Fans Forum - Thursday 15 February

[Hants_red]

Gary on injury updates:

Ben's been back in training the last couple of days
Milli has been part training last week, full training this week
Demi won't be back this season, but he should be fully fit for the start of pre-season

 

[Egg]

Gary on injury updates:

▪ Ben's been back in training the last couple of days
▪ Milli has been part training last week, full training this week
▪ Demi won't be back this season, but he should be fully fit for the start of pre-season

What about Caleb?

 

[Egg]

Not sure this idea that short corners are more productive than long ones ain't an urban myth!

Short Corners vs Crossed Corners

Two teams focused heavily on each of these types of corners with equally underwhelming results. Everton crossed 95.4% of their corners directly into the middle, while Manchester United took 34.2% of their corners short – both the highest proportions of all teams. Both teams scored only four goals from corner situations – the joint lowest among all Premier League teams.

But Liverpool crossed 90.2% of their corners – which might come as a bit of a surprise, simply because most people would expect the teams who are better in possession would fancy their chances with short corners – and, as we’ve already seen, they were among the most effective teams at corners in the Premier League.

Crossed corners drew a shot directly from the corner 20.8% of the time last season, while a surprisingly high 2.8% of short corners brought a shot straight away. However, only 1.3% of crossed corners were directed straight into the net, and unsurprisingly there was only only one assist from a short corner all season, when Jack Harrison curled into the far corner against Brighton after receiving a pass to feet.

Short corners are widely disliked by fans who think the ball should be lumped into the box at any opportunity, and there is actually a little difference between the two. Only 32.6% of short corners led to a shot from that passage of play, and only 3.3% led to a goal. Both figures rise – to 38.5% and 4.1%, respectively – when looking at crossed corners. It isn’t much difference, but it is a difference, and the reason so many managers are focusing more on set-pieces these days is because they want to make any opportunity count when their team is close to goal.

From: https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/08/premier-league-corner-stats-inswingers-vs-outswingers-short-vs-crossed-kai-havertzs-defending/

 

[Hants_red]

Gary on short corners:

We haven't been good at attacking corners, we were better at the start of the season
Statistically, the best way to score from a corner is from a short corner
We have good footballers who can drag players out at corners and free up space in the box

 

[Hants_red]

Gary on whether we need 4 goalkeepers:

It's good to have 4!
We only have 3 with Lee out on loan
Woods was injured earlier in the season, which is why MacDonald came in
The budget has allowed for it this season
We probably won't have 4 next season

 

[Hants_red]

Gary on why Aimson was made captain when he signed:

When Gary came in Matt Jay was club captain
Wearing the armband doesn't make you a leader
Sweeney was going through a tough time
Aimson was made team captain and Sweeney was made club captain
The two players get on well together and spread the responsibilities
Over the festive period Aimson was struggling and we wanted to develop Cole's leadership
We want to develop more leaders going forward and that will require giving them responsibilities

 

[Hants_red]

Gary on style of play:

At clubs he played in teams that dominated the ball
He wants his sides to be a possession-based team because it gives a better chance to win in the long term
Every player has different attributes, it's the staff's job to get players in areas where they can show their strengths and hide their weaknesses
He has adapted his philosophy out of possession from a man-to-man to a more zonal marking, leading to controlling games out of possession

 

[Grecian in Guzz]

Great work Peter Ferlie !

 

[MerleyRed]

This is almost unlistenable. The sound quality from the guy asking the questions’ mic is absolutely dreadful - I’m properly struggling with this

Have to say I was going to commend them. With earphones the sound quailty is better than I have ever heard it during previous forums.

 

[denzel]

Really good, this. Great that Ben and Millie have come along, pretty honest from Gary too.
Presume that Gary Woods is back now, so he is below McDonald in the pecking order.