Strikers Explained: Target Man, Poacher and False Nine

Not all strikers are the same

Every team wants goals, and most goals are scored by strikers. But strikers come in different types, and each type works best in a different system. A tall striker who wins headers needs crosses. A quick finisher needs through balls. A striker who drops into midfield needs runners around him. Choosing the right type for your squad, and the right system for your striker, is one of the most important decisions in attack.

The target man

A target man is usually tall and strong. His main job is to receive the ball with his back to goal, hold it up while teammates move forward, win headers from long balls and crosses, and score from close range. He gives the team an outlet: when the defence is under pressure, a long ball to the target man can relieve it.

He suits direct styles of play and teams with good crossers on the flanks. A 4-4-2 with wide midfielders who cross, or a 3-5-2 with wing-backs, can feed a target man well. He is less suited to a patient, short-passing approach on the ground.

The poacher

A poacher lives in the penalty area. He is not heavily involved in build-up play, but he has excellent positioning and finishing, and he arrives at the right moment to turn chances into goals. Pace helps a poacher get behind defenders and on the end of through balls.

A poacher needs service. He works best with creative midfielders, wingers who cross low or cut back, and a partner who does the hold-up work. In a two-striker system, a poacher paired with a target man is a classic combination: one wins the ball, the other finishes.

The false nine

A false nine starts as the central striker but drops deep into midfield. This pulls the opponent's centre-backs out of position or leaves them with nobody to mark. Wingers and midfielders then run into the space he leaves. A false nine needs passing, vision and control rather than height or strength.

The false nine suits possession football and teams with fast, goal-scoring wide players, often in a 4-3-3. It is a sophisticated approach: without runners around him, a false nine simply leaves the team with nobody in the box.

Other striker types

Many strikers combine several roles. A complete forward can hold the ball up, run behind and finish. A pressing forward works hard to win the ball back high up the pitch. A second striker plays just behind a main striker and links midfield and attack. When you judge a striker, think about what he does best and whether your team plays to that strength.

Choosing the right striker for your team

Start with the players you have. If your wingers are good crossers, a target man makes sense. If your midfield is creative, a poacher who finishes through balls fits. If your wide players score goals and your midfield keeps the ball well, a false nine can work.

In TAC FC, the stars show how strong a striker is in his position, and the stars on the pitch show how strong he is in the spot you choose. Use player roles and instructions on the Tactics page to point him towards the job you want, whether that is holding up the ball, running behind or dropping deep.

One striker or two?

A single striker is common in 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and 4-5-1. It gives you more players in midfield but asks a lot of the striker, who often has to work alone. Two strikers, in a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2, give a natural partnership and more presence in the box, at the cost of a player in midfield.

If you have two good strikers who complement each other, a two-striker formation can get the most from both. If you have one excellent striker and several good midfielders, a single striker is often better.

A worked example

Your team plays a 4-3-3 with a lone striker who is quick but small. Your wingers love to cross, but most crosses are cleared by tall centre-backs. The striker scores rarely. The problem is a mismatch: the service does not suit the striker.

You have two options. You can ask the wingers to cut inside and play through balls, which suits the quick striker. Or you can sign a tall target man for whom crosses are ideal. Since your wingers' crossing is their main strength, signing a target man, possibly a free player to save money, might be the better fit. The quick striker can then play in matches where through balls are the better plan.

Strikers and fitness

Strikers who press hard tire quickly. With four league rounds a week, keep at least two or three strikers, and rotate them in matches where the plan suits the second choice. A striker in good form is worth keeping in the team, but not at the cost of exhaustion.

Common mistakes

The first mistake is using a striker in a system that does not suit him, such as a poacher with no service or a target man with no crosses. The second is relying on a single striker with no backup. The third is choosing a false nine without runners around him. The fourth is judging strikers only by goals, ignoring the work they do for the team. Choose the striker that fits your system, and the goals will follow.

Developing a young striker

Young strikers improve the most when they combine training with matches. Put them in the shooting drill group and give them minutes in cup ties and easier league rounds. A young poacher who scores in those matches gains confidence and form, while his development continues in training. Within a season or two, he may be ready to replace an ageing first choice.