It’s around two years since I created this corner kick routine and I wrote about it. It’s a Far Post routine despite most of my players being aimed to attack the near post. The reason is simple - take opponent’s players from the far post area and give enough time and space to the best possible header from our team at the far post to find the cross.

I didn’t use it too much during the previous edition (FM21) but I decided to use it within my current FM22 save with Warta Poznan. What does the setup look like? Is it successful? Let’s take a look…

THE SETUP

As I said already, the main aim is to concentrate most of my players (and so defenders too) around the near post. The set-up is almost like for the near post in the end including the one player who comes short to take another defender with him.

And the rest is up to the player who is set to attack the far post. The same as in the past, I’m not too far into the save and the players (newgens mainly) are not some world-class players or wonderkids. That means I have to rotate two or three players here depending on their important attributes like decisions or off the ball.

Two players are set to lurk outside the area as they (FINALLY! after five or six years) don’t stay hand-in-hand at the same place. They are important mainly when the ball is cleared from the penalty area. Again, the decisions attribute is one of the most important parts of this role as these players have to be able to think quickly to earn the cleared ball back. And start a new attack.

IN OR OUT-SWINGING DELIVERY?

I’m sure one of the most frustrating things within set pieces for all coaches and fans (mainly them) is when the set-piece taker sends the ball straight to the first defender or straight to the goalkeeper’s gloves. The set-piece buzz is over within a second. And the only thing you can hope for is your opponent won’t take it as their advantage for a counter-attack.

I hate it too. And that’s the main reason why I’m using out-swinging delivery right now because my corner takers are not as good as I would like and their crosses can be long/high/slow… simply, not good enough. And my idea was to avoid in-swinging crosses over the 6-Yard box where the keeper will catch the ball easily. The ball has to make a bigger curve to reach the far post. But it’s the better way in my eyes until the corner taker(s) will be better.

EXAMPLE 1 - goal straight from the far post

This first example is from the Europa Conference League 2023/2024 as we beat AC Sparta Prague away from home thanks to this goal in the 88th minute of the match. It’s the most simple way how to score from this routine as Sebastian Musiolik who was set to attack the far post beat his defender this time and sent the ball straight to the net.

The moment when my (or your) player decide how and where he will go thanks to his off the ball movement and his decisions attribute is the key factor for every set-piece routine. You can have the best possible set-piece taker (I don’t have) but if the main target of the delivery has the wrong movement, he won’t find the right space or place to find the cross.

I think there is also a nice example of what I meant when I mentioned the out-swinging delivery and not allowing the keeper to catch the ball easily.

EXAMPLE 2 - goal from the near post

The second example shows one of my all-time favourite types of goals from a corner kick. I have been a big fan of some kind of back pass in the penalty area or the kind of pass that is made because the “assister” knew the scorer is in the better position and he has a better chance to score. It’s not only within set pieces of course.

This goal was scored against Legia Warszawa and their strong defenders (at least in-game) so it’s even more worthy for me. I think the ideal combination for this would be if the player who is set to attack the far post would also have a vision attribute of 20, the same as flair, jumping reach and strength. That would mean you would have a strong creative visionary who would be able to find other players. But that’s just a dream.

You can expect that this routine example can lead to the moment when a lot of goals or opportunities will end with the offside check by VAR/referees. The same as it happened when we scored this goal in the example. But Musiolik was on-side.

Is it successful? If I will compare it with the FM20 save in Mexico with Celaya FC when I created this routine, the simple answer is NO. But I like to take a look around the corner literally. I think we have to consider the fact that I had much better players when I started using it two years ago in comparison with my current save. Not only players who are set to attack the far post but also the corner taker(s) who are responsible for the delivery.

1. I will try to find a better set-piece taker in the future

2. I will try to develop my current set-piece taker and his attributes for set pieces in the future of the save. My attributes threshold is set to 13 as the starting point for excellent so if my takers will reach at least this value, I will be happy.

3. My main two players for the attack far post role within this routine are both players who are already experienced enough, I just need to find the way how to develop their attributes like off the ball. Or at least keep the values at the same level.

I started using it in the middle of the third season and tried several things. The team scored three goals in the opening nine competitive matches. It’s not too many, you say? Maybe not but it’s great and rewarding when it happens. For example when it’s a winning goal in the last minute of the match…

Thanks for reading. And don’t forget, it’s only a game, so let’s play it and test what the game can offer to you.

Take care.