Set Pieces

[aupsite's acht]

It seems to me that set pieces play an even more important role than ever during the World Cup. With teams that are relatively even matched, and almost always playing a very defensive stlye (with all due respect to the Brazilians), that Arena needs to keep in mind two things when selecting his fiedl players during WC play.

1. The ability to draw fouls.

2. The ability to be a threat on set pieces.

That being said, I would be a little surprised if Dempsey doesn't start at right mid, both for his ability to fraw fouls and his giving us another decent sized target on set pieces. I would think this would also give us even more reason to play GAM up top with McHead. With Donovan, Dempsey and DMB drawing fouls in the midfield and McHead, EJ, Gooch, Pope, Boca/Gibbs with Dempsey in support as targets on set pieces, I would think Bruce would be tempted to start the following lineup (especially when one considers the Bruce's tendency to play bunker-ball).

McBride
EJ
Beasley Donovan Dempsey
Reyna
Boca/Gibbs Gibbs/Pope Gooch Cherundolo
Keller

[Adam Zebrowski]

dempsey's starting at right mid might more a case of what he can do defensively versus what he offers offensively...

let's see how demspey performs in germany, as a solid outing mighr get him inot the line-up...

still I think arena has 7 mids, and he might easily use them where they tactically best fit against certain teams...

donovan'
beasley
convey
demopsey
reyna
mastroeni
o'brien

[USFansinGermany]

I love how you talk about the importance of set pieces then leave our best set-piece taker (who is virtually a lock to start at LB anyway) out of the lineup.

Lewis, Donovan, Cherundolo, Berhalter (although I don't think he'll make the team), Convey, and Reyna can all serve up a good free kick. Lewis, Donovan, and Convey are all good at taking corners. McBride, Johnson, Dempsey, Twellman, Gooch, Gibbs, Pope, and Bocanegra give us excellent targets in the box (although obviously those guys won't all be on the field at the same time). IMO we have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the world at offensive set-pieces.

[kylesoccer]

I love how you talk about the importance of set pieces then leave our best set-piece taker (who is virtually a lock to start at LB anyway) out of the lineup.

Lewis, Donovan, Cherundolo, Berhalter (although I don't think he'll make the team), Convey, and Reyna can all serve up a good free kick. Lewis, Donovan, and Convey are all good at taking corners. McBride, Johnson, Dempsey, Twellman, Gooch, Gibbs, Pope, and Bocanegra give us excellent targets in the box (although obviously those guys won't all be on the field at the same time). IMO we have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the world at offensive set-pieces.

hopefully we have learned how to defend them better from the last world cup because we gave up at 6 goals that i can think of maybe 5. South Korea, Portugal( i think both but at least the one in the first half) 2 agasint poland and germany.

[galaxy1320]

i'd much rather have Lewis's left foot in there for free kicks than one more 6 footer. boca/gibbs out; lewis in at LB.

[SamsArmySam]

IMO we have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the world at offensive set-pieces.
Disagree. Our strength in set pieces is a recent development, and I would think it is one area where we might actually sneak up on someone and pull a few surprises.

Yes, Lewis has to be in there.

And here's to hoping Bruce has a sit-down with Reyna and tells him, "From now on, whether or not you're captain, Donovan or Cherundolo will be taking the right footed free kicks."

[Galaxian]

I think we could be very dangerous this summer on set pieces . I just want to know why LD is still taking corners . For every one good corner , he has about five that dont reach the six yard box . I'd rather have Claudio taking them , and I bet he will .
Lewis and Convey can both serve great left footed balls in , and LD has a pretty good right footed shot , same with Dolo .
In the box if we have BMB , EJ , Gooch , and Pope/Gibbs/Berhalter , we should be able to get a goal or two this summer off set pieces .

[USFansinGermany]

I think we could be very dangerous this summer on set pieces . I just want to know why LD is still taking corners . For every one good corner , he has about five that dont reach the six yard box . I'd rather have Claudio taking them , and I bet he will .
Lewis and Convey can both serve great left footed balls in , and LD has a pretty good right footed shot , same with Dolo .
In the box if we have BMB , EJ , Gooch , and Pope/Gibbs/Berhalter , we should be able to get a goal or two this summer off set pieces .

I think LD is usually pretty good on corners. He was having a bad day with them in one of the recent friendlies (Poland or Guatemala I think, can't remember which) but generally he's pretty good.

[VOwithwater]

It seems to me that set pieces play an even more important role than ever during the World Cup. With teams that are relatively even matched, and almost always playing a very defensive stlye (with all due respect to the Brazilians), that Arena needs to keep in mind two things when selecting his fiedl players during WC play.

1. The ability to draw fouls.

2. The ability to be a threat on set pieces.

That being said, I would be a little surprised if Dempsey doesn't start at right mid, both for his ability to fraw fouls and his giving us another decent sized target on set pieces. I would think this would also give us even more reason to play GAM up top with McHead. With Donovan, Dempsey and DMB drawing fouls in the midfield and McHead, EJ, Gooch, Pope, Boca/Gibbs with Dempsey in support as targets on set pieces, I would think Bruce would be tempted to start the following lineup (especially when one considers the Bruce's tendency to play bunker-ball).

McBride
EJ
Beasley Donovan Dempsey
Reyna
Boca/Gibbs Gibbs/Pope Gooch Cherundolo
Keller


Personally I want to see Convey on the field with his speed.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

IMO we have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the world at offensive set-pieces.

You must be kidding.:eek:

We are getting better at setting up people to score off dead balls,but when is the last time we actually had a guy shoot directly or indirectly AT goal and score(PKs don't count)??

If we do this more than once a year,I would be shocked.

[USFansinGermany]

You must be kidding.:eek:

We are getting better at setting up people to score off dead balls,but when is the last time we actually had a guy shoot directly or indirectly AT goal and score(PKs don't count)??

If we do this more than once a year,I would be shocked.

I'm counting a goal scored indirectly off a set piece, such as Ralston's against Mexico, as a set piece goal.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

I'm counting a goal scored indirectly off a set piece, such as Ralston's against Mexico, as a set piece goal.

So am I. But my point is we can't be considered a good set piece team,let alone of of the best in the world, until we get better at actually shooting straight at goal off the FK.

[beergod]

I'm waiting for Arena to spring Gooch's long throw on someone.

[USFansinGermany]

So am I. But my point is we can't be considered a good set piece team,let alone of of the best in the world, until we get better at actually shooting straight at goal off the FK.

If you score a goal, what does it matter whether it happened directly off the shot or off a header??

In any event, Donovan and Lewis in particular are both excellent FK takers (Cherundolo had a near-miss against Poland as well).

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

If you score a goal, what does it matter whether it happened directly off the shot or off a header??



So, explain how we are going to score off a header on a FK in or near the "D"??

Don't you get that we are bad at the most dangerous of FKs?



In any event, Donovan and Lewis in particular are both excellent FK takers (Cherundolo had a near-miss against Poland as well).

Once again,when is the last time they scored,and how many goals a year do we get this way??

[ayers]

It seems to me that set pieces play an even more important role than ever during the World Cup. With teams that are relatively even matched, and almost always playing a very defensive stlye (with all due respect to the Brazilians), that Arena needs to keep in mind two things when selecting his fiedl players during WC play.

1. The ability to draw fouls.

2. The ability to be a threat on set pieces.

That being said, I would be a little surprised if Dempsey doesn't start at right mid, both for his ability to fraw fouls and his giving us another decent sized target on set pieces. I would think this would also give us even more reason to play GAM up top with McHead. With Donovan, Dempsey and DMB drawing fouls in the midfield and McHead, EJ, Gooch, Pope, Boca/Gibbs with Dempsey in support as targets on set pieces, I would think Bruce would be tempted to start the following lineup (especially when one considers the Bruce's tendency to play bunker-ball).

McBride
EJ
Beasley Donovan Dempsey
Reyna
Boca/Gibbs Gibbs/Pope Gooch Cherundolo
Keller


Who, in your lineup, is going to take the FKs? Doesn't matter how many fouls you draw or how tall you are if you don't have people who can consistently serve good balls into the area or be a threat on direct kicks.

[ayers]

IMO we have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the world at offensive set-pieces.

As dangerous as the Pirlos and Beckhams?

[beastmode18]

I love how you talk about the importance of set pieces then leave our best set-piece taker (who is virtually a lock to start at LB anyway) out of the lineup.

Lewis, Donovan, Cherundolo, Berhalter (although I don't think he'll make the team), Convey, and Reyna can all serve up a good free kick. Lewis, Donovan, and Convey are all good at taking corners. McBride, Johnson, Dempsey, Twellman, Gooch, Gibbs, Pope, and Bocanegra give us excellent targets in the box (although obviously those guys won't all be on the field at the same time). IMO we have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the world at offensive set-pieces.

Why wouldnt he make the team?:( Man, I dont get people sometimes. Who would replace him?:eek:

[DutchFootballRulez]

Why wouldnt he make the team?:( Man, I dont get people sometimes. Who would replace him?:eek:
Gooch, Pope, Conrad, Boca, or Gibbs. That's 4 CBs.

[aupsite's acht]

Who, in your lineup, is going to take the FKs? Doesn't matter how many fouls you draw or how tall you are if you don't have people who can consistently serve good balls into the area or be a threat on direct kicks.

A very good question. We'd have no choice but to stick with Donovan and Reyna (although Cherundolo's near miss v Poland was one of the better efforts I've seen recently). This is definitely another area where we don't have a ton of "world class" (there's that dirty word again), free kick takers.