I have been pondering, as a result of watching my own team, what is the point of playing a centre forward if you don’t give them chances, or even the ball!!

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I have been busy working out if the central strikers are underperforming or whether it’s the way the team plays!

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I am not trying to tell a professional manager his job, but rumours of a world leading centre forward coming to solve a scoring problem seem fanciful if he never touches the ball!!

Are the current centre forwards, missing loads of chances or are they simple not being provided with the ball in the right areas (or provided at all?)

So replacing these with a great goal scorer will not provide a solution necessarily!

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In a previous coaching session I relayed the story of when coaching a boy who said “the other players in the team are better than me”, I asked him who is better WITHOUT A BALL, Lionel Messi or me (fat old Tim Richens)?

They always say Lionel Messi instinctively but then it dawns on them that I said “without the ball” and they say - “you’re the same”!!

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This is relevant to this club situation!

If your main striker, no matter how good they are, doesn’t get the ball they won’t score!!!

If the fans could have a choice of signing a £100million striker or Tim Richens they would all say they want the pricey striker, but if neither of us ever get the ball then that makes little sense!!

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So, what could  any club, do in this circumstance? 

They could adapt their style of play to include all eleven players on the pitch based on a traditional centre forward, or they could play with a “false nine”!!

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So, how does the “false nine” work in this case?

It is crucial that the most forward midfield player  interacts with the inside forwards (when your centre forward is not available, as in this system)

In this situation, I would play two centre midfield players alongside a deeper lying forward (the “false nine”) setting up just in front of them (like a triangle) but fluidity is needed to maximise this strong unit!

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Defensively, I expect the three centre midfield players to interact throughout and for all three to protect the centre of the park and the central defence especially, when out of possession.

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But, when the “false nine” drops back to get the ball (as they often do, with this player being a skilful, technical player) we need them to interchange with one of the central midfielders. This allows the shape to be retained in attack AND defence.

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The attacking threat should also be provided by the wide players (the wing backs) and they should be encouraged to keep wide and create partnerships, to make overloads with

• The two inside forwards

• A flexible midfield (of the two central players and the false nine)

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Also, the team need to be encourage to try shots early from the edge of the box and also whip in EARLY crosses, as this will stop opposing defences, dropping too deep and “flooding the box”, therefore not allowing the striker any room to work in!

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In the same way the team needs to play some long passes with the expectation that, sometimes, the ball will be lost! 

But this long ball needs to be played into the channels between opposing centre backs and full backs, as this is where your strikers are likely to be attacking !

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By doing this and “compomising” the possession stats, you create uncertainty in the minds of the defenders, and create more spaces to move the ball forward quickly and accurately!

Not only will it create opportunities for space, occasionally a long shot may find the net, an early cross may find the head of your attackers (before they are marked) or a long ball may be something for the notional attackers to use their pace to run onto!

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If you don’t do this, or it doesn’t work, simply refocus the side to get the ball to your centre forward where they can get and convert chances!

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But whatever you do try to do the following at all times

• receive the ball on the half turn ready to progress forwards

• Pass the ball for the receiver to move on to, not behind them as this disrupts the movement of the attack

• Look to make your first pass a forward one in every instance (keeping the opposition defence off balance), and only use sideways or backwards as a last resort. Defenders want time to reorganise and get “goal side” at every occasion so DON’T LET THEM!!