Zonal Marking the sequel... - soccer24-7.com Forums

Red Opal · Jun 21 2006, 12:32 PM

I know we've had a zonal marking thread ages ago but Id like to mention it again after watching England last night. We took a lot of **** off "experts" and supporters of other teams alike for the zonal system and every time we conceaded a goal we were the subject of digs from people like Lawro on MOTD etc. We conceaded at Old Trafford from a set piece and our system was the worst on the planet.

Now - in my opinion, every defensive system will concead goals. Your not gonna go through a season not conceading from a set piece. Your not gonna go through a whole season not conceading the odd daft goal or defensive error. What does my head in is that when Man to Man marking is shocking no-one blames the system. England last night - I saw a set piece fly in the net, then the next one hit the bar, the next one gets tipped onto the bar then the next one even hits the bar! Ignoring even the fact that we scored past the mancs at Anfield with a ball into the box whilst they're doing man to man - our defensive record last season was bloody excellent. Going summit like 10 games with conceading, our best since the 80s and looking very solid at the back - I think Rafa deserves huge credit for the system, teaching it to the players and sticking by it when it would of been easy to revert to man to man. And next season when the pundits over-analyse zonal and criticise us - just remember last nights England game.

brezipool · Jun 21 2006, 01:19 PM

Only 1 thing to say, best defence in the league last season.

Village_man · Jun 21 2006, 02:02 PM

Well said. When you put it like that I'd have till agree even though i never was a fan of zonal marking before

Shanks · Jun 21 2006, 02:43 PM

Thats what it all comes down to, nobody will go through a season without conceeding goals, and when it happens, the post mortem tends to be over the top, fact is, its football, goals will be scored, the stats speak for themselves on our part.

Hoolio · Jun 21 2006, 05:25 PM

'Zonal Marking' is fool proof, however nor is the 'Man to Man' system. Both have strengths and weaknesses. Rafa got abit of stick when he changed the system in his first season. But last season no one can complain about it as the statistics speak for themselves. Zonal Marking is about marking space and areas, as opposed to marking a man. I have read that Pellegrino was partly signed to help Carragher and Hyypia get to grips with the system. Like Shanks says, sometimes no matter what system is played a goal will occur. Whether it's down to a mistake or simple a very good cross. At Old Trafford When Ferdinand scored that last minute goal, the debate about Zonal Marking occur again. But it was an example of a good cross, where the defender couldn't get near the ball. Last night Englands first goal conceeded to Sweden was just a good cross and not really bad defending. I have no problem with the system in theory and in practice the results and statistics show it works.

scottdc · Jun 21 2006, 05:56 PM

i think we tend to over analyse the reasons when we occasionally look vulnerable but the only real statistic is that we had the best defence last season

**leeman** · Jun 21 2006, 06:53 PM

last season our zonal system was excellent, but it was certainly helped by the fact that we have about 8/11 players over 6 feet tall, and four of them (including kromkamp) are over 6foot 3

brezipool · Jun 22 2006, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydie

'Zonal Marking' is fool proof, however nor is the 'Man to Man' system. Both have strengths and weaknesses. Rafa got abit of stick when he changed the system in his first season. But last season no one can complain about it as the statistics speak for themselves. Zonal Marking is about marking space and areas, as opposed to marking a man. I have read that Pellegrino was partly signed to help Carragher and Hyypia get to grips with the system. Like Shanks says, sometimes no matter what system is played a goal will occur. Whether it's down to a mistake or simple a very good cross. At Old Trafford When Ferdinand scored that last minute goal, the debate about Zonal Marking occur again. But it was an example of a good cross, where the defender couldn't get near the ball. Last night Englands first goal conceeded to Sweden was just a good cross and not really bad defending. I have no problem with the system in theory and in practice the results and statistics show it works.

I hate to admit it, but that was just a good goal by Rio!

Shanks · Jun 24 2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeman

last season our zonal system was excellent, but it was certainly helped by the fact that we have about 8/11 players over 6 feet tall, and four of them (including kromkamp) are over 6foot 3

Its just a classic example of the English media at its best. We had the best defensive record and had broken club records, then we concede one goal at a set piece and its all panic stations on zonal marking. It was laughable. I prefer man to man, but who am i to argue.

Crazyhorse1977 · Jun 26 2006, 11:29 AM

to be fair, having s keeper who understands the system has made a big change!

brezipool · Jun 26 2006, 11:58 AM

That's true Reina was brilliant for most of the season.!

Gaurav · Jun 26 2006, 12:30 PM

the thing is....man to man leaves more ppl unmarked than zonal...there was a time mid season when we conceded a couple of goals..(man utd and chelsea)..but i have grown to trust the system...and opal rightly said to remember the england game if any1 critisizes it...

good thread.

Shanks · Jun 26 2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyhorse1977

to be fair, having s keeper who understands the system has made a big change!

Thats a great point to be honest, and he almost plays like a sweeper at times, and has no fear.

scottdc · Jun 26 2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanks

Thats a great point to be honest, and he almost plays like a sweeper at times, and has no fear.

yer i thought reina was not all he was cracked up to be a few games into the season. Away to birmingham he had a shocker but ever since then he has been superb and is a huge part of why we dont conceed many goals

Red Opal · Jun 26 2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lfc4life89

yer i thought reina was not all he was cracked up to be a few games into the season. Away to birmingham he had a shocker but ever since then he has been superb and is a huge part of why we dont conceed many goals

yeah, I remember a few on here slating him for that early on and I couldn't believe it. keepers like anyone else need to adapt to the English game. Also credit to benitez for teaching him the system and probably identifying him before buying him as the Keeper to play in our system.