Short Corners

In the England/Belarus match today a short corner was executed to perfection... Beckham just subbed on, figuring one of his patented precision kicks was in store the Belarus D tucked into the box, instead Sean Wright-Phillips made a run to the near top corner of the 18, received a quick ball, make a quick acceleration past a napping defender and produced a nice goal to the far lower corner from the center-top of the box. This tactical short corner is EXACTLY the intention, reading the defense and catching them unawares...

And doing an occasional short corner will (or at least should) prevent the defense from packing the box.

I too dislike the short corner as a regular tactic due to lack of goal production to date for the Pilots. I'd add Kreminsky and Chandhoke as Pilots with strong heading skills who can be targets. As a surpise during a tight game when the aerial game isn't working, well maybe.

Good thoughts by all, on 'short corners'.

Like a set piece, a good 'short corner/ set play' once a game, can be very deadly if executed properly.

Maybe the Pilot short corners are set pieces? They usually appear to be somewhat timid and hesitantly executed.

Looking forward to the coming weekend matches.

Trenchcoat Wally wrote:Good thoughts by all, on 'short corners'.
Like a set piece, a good 'short corner/ set play' once a game, can be very deadly if executed properly.
Maybe the Pilot short corners are set pieces? They usually appear to be somewhat timid and hesitantly executed.
Looking forward to the coming weekend matches.

It's been looking to me recently like the set corners are an attempt to get Mich and the kicker paired up against two defenders, with Mich even getting a 1 (Mich) v 2 (defenders) opportunity. As we're beginning to see more and more, that's a dangerous situation for the defense.

Last year, I thought Christen Press was really good for Stanford, wreaking havoc on defenses with her speed and ability to take it to the end line and around the defenders towards the goal. Watching Michelle as the team has progressed this year, I think she wreaks even more havoc than Press. The more the Pilots can get the ball to Michelle near the end line, the better. I think that's why we're seeing a good number of short corners.