Set plays have always been critical to the outcome of football matches. However, they have been assigned even greater importance by clubs in recent years. It is now commonplace for top-level clubs to have set-play-specific analysts and/or coaches. These are positions that did not even exist just a few years ago.
Brentford were one of the pioneering clubs in the Premier League in their approach to set plays and the importance they attributed to them. This approach has paid off over the clubs three seasons in the Premier League, having been promoted from the Championship in 2021. Brentford are consistently amongst the most dangerous teams from set-pieces.
This tactical theory focuses on Brentfords attacking corner kicks and analyses several of the tactical traits involved in Brentfords corners. This tactical analysis explores how Brentford use different set-ups but have similar traits and tactics for each corner kick. Furthermore, our tactical analysis includes sample training exercises that coaches can use to improve efficiency at corner kicks.
Brentfords corner set-up
The above tactical diagram shows Brantfords typical set-up for attacking corners. Although the exact positioning of players changes every game, and sometimes per corner, there are common trends.
One consistent trait is that all outfield players are involved in the attack, with the goalkeeper in the centre-circle in his own half. When the opposition leave a player high (rare in the Premier League), Brentford has dropped a player back and gone one-on-one.
Typically, one player (sho
