Overhit crosses
Is there anything more annoying to watch than a player in a good position who then proceeds to overhit the cross by 30 yards or put it in to the crowd?
Watching a few games over the weekend its amazing how often a cross is massively overhit. I guess its a harder skill than it looks, crossing on the run. Its incredibly frustrating to watch all the same though.
Watching a few games over the weekend its amazing how often a cross is massively overhit. I guess its a harder skill than it looks, crossing on the run. Its incredibly frustrating to watch all the same though.
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If I'm honest a bigger bug bear are players not being able to beat the defender on the near post from a corner. George Graham used to fine players who did it but got round it with the near post flick on. It's an aspect of Wengers coaching that he's never paid attention to the possibility of making more of corners. Fabregas was the very worst example of this to the point where half of the wengerdome wouldn't even get up when we had a corner. I can forgive overhit crosses especially if the player is on the move.
Totally agree. Oscar had 3 goes recently and couldn't do it.
Shocking how many fail.
From a dead ball situation, such as a corner, not beating the defender on the near post is definitely unforgivable.
I get that crossing and running is a skill. But in the Arsenal game yesterday there were a few only and one in particular from Jenkinson that really is nothing more than basic crossing. In his case he had all the time in the world and you you could see well before he hit it that he was going to lump it 20 yards too far just from his approach. We do see a lot of that which is different from someone running full pelt and trying to cross at the same time.
At least Jenkinson has time to work on that. That's probably a composure thing.
Why is Carrick not taking corners? I understand why you wouldn't let Nani or his ilk take a corner but Mr Reliable surely can take a decent corner ?
I recently read that statistically more goals are scored from short corners than crosses into the box.
Agreed on both points.
If they are playing in wider positions whether full back, midfield players or forwards, I still reckon that they should be able top cross a ball and do it reasonably accurately.
I think sometimes with crosses, you get the problem of the player who has the ball trying to do something which is different to the players in the box that he is trying to find.
When this comes together, the same cross can look brilliant. Where there is the disconnect and the striker goes in one direction and the ball goes in another, it usually looks terrible.
I do think even at the PL / Championship level that better short passing football and playing lots of shorter balls has meant that that some players can't actually strike a ball with any technical proficiency, if it has to go even a medium distance, never mind crossing on the run to the right place in a fast moving and crowded box.
The techniques for lifting a ball are different to keeping it on the deck but these are pros and I reckon they just need to work at it.
Pat Rice used to come back to Arsenal's training ground in the afternoons and work on his left foot until he could strike the ball well enough to trust that he could get out of trouble in a match by shifting the ball onto his left side, even though he was playing right back.
Even players like Walcott (who has improved, no question) do not find it easy to actually kick a ball with any variety in how they strike it (where someone like Adam Johnstone can), although I think much of Theo's problems are his decision making as to what to do in any given situation.
Mind you, this is not a new phenomenon. I remember Tony Hazell, at QPR in the 70's frequently trying to hit the front players from right back and slicing the ball into the crowd; he had many other excellent qualities but passing was not one of them.
I used to practice this type of passing for hours and if I'd ever been remotely good enough to make it to pro level, I would have practiced, practiced and practiced, like Pat Rice did;
http://www.goalsandwickets.co.uk/football/football-editorial/greg-dyke/
I agree, it's just as annoying when the player stops the ball in play to cross as a dead ball, & the cross fails to beat the first or second defender. Another thing that really annoys me is the lazy free kick in an attacking position which when taken the ball is then hit straight into the wall & the wall didn't even have to move.
Nani was terrible for this. So many corners would just be lazily chipped in and land on the first defenders head.
I used to practice too, constantly by myself on a Saturday between 8-14. I was terrible to start with but I always practiced hard.
Fortunately, our other main player who attempts crosses is Gerrard, and he's simply outstanding at it. Usually right on the money. He takes our corners too, and hasn't ever really been great at them, but at least he usually beats the first man.
Watching the Chelsea vs Man United match a few weeks ago, practically every throw was a foul. But the refs do nothing.
Really bugs me.