By - 31/12/2008

Long Throws & Set-Pieces

There's been lots of focus on Rory Delap's long throws this season and, as a by-product, how set-pieces can be such an important part of a team's armoury.

Over a third of Stoke's goals this season have come as a result of those throw-ins but, it's fair to argue, if they were that effective every time, Stoke would surely be nearer the top of the league?

They use it at every opportunity, a bit like we did with Leigh Bromby last season. If someone's got that at their disposal, a manager might well think he should use it all the time. Certainly in the last 10 minutes of games, when you're looking for a goal, it's a great way of bringing on pressure that you might not otherwise be able to generate.

Going back to Delap, I think it's a lot about the trajectory of his deliveries. They fly flat, unlike a lot of other long-throwers, and that's what makes them more difficult to deal with as defenders. A higher, looping ball gives more time for a decision - especially as a keeper - as to whether the ball should be attacked or not.

Stoke obviously see it as big threat - and fair enough. It's more effective for them as a corner because of the speed and flight it travels. But other sides who aren't quite so big might not see a long throw as quite such a weapon to use.

I remember in the weeks before the Stoke games last year I did some specialist work on dealing with the threat. It's not something you'd work on every week as a goalie, but it'd be right to prepare yourself accordingly for a specific threat. It's a lot different to coming for a corner or running out to meet a through-ball.

I don't think you can make a decision to come and claim every set-piece. You have to make your mind up there and then, and live with what you choose to do.

Set-pieces are a massive focus for some sides and it's really driven manager to manager. The stats do show that a high percentage of goals come as a result of a set-piece and often tight games are decided that way.

Aidy spent a lot of time going through them but it's hard for a manager, because they can be quite labourious and struggle to have much appeal to players as a part of a training session. Standing around doing corner after corner after corner can switch you off a bit at times.

Brendan tends to feed them in shorter bursts throughout a week and that seems to work well for the lads.

At Blackburn, it was much more laid-back really. A Friday would be a little 5-a-side then 10 or 15 minutes maximum going through a couple of corners and a free-kick so it would often be left to who fancied it. Set-pieces were never much of a problem for or against.

So there's varying degrees of focus from different sides. I suppose ultimately it depends on the personnel you've got available but it's interesting to compare different sides' approaches.