How mastering set pieces can be crucial to Premier League survival
New York TimesWhen Thomas Frank’s Brentford were promoted to the Premier League in the summer of 2021, the Danish head coach and his staff identified three key areas they needed to focus on if they wanted to maintain their place in England’s top division. With a rate of seven goals for every 100 set pieces, Burnley were the Premier League’s most effective side from free kicks and corners in 2018-19. West Ham didn’t top the league in terms of goals per 100 set pieces, but having the fourth-best rate certainly helped. Even when taking into consideration the number of set pieces they had, Bournemouth’s 4.5 goals per 100 set pieces narrowly edged Villa’s rate of 4.4. Brentford’s focus on set pieces was clear in their first season in the Premier League, scoring 16 times from dead-ball situations with a rate of 4.8 goals per 100 set pieces — the sixth-best rate in the league.
History of this topic
Manchester United hits Premier League low after conceding against Bournemouth
The Hindu
Didier Drogba claims to have answer to stop Arsenal scoring from set-pieces
The Independent
Gianni Vio on the art of set pieces: ‘They are a game within the game’
New York Times
Aston Villa have learned to love set pieces – and the man who devises them
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