I was shouting before their free kick - PUT SOMEBODY ON THE LINE as I guess were quite a few others. This isn't a specific criticism of Sir Chris - as so few managers do it, but one thing I don't like about football is the arrogance that managers have that they know best all of the time. They generally do of course, but this is one area where they don't and it is about time they listened to people who do - like me and probably most on here I suspect. Why can I say that? - simple statistics- that's why. Under Curbs we played 8 years in the Pemiership and conceeded a goal to one free kick - a sublime joy of an effort from a Thierry Henry at the top of his game - my god- 8 years! You don't have to be Stephen Hawking todo the maths and work out the pattern FFS.
I know Sir Chris was asked about this last season and he said he left that choice to his keeper. I think he needs to pick up the phone and have a chat with Curbs and reconsider this policy. Come on - it isn't rocket science.......thank god!
Absolutely and utterly spot on - I was indeed also shouting put someone on the post.
When we went back up to the Premiership for the second time after our earlier relegation, Curbs decided to put a player on the line for free kicks because of the number of goals we had conceded direct from free kicks in that first season in the Premiership (98/99). As he said at the time, given the quality of free kick takers in the Premiership, a free kick in a dangerous position was almost as good as a penalty.
I can remember Shaun Bartlett standing on the opposite side to the goalkeeper and heading the ball off the line on a number of occasions. You absolutely right - a simple tactic like that worked. And given the skills some players even in this Divison have, it's a tactic we should adopt now. And quickly.
But you can see from some of the posts from some fans that would even have witnessed it with their own eyesc still can't see it - so there in lies the problem IMO. For me - it isn't an opinion - it is a checkable fact. You might say it won't work because of this and that - but I spent 8 seasons watching it work perfectly well in the best league in the World at the time!
I'm not sure why the keeper lines the wall up, an outfield player should stand where the free kick is being taken and line up the wall. It makes no sense that the person in the pitch with literally the worst perspective of what the kick taker is seeing should line the wall up just because he's in goal.
Hmaer is an arrogant so and so - it is a strength but also a weakness - he backed himself to get to any ball but he isn't Superman and the manager has to reign aspects of his game in without losing that confidence.
I'm not sure why the keeper lines the wall up, an outfield player should stand where the free kick is being taken and line up the wall. It makes no sense that the person in the pitch with literally the worst perspective of what the kick taker is seeing should line the wall up just because he's in goal.
As a goalkeeper myself I never have a man on the line, it gives the attackers free reign to stand where they want. That is usually far more dangerous than the free kick itself, obstructed view, deflections etc. I think Hamer made the right call, it was just a decent knock.
Let goalkeepers do whatever they most feel comfortable with.
Kiely wasn't comfortable coming off his line. If we'd have forced him to start coming for crosses and corners we would have conceded 8 goals a game with the chaos that would have ensued.
How this has turned into a "Hamer is arrogant" conversation I have no idea.
Thin line between arrogance and self-confidence. Hamer has had many more good games than bad since he arrived so I think he is justified to believe in his choices and not second-guess himself.
All keepers drop clangers , even Joe Hart , it was a poor split second decision , no way was he going to get away from it , hopefully he'll learn from it and we can move on.
The argument that you have a man on the line plays everyone onside can be negated by that player standing behind the goal line till the ball is kicked. if the ball goes to the other side of the goal, that player stays 'off ' the field.
but by the letter of the law isnt the player not allowed back onto the field of play until given permission by the ref? so if he's in the goal and the ball is going in that corner then he cant come forward and clear?
Fair point VG, that may be the law, I dont know. I've seen attacking players step over the byline to remove themselves from play to prevent an offside call being made, I thought it could apply here
I was shouting before their free kick - PUT SOMEBODY ON THE LINE as I guess were quite a few others. This isn't a specific criticism of Sir Chris - as so few managers do it, but one thing I don't like about football is the arrogance that managers have that they know best all of the time. They generally do of course, but this is one area where they don't and it is about time they listened to people who do - like me and probably most on here I suspect. Why can I say that? - simple statistics- that's why. Under Curbs we played 8 years in the Pemiership and conceeded a goal to one free kick - a sublime joy of an effort from a Thierry Henry at the top of his game - my god- 8 years! You don't have to be Stephen Hawking todo the maths and work out the pattern FFS.
I know Sir Chris was asked about this last season and he said he left that choice to his keeper. I think he needs to pick up the phone and have a chat with Curbs and reconsider this policy. Come on - it isn't rocket science.......thank god!
Yes Muttley it was me who asked Chris Powell last season. You can only do your best to help, but if they won't listen :-)
PS It was bleedin obvious the Watford players would move & they would score through the gap. Well, bleedin obvious to all except the Charlton team. At least stand behind these players, if you're not putting a man on the line.
The argument that you have a man on the line plays everyone onside can be negated by that player standing behind the goal line till the ball is kicked. if the ball goes to the other side of the goal, that player stays 'off ' the field.
but by the letter of the law isnt the player not allowed back onto the field of play until given permission by the ref? so if he's in the goal and the ball is going in that corner then he cant come forward and clear?
I always thought if a player was beyond the goal line, but in the goal they are in play in any case. Need a ref to confirm though.
haven't read all the comments here but my recollection of Curbs' tactic was that the player(s) on the line ran back at the last possible moment once the wall and the oppo had taken their positions, reducing the oppos ability to out attackers wherever they wanted.
The argument that you have a man on the line plays everyone onside can be negated by that player standing behind the goal line till the ball is kicked. if the ball goes to the other side of the goal, that player stays 'off ' the field.
but by the letter of the law isnt the player not allowed back onto the field of play until given permission by the ref? so if he's in the goal and the ball is going in that corner then he cant come forward and clear?
I always thought if a player was beyond the goal line, but in the goal they are in play in any case. Need a ref to confirm though.
If a player steps out of play for tactical reasons -refs are told it is unsporting conduct - I have got that from a ref.
haven't read all the comments here but my recollection of Curbs' tactic was that the player(s) on the line ran back at the last possible moment once the wall and the oppo had taken their positions, reducing the oppos ability to out attackers wherever they wanted.
The problem with that is the defender is gonna be able to get that far back that quickly, so he is judging the dip and flight of the ball from say the 6 yard box.
An extra player on the line can alter the thinking of the player taking a free kick as he can no longer see a gap to aim for.The fact they were down to 10 men means that our defenders should have covered all their forward players because they would not commit so many men forward in the fear of a breakaway should we gain possession after the free kick was taken!
Comments
When we went back up to the Premiership for the second time after our earlier relegation, Curbs decided to put a player on the line for free kicks because of the number of goals we had conceded direct from free kicks in that first season in the Premiership (98/99). As he said at the time, given the quality of free kick takers in the Premiership, a free kick in a dangerous position was almost as good as a penalty.
I can remember Shaun Bartlett standing on the opposite side to the goalkeeper and heading the ball off the line on a number of occasions. You absolutely right - a simple tactic like that worked. And given the skills some players even in this Divison have, it's a tactic we should adopt now. And quickly.
We should never have got rid of Andersen.
Kiely wasn't comfortable coming off his line. If we'd have forced him to start coming for crosses and corners we would have conceded 8 goals a game with the chaos that would have ensued.
How this has turned into a "Hamer is arrogant" conversation I have no idea.
Strikers stand in front of the keeper, or worse on the line so the keeper can't move.
It was a great free kick, that is all.
Watch free kicks at Prem, Euro and International level there is NEVER a man on the post.
Push up as far as you can to leave the box as clear as possible to allow the keeper to see everything that's going on and time to re-adjust.
But you are right it isn't e=mc2.
PS It was bleedin obvious the Watford players would move & they would score through the gap. Well, bleedin obvious to all except the Charlton team. At least stand behind these players, if you're not putting a man on the line.
There's a few seconds of my life I won't get back.
Or will I?