"It's time to train Set Pieces"

Is it worth practicing set pieces both at the start and finish of every season, as a break in the main training?
Let’s think it through together.

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Manchester 1 - 1 Athletic (sensation drew with Master my lique)

23 minutes in, the referee awarded Manchester a penalty. Philip Robinson coolly slotted it home for a 1 - 0 lead.

Jens Ventre sailed high above the opponents as he headed the 1-1 goal in on a corner kick from Albert Larsen after 31 minutes of play.

40 minutes into the game, Athletic's Albert Larsen missed an opportunity to score the leading goal from a penalty when he delivered the shot straight into the keeper's hands.

More is here: (232066697)

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Here are three examples from a match regarding practice of set pieces. The first goal is scored by the best player of set pieces after a precisely taken penalty kick. The second one is scored during an amazing event (corner and header). However, in the third, the shot was saved by the goalkeeper - the level of the performed set pieces is magnificent.
What is the message?

Do you remember formulas from a handbook when you were in need of help?

Some of your basic attacks will result in a set pieces opportunity. Just as in real football, you can earn many points by being good at set pieces. There are two types of set pieces, direct and indirect also SP-related special events with varying projection and specialty game played with the head.
You can take a look at what the rules say here:
(http://www81.hattrick.ws/Help/Rules/SetPiecesAndSpecial.aspx)


How to interpret it?

As simple as that: how about training in Set Pieces (SP) for 2/4 weeks during a season break...? It will help improve the SP skills of footy players step by step as well as their ability to score goals via SP – it is so important when two rival football teams play, with the same level of ability.

Consider hiring two or three players who specialize in headers. Their position doesn’t play a key role, however, it should be in a defenders’ favor which can give you a longed-for championship or a draw against the favorite team whose level of training is much higher.

I am sure that those teams who have trained in SP have a greater possibility of scoring a Hat-trick after numerous changes. It is high time the comprehensive season finished and SET PIECE training started- it’s a perfect time.

Follow my advice and you will see how many goals will be scored thanks to free kicks, penalties and others in the next seasons. Why am I so sure about me being right?.

I wrote this article in accordance with analyses of 50 matches including those in which my team participated as well as from my own observations where very often SP determined the result of a match.

In the latest 50 matches (league, cup and friendlies) over two seasons my team scored 185 goals, of which 20% were in direct or indirect connection with SP:

Penalty kicks-12 goals

Free kicks-10 goals

Headers -12 goals

A goal from a different kick-5

It’s said that numbers don’t lie- I agree:) The question arises whether 20% of overall goals is worth practicing SP? Its it hard to disagree:) Everybody has their own vision of building their own team. I find it amazing that every team has got a different conception of tactics.

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I asked for the opinions of some of our masters from Polish Premiership, what they think of it.

Here are some of them:

Miner_- Biała Gwiazda (260294)

What methods and tactics should be practiced depends on the quality of the team you own. Every team is different. Those ones consisting of youngsters, in my view, should carry on improving their passing as the is more likely to increase the value of these players. Training of SP is advised for more experienced teams. In the first league such options aren’t in its favor as most teams practice their shape and stopping doing so may have unwanted consequences for them.

Taking SP into consideration, they have a huge impact on results. I can’t imagine playing football without at least one player(set piece specialist) who is responsible for SP performance. I ve always had one since establishment of my VI league. It is obvious that if we play in a weak league and we win by few goals we don’t have to pay attention to details. What we need is one or two good attacks. Nevertheless, if the skill level rises then consideration of details becomes more important.

Playing against a team with a very good defence, without a set-piecer is equal to giving up at least 3 points for the opponent.

For example, I myself scored 11 goals out of 24 (apart from meetings with Simlocker), from SP in this season.

Limar – Krasnale (263330)

I think that set pieces play a key role in tournaments and every team should have a great set-piecer.

In the last 15 seasons of the league approximately 13% of my attempts on goal were from SP( 6% were penalties with 92% effectiveness and 7% were free kicks with 66% effectiveness)

However, I don’t like the idea of practicing SP during a season break. In the old system, where there was up to 50 players it would definitely be unprofitable.

Nowadays, individual players, rather than all members of a team practice it. Thus, hiring a set piecer would be an investment. In addition, using SP skills of other players has also some benefits for a team.

However, sometimes it’s better to stick to the same training but if you want to improve the level of your team, you can always hire some more players if you make a profit out of it.

To conclude, It is worth building an appropriate team and training SP throughout a season which I am sure will make some profit.

Piotrek6660 – Leśne Dziadki (264263)

What do you think of practicing SP during a season break?

It is irrelevant for the development of a team, as benefits and profits are hardly noticeable.

What in your opinion is their influence on the match results?

It depends on your luck as well as your opponent. Not only do we have direct goals which are a struggle between a shooter and a goalkeeper but also free kicks. In those cases, both our team and the opponent needs skills. If a match is fierce SP will decide which team wins it- they are especially important in cup finals and top flight leagues where the quality of a match is much higher. Whereas, when there are teams of unequal ability the relevance of SP declines-especially that they arent present very often. To win set SP team needs possession of the ball. SP are more dependent on possession than classic actions (open play).

So much for the old school master. And that could end the article, but I'll go ahead:) Let's see how it looks live during training. What's happening?
In next part object will see a difference between a player who begins to practice SP and a player who has been practicing for 3 seasons:)

What should we do about the SP? -I don’t know. Nonetheless, it’s worth considering whether it is the time of SP and events in HT.

18 jumps during the first training was done by the beginners of SP, X-Tream-HandF Kraków-Balice Team(1306953). In order to reach a high level the jumps have to be fast and frequent and practiced a week after week. If you want to become an expert your should practice them every two trainings. You need to have 3-4 full and 100% effective trainings in order to pass the jump.

He set a task of practicing SP and is glad that he has to perform such number of jumps Who wasn’t be? At the beginning of the training your jumps are weak, poor and mediocre.

Lets analyze for comparison the end of a specialist training of Budapren - FC Budapren Legnica(477396). We can see the trained skills by looking at their latest trainings before the end of the league season and one week later.

“Just” 11 jumps two times on higher levels – they are trained step by step then there is a change as they practice a different SP every 2-3 weeks. It much quicker than practicing different skills.

The question arises whether it is worth of being engaged in SP training?
What The Budapren team think? Here is one of their statements placed on HATTRICK and FRIENDS(74590) forum on trainings.

22-08-2009 09.37 Budapren FC Budapren Legnica Poland IV.42

I'll put it like that: after a 3 seasons of training I conclude that it is one of the best trainings in top leagues and have some thoughts on it. Also, I worked out some patterns which already are improving the quality of the team without changing their tactics. The latest season helped me for the first time make up my mind whether a training or a result is more important. That’s why they have got to the III league whilst the BTL semifinal.

Moreover, In every team there should be at least one SP.

What is more important, every team would like to have a SP goalkeeper. Two goalkeepers are trained for 2,5 year. That’s why I sell one of them for 20 pounds despite the fact I bought him for 13.

It is true that is I bought a solid and train him would make more money after 2,5 years. However, I would have to train 2 of them instead of 22 who I am training now. In this case, the rest of the players would lose their quality opposed to now

Edit says that one of the best teams regarding different skills according to this year statistics (apart from the latest match) is my team.

Long shot – 0
Free indirect kicks –(3)
Penalties-8 (8)
Free kicks – 7(4)
Header – 3(2)

Goals saved by my goalkeeper (he’s got SP skills)

Long shot- 0
free indirect kicks -2(o)
penalties – 2(1)
free kicks - 2(0)
Header – 1(0)

My effectiveness – 22(17)=77%

The opponents’ effectiveness 7(1)=14%

He is an excellent goalkeeper, presently from WC SP, edited 22/08/2009 09.49 by Budapren.

Decisions regarding the practice of SP should be made by yourself by following your own intuition (whether practice it or not be bothered).

My aim was to draw attention to new trends in Hattrick in connection with the game and possibilities of starting an equal fight with a stronger opponent through trained SP and special event from different shots. Am I right? We will see! The game hasn’t finished yet!




Original titles: Czas na trening stałych fragmentów cz.1 (5927) and Czas na trening stałych fragmentów cz.2 (6010)

Link directly to this article (HT-ML, for the forum): [ArticleID=6306]