CHRIS SUTTON: Instead of a bizarre crouching technique, put FIVE in the wall! Emi Buendia's awkward role on Kieran Trippier's free-kick cost Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa dear
- REPORT: Kieran Trippier's free-kick takes Newcastle four clear of the drop zone
- Aston Villa got the defending for the winning free-kick by Trippier all wrong
- Lying down behind the wall was a silly tactic given the distance from the goal
- Emi Buendia took a bizarre crouching position and he ultimately helped it go in
We've all seen the picture of five Argentines and their handbags. What we don't see is someone lying down behind them or any other silly tactics.
Unfortunately for Aston Villa, their plan to stop Kieran Trippier from scoring on Sunday didn't work.
Trippier couldn't go over the wall because he was too close. He couldn't go under because John McGinn is having a lie down. His only option is to aim for where the two Newcastle players are standing.
![Emi Buendia (right) took up a bizarre crouching position for Kieran Trippier's free-kick winner](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/13/22/54148975-10508947-image-a-22_1644790468005.jpg)
Emi Buendia (right) took up a bizarre crouching position for Kieran Trippier's free-kick winner
![Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister (right) need to go back to basics on Aston Villa's free-kicks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/13/22/54148999-10508947-image-a-23_1644790475686.jpg)
Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister (right) need to go back to basics on Aston Villa's free-kicks
They are there to block the view of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and will split at the last moment.
Trippier's task, therefore, is to blast the ball into the gap they leave.
To counter this, Emi Buendia is going to try to make the block. He is taking up a bizarre crouching position - you presume so that he can see through the legs in front of him when the free-kick is taken - but it makes his angle of approach an awkward one.
![John McGinn (left) lay down behind the wall meaning Trippier (right) could not go under it](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/13/22/54149035-10508947-image-a-27_1644790498454.jpg)
John McGinn (left) lay down behind the wall meaning Trippier (right) could not go under it
![It meant he had to drill it through the wall and Buendia's awkward role helped deflect it in](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/13/22/54149013-10508947-image-a-24_1644790482096.jpg)
It meant he had to drill it through the wall and Buendia's awkward role helped deflect it in
It doesn't work. Buendia dashes into the gap left by his two opponents. There's a deflection and Martinez is beaten.
Coaches should never forget the most important part of defending a free-kick - and that is the wall. That is what you need to position properly, first and foremost.
Villa's wall looked like it was too far to the right, and had Buendia been standing on the left of it, Trippier's shot would likely have been blocked.
Instead, he helped it on its way into the goal.
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