Wrexham Throw-In Tactics Using Ben Tozer 2022/2023 – Set-Piece Analysis

Wrexham currently sit top of the National League and are in an FA Cup fourth-round replay with Sheffield United after an awe-inspiring performance in the first game.

Wrexham AFC has scored 23 goals from set pieces this season under Phil Parkinson tactics, with 7 of those goals coming off the back of long throws into the box.

Ben Tozers exceptional and rare ability to launch a long throw-in and around the six-yard box, with a low trajectory and fast pace, has made Wrexham a danger from any throw-in in the final third, with this being a very rare method of chance creation that when you go climbing up the ladder, only Brentford are capable of in the Premier League.

In this tactical analysis, we will examine the tactics employed by Wrexham during attacking long throw-ins, analysing how they have created numerous high-quality chances from this approach.

This set-piece analysis will examine the various methods used when attacking throw-ins and why this method of chance creation has the potential to become more prevalent in football.

Why can throw-ins be effective?

The first and most obvious reason as to how throw-ins differ from any other offensive set-piece is the fact that players cannot be offside when receiving the ball from the throw-in taker.

Throw-ins always start in positions where there is a clear path to the goal, so in its simplest form, a throw-in can be launched towards a player standing next to the goal, who cannot be offside due to the rules of the game.

This obviously can only be the case when the throw-in taker has a big enough throw that can reach the goal without being intercepted by defenders in between the thrower and the goal.

As a result, teams must always defend deep inside their own six-yard box to prevent opposition attackers from receiving a free header on goal from a yard or two out.

Defending deep results in the offside line dropping so deep that it basically means attacking players can never be offside.

The image below illustrates the depth of the line, as the defenders are forced to mark the attacking Wrexham players, who generally stand within the opponents goal.

A benefit of no risk of offside is the ability to both distract the goalkeeper and the potential to receive the ball close to the goal, where one flick can be enough to score a goal.

This part of a throw-in will be discussed in detail further down the post.

Furthermore, unlike in free kicks, not being offside means that players can affect the keepers positioning and vision without committing any fouls.

There are two different options a goalkeeper can take when defending against attacking throw-ins; a passive or aggressive approach.

If a goalkeepe