Our history of direct free kicks since the departure of Defour and Brady, and to some degree Twine, has been somewhat disappointing. Its almost accepted they are of no advantage to us, and not dissimilar to our success from our own numerous corners this season.Today Fleming went straight to the ball (as if instructed to) when we were awarded the free kick that led to the goal. It was to lead to a fantastic strike-only two this season, the other being Fleming again from some distance when he scored from a brilliant long shot after Cullen had pushed it forward for him.We have this season had a number of players taking these including Anthony, Pires, Brownhill and they have all been poor-so why is 'Fleming not taking every free kick within shooting distance of goal. Also other than O Shea no one has yet to score direct from a corner this season.Makes you wonder what impact our "set piece coach" is having, if any

I love this.

Highest return for goals from direct shots 6.8% 2019/20.

Just over 3% last season (prem stats).

Id say we were about average for direct free kicks!

Clubs are shooting less from direct free kicks as stats say its a waste of time.

warksclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 29, 2025 9:19 pm

Our history of direct free kicks since the departure of Defour and Brady, and to some degree Twine, has been somewhat disappointing.

Can't ever recall Defour taking one other than the one he scored with at Old Trafford.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:00 pm

Can't ever recall Defour taking one other than the one he scored with at Old Trafford.

yeah but that was worth 10

Twine went off just minutes before City were awarded a free kick just outside our box.

Direct free kicks aren't the issue. Corners however... wow. I don't have a clue what some of our efforts were about today.

I'd love to know how many set pieces we've scored from since our set piece coach joined the club. We're at the point where we might as well just give the opposition a goal kick, such is our total lack of threat from a corner. Someone sit him down and make him watch the set pieces Westwood used to take. It's not rocket science.

Have we got anyone that can put the ball on top of the goalkeeper like Westwood and McNeil used to do?

AndrewJB wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:02 pm

Twine went off just minutes before City were awarded a free kick just outside our box.

Thank god. As they were planning the free kick he was screaming instructions from the bench

jlup1980 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:06 pm

Direct free kicks aren't the issue. Corners however... wow. I don't have a clue what some of our efforts were about today.

I'd love to know how many set pieces we've scored from since our set piece coach joined the club. We're at the point where we might as well just give the opposition a goal kick, such is our total lack of threat from a corner. Someone sit him down and make him watch the set pieces Westwood used to take. It's not rocket science.

Generally with corners there is more chance of us winning the 2nd ball from a goal kick.

Our recent record of scoring from direct free kicks is poor. We have to go back to Ross Wallace and Robbie Brady for any sort of consistency. Scott Twine had a skill in that department but he was deemed to be lacking elsewhere. Brownhill has taken a number of free kicks this season but we shouldn't place any great reliance on a success rate.

That one yesterday has been coming for a while. Flemming practices a few, in the pre match warm up, from almost the same area, immediately before returning to the dressing room.

jlup1980 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:06 pm

Direct free kicks aren't the issue. Corners however... wow. I don't have a clue what some of our efforts were about today.

I'd love to know how many set pieces we've scored from since our set piece coach joined the club. We're at the point where we might as well just give the opposition a goal kick, such is our total lack of threat from a corner. Someone sit him down and make him watch the set pieces Westwood used to take. It's not rocket science.

That's only part of the problem. We just don't have the height/physicality of Wood, Tarks and Mee or players that attack the ball in the air. Ekdal can. Also, Edwards is better at taking corners.

If we go up we are going to sort this problem as goals will be much harder to get. I think we would need to play 3 centre backs, possibly Ekdal in between CJER and Steve.