The Reusolution

I think it really depends on how the team is set up.

Obviously for Barca and Dortmund and some other teams false 9s are probably the way to go as forwards who contribute to link up play is probably more important than having a limited striker who is lethal in the box but very underwhelming outside of it.

While obviously there are other teams like Atletico for example with Falcao whose whole system is really based around the fact they have a WC poacher at the end of it all to bang the goals in.

I don't think the striker is dead, rather what the needs of the team is.

For Dortmund i would definitely go for a 4-3-3 with Gotze-Reus-Kuba and i have felt so for a long time ( i had it as my system on Fifa before i stopped playing it ) but there all teams who are more suited to typical 9s.

But as i said its really how the team is set up.

I disagree with Moal saying its how the team is set up, I believe it depends more on whether they have the player who can play a false 9.

Whats the point in playing an out and out striker when you can play a playmaker/striker in the false 9 position, may as well play them if you got them. However, very few players can do it effectively and thats why Strikers are going to remain vital untill a point where there are more false 9 types than poaching types.

Benzema doesn't really play false 9 for Real Madrid. Occasionally he goes out wide etc, however wouldn't say he's a false 9.

I'm sure he'd be able to offer more if he did play false 9 though. I mean we already have Ronaldo who finishes, so it might not be like the France situation.

In terms of strikers going, I don't think they are. It just depends on what type of forward you have. If it's someone like Falcao, then you wouldn't really bench him just to play a false 9. Same with other elite/top finishers.

Kick wrote:I disagree with Moal saying its how the team is set up, I believe it depends more on whether they have the player who can play a false 9.

Whats the point in playing an out and out striker when you can play a playmaker/striker in the false 9 position, may as well play them if you got them. However, very few players can do it effectively and thats why Strikers are going to remain vital untill a point where there are more false 9 types than poaching types.

I agree tbf but i do think its how you set up as well, what would Stoke do with a false 9 lol?

I think the way to go is more tactical flexibility. Imagine a team that can both play with a false 9 or a striker, depending on how the opponent is set up? If you have to face a team that can go for either set-up, how will you set up your tactics? IMO the way to go is actually being able to field both options.

In EPL a big striker is always needed

Did Reus actually play like a proper false 9?

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

Kick wrote:I disagree with Moal saying its how the team is set up, I believe it depends more on whether they have the player who can play a false 9.

Whats the point in playing an out and out striker when you can play a playmaker/striker in the false 9 position, may as well play them if you got them. However, very few players can do it effectively and thats why Strikers are going to remain vital untill a point where there are more false 9 types than poaching types.

I agree tbf but i do think its how you set up as well, what would Stoke do with a false 9 lol?

VivaStPauli wrote:So your point, in a nutshell, is that whenever you got a player that can reasonably play the false 9, you should go for the false 9?

I'll answer these two points together, If Stoke had Mario Goetze. I would certianly play him as a false 9. Since Stoke don't, them trying to play anyone at false 9 would be lol worthy.

Why not play a false 9, it is like playing an AM and Cf in one, meaning tou can play an extra man in midfield. Helping you win midfield battles.

False 9 lol

Can someone explain to me what exactly is a false 9?

highburied wrote:False 9 lol

Can someone explain to me what exactly is a false 9?

A striker that drops deep, is creative, good on the ball, good dribbler, good finisher, good at linking up etc.

highburied wrote:False 9 lol

Can someone explain to me what exactly is a false 9?

False nine

A unconventional lone striker, who drops deep into midfield. Francesco Totti perhaps invented it for Roma in 2006/7, Lionel Messi played here when he swapped positions with Samuel Eto’o for Barcelona in 2008/09, and Robin van Persie played the role for Arsenal at the start of the 2009/10 season.

http://www.zonalmarking.net/glossary/

Kick wrote:
If Stoke had Mario Goetze. I would certianly play him as a false 9. Since Stoke don't, them trying to play anyone at false 9 would be lol worthy.

Yes but would be the point of Stoke having a false 9 in their system when they completely ignore the midfield and pump the ball to the strikers either through long balls or crossing a load.

In that type of system a false 9 would be useless and they would basically need to buy 10 more players to make it work

This is why i say it depends on how you are set up, if you don't play in a way that suits a false 9 or/and don't have the players that can the best out of a false 9 its an utter waste of time.

If you have the players to do it then sure go for False 9 but if you don't then you are not really getting the best from your team.

Like any player it depends on the team and if don't have the team to support a false 9 as your fulcrum then i don't see the reason for it.

I think the "extinction" of positions is something of a cycle. Take the AM for example. It died with the rise of the destroyer, it re-surged in the modern game where destroyers with no AMs to destroy became "extinct", and now they're making a come-back. Or the passing CM. It died with the prevalent 4-4-2 (in a 3 man midfield there is the passer, the defender and the creative; in a 4 man midfield there are two wingers, a defender and a creative) and it started a comeback in the past 5 years and now it looks like its here to stay. Not that these positions were ever truly extinct, even now some teams use sweepers under specific conditions, but there are tactical fads that lead to the overuse and underuse of certain types of players.

Right now for possession-based teams it makes no sense to have a poacher because that's like trying to retain possession with 10 men instead of 11. It's obviously much easier in the second case. But if you're a counter attacking team that relies on wingplay and speed then it makes perfect sense to have a poacher. Now, are there less poachers now than 15 years ago? Possibly. But this possession fad will also be over eventually.

"False 9" has been around since like the 40's and 50's..Hidegkuti, an Hungarian was generally accepted to be the first of his kind. At least I consider it so.

Its not new and for some teams it makes sense.

I think though people are losing sight in what is the advantage really.

The point of it is, if you have a player who can do 2 roles in one....you dont need 2 players to do it.

So instead of someone in midfield, playing between the lines, making plays and then having someone who can get in scoring positions and score goals..if you have someone who can do both (and heres the important part of my point) to an elite level then it makes better sense to use that player and have another player elsewhere in the team.

The reason for its success has been that while the player drops from the defensive line, there is a moment where the defender who follows him stops doing so and leaves him to the midfield.

If a pass is played in between this moment, it is deadly. Just as deadly is if the defender doesnt follow him and lets him have the ball freely, or the midfielder doesnt pick him up and the player again has the ball freely to turn and run.

That position right there is the most dangerous position to have the ball facing goal, other than right in front of if with no defenders of course.

It works because when that player is in that space, the defender drawn, there will be gaps to expose and the players around him can make smart runs into thse gaps.

Anyway to stop rambling, the point is, I think people are losing sight in its purpose.

I have seen Spain field a team with a suppose false 9 (Cesc) and then play Silva and Pedro...Pedro being the only player running in to goal..of course, your going to struggle at some points because the defence is comfortable with the ball in front of them the whole game and little movement behind them.

There is nothing wrong with it, but in my opinion, it should be reserved for really outstanding players...when you throw just anyone in it, you cant expect it to work for very long.

When people throw names Like Benzema, Silva and others...I laugh.

To answer Viva questions, I dont think its the way of the future no. Teams might try and make it so, but like anything, at the first sign of trouble they will scrap it for something more conventional..and perhaps for good reason, its not for everyone.

As usually, Dani gives a tactical masterclass.

I would only add that false 9 can also cause problems to a defence without even touching the ball if defenders rush out the line to chase him, as then there's space for a direct pass to another forward cutting into that gap.

Thanks Free and very true, something, I did forget.

If the player is good enough, that what will happen.

Thought i'd bump the thread considering how Germany are going tonight...

Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Mertesacker, Schmelzer; Khedira, Gündogan; Müller, Özil, Reus; Götze

Be interesting to see how that front 4 works.