Recently, set-piece analysis has evolved rapidly as teams have begun to recognise the importance of capitalising on every detail during the game.
However, there is room to develop as a field in football analysis.
One of the most interesting aspects is how teams have started manipulating the opponent by finding new uses for the edge-of-the-box players, or rebound players, in attacking corners.
The first traditional use of the rebound players is to secure against counterattacks when the ball is cleared away.
They may also need to be ready to shoot if the ball is cleared near the edge of the box, especially when the attacking team have a good shooter.
Depending on the opponents defending scheme, they could also be involved in short-corner routines, being asked to participate in short-corner rotations with specific instructions.
The last common use of rebound players is getting the ball, rotating the ball and implementing the second-wave plan to keep attacking or crossing again.
However, many new and different tactics have appeared, like running quickly to the cross as the targeted players, while some of the box players get back as the new rebound players.
This tactical analysis will discuss the various trendy uses for edge-of-the-box players in corners.
Tactics Of Targeting Edge-Of-The-Box Players Directly
The first use we will talk about is asking the targeted players to pretend that they are the edge-of-the-box players, waiting for the rebound.
As the routine starts, they will run as targeted players free and unmarked, while other players run back to be the real rebound players.
In the photo below, Bournemouth scored against Arsenal from this idea.
Arsenal defend with four zonal defenders (red), five man markers and a rebound player (green).
Andoni Iraola put six Cherries players inside the box, two on the edge of the box and a counterattack player (out of the shot) in addition to the taker.
As the taker moves, the two rebound players run quickly, surprising Bukayo Saka.
He also has an issue: which player should he follow, the real targeted player (blue) or the other rebound player, who moves to distract him?
new-trendy-uses-tactics-for-edge-of-the-box-players-in-corners-set-piece-analysis-tactics
In the photo below, two players run back instead of them in an amazing, simple idea that has many benefits:
Freeing the real runners
The two real rebound players should be made to take the attention of two-man markers and then go back to their real role instead of just standing, waiting for the rebound from the beginning.
We can also see that the free runner (because of the 6v5 situation over the man markers) blocks the first zonal defender, Ben White, to prevent him from entering the targeted area.
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