Bale as striker? (Again)

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Not if he played false 9, he starts from deeper with the wingers becoming inside forwards and pushing up ahead of him, this gives him room to either run from deep or to pull defenders away freeing up the inside forwards etc etc.

What other team in the world plays a false number 9 with any success apart from Barcelona and Spain?

We are not Barcelona or Spain.

 

[$hoguN]

Not if he played false 9, he starts from deeper with the wingers becoming inside forwards and pushing up ahead of him, this gives him room to either run from deep or to pull defenders away freeing up the inside forwards etc etc.

I hate the term "false 9". All you are advocating is Bale playing too deep to be a real forward and trying to run onto the ball. I realise this works for Barca, but it is a seriously shit concept as you are left without a focal point of your attack, and your "false 9" is still left taking the ball with his back to goal 7 or 8 times out of 10. In fact, I would argue that it only works for Barca as the movement of their front three coupled with the sheer amount of possession they have means that Messi can create space by making late runs, but they only get away with it as they have Messi who has a skill set that is vastly different to Bale's.

 

[$hoguN]

What other team in the world plays a false number 9 with any success apart from Barcelona and Spain?

We are not Barcelona or Spain.

Spain also don't look great when they play without a striker, in fact it is the reason they pick Torres, Villa and Saldado in their squads.

 

[Acid]

@

What other team in the world plays a false number 9 with any success apart from Barcelona and Spain?

We are not Barcelona or Spain.

&

I hate the term "false 9". All you are advocating is Bale playing too deep to be a real forward and trying to run onto the ball. I realise this works for Barca, but it is a seriously shit concept as you are left without a focal point of your attack, and your "false 9" is still left taking the ball with his back to goal 7 or 8 times out of 10. In fact, I would argue that it only works for Barca as the movement of their front three coupled with the sheer amount of possession they have means that Messi can create space by making late runs, but they only get away with it as they have Messi who has a skill set that is vastly different to Bale's.

&

Spain also don't look great when they play without a striker, in fact it is the reason they pick Torres, Villa and Saldado in their squads.

RvP for Arsenal, Francesco Totti for Roma.

Nandor Hidegkuti, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Matthias Sindelar, Dennis Bergkamp, Ibra, Gotze, Cruyff, Pele, Nerman, Tevez (At United), Rooney (For a small period of time) have all played it effectively.

Your thinking the false 9 position must be played in a team that play Tika-Taka but that isn't the case at all, there are many effective ways to use False 9 in any Total Football based system or system that utilized triangles well. The False 9 doesn't have to be Messi like, far from it. Read up on the players above - not all have the same skill set or strengths (although the main one they do have is intelligence on the pitch) - see how the respective managers utilized them in combination with their skill-set as a False 9.

Totti is perhaps (?) the best example/comparison in style at Roma as there is plenty of analysis on him at False 9 in a different style of system to that of Spain or Barcelona. He sure as hell was an effective focal point wouldn't you say?

 

[Shanks]

Because he's lethal around the box, and its goals that count!

Agree on both accounts, but an out and out striker, is nulified somewhat, Bale's biggest attributes along with his finishing is his ability to run at defenders from deep on the pitch.

Thats my point - I'm sure he'd make a good centre forward, but for me it's pointless, as it takes away his biggest attributes.

 

[tobi]

I still prefer Spaletti's 4-6-0 formation, it beats all the others.

Bale struggles to consistently find space, that's one reason why he can't play as a false 9.

 

[Acid]

I still prefer Spaletti's 4-6-0 formation, it beats all the others.

Bale struggles to consistently find space, that's one reason why he can't play as a false 9.

Perhaps coaching during the pre-season on movement etc and new signings will enable the space? And if he draws defenders away all the more freedom for the box to box midfielder(s) and inside forwards? Win win.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

RvP for Arsenal, Francesco Totti for Roma.

Nandor Hidegkuti, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Matthias Sindelar, Dennis Bergkamp, Ibra, Gotze, Cruyff, Pele, Nerman, Tevez (At United), Rooney (For a small period of time) have all played it effectively.

Your thinking the false 9 position must be played in a team that play Tika-Taka but that isn't the case at all, there are many effective ways to use False 9 in any Total Football based system or system that utilized triangles well. The False 9 doesn't have to be Messi like, far from it. Read up on the players above - not all have the same skill set or strengths (although the main one they do have is intelligence on the pitch) - see how the respective managers utilized them in combination with their skill-set as a False 9.

Totti is perhaps (?) the best example/comparison in style at Roma as there is plenty of analysis on him at False 9 in a different style of system to that of Spain or Barcelona. He sure as hell was an effective focal point wouldn't you say?

You have just reeled off a list of very technical strikers - none of them were false number nines - most of them are number 10's if anything. Most importantly none of their skill sets were the same as Bales which is a powerful runner onto the ball facing the goal.

I'm sorry but Bale is no striker for me.

 

[Acid]

You have just reeled off a list of very technical strikers - none of them were false number nines - most of them are number 10's if anything. Most importantly none of their skill sets were the same as Bales which is a powerful runner onto the ball facing the goal.

I'm sorry but Bale is no striker for me.

Hmm do some research, they have all played at false 9 and Totti is famous for it, arguably invented the modern day false 9 at Roma - one olden day term for it (before the modern false 9) with the older players on the list is, "Half Ten", I believe.

That's good and I agree but a False 9 isn't a striker as such, like a number 10 but with CAM attributes.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Hmm do some research, they have all played at false 9. Totti practically invented it.

That's good and I agree but a False 9 isn't a striker as such, like a number 10 but with CAM attributes.

As I said though "with any success". I don't remember Roma pulling up any trees when Spaghletti tried it for a season.

Plus to reiterate my point Bale is not a technical player - he is a powerful runner - so I don't feel he the 'false 9' position will be utilising the best of his attributes.

 

[Acid]

Plus to reiterate my point Bale is not a technical player - he is a powerful runner - so I don't feel he the 'false 9' position will be utilising the best of his attributes.

Fair enough - In my opinion he has the skill-set to do it in a different way to Messi and co in a different style, fast transition team. Running from deep etc drawing defenders, his quick enough to get a fast pass off for overlapping inside forwards etc etc.

Going to have to disagree on him not being a technical player too, he has wonderful technique, improving at a rapid rate and learning how to read the game better too; thats in addition to his power, he isn't a one dimensional player (Why must people pigeon hole players, e.g. Sandro isn't one dimensional either there's more to his game than midfield destroyer and his stats back that). His growth has been phenomenal and it won't stall like some others.

As I said though "with any success". I don't remember Roma pulling up any trees when Spaghletti tried it for a season.

Roma didn't do too bad at all for the overall team they had at the time + injuries.

I would say a big portion of that list had some measure of success with it given their teams, some did fantastically well.

Edit: Check out http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...francesco-totti-roma-and-the-first-false-nine - love the video there, you can't see Bale being able to do that? Btw I'm not saying we should use Spaghletti's system - I'd imagine AVB will tweak his Porto system which would could be beautiful.

 

[tobi]

As I said though "with any success". I don't remember Roma pulling up any trees when Spaghletti tried it for a season.

IIRC Roma went on a record run and went something like fifteen games unbeaten (most wins) with the 4-6-0 formation. They had injuries but most of the key players were available.

Perhaps coaching during the pre-season on movement etc and new signings will enable the space? And if he draws defenders away all the more freedom for the box to box midfielder(s) and inside forwards? Win win.

Having more intelligent players in the team will definitely help (and compliment) but I think its something you're born with and Bale doesn't have the nous for it.

 

[ultimateloner]

I don't think it matters; the way we play in the new set up the front 3 will all be part-strikers and part-runners, all need to be able to attack ball from deep and do multiple things well. I think thats the rationale for the Chadli capture.

 

[nferno]

On a similar trail of thought, could dembele be converted again to play as left back? I think the idea is too ludicrous to make a new thread on. One of my mates is convinced he would make a great left back with his tackling ability, physicality and dribbling style useful for the role while at the same time freeing one of the 3 MF berths for someone like Holtby or Sig.

I disagree with the idea but anyone who loves tactical analysis of player strengths and weaknesses have an opinion?

 

[mil1lion]

He can play wherever he wants as far as I'm concerned. Set up a formation of 9 outfield players and let Bale do his own thing.