Unlocking the Secrets of Set-Pieces: Exclusive Insights from Specialist Coach Andy Parslow

The emergence of specialist set-piece coaches has become pivotal in football as the sport strives for an advantage. But what exactly is their role and who are the newest trailblazers? A discussion with Andy Parslow provides some insight.

Having served as a restarts coach at Wimbledon and a specialist set-piece coach at Swansea, Parslow has successfully enhanced the performance of both teams. Initially, the players exhibited a sense of cautious curiosity, as Parslow diplomatically puts it, but that perception has since evolved.

Cardiff City

Swansea City

Saturday 16th September 7:30pm

Kick off 7:45pm

Football has undergone significant transformations, particularly regarding set pieces. In discussing man-to-man marking, Parslow recalls an interesting conversation. They shared that some individuals appreciate this tactic because it makes it easier to assign blame if a goal is scored. However, Parslow believes that such thinking is not productive and rather indicative of a losing mindset. Nowadays, clubs are placing great emphasis on set pieces and even hiring full-time staff to handle them, highlighting the increased thought and sophistication devoted to this aspect of the game.

Every point and goal in the game can be worth millions at the highest level. By investing in a specialized set-piece coach, teams can achieve tremendous rewards. "In my opinion, it is a significant return on a relatively small investment," says Parslow. However, this market is currently underappreciated and slightly misunderstood. Some people in the football world, like Jurgen Klopp introducing a throw-in coach, may face ridicule from certain sections of the media.

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Casemiro scored a goal for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest during a set-piece routine. Parslow considers these small advantages as inherent in the game, a necessary step in enhancing a team's likelihood of achieving success.

Parslow emphasizes that your role is not about seeking fame but about assisting the team in winning a football game. It is a practical duty rather than a glamorous one. He cautions against unnecessary complexity, as there is a risk in making things overly complicated.

He points out that the corner spot and the goal remain stationary, suggesting that while there are possibilities, there are likely limitations on what needs to be done. The primary objective is still to prevent goals and to score them. His approach to set pieces can be summed up in a straightforward mantra.

"Be good at scoring bad goals."

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Andy Parslow worked as a specialist set-pieces coach for Swansea City

However, how can a team achieve this? While the quality of the delivery is crucial, it is primarily beyond the coach's control. Parslow emphasizes the importance of focusing on what occurs afterward. "As a coach, you need to consider the potential next move of the ball," he states.

"Suppose the cross is over-hit; do we have a player in position as a backup? If it hits the first man and is cleared, do we have someone ready to swiftly attack the ball and keep the offensive momentum going? We can exploit the disarray before the defense has a chance to regroup effectively.

The box covers multiple zones, and we aim to cover various second-contact areas to improve our chances of creating opportunities. Relying solely on a perfect routine will significantly restrict our ability to score. Thus, it is crucial to have dynamic movement within the penalty box.

To tilt the odds in your favor, it is crucial to alter the dynamics. As a defender, when my opponent dashes from point A to B, I am presented with a singular choice. However, if he initiates from the rear, advances two yards, stops abruptly, changes course, and only then proceeds behind me, I am suddenly burdened with contemplating five or six variables.

It is essential to keep in mind that the ball is being delivered into the penalty area, requiring me to anticipate its trajectory. In an instant, the number of decisions to be made escalates, thereby heightening the likelihood of an erroneous judgment and ultimately increasing the chances of an opportunity arising.

The impact of these changes may seem insignificant, but when combined, they can yield significant results, as demonstrated by Wimbledon and Swansea.

During the 2021/22 season in League One, Wimbledon saw a remarkable 83% increase in goals scored from set pieces, totaling 18 goals, compared to the previous season. This improvement was so remarkable that the players were fully committed to executing any instruction, as exemplified by the statement, "After that, I could probably have told them to do cartwheels in the box and they would have done it. They were all in." Similarly, at Swansea last season, the number of goals scored from set pieces increased six-fold, showcasing the substantial impact of these alterations.

Currently serving as a consultant to various clubs in the Football League and beyond, Parslow is eager to secure a full-time position once again. He compares his current situation to going to the gym, explaining that consistent effort, even if it's just 15 minutes a day, yields better results than sporadic, intensive sessions that are never followed up.

In the meantime, he shares with us some of his preferred set-piece strategies from the current season and dispels misconceptions by answering five commonly asked questions about corner routines.

"I have found one particular innovation to be quite enjoyable. It involves teams strategically positioning all 10 outfield players up for the corner, leaving nobody back on the halfway line. Several Premier League clubs have adopted this tactic, as have some teams in the Championship. Additionally, while watching a League One match, I noticed that Burton Albion also implemented this strategy.

This approach puts immense pressure on the defending team. Not only do they have to contend with the ball being delivered into the box, but now they also have to deal with the increased number of short options available to the attacking team. Furthermore, once the ball is cleared, there is a higher likelihood of it returning back into the danger zone due to the edge of the box being effectively guarded."

In terms of the delivery itself, inducing defensive confusion proves beneficial. Parslow notes that adopting an ambiguous starting position, as seen with Brentford's effectiveness and Tottenham's strategy from last season, prevents opponents from predicting the routine. As the players assume their positions just before the delivery, it becomes more challenging for defenders to track their movements. This approach generates increased panic among defenders and intensifies the pressure, which is an innovative tactic that I appreciate.

Parslow highlights Casemiro's goal against Nottingham Forest. The play begins with Bruno Fernandes passing the ball and then positioning himself to receive it back. According to Parslow, when the play shifts to the opposite side, Fernandes becomes less of a concern for the opposition. This allows him to find open space without being closely marked. Additionally, Casemiro strategically positions himself in an offside position, placing him ahead of the defensive line. As a result, when the ball is delivered, Casemiro is now onside, making it effortless for him to score.

Alexander Isak replicated the same tactic with his goal for Newcastle against Aston Villa. The strategy involved altering the angle of the free-kick, leading to the ball being lofted to Dan Burn. Isak, arriving from an offside position, easily tapped it into the net. I appreciate the idea of changing the angle as it presents a new challenge for the opposition.

Teams anticipate the moment when the ball is placed for a free-kick. They extensively prepare for such situations. By shifting the point of attack, it disrupts the opponent's mindset and raises more uncertainties in their thoughts. They are left questioning their next move. While this tactic cannot be employed consistently, it revolves around maintaining an element of unpredictability.

INNOVATIONS OF THE SEASON SO FAR

The Frustration of Crosses

QUESTIONS ABOUT CORNERS EXPLAINED

Seeing a cross failing to beat the defender at the near post is a familiar annoyance for fans. "I know it bothers people," says Parslow. "However, humans are not perfect and they make mistakes. The delivery is not always going to be perfect. It's part of football. It happens."

The reason why corner takers whip the ball towards the near post with speed is because there is a risk-reward factor. "Naturally, it's because the team is trying to attack the near post. In general, if you win the first contact at the near post, it's difficult to defend," adds Parslow.

When discussing defensive strategies with my team, my main focus is to prevent the opponent from getting ahead of our markers. If they manage to get behind them, we still have the opportunity to adjust and the ball has to travel over their heads, allowing us more time to react. However, once we are beaten in front, our chances of success decrease significantly.

The vulnerability of this area makes it a prime target for opposing teams to score goals. Therefore, we place great emphasis on protecting this zone. Although it is challenging to deliver the ball accurately to that area, persistence is key as it only takes one successful attempt out of eight to make it work.

Why do corners not beat the first defender?

West Ham's opening goal during their victory over Chelsea in August reopened the debate on defensive marking. "Conor Gallagher was assigned to mark Nayef Aguerd, and Aguerd managed to score from James Ward-Prowse's corner. I'm sure there were questions as to why Gallagher was marking him.

"However, it's important to note that Gallagher's role wasn't primarily to win the header. His main task was to disrupt the momentum enough so that the other players in his designated zones could come and win the header. From my perspective, the players in the zones should have been more proactive in attacking the ball for that goal. This highlights the presence of common misconceptions surrounding marking strategies."

Why have small players mark tall players?

On the question of why someone small marks someone big, despite the presence of other big players on the team, the answer lies in the fact that these big players are designated to occupy specific areas on the field. When a team employs a zonal marking strategy with five players, their primary objective is to secure the initial contact with the ball. On the other hand, the smaller markers are tasked with the disruption of the opposition's attacking play.

The subsequent inquiry that naturally arises is why teams do not always focus on targeting their tallest attacker. The reason for this is that height alone does not guarantee proficiency in attacking the ball. Some individuals who possess remarkable height may not necessarily excel in heading, while there are players of smaller stature who possess exceptional ability in aerial duels.

Consider that targeting the largest player on the opposing team may not be the wisest strategy, as it is likely the one they have planned for. Instead, I prefer to assess where we hold the greatest advantage. Evaluating a player's goal-scoring record may not accurately reflect their effectiveness during corner kicks. Parslow highlights Millwall's success last season with Jake Cooper, who stands at approximately 6'5" and consistently dominates in winning the initial headers from corner kicks.

Millwall

Leeds United

Sunday 17th September 11:30am

Kick off 12:00pm

The strategy involved hanging the ball high around the penalty spot, with the objective being to secure the first contact. However, scoring directly was not their primary focus. The hungry strikers recognized this as their opportunity to capitalize and capitalize they did, often scoring many goals from the ensuing scrappy moments. This was all part of the plan – aiming for the tallest player to draw in more opponents, causing increased chaos, and ultimately leading to more goals. Certain teams excel at executing this tactic.

Why not aim for the tallest player?

"To begin with, it is essential to assess your team's capabilities in attacking corners. If your team lacks height, focusing solely on putting the ball in the box may not be effective. In fact, it could play into the hands of the opposing team if they have a tall and strong lineup.

Therefore, adopting alternative strategies such as guarding against your own weaknesses or exploiting any structural vulnerabilities in the opponent's formation becomes crucial. Opting for a short corner, for instance, could create better scoring opportunities compared to simply crossing the ball into the box."

The threat of a short corner can be advantageous if it causes confusion and doubt among the opposing team. Brentford demonstrates this tactic effectively by employing two main takers, typically Mathias Jensen and Bryan Mbeumo, with a third player positioned nearby or on the edge of the penalty area.

Occasionally, instead of delivering the ball directly into the box, they use this strategy to raise further questions for the opposition. Should they engage and challenge for the ball? How far should they go, considering they cannot reach the entire distance? This uncertainty prompts them to attempt to gain a few extra yards, consequently opening up more space within the penalty area.

When it comes to the short corner, fans often groan in disappointment. Another common complaint is why their team brings back all the players to defend a corner instead of leaving attackers up the field to pose a counter-attacking threat. Parslow explains there is a logical reasoning behind this.

"Football follows a general principle that aims to create space when attacking and restrict space when defending. One effective way to restrict space is by positioning more bodies inside the 18-yard box, leaving less room for attackers to exploit."

There are drawbacks. It can cause congestion on the field and impede defenders from effectively intercepting the ball. Furthermore, teams' defensive strategies for corner kicks typically vary based on the composition of their players.

This raises a query since, in general, when one player stays forward, teams tend to have two players positioned further back in defense. However, this decision ultimately depends on the capabilities of the squad. Certain players may not contribute significantly to the team's defensive efforts, thus it might be more advantageous to keep them positioned at the halfway line.