Recently, set-piece analysis has evolved rapidly as teams have begun to recognise the importance of capitalising on every detail during the game.
However, there is room to develop as a field in football analysis.
One of the most interesting aspects is how teams have begun to manipulate the opponent by finding new uses for the edge-of-the-box players, or rebound players, in attacking corners.
The first traditional use of the rebound players is to secure against counterattacks when the ball is cleared away.
They may also need to be ready to shoot if the ball is cleared near the edge of the box, especially when the attacking team have a good shooter.
Depending on the opponents defensive scheme, they may also be involved in short-corner routines, where they are asked to participate in short-corner rotations with specific instructions.
The last common use of rebound players is to retrieve the ball, rotate it, and implement the second-wave plan to keep attacking or crossing again.
However, many new and different tactics have emerged, such as running quickly to the cross as the targeted players, while some of the box players retreat to become the new rebound players.
This tactical analysis will discuss the various trendy uses for edge-of-the-box players in corners.
Tactics Of Targeting Edge-Of-The-Box Players Directly
The first use we will discuss is asking the targeted players to pretend they are the edge-of-the-box players waiting for the rebound.
As the routine begins, they will run as targeted players, free and unmarked, while other players run back to become the real rebound players.
In the photo below, Bournemouth scored against Arsenal from this idea.
Arsenal defend with four zonal defenders (red), five man markers and a rebound player (green).
Andoni Iraola put six Cherries players inside the box, two on the edge of the box and a counterattack player (out of the shot) in addition to the taker.
As the taker moves, the two rebound players run quickly, surprising Bukayo Saka.
He also has an issue: which player should he follow, the real targeted player (blue) or the other rebound player, who moves to distract him?
In the photo below, two players run back instead of them in an amazing, simple idea that has many benefits:
- Freeing the real runners
- The two real rebound players should be instructed to draw the attention of two-man markers and then return to their designated role rather than simply standing and waiting for the rebound from the start.
We can also see that the free runner (because of the 6v5 situation over the man markers) blocks the first zonal defender, Ben White, to prevent him from entering the targeted area.
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