The Modern Game | A Place for Strikers?

This World Cup proves that the striker is once again the key man, yet do Academies realise this?

So far has been a refreshing experience, we have had exciting and entertaining games, moments of brilliance and a real zest to embrace the spirit of the occasion. It has also been enjoyable from a tactical perspective, with teams opting for three at the back formations, fluid systems and a growing emphasis on pressing, a facet which is becoming more and more apparent in the modern game. And it has also shown an appreciation for the centre forward, a role in which was becoming in danger of extinction this past decade. This article will look at why this is so and importantly assess what the future of the striker is. 

In 2002 the World Cup was blessed with the sublime talent of Brasil’s forward Ronaldo, arguably the greatest forward of his generation and certainly this blogs favourite ever player. He had it all; speed, strength, skill and the ability to score goals. 

In the following decade however football starting changing, the ‘winger’ started becoming the modern forward. The ‘9’ was no longer the key man to score the goals and win games. This evolution gave rise to players like Ronaldinho, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with players like Van Nistelrooy, Raul and Shevchenko becoming players of the ‘past’. It was a new era, the time ofthe dribbler, the inside forward had risen. 

As the decade went on these players excelled further to become the best in the world and the striker was becoming something of an anomaly. There were some like Drogba, Zlatan and Torres who were still proving that the centre forward had a place, yet the evolution and thinking of modern coaches was putting more emphasis on inside forwards and playmakers. It appeared that the game was evolving to be a place for ‘forwards’ over ‘strikers’. The 'poacher' was becoming extinct. Perhaps it was because modern defences were becoming tighter, smarter and more secure. Thus the game required smarter forwards to counter-act and find the space offered.

Seemingly the modern game seemingly required players who were fluid, interchangeable and flexible in their movements. Rigid forwards who stayed high and central were no longer seen as essential. False nine formations, 4-2-3-1’s where the ‘9’ was simply the foil and supply for deep runners to score was changing the role of the striker markedly. Players were having to adapt or face the threat of extinction. 

When Spain won the 2012 Euro’s playing with any recognised centre forward, favouring a midfield overload with Fabregas as the highest player appeared to show that ten years after Ronaldo was dominating the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, football was no longer recognisable a decade later. It was no surprise that Iniesta, the world’s greatest playmaker of that time won player of the tournament. The game and Spain’s tactics suited his attributes perfectly. Goals were no longer that important for success. 1-0 wins became Spain’s trademark, with the control of possession seemingly more important. 

Italy however in the final allowed us to see what Spain could do when given space to penetrate, yet three of the four goals came from two attacking midfielders and their left wing back. It was a new way of playing, more fluid, flexible and free. It was seemingly the nail in the coffin for the classic centre forward. And when you compare Spain's success to the rigidity which Mario Gomez offered the German side, you could see that this type of player was becoming a problem. 

Football's cycle brings the forward to prominence 

And yet, two years later the cycle of football has brought the centre forward back with aplomb! It’s not like he ever truly left, yet for the first time in perhaps a decade it does appear the centre forward’s role has once more become the most important role on the pitch. 

A lot of this has to do with the rise of counter-pressing as a way to combat, negate or simply offer different spatial and tactical problems to what tiki-taka was offering. Quick transitional play requiring quicker, more direct and vertical play thus required a centre forward who could hold up play or run in behind. He needed to be able to play versus two defenders. Thus we saw the rise of Lewandowski and Mandzukic in Germany, Diego Costa at Atletico, as well as the growing importance and appreciation of players like Zlatan, Benzema and Robin Van Persie. 

The forward was now respected and needed once more. Why? Simply put it comes down to philosophies. Jose Mourinho has always favoured this transitional style of football, thus he has always sought a forward in the mould of Benni McCarthy, Drogba, Miito and Benzema. His philosophy requires this ‘type’ of player. Guardiola on the otherhand, and Spain by association, do not see a fixed forward in their philosophy and thus have not been able to suit or fit one into their system. When Del Bosque tried to work Costa in to his system this tournament we have seen what happens when philosophies of player, team and coach do not mix. 

However since 2012 particularly the centre forward has become more and more important once again. And at this World Cup we only have to look at the impact of centre forwards and importantly of the styles and tactics which many coaches are implementing to see the rise of importance of the striker once more. 

Strike partnerships were back in vogue last season, a resurgence seen so far in Brasil. Holland, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile have played with two man partnerships. Coaches appear to have embraced goals over midfield ‘domination’, which has offered us an enthralling goal fest of a tournament so far. What it is evident is that coaches have chosen to revolve their sides styles and tactics around the forwards, instead of what we had seen previously, around the midfield.

(England’s failings may well be because Hodgson did not wish to embrace a partnership of Sturridge and Rooney and thus affected the balance and influence of the side and the key individuals in that team).

Strikers like Mandzukic, Neymar, Bony, Slimali, Benzema, Balotelli, Van Persie, Dempsey and of course Messi and Suarez have all made significant impact for their nation thus far. Van Gaal has moved Arjen Robben central as forward and enhanced his impact offering him more space and variability in his play and movement, just like Messi and Ronaldo’s role evolved these past few years. Seemingly the inside forward which took precedence several years ago has been shifted back centrally. Centre forwards are very much back and relevant once more.

A neglect of goals affects the manufacturing of balance

Yet this article wants to look at what is happening in youth football in terms of developing players for the future. It has not mentioned Thomas Müller as of yet purposefully. Three goals already, top scorer in 2010, yet he still appears to divide opinion. 

This blog sees in the German forward a player of the past and future in one. It also sees a player who is an anomaly, an outlier as such, when it comes to the modern game and youth development. You see the thing is Müller does not look like a modern footballer. He looks unorthodox and gangly, simply put not a player you associate with ‘Academy’ football. 

It is not that he can’t play, I rate Müller as one of the most intelligent, versatile players in the modern game and find the criticism people throw at him incredible. Yet what Müller is, is a goalscorer. And this apparently for many in youth development is not enough! 

Comparisons with Gerd Müller, the great German forward of the 1960-70’s is not far off. Thomas scores goals, unconventional, ugly goals at times, yet he knows how to score. Yet as we have seen this past decade, to simply be a goalscorer is apparently not enough. And this mentality can be seen at no other place than in Academy football. 

I will talk about my experiences in England yet I believe this phenomenon is occurring elsewhere also. The truth of which is, Academies are restricting the development of goalscorers. A previous article argued that European academies would not develop a player like Luis Suarez as his character, tenacity and insatiable appetite for goals would be ‘coached out’ of him. You can imagine hearing, “Luis, calm down, be more respectful, pass the ball, don’t shoot”. I am sure you have seen and heard it, I know you have! 

You know how it works, a player comes to an Academy on trial after scoring dozens of goals, he proves himself capable of this when he arrives so the level is not the issue, yet the coach will say “he can’t do this, this and that”. But, he can score goals? And isn’t that the most important aspect of the game? 

I have seen players who are brilliant at making runs behind the defence, of penetrating behind and scoring goals, yet who are then told to hold the ball up with their back to goal, denying them to do what they do best by providing the team with goals? It does seem strange. Yet it all comes down to the philosophy of the Academies and the coaches. 

In the past decade we have become obsessed with developing midfielders, players with supreme technical skills and great receiving and passing combination play. No wonder therefore that we have a plethora of attacking midfield talent coming through. We also have a high number of wingers/inside forwards/wing backs being developed. Again because the philosophies of Academies promote this role over others. 

We have football factories churning out two types of players. No wonder therefore that we have seen a void in the development of goalkeepers, defenders, defensive midfielders and centre forwards. People are arguing that ‘the art of defending’ is being lost, and this is true, because Academies are not focusing on this key element of the game. 

This unhealthy obsession with possession, technical skills and what players do with the ball, has created a serious imbalance in youth development. The restricting nature, recruitment and ‘moulding’ of young players has seen a neglect of ‘unfashionable’ positions which has left English football particularly missing key elements for a balanced football future. 

Thomas Müller is criticised for his lack of poise and skill, yet not lauded for his immense talents as a goalscorer? Surely there is something wrong with how the modern game, media and youth coaches view players? Instead of ‘changing’ the player from what he is, should we not be seeking to enhance their talents? 

Müller has always been obsessed with scoring goals and thus is now a great goalscorer. Yet if he came to an Academy would a coach seek to deny him that wish? It appears so. A player like Müller should be lauded for his abilities, yet it seems the modern football culture can’t see it. 

Luckily coaches like Klinsmann and Van Gaal saw his undeniable goalscoring talent and his quality has risen since he got that ‘opportunity’. Yet this is why philosophies can make or break a players career, can define a player as 'talented' or 'poor'. It seems modern youth development has seemingly neglected the centre forward over the production of midfielders. Yet as this World Cup has proven, the centre forward, the goalscorer is and will always be a key part of the side. 

Therefore writers of youth development philosophies, of the future game, need to take note and appreciate what they are doing with young players. Neglecting a goal scorer could be a very costly mistake. 

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address

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