Crossing has a simple definition. Opta define a cross as a ‘‘ball from a wide position intending to reach a team mate in a specific area in front of the goal.’’ But it can be broken down whereby there are actually different ways to send the ball into the penalty-area, and thus different reasons as to where and why players do so.
Making notes on matches throughout the 2023/24 Premier league season so far, it reaffirmed the idea for me that player roles, and profile, as well as team tactics, can determine where players cross from, the sort of crosses they play, and how often they cross.
Most crosses played into the box could be a mix of any one from the three above categories. But cut backs would only occur if the crosser is close to the box.
It is inevitable that Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min, for example, will attack down the outside when playing as a left-winger in Ange Postecoglu’s system, which sees the wingers retain the width, more often than cutting inside. Playing as a touchline winger reduces Son’s chances of making out to in runs, but it does mean that the opposing full-back is isolated against him, whilst the left-back, Destiny Udogie, tucks inside as part of the shape in build-up.
Son is predominantly right-footed, but being two-footed enables him to attack down the outside, and play the ball with his (supposedly) weaker left foot. These sorts of situations can result in releasing the ball at speed, and in some cases, low-driven crosses. Both goals assisted by Son in Spurs’ 4-1 win against Newcastle United oversaw Son receive the ball on the left…
and bypass right-back Kieran Trippier with a couple of stepovers on the outside…
and the first ended in Son driving the ball across the box to be met by Udogie, who had marauded into the box from deep after initially releasing the ball wide.
The Low-driven cross was hard to defend against, because it could not be headed clear, the speed at which it was hit, and Udogie was able to run onto the cross rather than waiting for the ball to come towards him.
Funnily enough, Kieran Trippier, who Son tormented, is regarded as one of the leagues best crossers, but the crosses he delivers contrast because of his technique, role, and by extension his positioning. Newcastle tend to attack down the flanks in two or threes, with Trippier, the right midfielder, and the right-winger, combining to create chances.
One may move forward towards the box/to create space for another who has the ball, and one may remain close by to quickly exchange. Trippier may be making an overlapping run, looking for a teammate lurking around the six-yard box, or even have the ball in a deeper position, where he can provide out-swinging crosses into the box. Not only the volume of Trippier’s crosses, but the range of crosses he provides make him a valuable asset for Newcastle.
Newcastle construct most of their attacks via the right flank, where Trippier operates. He sees more of the ball than the left-back, be that Dan Burn, or Tino Livramento. But both Burn and Livramento differ in profile, and that can affect how Trippier operates.
Whereas Burn is conservative in build-up, typically maintaining a deeper position, Livramento is more dynamic in possession. He is right-footed, so drives the ball infield, and involves himself in attacks which means there is less responsibility for Trippier to maintain a higher position in attack, on occasion retaining a deeper position, which can see Trippier feed runners down the line or channel, or play deeper crosses towards the far post.
Further confirmation of roles and tactics is scattered across the league, by looking at individual players, A select range of individual players include Brentford midifelder Mathias Jensen, Nottingham Forest wing-back Harry Toffolo, who has provided three assists this season, and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, who makes runs down the right channel, from where he can send crosses or passes into the box. Although he did not enjoy his best performance in a 0-0 draw with Manchester United, Szoboszlai’s running power was missed after he was substituted.
United’s Alejandro Garnacho is an inverted winger. Although not as ambidextrous as Son, Garnacho will look to shift the ball onto his right foot, before playing an in-swinging cross that finds the ball coming towards the goalkeeper, rather than away from if it was an out-swinging cross.
Garnacho’s assist for Scott McTominay’s second goal in United’s 2-1 win against Chelsea was superb, and capped off a lively display. But it was the only cross out of five attempts that Garnacho completed in that match, which only echos the inconsistency United have found from crossing this season. According to WhoScored, United attempt 19.3 crosses per 90, but complete only 3.7, meaning United have the biggest disparity between accurate and inaccurate crosses in the league this season.
How the opposing side sets up can also help determine how many times a player will cross the ball into the box. And it is not only United who are therefore crossing the ball more than last season. Arsenal’s wing pairing of Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli, are crossing the ball more often. Whereas last season, Saka was attempting 4.87 crosses per 90, this season has seen the winger attempt 5.68. As for Martinelli, his increase is even greater, attempting 6.61, compared to 3.65 last season.
Based on the Arsenal games I have watched, I would argue this is down to a more direct playing style, loading the box with numbers, and teams setting up with deeper blocks to restrict how many runs Arsenal’s wingers can make into the box themselves. The tactic of crossing can be frustrating if the opposing side is managing to clear the deliveries, but with enough pressure, a goal, like that scored against Luton Town which won Arsenal the game 2-3, can come about.
Though the sides crossing the ball the most altogether this season, are Everton and Luton. According to whoscored, they are the only two sides in the league to be attempting at least 20 crosses per 90, with Upton wing-back Alfie Doughty attempting the most crosses per 90 of any player to have played at least 10 full 90 minutes, with 9.41.
And in a 2-0 win against his former side Burnley, Everton manager Sean Dyche set up his current side in a 5-4-1, averting from their usual 4-4-1-1. This may have seemed like a defensive approach, offering the back line more protection against a side that, although in the relegation zone, wouldn’t be afraid to push forward. But the way in which Everton set up gave left wing-back Dwight McNeil licence to roam down the wing and provide crosses.
Crossing is still an option that sides used as a way of trying to create chances, either successfully or otherwise, albeit less so than in seasons gone by. But the league continues to show a variety to how teams create chances in which players can cross, be that with different formations, players taking up different positions, even rotating with teammates, and others making runs that encourage crosses.
The Conventional Playmaker 