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2 weeks ago, we let in a near post corner v Ajax where Lescott was sleeping, Yaya was sleeping & nobody blocked the runner.

That led to a huge discussion on here, players being slaughtered, the coaches criticised & the very idea of zonal marking brought into question, a country wide debate on the subject & Gary Neville in particular saying how he didn't like it when he was playing.

Now today, Arsenal have a corner, their CENTRE FORWARD, (who was signed mainly for his aerial ability) is in 6 clear yards of space 8 yards from goal & the ball lands perfectly on his bonce (then ball hits him in the face & goes harmlessly out for a goal kick, but that is because he is at OT, & his arse has gone & he is a fucking wanker). This if far far worse than a defender getting a run; we are talking CENTRE FORWARD here; as in GOALSCORER= MAIN THREAT, UNMARKED.

How do we explain this ? Are Utd using zonal marking ?

I don't know if they are or not, I haven't checked, but in general, why is it that if someone gets free from a zonal system, it's headline news, but all the other goals scored from set pieces or terrible mistakes don't merit a questioning of the conventional system ?

I think Ballsack or whoever blocked the scum defender leaving Giroud free

Dronny wrote:I think Ballsack or whoever blocked the scum defender leaving Giroud free

But if someone was stood in that zone, Giroud would not have been free, as it would have been someone's zone, which is exactly what I'm talking about.

(Ok, in our case it would be Yaya's zone, so free header for Giroud anyway, but the point is still valid).

Surely there was an uproar in England when managers used something other than 4-4-2. I bet they were criticized for it. Players came out and said they didn't like it.

Ted Hughes wrote: why is it that if someone gets free from a zonal system, it's headline news, but all the other goals scored from set pieces or terrible mistakes don't merit a questioning of the conventional system ?

It's because English people don't like different foreign things. And that zonal marking is easy for the lay person to identify so the discussion on a show trying to appeal to a mass audience isn't wasted on those that need a good knowledge of the game.

Either that or it's that pesky rag media again!

Interestingly enough, City didn't use a 100% zonal system v West Ham. Some, including Vinny, were definitely marking.

Ted Hughes wrote:Interestingly enough, City didn't use a 100% zonal system v West Ham. Some, including Vinny, were definitely marking.

Evidence of preparation?

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Interestingly enough, City didn't use a 100% zonal system v West Ham. Some, including Vinny, were definitely marking.

Evidence of preparation?

Probably.

Special plan to deal with Carroll etc I think. I wonder if it was only for that, or whether it will continue ?

Ted Hughes wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Interestingly enough, City didn't use a 100% zonal system v West Ham. Some, including Vinny, were definitely marking.

Evidence of preparation?

Probably.

Special plan to deal with Carroll etc I think. I wonder if it was only for that, or whether it will continue ?

I hope we have plans in place for every opposition centre-forward that will limit their team to the one shot on target that the Hammers had.

Ted Hughes wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:Interestingly enough, City didn't use a 100% zonal system v West Ham. Some, including Vinny, were definitely marking.

Evidence of preparation?

Probably.

Special plan to deal with Carroll etc I think. I wonder if it was only for that, or whether it will continue ?

We did something similar against Liverpool last season too - Vinnie advanced to stay tight on Suarez and stop him from turning and running at the defence.