Can anyone put me right on this?

When Ward-Prowse lined up the free-kick for the first Soton goal, there was probably at least a 40 per cent chance (maybe higher) that he would score direct.

That being the case, why did we not have one tall player (maybe two), as well as Guita, on the goal-line.

This would have made him re-think a direct shot at goal and probably adopt Plan B which would have been less dangerous.

I understand the argument that having one or more extra defenders on the goal-line would mean their forwards would not have been offside, but I feel W-P posed such a threat that we should have changed our defence strategy instead of just lining up a wall in the conventional way.

I'm no tactician but would be grateful for any advice on this.

Thanks Slub - a shame you weren't able to tip off the coaching staff in advance of the match.

Would it help if the wall retreated and the keeper stood in front of it?

I’m not sure we’re allowed two keepers on the pitch at the same time!!

But joking aside, I’m always screaming to put someone on the post, usually just before the ball flies in the net, it’s a massive gap that’s not that hard for a decent striker of the ball to find. Ward-Prowse, Alexander-Arnold, Marcus Alonso in recent history just off the top of my head.

Edited by monkey (18 Dec 2021 10.45am)

Absolutely, a defender to each side of the goalkeeper.

Shades of Tony Pulis.

Badger is right.

The attacking team could put a player on the goal line and he would not be offside if there was an onfield defender (plus the keeper) also on the goal line.

However, he could be put offside if either the online defender or the goalkeeper (or both) took a step forward before the kick is taken.

Unfortunately, W-P is good enough to curl it into the opposite corner. Butland (not Buckland BTW) would have been beaten wherever he stood W-P's accuracy. His kick was virtually inch perfect - you don't stop those.