The 4-2-3-1 and other single forward formations and associated systems of play are the current trend in high school and cub soccer. I am seeing some teams employing these systems really struggle to score and others utilizing these systems scoring seemingly at will. Is there a common theme that separates the two?
Yes.
A friend who coaches college soccer believes if you are going to play a single forward system you must have an absolute stud playing forward. I do agree that this makes it a lot easier. Our spring club had two absolute studs to man the position. We could be a very prolific scoring team and rarely did we really struggle to mount dangerous attacks.
That said, it is my belief that you need an aggressive, disciplined, physical and speedy player to man the forward position in a single forward system of play. He does not necessarily need to be a dynamic goal scorer.
My son's high school team plays a 4-2-3-1 but is struggling to score goals. In my mind, the main issue is their two best options for manning the target forward position are not doing so. One is playing center back. He is a workhorse. Matthew played back to goal target for our spring team and did a really nice job. He's not the type who can receive and go to goal, but he improved his discipline throughout the spring season, is ultra aggressive and plenty physical and speedy enough to man the position. The second player is a foreign exchange student by the name of Geovanni. This kid is bigger physically, has a good sense about back to goal play and is a rugged player. Again. I don't think he has the skill set or pure speed to be a dynamic scoring threat by himself but he does create scoring opportunities and has an ability to get crosses off under pressure.
The player my sons team is using as a target plays back to goal well, but he is not the physical presence nor does he possess the speed necessary for the position. He is in fact a center back for his club team. Jack gets by as a target forward because he's smart. He plays the position with his brain and is disciplined in doing so. That makes him passable as a target player. It's probably not his ideal position though. And if we are honest about it, he is not a good fit for the target position in regards to how the outside midfielders are manning their positions in his teams system of play.
Ideally the central striker or #9 position will be manned by a player with the following qualities:
1) Great first touch
2) Speed with the ball
3) Ability to shield the ball
4) A solid understanding and command of combination passing
5) Technically and tactically sound passer
6) Ability to cross, shoot and head the soccer ball
7) An understanding of positioning
8) Competent decision making
9) An aggressive mentality
10) Supreme self-confidence.
11) A tireless and relentless work ethic.
No player is going to possess all of the above, but if you are going to run a one forward system you need a player who can fill most of the above with a reasonable degree of aptitude.
One of the first questions to be answered when deciding on a single forward system must be, does the team have a player who can play effectively as the single forward?
Welcome to the web home of Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer. We specialize in conducting high school team camps. This website began as a means to promote our camps and keep campers informed of upcoming opportunities. There are now over 650 articles archived here. Use the search function in the right hand column below to find ones on topic for you. You may contact us at coachtjbrown@gmail.com or 567-204-6083 Thanks for visiting!
Showing posts with label False Nine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label False Nine. Show all posts
Monday
The False Nine
The False Nine is a center forward with a non-traditional role. The Nine position has long been defined by players who push high on the opponents backs looking to be played through for goal scoring opportunities. The advent of zonal defending has forced changes to the role and responsibilities of the Nine position. Today the False Nine typically plays a bit withdrawn, often back to goal and is tasked with diverting the opposing back lines attention from others making forward runs and distributing the ball to teammates This does not mean the False Nine is not a goal scorer, only that goal scoring opportunities for the position are generated differently than has been tradition. On my teams we refer to the Nine / False Nine as the Target Forward.
We expect our target forward to provide initial penetration by pushing opponents back toward their own goal, but instead of looking to be played through the primary reason is so the target forward can then check back to a ball played to his feet by a defender or midfielder. The traditional Nine would push opposing backs towards their own goal looking for the flighted dump and run service from backs or midfielders. The modern role for a center forward is to push the backs towards their own goal and then have them come back forward to defend against the False Nine receiving the ball at his feet.
As the ball is played to the feet of the False Nine and the opposing backs are stepping to meet that threat, wing forwards and mids, perhaps even a back are starting strong penetrating runs to be played through either directly by the False Nine or off a drop pass from the False Nine to a CM. The through ball, or dump and run, is still very much alive but its execution has been adapted to beat today's zonal defenses that have become far more common than the man-marking systems prevalent in days gone by.
I feel it important to note that a Target Forward does not present a stationary target. Rather the False Nine / Target Forward must be very active and have a high work rate. He must be in constant motion and vary his runs so as not to become predictable. In addition to "V" cuts that push defenders back before checking to the ball, bent runs back towards his midfield can also be employed. Sometimes the False Nine will drift to the weak side in order to check back to ball side. Other times he will move strong to ball side serving as much as a decoy as an actual target. Deception is very much a part of his game.
Once in possession of the ball his primary role is not to take on defenders to create goal scoring opportunities for himself but to continue engaging defenders to create opportunities to distribute the ball to teammates who then advance the ball. Think of it in this manner - the False Nine is a creative distributor in the middle third of the field, then in the final third he is on the receiving end of distributions for goal scoring opportunities from the player he has played through. Still a goal scorer but also a facilitator of the attack = The center forward / modern Nine / False Nine / Target Forward.
We expect our target forward to provide initial penetration by pushing opponents back toward their own goal, but instead of looking to be played through the primary reason is so the target forward can then check back to a ball played to his feet by a defender or midfielder. The traditional Nine would push opposing backs towards their own goal looking for the flighted dump and run service from backs or midfielders. The modern role for a center forward is to push the backs towards their own goal and then have them come back forward to defend against the False Nine receiving the ball at his feet.
As the ball is played to the feet of the False Nine and the opposing backs are stepping to meet that threat, wing forwards and mids, perhaps even a back are starting strong penetrating runs to be played through either directly by the False Nine or off a drop pass from the False Nine to a CM. The through ball, or dump and run, is still very much alive but its execution has been adapted to beat today's zonal defenses that have become far more common than the man-marking systems prevalent in days gone by.
I feel it important to note that a Target Forward does not present a stationary target. Rather the False Nine / Target Forward must be very active and have a high work rate. He must be in constant motion and vary his runs so as not to become predictable. In addition to "V" cuts that push defenders back before checking to the ball, bent runs back towards his midfield can also be employed. Sometimes the False Nine will drift to the weak side in order to check back to ball side. Other times he will move strong to ball side serving as much as a decoy as an actual target. Deception is very much a part of his game.
Once in possession of the ball his primary role is not to take on defenders to create goal scoring opportunities for himself but to continue engaging defenders to create opportunities to distribute the ball to teammates who then advance the ball. Think of it in this manner - the False Nine is a creative distributor in the middle third of the field, then in the final third he is on the receiving end of distributions for goal scoring opportunities from the player he has played through. Still a goal scorer but also a facilitator of the attack = The center forward / modern Nine / False Nine / Target Forward.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)