Does anyone know what makes a good no 9

[Andy S]

I've been watching football for the best part of 55 years and I'm sure I cannot. There is a lot of natural ability in there. Belief in your self, natural positioning, knowing where to be and when to move. Some players have it and some don't .But what that bit of magic is, is unknown. Harry Kane of Spurs has it. Alan Clarke had it Gordon Davies had it. Mouse Dembele had it and Mitro has it. But exactly what is it?

[HV71]

I've been watching football for the best part of 55 years and I'm sure I cannot. There is a lot of natural ability in there. Belief in your self, natural positioning, knowing where to be and when to move. Some players have it and some don't .But what that bit of magic is, is unknown. Harry Kane of Spurs has it. Alan Clarke had it Gordon Davies had it. Mouse Dembele had it and Mitro has it. But exactly what is it?

You are right - it's something of a quandary. Different players with different styles have been very successful ( like the ones you have mentioned) I have to admit that I prefer the strong , mobile type who can turn and run at the defence- Cyrille Regis immediately comes to mind ( Drogba wasn't bad either )

[Carborundum]

Terrific question.  It can't be anything to do with body shape or playing style.  A role that anyone on a spectrum from Romelu Lukaku to Dennis Law can excel in surely cannot be easy to generalise.  So the answer must lie between the ears. 

I reckon its about selfishness and selflessness.  A great striker has to be laser-focussed: that ball is going in the net and I'm putting it there.  But it's a role where 39 out of 40 things the striker does won't come off, most won't be noticed and the striker has to keep on doing them*.  We all know people who are selfish or who are selfless.  How many are outstanding in both respects?   Not many.

That and hard work.

* This, by the way, is why Mitro's goal on Saturday is so good.

[Jamie88]

I think intelligence is an often under-played characteristic of a good striker. To have an ability to work out how play is about to unfold and to anticipate exactly where to be at the right time. It also means you are more likely to make the right decisions on the ball. Obviously composure and technique then come into it but I believe it all starts in the head.

[Lighthouse]

Brian McBride was a perfect example.

Brave,powerful,able to take a hit without reacting, always willing to make a run in the areas most likely to cause panic and confusion. Take chances and an ability to know where your own teammates are.

[filham]

All kinds of different attributes. Just think of the best we have seen at Fulham over the years, Mitro, Zamora, McBride, Saha, Berbatov (oh so different), Clarke and Jezzard (the best) Each had qualities of their own but were quite different, of course they could all score goals.

[junior white]

The pace of Mbappe, the leap of Ronaldo, the trickery of Messi, the finishing of Shearer, the work ethic of McBride all of those in a number 9 would suit me

[Bocanegra]

I think chemistry with team mates is always massively underrated also.

[sunburywhite]

A good 6 preceeding it

[ALG01]

without wanting to be rude and bear in mind I am getting way past it... before answering the OP.... I do have to say i hate the new vernacular..a number 9 he is a number 10.. in this respect on this occasion I do think i know what we mean by a number 9 but i never knew what a number 10 was because it is the left footed version oif a number 8 in a w m formation and to be honest a 7 is rw and 11 a lw person but we do not use thoose terms any more because of squad numbers

Rant over

what makes a good center forward (9)
IMO
there is more than one type
A classic big center forward old fashioned style would be somebody that is big, capable o playing with his back to goal and holding the ball, good in the air, good first touch, good at linking play and turning defenders, good movement off the ball, a menace to defences at corners and set pices and of course last but most important an eye for the goal. Bobby Z was my absolute favourite in this respect and firstchoice in any best 11.

Alternatively a more modern approach would be more mobile quicker brillianbt at taking the ball when coming over his shoulder, brilliant when running at pace at defenders, brilliant first touch, must be a very reliable finisher. In other words louis saha

Saha, zamora and Ivor as a fron three is probably the dream front line if you exclude leggatt and alan clarke.

I also think all these players have to have a great work ethic on match day and in training, as they say, they harder they work, the luckier they get.

[bog]

Bedford Jezzard, Allan Clarke, Gordon Davies, Louis Saha, Brian McBride,  Mitro, Bobby Zamora


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[filham]

Bedford Jezzard, Allan Clarke, Gordon Davies, Louis Saha, Brian McBride,  Mitro, Bobby Zamora


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Yes bog, about the same as my list of our best examples except I omitted Ivor as classed him as a goal poacher rather than a center forward. Now that you have mentioned Ivor i feel Leggat must be up there for comparison, his attributes were unusual , but so useful.

[sunburywhite]

Bedford Jezzard, Allan Clarke, Gordon Davies, Louis Saha, Brian McBride,  Mitro, Bobby Zamora


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Malcolm Macdonald, Ronnie Rooke