Coaching: Improving the movement of your strikers

The role of the modern striker has changed drastically, depending on the formation, the playing style of the team and the profile of the player, specific responsibilities may be demanded more frequently while others may be negated.  Therefore, when training strikers, it’s essential for both the coach and the player to understand the role and responsibilities of a striker in his or her team.

This training ground piece on coaching strikers looks to work within the basic principles of a striker and the supporting players in the 4-4-2 formation. However, an experienced eye might easily see that with slight modifications, the same session can work for different formations such as the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.

We also provide a brief tactical analysis on the modern striker, as well as highlighting an example of how two different strikers get success for their team, yet, in entirely different ways.

Define your striker

Perhaps the proverb ‘horses for courses’ is fitting here. You see, a striker in Gian Piero Gasperini’s Serie A goal machine, Atalanta, who play in a 3-4-1-2, would be required to position himself between the opposition full-back and the centre-back when in possession. Moving from wide areas to central areas inside the box to arrive unmarked, connect with a cross or pass and score. While The requirements of a striker in Carlo Ancelotti’s Premier League side, Everton for example, would be required to play more centrally as the focal point of the attack in a 4-3-3 to get on the end of crosses and through balls from deep.

If a striker is to be considered successful or even effective, he or she must have capacities that align with the requirements of the role in attack. Case in point; there is a reason why 5ft 4” Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne is not a target-man in the box for aerial crosses. Define the role for the striker in your style of play, and assess the reality of probable success based on the player’s capacities.

Let’s take a look at two examples of how two of Europe’s top strikers with contrasting styles of play help their team get success as centre-forwards. Here we highlight one example from each striker, first, Zlatan Ibrahimović, the 39-year-old Swedish striker for Serie A side AC Milan. Second, Jamie Vardy, the established 2019/2020 Golden Boot winning striker for English Premier League side, Leicester City.

Taken from the recent Serie A clash between Napoli and AC Milan, above, we see Milan’s left-back is about to deliver a dipped out-swinging cross towards the penalty spot. Observe Ibrahimovićs’ position right before the cross is delivered, notice Ibrahimović stays on the blindside of the closest centre-back. As the ball leaves the defender’s foot, Ibrahimović accelerates forward to get a positional advantage ahead of the reacting defender while also reading the flight of the ball.

In the image above, we see how Ibrahimović has created and accomplished a few crucial factors to score from this header. First, the 6 ft 5” Swede gets in front of the defender, giving him a favourable position to meet the ball. Second, notice even from this distance, Ibrahimović is still between the width of the posts, which statistically increases a players chance of scoring from crosses. The centre-forward would have been conscious of his position during the build-up phase, preparing his steps backwards to arrive at this position. Finally, a superb execution, heading the ball downwards with great power in the bottom corner before the goalkeeper had a chance to get a hand on the ball.

The image above is taken from the Premier League game between Leicester City and Manchester City last season. Leicester City has just won the ball back, and they transition to attack quickly. Just as possession is won back, Vardy moves from a central position to the vacated left channel to receive a forward pass unmarked. With time to turn, Vardy does so and dribbles at pace; assessing his attacking options in the preceding moments. Notice how far over the Manchester City defenders are now to get compact relative to the ball.

Above, Vardy adjusts his body to get a view and a crossing opportunity to the box. Reading the run of his teammate Marc Albrighton, the ‘RM’, Vardy delivers an in-swinging cross which is met and converted by Albrighton with little to no pressure. The above goal could not have been scored If not for Vardy’s ability to manipulate the City backline. Notice when Albrighton converts the header, all four of City’s defenders are beyond the front post, giving them virtually no chance to defend the cross at this point. Vardy, the goal-scorer, is just as dangerous when he turns provider from the channels.

A short tactical analysis, just to say, define the role of your centre-forward. Depending on other factors, including congruence and chemistry between players, there are many ways you can get success with your striker or strikers.

The training ground

Let’s jump right in, this session requires a little more than half a field at most; however, you may find as much if not increased success on half of a full-size pitch. Each of the practices uses 18 players, two of which are goalkeepers while the other 16 are outfielders honouring their natural positions. Finally, I should preface, depending upon the age and stage of the player’s development feel free to manipulate area sizes slightly along with the conditions if necessary, to get success. Attacking and scoring goals is the best topic in football, I have found these practices to be enjoyed by all players including at senior level, so try to limit your coaching stoppages and let the session be fun and effective.

A clear cut visual illustration, as per the three practices, notice the area size increases, engaging more players and units on both teams to get a progressive reality-based learning environment.

Practice 1

• Area size approx. 45 x 50 yards
• Two full-size goals at either end of the zone, one permanent goalkeeper in each.
• In front of each goal are three permanent defenders and two strikers, these players become active and inactive based on directional attacks.
• Only two yellow attackers enter the area at a time; here they link up with the two strikers at the end of the goal they are attacking (making it a 4 v 3) while the other inside players remain inactive.
• Once the attacking phase has ended by a goal or a save, the two yellows leave the field and thus begins the next wave of attack in the opposite direction, engaging the other five inside players.
• E.g. Above, A-A (yellow) start the attack coming inside, linking up with the two orange strikers to beat the defenders. Once that phase has ended A-A leave the field and prepare to restart at a later time from the opposite side, while B-B (yellow) attack immediately in the opposite direction. After that then C-C (yellow) attack in the next phase.
• Play offsides, allow mistakes to happen if you have pre-determined principles or patterns, by all means, remind the players prior to starting.
• The strikers do not have to receive a pass to start; however, you may want to introduce this if there is too much dribbling.
• Finally, once the game has momentum and fluidity and players are getting success, make players aware of strikers positions for long or short crosses, either front/back post or high/low positions for cut-back crosses.
• Play with the offside rule

Practice 2

• 9 v 9 game, GK + 3-3-2
• Each of the three zones approx. 22 x 55 yards
• Play starts and restarts each time with Goalkeepers.
• Looking to play through thirds to finally score in final third
• Players of the team in possession can move through the thirds while defending team honour 3-3-2 shape (If reality is lost and players take advantage then remove the condition to balance)
• In the build-up, one of the strikers can drop into the middle zone to create an overload while one attacking defender can enter the middle zone.
• When defending team win possession, they too should identify the best opportunity to progress and score based on a stretched and disorganised defence of opposition.
• Utilise the strikers as much as possible; strikers should be aware of the position in the final third for passes and crosses to score from.
• Strikers should also identify when they should become creators for the goal, to beat defence and goalkeeper.
• Honour front/back post and high/low positions for crosses
• Manipulate and exploit a disjointed defence.
• Play with the offside rule

Phase of Play

• For this phase of play, the yellows are the team being coached for success.
• Reds should be engaged and have a counter-attacking target to score on goal near the halfway line.
• Yellows occupy a 2-4-2 formations as per the above along with one GK
• Reds line out in a 4-3-1 formation supported with one goalkeeper
• The phase of play is where we look to execute and practice our principles of play or pre-determined patterns of play.
• For effective practice and success allow restarts to always start with the attack (coaching) team.
• Below are two patterns of play that can be practised in this phase of play as optional.
• For best results, if these patterns or any other patterns have not been practised before, perhaps allow the session to flow semi-freely on the first few occasions, rotating players between teams frequently.
• Play with the offside rule

Pattern of play #1

• LB plays a pass to CM
• CM plays a slightly forward pass to the advancing LM
• LM plays a first-time pass to the second striker CF (furthest of the two strikers)
• As the ball is travelling the nearest CF comes from a higher position to get into the line of pass
• Acting as a dummy, dragging a defender the first CF dummies and lets the pass go
• The CF begins running forward into the vacant space where he/she will meet a short through ball from the second CF.
• If the final pass cannot be played, the CF can play back to a free midfielder or free wide player to recirculate possession.

Pattern of Play #2

• RB dribbles forward, when the angle is available the RB plays a long ground pass to the second CF
• The first CF (nearest the ball) makes an angled run across the face of his teammate (CF)
• The CF receiving a pass lays off a short pass at an angle into the horizontal run of the first CF
• While that is happening the LM moves forward and inside to create space for the overlapping LB
• The CF in possession plays an angled pass forward into the path of the LB
• From here the LB can drive in the box if possible or play a cross to attackers against a disjointed defence.
• In the final third due to reduced space and time touches and dribbling time should be kept to a minimum
• Supporting players movement should be quick and mindful of offsides

Getting success

Define success for the players, be realistic with expectations, allow mistakes to be ironed out naturally when possible and frequently ask, ‘do I need to coach here’?
Overcoaching kills the momentum, and more importantly, the reality of the game. Perhaps it would be best to first facilitate a learning environment, where players must self-coach and find solutions in their units. Development ownership of the players is one sure-fire way to help maximise the output and learning potential of a session. In the end, reflect briefly with players on learning outcomes, both planned and unplanned, and by all means, we can easily get lost on the training ground, players and coaches, so always keep the main thing, the main thing!.