The tactics of throw-ins

[Eddie]

Over the past few months, we've spent more and more time discussing Mowbray's preferred formation, tactics, and set-up. So I thought it might be interesting to post an interview that we just did with Thomas Gronnemark, a freelance throw-ins coach that currently works with Liverpool and a number of other European clubs.

It was really interesting to talk to him about how undervalued throw-ins are, what makes a good throw-in, and his career in general.

He spoke about working with the likes of Brentford in the Championship, but it might be something that a club like us should think about in the near future.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qiXtfqsvV3dOj3iTu4F2b?si=_R9ztrxCQJyF3Alc-ZIPFg

[philipl]

I have noticed other clubs are much cuter with their throw-ins than we are.

[Eddie]

It's been a long time since I've really had any confidence in any of our set pieces (and I'll include throw-ins in that mix).

[windymiller7]

Do we even practise throw ins at all?

Most of the time the thrower seems to stand there looking for options whilst everyone else stands round looking at each other.

Eventually, someone moves towards the thrower,  receives the ball, plays it back to him & then it either gets hoofed down the line or passed back. That's all assuming the defender doesn't win it first. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Even as an amateur player we had a code for where the ball was going. Hold it in my right hand before throwing the ball, that meant it was going to my right so somebody make a late run there. Ditto my left hand. It was amazing how nobody caught on. That was when the wing half took all the throw ins.

[Wood26]

Changing subject slightly but in relation to tactics, something I just don’t understand is, why do teams like us who play possession football and passing game, always lump it aimlessly from kick off?

[Guest]

On 03/12/2020 at 21:52, Wood26 said:

Changing subject slightly but in relation to tactics, something I just don’t understand is, why do teams like us who play possession football and passing game, always lump it aimlessly from kick off?

That's a territorial thing. A little like Rugby, with field position. A whopping 65% of our goals come from winning the ball back in transition. So the hope is that the opposition team having the ball in a non-threatening defensive third area, will actually bring us more success than holding the possession ourselves in our own half.

We saw against Brentford the benefits of winning it back high up the field early on. A little like the tactical short kick offs you see in Rugby League.

[philipl]

Great article on football tactics which have come from Germany.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/sports/soccer/man-united-RB-leipzig-ralf-rangnick.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20201208&instance_id=24813&nl=todaysheadlines&regi_id=51793659&segment_id=46313&user_id=ea9bf3fba8ef2ae1ebee7fe2fad99a21

Pay-off line- a third of goals come from set pieces- corners freekicks and thow-ins.

But a third of training time is not devoted to set pieces.

I just wonder given the quality and variety of Barnsley's corners if their Manager has read the book?

[Eddie]

With throw-ins also making the news after the North London derby at the weekend.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lazy-incompetent-and-a-failure-to-accept-responsibility-how-one-throw-in-sums-up-the-malaise-at-arsenal-ndv9vznrj