I thought I'd make a thread to discuss Strikers/ Forwards. Who's better, the different styles and things of that nature. So I'll start the discussion to talk about the different types of strikers Here they are Center Forwards "Number 9's" Fernando Torres Samuel Eto'o Ronaldo Gonzalo Higuain Poachers Radamel Falcao Chicharito Mario Gomez Ruud Van Nistlerooy Outside Strikers Winger-esq type of Strikers(Don't know what to call them) Thierry Henry Cristiano Ronaldo Mario Balotelli Alexis Sanchez Neymar Robinho Target Man Zlatan Ibrahimovic Didier Drogba Emile Heskey I don't know what to call this group they usually captain the team and provide goals and assist Raul Gonzalez Robin Van Persie David Villa Carlos Tevez False 9 Lionel Messi Wayne Rooney So yeah what would you call that group second to the last? Are there any other type of Strikers and what do you think is the best group? Any other notable players that should be name or don't belong in certain group?
Firstly, at present due to simplicity in "label" of players, most often there are 2 types as you indicated in the thread' Striker and Forwards However, the term "FORWARD" consists of many positions and styling of players .... as most tactics formations now aday employ with 2 to 4 FORWARDS , whereas, the "STRIKER" position is almost DEAD since mid 2000's So in a sense we are going back to history of 2 3 5 and WM, with 4 or 3 or 2 "FORWARDS" to be utilized in different formation 4 2 3 1 , 4 3 3 and 4 4 1 1 We have to DIFFERENTIATE between "ROLE" and "POSITION" : --------------- POSITION ------------ ROLE --------------- CR7 .................Left Forward..............." free role in attack" Ribbery ............Left forward .............."half-playmaker" a la Zizou at Real Robben............ Right forward.............."half-playmaker" a la Figo Barca Messi ..............Center forward .......... "False 9" link up MF Ibra ................ center forward .........."decoy 9, and link up MF" Rooney ........... center forward ..........."decoy 9, and link up MF" Gomez ............cneter forward ............"target man/striker" Drogba .......... center forward ............."decoy 9" Tevez ........... centerforward ............. "half-playmaker, linkup MF" David silva ....... FOrward ..................."versatile in use as SS, L or R" Raul ................ FORARD..................."versatile in useas SS, L or R " Van Persie .........FORARD..................."versatile in useas SS, L or R ". ...
I would also add that many of those listed have served as a variety of those positions, depending on the team makeup. For example, Wayne has more recently played in that Suppot Striker, or decoy 9 linkup MF role as you say. However, just 2 years ago he was exclusively used in a much more traditional #10/targetman role. He's versatile enough to play both. In fact, many United fans would love to see him back in that role for next year.
[I'm just trying to get what you mean here, mate: You must be talking about Rooney lining-up as "goal-scoring" No.10 front-runner/"out-&-out"-type of striker here? Like when Capello paired him w/Heskey as a "target" striker @ SA '10?]
[It's always interesting to see how different football cultures utilise the terms "No.9 centre-forward" AND "target" man/striker...]
This is a solid blog entry/op-ed piece on Rooney's positional evolution over the years IMO: http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/04/26/wayne-rooney-complete-forward/
I'm talking about the 09-10 season. He banged in something like 36 goals fir united before is injury at Munich. We played a 451 hyrbrid formation in all our big games when he featured as a lone striker. When we played a more 442 with him and berba up top, he was typically the one closest to goal as berba dropped deep more often. When he capello paired him with heskey, he was being deployed as a more support striker role, much like he is in the current united setup, and how he was deployed as a younger player.
These classifications are confusing. Higuain and Eto'o are number 9s, but Gomez is a poacher? Van Persie, Tevez and Villa in the same group because of leadership quality? Not sure about this.
Gomez's goals come mostly from tap ins thats why I put him as a poacher where as Eto'o and Higuain can create there own goalscoring opportunities. Not really leadership qualities but they are similar.They where their teams main goal threat. They have high work rate, help in build up play and assist. How would you classify them?
To me, Higuain Gomez and Huntelaar are all "goal poacher type" or "goalscoring striker inthe box Eto'o, Tevez, Persie, Ibra, Benzama Aguero are more talented and can create chances for themselves, or others
[Are you trying to say that Gomez & Huntelaar are "out-&-out"- or "predator"-type strikers that excel in the art of poaching goals here, mate?]
Not quite in the mould of Gerd Muller, Nisterooy ,,, but at this moment (#9 dying out) they are among the best poachers
[When you say "#9 dying out": your "#9" is a "spearhead" striker or an advanced out-&-out goal-scorer, correct?]
[I don't think that the "leadership quality" part enters into it much: it seems as if "Chicarito" is trying to figure out his own positional/role label for what are either "free-role" central forwards or goal-scoring "support"-type strikers IMO...]
An editorial feature on Emile Heskey as a "target-playing" centre-forward and his on-the-pitch value to Michael Owen as a strike partner for both Liverpool and England: http://putnielsingoal.com/2014/01/16/the-striker-who-didnt-need-to-score/
Hi: I have got a doubt, and I'm sorry if I'm confusing some "label"... if Chicharito, Inzaghi and Gerd Müller are considered as "out and out strikers"... how you call those "centre-forwards" like Ibrahimovic, Lewandowski, Florian Albert, Gilbert Oswald Smith, Ronaldo (the Brazilian one) etc? I mean, those players who aren't just good goal-scorers but they are good being creative and creating goal opportunities to others... linkup centre-forward? set-up centre-forward? creative centre-forward? playmaker centre-forward? Thank you
I think Mr Roy meant: 1- Out and out striker = (goal poacher and main scoring striker) Muller, Lineker, Owen , Nistelrooy Inzaghi Crespo and lately ... Higuain, Gomez, Majukic ... 2- Spearhead - advance striker (or center Forward) in Eusebio, Romario Basten Ronaldo, Etoo Batistuta Ibramovic and lately Lewandowski, ... Giroud Torres or Suarez could be here 3- Target CF (or decoy #9) in Kluivert, Heskey, Sheva, Henry , Drogba , Benzama, and lately Suarez Torres
That distinction between out-and-out and spearhead in English lingo sounds interesting. In my country (Chile) the spearhead (punta de lanza) refers to the player (or players) responsible for being the main finisher when his team is attacking: Ronaldo, Romario, Batistuta, Müller, Ruud, Inzaghi, Chicharito, etc. So, in my culture the out-and-out striker would be a type of spearhead.
yeah thanks to Mr Roy for the terminology ... In older days, every attacker is called FORWARD (until 60's) In late 2000's era, there is a grey area (merry go round) between AM and FW and strikers .... (go back to the 50's) Funny how the WORLD is ROUND eh?
This is an editorial that should be a good place to start in how we British utilise terms like "centre forward" and "out-&-out striker" in more modern times: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/...ted-to-centre-forward-role-in-arsenal-system/
Having now seen these 50 minutes highlights in full, I saw it shows many times the trademark quality of Lineker, and one of the aspects he mastered in perfection; the off-the-shoulder runs. It also shows an excellent Brady, Beardsley, Hysen, McGrath, Sansom, Platini and Maradona so it is a worthwhile watch for more reasons. But in terms of strikers I noticed how it shows Lineker his trademark move very well (and he was on the losing side!). http://www.truecoloursfootballkits....pboard-football-league-centenary-classic-1987
It's so misleading if one only looked at the line up and shirt number ... Lineker should wear #9 and Platini as #8 (or #11) instead ... He was playing as center forward