Andreas Georgson Tactics At Lillestrøm SK 2024/2025 – Revisiting His Evolving Set Play Toolbox Through A Lillestrøm Lens – Set Piece Analysis

In August last year, Andreas Georgsons set-piece ideas were analyzed after his impact on Southamptons dead balls had an immediate and impressive effect in the opening three weeks of the Championship campaign.

Even though he left the role in December, there is no doubt that his set-piece expertise helped the Saints reach 87 points, earning a place in the play-offs, which eventually saw Southampton promoted back to the Premier League.

The Swedish manager, who has experience as a set-piece coach at Arsenal, Brentford, Malmö FF, and Southampton, left to pursue his career as head coach at Lillestrøm in the Norwegian top flight.

However, fresh reports are stating that he could be reunited with ex-Saints director of football James Wilcox, this time as a set-piece coach at Manchester United, with Wilcox being appointed technical director following the change in ownership in the red side of Manchester, as they continue the revamp of Erik Ten Hags backroom staff.

Lillestrøm sat in the middle of the league but is precariously close to the relegation spots.

Nevertheless, from a set-piece perspective, Georgson continues to display where his strengths lie, with 10 of 18 league goals coming from dead balls (56%).

At every level, the Swede has been able to positively influence his teams set plays, with an even share of goals scored from corner kicks, free kicks, and throw-ins.

He pays close attention to each element of set pieces, including goal kicks.

In this tactical analysis, we will delve into Andreas Georgsons tactics behind Lillestrøms corner kicks, with an in-depth analysis of how they have utilised runs from the far side to create dangerous situations from corners.

This set-piece analysis will also explore the various ways in which they have attempted to create aerial advantages for their players and how Andreas Georgson has evolved his ideas over the last year.

Andreas Georgson Attacking Corner Kicks

To start with, the overall method behind the corner kicks has been the same here as it was at Southampton.

The attacking unit starts at the far side of the six-yard box before making runs to different parts of the six-yard box.

The position of the players, starting inside the six-yard box, takes away depth from Lillestrøms attacks, removing the ability for players to attack the ball and generate powerful efforts on goal.

However, this is not as important when the ball is aimed at areas inside the six-yard box, from where power isnt necessary to beat the goalkeeper.

Lillestrøm tactics stretch opponents horizontally, attempting to find spaces between defenders where they can win the first contact.

The image below is used to divide the six-yard box into distinct areas, illustrating what is expected in each area and clearly indicating which players are assigned to attack which space.

They use four players starting in the black zone, while two players start in the green zone.

In the yellow zone, players are expected to flick on low crosses to more dangerous areas while also dragging zonal players away from central areas.

Lillestrøm attempts to deliver the ball into the green zone, where players attempt to arrive and direct the ball goalwards with the area becoming easier to access due to the block on the goalkeeper.

In the black zone, attackers initiate their runs, while some remain in the zone to collect rebounds following the initial contact or attempt to win aerial duels and make the first contact after heavier crosses.

When focusing on the two players who start in the green zone, just by the keeper, one player stands his ground and can be seen blocking the goalkeeper, preventing him from stepping off the line to claim the ball.

The second player can be seen making a run around the goalkeeper towards the near post area, where he can arrive unmarked by using the goalkeeper as an obstacle for a defender tracking his movement.

The four attackers who start at the far side