Thanks to Arsenal, set pieces are back in fashion, but the reality is that they have always been important.
You have to admire the performances of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, but their success this season is also down to the opposition defenders and goalkeepers not controlling the basics.
If the Gunners faced Nemanja Vidic and John Terry every week – players who had a real desire to win that first header – and proactive goalkeepers like Peter Schmeichel, they would find it much more difficult.
Ahead of Sunday's match at home to Arsenal, Fulham should study Manchester United's midweek performance at the Emirates to see how corners cannot be stopped against the Gunners.
When the ball was in flight, United's defenders were static, while Arsenal's players were in motion, allowing them to make the jump to win the all-important first touch. Basic stuff.
It is also important that goalkeeper Bernd Leno has the presence and confidence to help his team. United keeper Andre Onana has been good this season but he should have taken some of Arsenal's crosses when they were so close to him.
It is a trend among many modern goalkeepers to stay on their line. Managers seem to find it more important that a goalkeeper is good with his feet than that he is in charge of his box.
It's wrong, and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is one of the best at taking the pressure off his defenders in David Raya.
It would have been more difficult to score from set pieces against some of the goalkeeping monsters like David Seaman and Schmeichel.
The best one I worked with was Mark Schwarzer. He took responsibility and when he came out to hit or catch, you wouldn't be in his way for long. If we had a specific problem – Kevin Nolan would try to return to Schwarzer when we played Newcastle – we would solve it between ourselves. Clint Dempsey, who was as strong as an ox, would come between our goalie and Nolan.
But I don't see many modern players finding solutions on their own. Dedicated permanent coaches are all the rage these days, so I was pleased to hear that Sean Dyche and his staff are in charge of that at Everton. My opinion is that existing coaches should be able to produce innovative corner routines, otherwise what are they for?
Phil Thompson led our set-piece work at Liverpool and we also had a say as free-kick takers: Steven Gerrard, Gary McAllister and Jamie Redknapp, as well as myself. I don't think Arsenal have reinvented the wheel, but they have created a useful fear factor.
When David Beckham was about to punch in a corner when we played Manchester United, the natural reaction was: 'Oh, nonsense!' Still, we were helped by Sami Hyypia, who really intended to make it his ball.
Arsenal deserve credit for their routines, but opponents could make it more difficult and Leno could be the key figure on Sunday.
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