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Ok this has been a long running subject & one of my own particular anorak subjects going back to probably pre Mancini days.

Well tonight folks, was one of the best, if not THE best examples of cornerkickery, I've ever seen.

I don't do gifs etc but if I did, I'd prove it.

Those of you who are similarly anoraky, or just watching re runs of the game in the near future: have a look at this.

We have discussed the 'near post' corner routine, & how it has worked or almost worked on many occasions this season, & sometimes in previous seasons. But those watching re runs of tonight's game, just check out Dzeko's position for each corner.

Nowhere even remotely close to near post. Demi, Vinny etc take it in turns to attack that area but not Dzeko. He is at one point early doors, on the far edge of the 'D' outside the box when we hit a near post corner. Other times he is far post six yard box etc, then even wins a header which he should have scored from a corner variation aimed at the far post. In other previous corners, Demi & VK are attacking near post.

THEN, VK moves as if to attack the near post, then does a left turn blocking off Fellaini, Dzeko, who has ALWAYS, gone back post, ghosts in & plants the ball in the back of the fucking net.

This is tactical fucking poetry in motion. Doug watched them doing corners & probably knew all about it (unless they save thar bit for indoors).

This is sublime stuff from mamager & players. It doesn't get any better.

I commented earlier this week Ted that we did excellent against fulham, not one corner hit the first man. This has been an issue with me for some time, however, against fulham we played the corner kicks excellently.

Corners against Fulham were excellent, although I put that down to their poor marking. I wasn't sure we'd get away with it last night, as that short corner must have been spotted. Not a problem, everyone was put into the box, none hit the first man, none were easy catches for the keeper.

Mix the two styles up against Arsenal and we'll surely score from at least one. It's taken a while, but we look a threat again.

Some excellent points Ted.

Mixing up the movement and players in each area are a sign of preparation, and the other key is delivery, with Nasri often putting the ball into the right area and beating the first man. More please.

Goaters 103 wrote:Some excellent points Ted.

Mixing up the movement and players in each area are a sign of preparation, and the other key is delivery, with Nasri often putting the ball into the right area and beating the first man. More please.

The one of most interest to me was when Demichelis got the near post flick on. If you watch it again, they all go too early and Kompany heads for the near post, then they go back and swap rather than Vinny making the same run and the defender being ready. That was a real sign for me of some serious organisation going into these set pieces, perhaps reflected by our struggles in front of goal by the forwards in recent months

I think the desire to be first to the ball played it's part just as much as the organisation and delivery. At times the delivery has been decent but we've lacked that conviction to win the ball ahead of the opponent. Everything was spot on last night and we looked like we could score from every corner we had.