The bar was set rather high when Manchester United boasted about the appointment of a 'set-piece' specialist last summer. So much so that then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer even addressed his arrival in a public interview, further amplifying the expectations placed on his shoulders.
“He’s a very highly rated coach who is going to be working with individuals and in charge of set-plays as well," the Norwegian stated of the 'innovative' appointment, with Eric Ramsay tasked to 'work one-on-one with individual players and also take ownership over training on the side's set-plays.' For many, the gut reaction was to suddenly think United would start playing like a Sam Allardyce or Tony Pulis side from attacking set-piece scenarios, with an emphasis on physical presence in the box and well-crafted routines.
Yet, with greater expectation comes greater height from which to fall. There is no denying the irony that after hiring a specialist, it took United 140 corners in the Premier League until they finally put one into the back of the net.
