thing overall when were going so well in the league but getting more goals out of set plays could be the difference between playoffs and automatic.

Agree. It's not necessarily about height but the desire to attack the ball etc. Butt's has/had a decent record of getting on the end of things as did Anderson however, it's been few and far between them this season so far.

Set plays are full of the dark arts including your blockers, decoys etc., but one thing you need is a consistent delivery that gets the ball into the spots you've practiced with purpose and gives your opponents the least time to react.

For each of the common areas of the pitch outside the box you get free kicks, central, right of left, ideally you need three options and the taker (or captain) calls the play, whether that be near post, penalty spot, or far post, or a n other decoy move.

The first step obviously is everyone knowing what they're doing and knowing where the balls going!

As you can tell, this bothers me somewhat!!

[RoversAlias]

The article in question is one where Darren talks about the need to do better from set pieces, so hopefully that will come.

Aside from Fejiri's goal at Swindon and the two goals against Bristol Rovers I can't think of another set piece goal by us this season. I might have forgot one but we early are poor at using them to our advantage.

[Drover]

Only Hull,Charlton and Rochdale(Yes Rochdale) have scored more goals than us,combined with the fact we have played 3 or 4 games less than them,and not all goals from set pieces are headers,I've no concern about it,Must admit it is an eyebrow raising stat though.

[Alan Southstand]

Sedwards, the 4 you’ve mentioned in your reply are all defenders. We will not put all defenders up for a set piece, as we then become susceptible to the rapid counter attack.

With Bostock signed, it replaces the one tall player we had in midfield (Whiteman), so once JB gets acclimatised, I can see a threat with him at set pieces - either shooting or being in the mix for a header.

[RoversAlias]

We usually leave James and/or Halliday back though, don't we? You put quick players at the back to guard against counter attacks, rather than big slow centre halves.

[steve@dcfd]

Our goals per game is the best in the league so add goals from set pieces will certainly keep our position in the league if not higher.

[since-1969]

Saw an article in the DFP that said we only had one headed goal this season. Is that true? Maybe I misread it. Sounds an astonishing fact to me given the number of goals we’ve scored.

We’re following the new guidelines on safety which limits us to one headed goal so that’s your lot unless we score more and then it will be reviewed !!

[sedwardsdrfc]

Sedwards, the 4 you’ve mentioned in your reply are all defenders. We will not put all defenders up for a set piece, as we then become susceptible to the rapid counter attack.

With Bostock signed, it replaces the one tall player we had in midfield (Whiteman), so once JB gets acclimatised, I can see a threat with him at set pieces - either shooting or being in the mix for a header.

Eh? So centre half’s don’t go up for corners and free kicks where the ball can go into the box? I’ve been watching a different game then!!

[Alan Southstand]

Yes, that’s fine, no problem. But, the 4 you mentioned have all played as a back 4 more than once this season and it wasn’t clear that you were meaning just the centre backs going up!

[sedwardsdrfc]

If all 4 are playing they all go up IMO why leave your best headers of a ball back? I’d have Smith, James even Taylor left back to cover they are quick enough. Anyway not like we play 4 centre half’s that often really

[BobG]

The answer's easy. Send for Glynn. Best dead ball specialist I have ever seen. Anywhere. Better than Peter Lorimer even. Who was there at that famous (infamous?) top of the 3rd division clash that Boxing Day at Bradford City? The perfect example. 

Glyn was really special wth free kicks.

BobG