Torquay United v Mansfield Town - 19/10/13

[ferrarilover]

That would be the one that was too high and long that went straight out for a goal kick?

Brilliant. It was a corner which stood a vague chance of causing Mansfield some problems. In fact, it was taken by the keeper among a number of bodies. Contrast this with the first two we had, both taken by Manse, one of which went out for a GK having travelled 50+ yards and the second of which went for a throw having missed everyone.
It's all about how you fail. Manse could take 100 corners and 100 of them would be utter shite. Craig takes the same 100 corners and we'll score 20 goals.
Equally, Nath had a free kick in a horrible position and hit it a couple of feet over the bar (it should have gone to McCourt). Bodin had one in a lovely position and smashed it half way down the Marnham Road.

Matt.

[Jeff]

My view on the Craig corner - yeah it was pretty poor as it was a routine take by the keeper, but it was far better than the efforts Manse, Harding and Nico have produced this season.

Point is, Craig's was technically the better - it had height, curve and a hell of a lot of pace (perhaps too much). It was almost like he was trying to score from it! If he can dial some of that down, and say whip it a bit lower into the near post, it would be a real weapon. On the other hand, Manse's floaty efforts over everyone's heads have no hope

[Sunnysideup]

On the other hand, Manse's floaty efforts over everyone's heads have no hope

Like the one Pearce got on the end of at Wycombe?

Rightly or wrongly, the gaffer has decided he likes right footers taking them from the left and left footers taking them from the right. They're floated deep for someone (Pearce, Downes, etc) to peel off and come in from the back diagonal.

[Scott Brehaut]

I'm just pleased that we are playing exciting football instead of a dour 1-0 win......

[ferrarilover]

Like the one Pearce got on the end of at Wycombe?

Rightly or wrongly, the gaffer has decided he likes right footers taking them from the left and left footers taking them from the right. They're floated deep for someone (Pearce, Downes, etc) to peel off and come in from the back diagonal.

That's just the thing, it's one from about 50 he's taken and that didn't even look especially dangerous, it was just that Wycombe were hopeless at the back and Pearce hit the target.
Craig has taken one corner and it looked dangerous, Manse has taken loads and a meaninglessly insignificant percentage of them have posed even a remote threat.
This is an extension of Hector's wonderfully misguided view that the League table is the only element that matters, rather than looking for longer term causal factors. This short sighted, short term view will only further damage the club. Yes, Manse presently has a better record than Craig, but long term, Craig will do better for us. I appreciate that to go from corners to the League table might seem a bit of a stretch, but the doctrine is the same. Yes, presently, we're where we are, but long term, we have much greater chance of success attempting to play the way we are now than the way we have predominantly in the last few years.
Short term loss, long term gain.

Matt.

[Lloyder5]

I have no doubt that the driven in corner is far more likely to result in a goal. A floating delivery is always more likely to be a defenders ball but is the easier option for the taker.

[PL21gull]

Jeff, I do like your post about aiming for the near post - couldn't agree more - but, alas, our team and manager do not seem to know there is another post other than the far one. At least our beyond the far post strategy would be foolproof if we had anyone tall enough and half proficient with headers... As would our let's play balls in the air strategy, but at least the pitch is looking great with the ball hardly touching it.
It is not rocket science after all, if you aim hard and low at the near post a defender is as likely to score for us - let's face it, with our current appalling success rate in front of goal, why not try a bit of variety, or is this too much to ask?