6. We Need A New Set Piece Regime
Particularly when Mike Williamson is on the pitch Newcastle all too often attempt to use the same set-piece delivery every single time there's a throw close to the box or a corner. Magpies fans won't need reminding that the set-up, which is clearly something worked on on the training ground, involves aiming everything at Williamson at either the front post (for throw-ins) or back (for corners) for him to nod the ball on to the waiting masses in the box. Trouble is it never, ever works. The opposition is well aware of what the set-up is in every case, as even Atromitos were last night, simply putting three men on Williamson and stifling his opportunity to head the ball into the six yard area. And even if he had the free time and space to head it, the other problem is that Williamson is far from the best header of the ball at the club, frequently misdirecting headers or not putting enough power into them. Quite why he was chosen for this set-piece role, and why the team persist with it after three years of zero success with it is utterly baffling. When you have strikers of the calibre of Papiss Cisse on the pitch the idea of not trying to give him a direct opportunity to score from a set-piece is even more baffling, though it could be explained by a reasonable success rate with the alternative approach. But Newcastle don't score from corners anymore, and Ben Arfa proved at the weekend that a different approach to corners can reap benefits, but as long as Newcastle persist with this Williamson set-up we won't see that. So what do you think Newcastle fans? Did you see any positives in last night's game? Any concerns? Share your thoughts below.