Centre Forward

[xTottixCorex]

i've looked back on the search feature to find good threads about how to play as a centre forward/target man-type player. but i kinda wanted something a little more detailed

so, what does make a good centre-forward/target man???

[Skizz]

I've worked under a few good managers and the things I've heard repeatedly are:

- Good work rate, you chase down everything and pressure every defender - remember that defence starts with the forwards

- Holding the ball up well, if you play up front on your own you need to wait for support sometimes so good upper body strength can help with this

- Good finishing, for obvious reasons

Those are the three main things I've heard repeatedly. If you're only just starting to play up front just ask your manager what he wants you to do, different systems have different requirements so he might want to you play target man one week and flick the ball on to your other striker, or play on your own the next week and hold the ball up constantly.

It can be confidence draining playing up front and doing nothing for long periods if your team is constantly on D, but remember to stay alert, because you always get one chance to score. Without fail. If you take the chance you get every match, you will be a good striker. That's the difference.

[rca2]

so, what does make a good centre-forward/target man???


Someone who can do more than just be a target. Needs to be able to finish with head or foot. Confident with the ball under pressure in tight spaces. The work rate isn't just about defense. Its working off the ball on the attack as well. Most of soccer is being in the right place at the right time. Its not just luck that a rebound fell at someone's feet.

[xTottixCorex]

I've worked under a few good managers and the things I've heard repeatedly are:

- Good work rate, you chase down everything and pressure every defender - remember that defence starts with the forwards

- Holding the ball up well, if you play up front on your own you need to wait for support sometimes so good upper body strength can help with this

- Good finishing, for obvious reasons

Those are the three main things I've heard repeatedly. If you're only just starting to play up front just ask your manager what he wants you to do, different systems have different requirements so he might want to you play target man one week and flick the ball on to your other striker, or play on your own the next week and hold the ball up constantly.

It can be confidence draining playing up front and doing nothing for long periods if your team is constantly on D, but remember to stay alert, because you always get one chance to score. Without fail. If you take the chance you get every match, you will be a good striker. That's the difference.

thanks. i've always assumed being a good header of the ball worked itself in there as well. i'm good on the defensive side of heading, but i can't get a header goalside to save my life.

[boldaring]

be the best chest trapper on the team. Im serious

[xTottixCorex]

be the best chest trapper on the team. Im serious
i already am one of the best, heading towards goal is my biggest problem. but do you guys have any ideas or drills i can do to improve my game AS a centre forward???

[And_ROOS]

be the best chest trapper on the team. Im serious

Thats a skill that has helped me a hell of alot, i play with some very smart guys and early in the game if they see me struggling with first touch by foot they hit me on the chest with passes which i can control then distribute. Its not an overly utilized skill by most but its another string to the bow.

But as a forward who plays many roles, ill tell you the things i do consistently EVERY match without fail.

*Chasing the ball, defender and even pass backs to the keeper to put pressure on him. It seems tiresome, and often is the reason im borderline exhausted at halftime, but every now and then it pays off, you pressure someone into a turnover and when in the case of the keeper it allows you to walk the ball into the net. Whilst its demoralizing for the keeper, its better for the confidence boost you receive in knowing all your hard work isnt wasted.

*Chances: You have to learn to take them from the ground, off the volley, in the air. As a forward you are a key to your teams scoring (Unless you are Liverpool, isnt that right Mr Gerrard). Before each game you can never be sure how many chances you will get. Maybe you will get 9 or 10, you can bag a hattrick or more and win the game convincingly. Maybe you get 1, and that 1 means you win a match 1-0. Take every chance as if its your last.

*Fouls: They will happen often. Its just part of the game as a targetman. You will probably be dragged down, have poor tackles on you missed by the official, and have calls from the linesman go against you. All you can do is keep your head up and remember the first point i made.

*Doubling back: Odds are you will drop into midfield, possibly defence, then expected to bolt back into position. Doesnt happen as often to me anymore, nowadays i sit next to the last defender, but still its every 4 or 5 games now instead of the 1 or 2 it used to.

I used to be a fox in the box style player, but expanded my game alot over recent years. Now shooting from distance, being a menace at corners and free kicks, and being able to take free kicks gives me more goal scoring chances and another option for my team.

[BigRed1123]

I agree with the previous replies, I would add one thing. Aerial ability. Be dominant in the air, defenders will be all over you, but if you can throw off their jumping over you, it will benefit your game. most of the time when you play alone as a target player, you can have someone run off you, so try flicking the ball on, knocking it down for a support player. Keep one thing in mind though, defenders will be running THROUGH you to get the ball, so having a good, strong frame and a good sense of balance will help you out tremendously. Also, post up on defenders, play off their hip so you can easily turn them when you get the ball. Stay sharp and play simple, it's okay to receive the ball to your feet, and play it off to a teammate and make a run to space. Watch players like Brian McBride, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney, Emanuel Adebeyor and Didier Drogba, they all work hard and win balls off set pieces. Honestly, as a target player you will playing with your back to goal, so you will have less opportunities to turn and run at a defender, your goals and chances will come from corners, freekicks served in the box, crosses, etc.
Stay hungry and active up there too, defenders hate nothing more than a powerful forward who is always pressuring them into giving the ball away/getting rid of it and who isn't afraid to lay the boots down and get physical. You can turn a half chance into a goal if you work, work, work. It's a hard position, but it you are good at a couple of things (first touch, shielding the ball, aerial ability) you can have a lot of success.
Good luck.

[Bronaldo]

How important do you guys think pace is for a CF?

I know it can be dependent on team tactics, but i'm talking about a generalization.

Would you rather have someone who is very strong, good touch, good vision and an amazing finisher or someone who is quick, fast, good finisher but not as strong?

[BigRed1123]

How important do you guys think pace is for a CF?

I know it can be dependent on team tactics, but i'm talking about a generalization.

Would you rather have someone who is very strong, good touch, good vision and an amazing finisher or someone who is quick, fast, good finisher but not as strong?


Pace is pretty important although it's not the most important thing. yes, it's going to be helpful if you have the ability to put it in another gear and blow by defenders, but as a striker playing as a target man, it's less important than if you were a winger or smaller forward who didn't play as a target man. Most of the time, a center forward is there for a reason, because he can be an outlet/target for his team to find up top, someone who can hold up the ball until faster players join in the attack, who may not be quite as fast. Personally, I would rather have a center forward who is strong and technically good and a great finisher rather than someone who is quick/fast but not as good at finishing. Strength and finishing ability are intangibles that can't be ignored. On the other hand, you can't really teach speed, but I'd rather have a solid, powerful center forward who can play with other players with more speed.

[xTottixCorex]

I agree with the previous replies, I would add one thing. Aerial ability. Be dominant in the air, defenders will be all over you, but if you can throw off their jumping over you, it will benefit your game. most of the time when you play alone as a target player, you can have someone run off you, so try flicking the ball on, knocking it down for a support player. Keep one thing in mind though, defenders will be running THROUGH you to get the ball, so having a good, strong frame and a good sense of balance will help you out tremendously. Also, post up on defenders, play off their hip so you can easily turn them when you get the ball. Stay sharp and play simple, it's okay to receive the ball to your feet, and play it off to a teammate and make a run to space. Watch players like Brian McBride, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney, Emanuel Adebeyor and Didier Drogba, they all work hard and win balls off set pieces. Honestly, as a target player you will playing with your back to goal, so you will have less opportunities to turn and run at a defender, your goals and chances will come from corners, freekicks served in the box, crosses, etc.
Stay hungry and active up there too, defenders hate nothing more than a powerful forward who is always pressuring them into giving the ball away/getting rid of it and who isn't afraid to lay the boots down and get physical. You can turn a half chance into a goal if you work, work, work. It's a hard position, but it you are good at a couple of things (first touch, shielding the ball, aerial ability) you can have a lot of success.
Good luck.

Pace is pretty important although it's not the most important thing. yes, it's going to be helpful if you have the ability to put it in another gear and blow by defenders, but as a striker playing as a target man, it's less important than if you were a winger or smaller forward who didn't play as a target man. Most of the time, a center forward is there for a reason, because he can be an outlet/target for his team to find up top, someone who can hold up the ball until faster players join in the attack, who may not be quite as fast. Personally, I would rather have a center forward who is strong and technically good and a great finisher rather than someone who is quick/fast but not as good at finishing. Strength and finishing ability are intangibles that can't be ignored. On the other hand, you can't really teach speed, but I'd rather have a solid, powerful center forward who can play with other players with more speed.
i'm repping you, your post have been a major help. thanks:)

[BigRed1123]

No problem, thanks for the rep. Good to see I can pass on some of what I learned as a forward (wish someone would have told me this stuff when I was still playing, haha)

Good luck, glad to help!

[garethchelsea]

not much to say now got to the thread a bit too late this is one of the best help threads in ages (keep it up)
im not sure my only advise without going over others what they have said is that you need to be on the last defender all the tim to hassle him if he gets the ball and so that when your team has the ball your in the best place for a throught ball or misplaced pass

[Kevin8833]

Ya there has been some great advise here we should do this for every position.

[jackmcmanus21]

Definitely great advice throughout this thread. Remember to stay mentally and physically tough. You're going to get beat up and smothered throughout a game by defenders...work through it and never let up

[Kevin8833]

So what would be next? Second striker?

[thebigman]

pace depends on what forward u are

if your job is to be a threat on set pieces and hold the ball up u dont have to be able to sprint like lynford christie

expanding on whats been said, hit the gym and get fit/add muscle as u will be contesting with defenders who are generally strong

work on learning the game, playing on the shoulder of the last man.....im guessing u dont play elite level so the linesmen wont be great, u can get away with more

be vocal, call for the ball when u are free and help out team mates if youare able to come deep to get the ball

just get experience and practice heading the ball from crosses, its all timing really

[xTottixCorex]

expanding on whats been said, hit the gym and get fit/add muscle as u will be contesting with defenders who are generally strongmind if i ask a rather silly question???

what kind of gym exercises should i be doing???

[thebigman]

if at all possible, plyometrics

u wanna be doing core strength exercises and stuff like benching

im no expert but deadlifts, squats, bent iver rows, wide grip pull downs/chin ups, bench press etc

but i wouldnt be hitting heavy weights if you are a smaller quixker forward or a poacher

as a target man u still want a bit of pace but improving your strength is as important....also plyo will increase your jump and explosive power, but its hard to get it done at a gym

[xTottixCorex]

if at all possible, plyometrics

u wanna be doing core strength exercises and stuff like benching

im no expert but deadlifts, squats, bent iver rows, wide grip pull downs/chin ups, bench press etc

but i wouldnt be hitting heavy weights if you are a smaller quixker forward or a poacher

as a target man u still want a bit of pace but improving your strength is as important....also plyo will increase your jump and explosive power, but its hard to get it done at a gym
i'm about 5'11, 180lbs. i wanna lose 15 more tho. is that worth much???