Sky Sports’ tactical expert Danny Higginbotham explains the relative merits of zonal and man-to-man marking before offering a solution to the problem… The familiar debate about the merits of zonal marking has flared up again following a spate of defensive errors from set-pieces. Vapormax Flyknit Dame Norge .A summer directive to referees put the spotlight on shirt-pulling from corners and Stoke were twice punished with penalties for fouls committed as the ball made its way into their area. Those infringements forced Mark Hughes to consider switching to zonal marking but Liverpool are among a number of clubs already struggling at the back using that method.Indeed, at the current rate, the 2016/17 campaign is set to see more goals conceded from set-pieces than any of the previous five seasons. So whats the solution?As former Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham explains, its not necessarily a case of one method or the other. Both have their benefits - but getting the balance right is the tricky part.Managers are worried about players holding shirts, getting blocked and opponents getting into areas that are really troublesome for defenders, says Higginbotham. Danny Higginbotham discusses the pros and cons of zonal marking What weve seen is that teams are going with zonal marking and its causing a lot of problems.The problem that you have is that these players are more or less stood in a line. When youre doing zonal youll tell the person stood next to you to stretch their hands out.You should then be touching their hands. What thats supposed to do is stop gaps appearing for the opposition players to run through.But as weve seen with a few teams this season, with Stoke City and even Leicester City at times, is that opposition players are getting into positions that can cause real problems. If youve got a man and he scores then you know youre in for it at half-time. When you play zonal, players will go into the dressing room and say, Hes gone out of my zone. Danny Higginbotham I know as a defender if Im marking zonal, Ive got a standing start. The opponents are giving themselves a run and so theres only going to be one winner.Higginbotham believes that there is a benefit in giving players responsibility to mark another individual rather than allow excuses to be made.In the dressing room before a game you know the man you are going to mark, he says. If youve got a man and he scores then you know youre in for it at half-time. Premier League goals from set-pieces Season Set-piece goals 2012/13 227 2013/14 225 2014/15 217 2015/16 226 2016/17 45 *projected at 244 When you play zonal, players will go into the dressing room, whether at half-time or full-time, and are going to be saying, Hes gone out of my zone, hes gone out of my area.However, Higginbotham believes there are advantages to zonal marking. What zonal will stop is people pulling shirts and stuff like that, he adds. The other thing it will do is stop people being blocked.As a result, Higginbothams preference is for a hybrid system that fuses elements of both the zonal and man-to-man systems.Thats what Stoke used during his time at the club, conceding only 16 goals from set-pieces in 2010/11 - in contrast to the seven conceded in their opening six games of 2016/17.The way we used to do it at Stoke City, we were quite successful at it in terms of not conceding many goals, says Higginbotham. Christian Benteke explains why zonal marking makes it easier for him Tony Pulis Stoke would have three zonal men - one at the front, one at the centre making sure that the man cant get close to your goalkeeper and another one at the far post.What Id be saying is that we go back to the first scenario where you have a few zonal markers, he adds.If theres a problem where you have a player in your team who is prone to pulling shirts, you let him become the zonal one and give him the space to run into and attack the ball.Its another situation for teams to resolve and its just a case of getting the best of both worlds without confusing players too much. Also See: Europes best young player Cruyff legacy lives on Vapormax Flyknit Herre Norge .com) - Driphus Jackson had three touchdown passes, including two in a 19-second span in the opening quarter, to guide Rice to a 30-6 rout of Fresno State at the Hawaii Bowl. Nike Daybreak Norge . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. http://www.vapormaxnorge.com/ . "It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms," he said of his first game against the Boston Celtics.DETROIT - The Detroit Pistons have decided to invest in Jodie Meeks future, banking on his best basketball being ahead of him. Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents cant sign contracts until the leagues moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise. The 6-foot-4 Meeks averaged a career-high 15.7 points and scored a team-high 1,209 points last season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The shooting guard has averaged 9.7 points over his five-year career. Milwaukee drafted Meeks in the second round in 2009 and traded him during his rookie season to Philadelphia. The Lakers signed him as a free agent in 2012 and exercised a team option last year to keep him on the roster for a second season. Martin, a 6-7 small forward, has averagged 5. Vapormax Hvit Herre Norge. 4 points over his six-year career. Earlier on Tuesday, when NBA free agency began, the Pistons announced assistant general manager George David was stepping down. David was a part of the previous front office that was led by president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. The Pistons hired Stan Van Gundy in May to replace Dumars and to also lead them as their coach. Van Gundys first major move appears to be adding Meeks. The Pistons, who havent earned a spot in the playoffs since 2009, are trying to reshape their roster to make the most of 20-year-old centre Andre Drummond. They probably will be relegated to keeping forward Josh Smith, who signed a $54 million, four-year deal last summer, and point guard Brandon Jennings, entering the second year of his $24 million, three-year contract. Detroit does not know if it restricted free agent Greg Monroe will be back. ___ Connect with Larry Lage at www.Twitter.com/larrylage ' ' '