Zonal Marking

[Im_Spartacus]

Problem with Zonal Marking is if you come up against a forward who makes the right run at the right time they have a clear run at goal without the interference of a defender tugging and pushing if they were man marking. But seen as though our defenders lose their man so often its worth a go at zonal

Read the first sentence of your post and thought, "but this is what I have seen for the last 18 months"

As per Torres - remember the fiasco last September - had we defended the area instead of trying to defend the players, Torres would not have scored 1, let alone 2 goals.

For example, Richards is a good defender, but got made to look a dick against Torres who blocked Richards at the corner and scored with ease. But had Richard been defending that near post area, I have full faith that Micah would have won the ball against Torres no danger.

I have to say I can definately see the benefits of defending the area rather than the man.

[Beefymcfc]

If the opposition get onto it early we'd be fucked? The way the Wolves attackers had all that space in our box tonight was just to risky??

Now that's the truth, the real truth and nothing but the truth ;-)

We can get away with it against the likes of McCarthy, but not against the likes of Wenger or Taggart. Luckily, we've got the time to sort it out before we play them.

[colonel_muck]

If the opposition get onto it early we'd be fucked? The way the Wolves attackers had all that space in our box tonight was just to risky??

i think so sven once other managers realise we've changed our system, i think we'll be in trouble. its too risky all it takes is one player to not 100% understand whats going on (and our defenders don't strike me as the most intelligent lol) and you're a goal down

[Robert]

i was impressed by the 3 lines of 3 off corners

edit: just read the entire thread, people are over complicating defending its really embrassing, toure should be 1 yard to the left i'm not happy

[Robert]

If the opposition get onto it early we'd be fucked? The way the Wolves attackers had all that space in our box tonight was just to risky??

i think so sven once other managers realise we've changed our system, i think we'll be in trouble. its too risky all it takes is one player to not 100% understand whats going on (and our defenders don't strike me as the most intelligent lol) and you're a goal down

not that risky really was it, think about it!

[colonel_muck]

against wolves maybe it wasn't too risky, but wouldn't like to see it against drogba or torres

[Ted Hughes]

The difference with our so called zonal marking & the shite Liverpool etc do was that all our players moved away from goal & attacked the ball. Liverpool's are always stood jumping on the spot. I'd beat those poncy scouse fuckers in the air now but I wouldn't be so confident with Micah Richards charging head first toward me. Tonight was a massive improvement in technique but we still haven't faced a team with expert delivery & quality 'jumpers' yet.

If it works at Goodison v the umpalumpers, then we've cracked it.

[Ted Hughes]

If the opposition get onto it early we'd be fucked? The way the Wolves attackers had all that space in our box tonight was just to risky??

i think so sven once other managers realise we've changed our system, i think we'll be in trouble. its too risky all it takes is one player to not 100% understand whats going on (and our defenders don't strike me as the most intelligent lol) and you're a goal down

not that risky really was it, think about it!

I want what you've been smoking?!?!

We had pretty much 7 players infront of the near post whilst 6-7 Wolves players were on the edge of the 6 yard box, unmarked? How is that not risky? Ok it pulled off and we won 3-0 against a pretty shite Wolves team, but put us up against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Rags, they would figure us out within 5mins of play.

Usually people are getting free headers v us every game 6 yards from goal. The way we set up tonight any free headers were more like 15 yards from goal. That's a big improvement & as most of these fuckers these days can't head a ball to save their lives, a lot less likely to end up in our net.

[BlueMoonAwoken]

This is why we are not football managers, no one mentioned this before mancini got here. All the defenders are shit we was saying? maybe this small detail was hughes downfall? maybe the defenders we bought are more suited to zonal marking rather than man 2 man?

Because the defence looks so calm and controlled, The reason i think zonal works "if" you have defenders that are very good in the air is that the defenders also get a running jump at the ball rather than man 2 man where you get your shirt tugged or peter crouch is leaning all over you.

Have to say it needs more practice but i can see lescott finding zonal a piece of cake with his heading abillity?

[Ted Hughes]

This is why we are not football managers, no one mentioned this before mancini got here. All the defenders are shit we was saying? maybe this small detail was hughes downfall? maybe the defenders we bought are more suited to zonal marking rather than man 2 man?

Because the defence looks so calm and controlled, The reason i think zonal works "if" you have defenders that are very good in the air is that the defenders also get a running jump at the ball rather than man 2 man where you get your shirt tugged or peter crouch is leaning all over you.

Have to say it needs more practice but i can see lescott finding zonal a piece of cake with his heading abillity?

I still recon Toure, Ned, Zabba & Bridge are shit in the air. This just possibly gives us more chance of getting away with it.

[Im_Spartacus]

This is why we are not football managers, no one mentioned this before mancini got here. All the defenders are shit we was saying? maybe this small detail was hughes downfall? maybe the defenders we bought are more suited to zonal marking rather than man 2 man?

Because the defence looks so calm and controlled, The reason i think zonal works "if" you have defenders that are very good in the air is that the defenders also get a running jump at the ball rather than man 2 man where you get your shirt tugged or peter crouch is leaning all over you.

Have to say it needs more practice but i can see lescott finding zonal a piece of cake with his heading abillity?

I still recon Toure, Ned, Zabba & Bridge are shit in the air. This just possibly gives us more chance of getting away with it.

In which case if they are so shit in the air, fair dos to the feller who sees us as being less vulnerable by deploying this way.

BLUEMOONAWOKEN was fucking spot on tho - this is why we arent managers.........

[Ted Hughes]

This is why we are not football managers, no one mentioned this before mancini got here. All the defenders are shit we was saying? maybe this small detail was hughes downfall? maybe the defenders we bought are more suited to zonal marking rather than man 2 man?

Because the defence looks so calm and controlled, The reason i think zonal works "if" you have defenders that are very good in the air is that the defenders also get a running jump at the ball rather than man 2 man where you get your shirt tugged or peter crouch is leaning all over you.

Have to say it needs more practice but i can see lescott finding zonal a piece of cake with his heading abillity?

I still recon Toure, Ned, Zabba & Bridge are shit in the air. This just possibly gives us more chance of getting away with it.

In which case if they are so shit in the air, fair dos to the feller who sees us as being less vulnerable by deploying this way.

BLUEMOONAWOKEN was fucking spot on tho - this is why we arent managers.........

I think he put more bodies in there too. Hughes tended to leave lots of players in attacking positions but perhaps this way suits us better.

[Im_Spartacus]

This is why we are not football managers, no one mentioned this before mancini got here. All the defenders are shit we was saying? maybe this small detail was hughes downfall? maybe the defenders we bought are more suited to zonal marking rather than man 2 man?

Because the defence looks so calm and controlled, The reason i think zonal works "if" you have defenders that are very good in the air is that the defenders also get a running jump at the ball rather than man 2 man where you get your shirt tugged or peter crouch is leaning all over you.

Have to say it needs more practice but i can see lescott finding zonal a piece of cake with his heading abillity?

I still recon Toure, Ned, Zabba & Bridge are shit in the air. This just possibly gives us more chance of getting away with it.

In which case if they are so shit in the air, fair dos to the feller who sees us as being less vulnerable by deploying this way.

BLUEMOONAWOKEN was fucking spot on tho - this is why we arent managers.........

I think he put more bodies in there too. Hughes tended to leave lots of players in attacking positions but perhaps this way suits us better.

Yeah, your probably right - did you notice that even in the first half vs Stoke we defended corners with every man behind the ball.

I was surprised at the time, thinking surely we were the counter attacking threat at home vs Stoke so we should leave one up front, yet we won reasonably easily - but had no severe issues at set pieces, which were previously cardiac arrest moments.

I got from that the impression that so long as we dont concede, we will score thus will win - this is how I always thought it should be

[Ted Hughes]

This is why we are not football managers, no one mentioned this before mancini got here. All the defenders are shit we was saying? maybe this small detail was hughes downfall? maybe the defenders we bought are more suited to zonal marking rather than man 2 man?

Because the defence looks so calm and controlled, The reason i think zonal works "if" you have defenders that are very good in the air is that the defenders also get a running jump at the ball rather than man 2 man where you get your shirt tugged or peter crouch is leaning all over you.

Have to say it needs more practice but i can see lescott finding zonal a piece of cake with his heading abillity?

I still recon Toure, Ned, Zabba & Bridge are shit in the air. This just possibly gives us more chance of getting away with it.

In which case if they are so shit in the air, fair dos to the feller who sees us as being less vulnerable by deploying this way.

BLUEMOONAWOKEN was fucking spot on tho - this is why we arent managers.........

I think he put more bodies in there too. Hughes tended to leave lots of players in attacking positions but perhaps this way suits us better.

Yeah, your probably right - did you notice that even in the first half vs Stoke we defended corners with every man behind the ball.

I was surprised at the time, thinking surely we were the counter attacking threat at home vs Stoke so we should leave one up front, yet we won reasonably easily - but had no severe issues at set pieces, which were previously cardiac arrest moments.

I got from that the impression that so long as we dont concede, we will score thus will win - this is how I always thought it should be

I prefer the cavallier approach & was disappointed with the lack of attacking flair but it started to appear again tonight, later in the game, so I'm quite content that it's coming together nicely considering it's early days.

[Im_Spartacus]

Yeah, your probably right - did you notice that even in the first half vs Stoke we defended corners with every man behind the ball.

I was surprised at the time, thinking surely we were the counter attacking threat at home vs Stoke so we should leave one up front, yet we won reasonably easily - but had no severe issues at set pieces, which were previously cardiac arrest moments.

I got from that the impression that so long as we dont concede, we will score thus will win - this is how I always thought it should be

I prefer the cavallier approach & was disappointed with the lack of attacking flair but it started to appear again tonight, later in the game, so I'm quite content that it's coming together nicely considering it's early days.

Yup, have to agree

On Sat I was with a Liverpool fan who goes to most of their away games

He said straight away about us defending with 11 behind the ball and commented that this was normal for liverpool

What he said was different was the quality (Robinho not withstanding) of the attacking players who could all bag a goal

He did say that Robinho was one of the worst players he had ever seen in the premier league - and not much he saw on Sat changed that. He also - relevant to this thread said that Ireland seemed pretty pointless.

Tonight, Ireland was still pointless, as was Robinho when he came on, and we kept a clean sheet. Makes you wonder doesnt it.

[Ted Hughes]

Yeah, your probably right - did you notice that even in the first half vs Stoke we defended corners with every man behind the ball.

I was surprised at the time, thinking surely we were the counter attacking threat at home vs Stoke so we should leave one up front, yet we won reasonably easily - but had no severe issues at set pieces, which were previously cardiac arrest moments.

I got from that the impression that so long as we dont concede, we will score thus will win - this is how I always thought it should be

I prefer the cavallier approach & was disappointed with the lack of attacking flair but it started to appear again tonight, later in the game, so I'm quite content that it's coming together nicely considering it's early days.

Yup, have to agree

On Sat I was with a Liverpool fan who goes to most of their away games

He said straight away about us defending with 11 behind the ball and commented that this was normal for liverpool

What he said was different was the quality (Robinho not withstanding) of the attacking players who could all bag a goal

He did say that Robinho was one of the worst players he had ever seen in the premier league - and not much he saw on Sat changed that. He also - relevant to this thread said that Ireland seemed pretty pointless.

Tonight, Ireland was still pointless, as was Robinho when he came on, and we kept a clean sheet. Makes you wonder doesnt it.

Great pass from Robinho to Tevez though. Interesting to see him cropping up on the right wing. Bet he could land the ball right on RSC's head from there if he could be persuaded to actually attempt it.

[10.Goater_Legend]

Never been a fan of it myself, but it has been working for us so far when defending set-pieces. If Mancini can get the players to maintain how well there doing it at the minute i'll have no problems with us using it in the long term.

[Moonchesteri]

So far this season (and last season) we too often conceded from crosses or set-pieces because our players just lost their man for one second. Simple individual (man-)marking mistakes have been the reason for very long so why not try the zonal marking. So far so good.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

There are basically two different systems of marking players in set pieces (and varying combinations of both). In my opinion neither is perfect nor shit. Both have their pro's and cons.

What I do know though is that zonal marking can be super functional if every player knows what they are supposed to do. Weakness is of course that zonal marking is exactly as strong as it's weakest link. I'm fan though as it gets players involved better to defending. So far we've effectively been defending with three or four tall players and all our midgets have just been standing there doing nothing. In zonal marking they have job to do as well.

I've actually played in both systems in whatever level I used to play. When our coach introduced it, I was bit lost for a while as I was used to just saying 'I take that big lad'. However, I quickly noticed that I was winning even more headers but more importantly as I only had to concentrate on my own space could direct headers better away from box. If that makes any sense. And I'm not saying that I was anywhere near professional level but anyway.

[Vhero]

What I make of it is this they are both good systems man marking and zonal however zonal has worked for us this season in 2 games now and man marking hasn't so while its working why change things? Of course Mancini will move things about if he thinks we have been figured out he is that type of manager.