Corners can be a superb source of goals for your FM14 team and taking the time to set them up right can be a huge advantage over your opponent. Corners are so easily wasted and with the wrong set up, you risk being caught on the break and conceding from your own corner; surely a source of deep shame for any committed FM connoisseur.
Let's take a look at some basic organisation using my Sheffield Wednesday team as an example. I have made some signings so this purely my starting line up but the principles are the same for any team and we will explain why each player is where he is.
Sheffield Wednesday are in fact an ideal example as they have some an impressively physical team with some players very capable of producing good headers.
1) Initial set-up
Here we have the basic takers of my set pieces. The abilities aren't amazing for these guys so being smart with the organisation is all the more important. We've got Rhys Macabe and Miguel Llera on corner duty. Now we love in-swinging corners, they cause chaos in defenses and put the pressure on the Goalkeeper to come and claim the ball. With a decent corner taker it is usually effective. Both left and right corners are set to 'Aim at Near Post'.
2) The right players in the right places.
This is my standard corner taking set up and is demonstrated above. This corner is being taken from the left side of the pitch by Rhys Macabe. The two best headers of the ball, Miguel Llera and Atdhe Nuhiu are at the near post where the ball will be played. Nuhiu is set to 'Attack Near Post' whilst Llera is set to 'Near Post Flick On'. Reda Johnson is set to 'Stand on Far Post' Whilst Kamil Zayatte is set to 'Attack Far Post'. These are the four guys you hope will be involved in the initial phase of the corner.
The ideal corner would see Nuhiu rising above his marker and heading the ball in. If the ball is less accurate, Llera is told to flick the ball on towards Zayatte who is attacking the far post. Johnson is standing on the far post and provides further physical presence, hopefully drawing another tall marker to him, allowing Zayatte to head the ball towards goal.
I will usually and have here, left two quick players back in defence. Opponents will often tell quick, smaller players to stay forward whilst they are defending a corner, you must be aware to this and make sure you have adequate cover should the corner not be successful.
In addition, Nahki Wells is set to 'Lurk Outside the Area'. You want a quick player in this position, capable of picking the ball up and creating something. Wells is a good choice. Liam Palmer is set to the standard, 'Go Forward' Whilst Jose Semedo is set to 'Attack Ball From Deep'. Semedo would seek to attack either a clearance, or a flick on from Llera which loops in the air or fails to reach Zayette.
We've found this to be a very useful set up for corners. Training will also be crucial and make sure the team is getting adequate coaching in this area and focusing on attacking set pieces at least once a week.
