Five dynamics of modern soccer strikers

As a kid learning football tactics, I received the most rudimentary of football coaching. I was made to believe the only formation that existed was the 4-4-2 diamond style. When defining the roles of positions to me, I received only the most basic stuff. A striker’s job is to score goals, a centre back’s job is to make sure the striker doesn’t score goals, an attacking midfielder’s job is to pass to the striker, and a wide midfielder’s job is to cross. So for every time I saw a defender score, or a striker make a game winning tackle, I’ll get mad at the player because he wasn’t “minding his business”.

Two thousand football matches later and I know much, much better. While I agree that a striker should typically score a decent number of goals, the definition goes way beyond that. Strikers mean different things in different formations. With funny teams making strikers perform a number of bizarre duties, I’ve identified five types of strikers to show striking is more dynamic than just scoring goals.

Poacher:

The only type of centre forward that still aligns with my initial rudimentary definition of strikers. They contribute little, or nothing to the build up play, and will regularly have the fewest touch of any outfield player on the pitch. Their “kill-zone” is in and around the 6-yard box. Predators they are, 9 of 10 times, the best of them will deliver. The greatest attributes in their skill set are their positioning, off the ball movement and finishing. Classic examples are Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Filipo Inzaghi. Modern examples are Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Javier “Chicharito”Hernandez.

Target Man

A towering 6 foot striker who is used as a “springboard” for his team’s attack. His primary duty is to hold up the ball, and wait until there is a team mate(s) surround him so he can lay it off to them. He is charged with making space for others by occupying defenders. He is generally found around the edge of the 18-yard box or just in front of it. He seldom if ever runs into channels. His biggest attributes are his strength, and one touch passing, and he will most likely not be the most potent finisher in the team. Examples are Kenwyne Jones, Peter Crouch, Olivier Giroud.

Advanced Forward

Similar to the poacher, but almost always more mobile and willing to run into the channels. A typical advanced forward is always hanging on the shoulder of the last defender, looking to run in behind on goal. The best of them will finish 7 in every 10 chances. Though less potent than the poacher in front of goal, they typically have more ball skills and techniques than the poacher, and are likely to have more touches/passes/assists. They’ll have high marks for acceleration and positioning. Examples are Gonzalo Higuain, Michael Owen, Fernando Torres.

Complete Forward

Usually the most sought after strikers in the modern game. They are complete in that they can do everything. They can finish like poachers, dribble, run with the ball, run the channels, play as lone striker, play along side a target man, run the channels, score a goal from nothing. They are difficult to man mark, or curtail. They are hardly, if ever found in less than elite teams. Classic Examples are Ronaldo de Lima and Andriy Shecvhenko. Modern examples are Kun Aguero, Luis Suarez, Karim Benzema.

Trequartista

This is probably the most difficult type of striker to describe in the modern game, primarily because 9 times out of 10, the trequarista is a midfielder.

Trequartista means “three quarters” when translated to English, which is the area of the pitch where you expect to find such players. In the modern day striker terms, a trequartista will be a second striker. A striker who is as comfortable creating for others as he is taking chances for himself. He’ll have marks for off the ball movement, shooting, passing and technique. Classic examples are Alessandro del Piero and Fransesco Totti. Modern examples will be Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

This list is by no means exhaustive, as teams come up with different combinations to confound their opponents. There is the wide forward like Theo Walcott and Thomas Muller, the false 9 like Lionel Messi, and the auxiliary striker like Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Schurrle.  And with the technical level of these genius coaches around, expect different types of strikers to emerge.

 

Adedamola Obisesan