Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa - 8 Things We Learned From Villa Draw
7. NUFC Need To Work On Corner Delivery
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On far too many occasions yesterday, set-piece delivery into the box was woefully poor with a number of corner takers, including the usually much better Yohan Cabaye, failing to beat the first man or dropping crosses harmlessly into Villa 'keeper Brad Guzan's welcoming arms. Such consistent failure suggests that something is wrong with the team's preparations, and Newcastle almost certainly need to work on their deliveries into the box, particularly when they have two strikers who proved last season that they have the ability to score when the ball is put into the box with purpose and pace. With that in mind, quite why every single cross was lofted high into the box, rather than hit with pace, and why every corner was aimed at the front post is a serious matter for debate. After the Atromitos away game, I discussed Newcastle's lack of variation in the set-pieces, and the problem with only ever aiming for Mike Williamson at the back post, and rather worryingly I found myself during the Villa game wishing that Pardew would throw Williamson on so the set-piece takers and crossers of the ball could have something familiar to aim at. Please, Pardew, get your coaching team on the delivery of crosses in the two weeks that Newcastle now have off for the international break - because on the strength of the Villa game, it's something that needs some serious attention.