Steelinho wrote:Part of playing with a false 9 is that there is a strong involvement of the other runners (7, 8, 10, 11) and reliance on them getting in the right positions (in behind the defence, in front of the 9).
Because the 9 doesn't play at the top and is more likely to drop when the ball starts reaching the final third, these other players need to be available as the strikers. If wingers are coming in wide and looking to deliver crosses, ideally there should be at least one of the 8 or 10 running in to receive, perhaps the 9 also available as a late option (i.e. the normal purpose of the 8).
One of the other ideas is that, because the 9 is dropping off the defensive line, he/she'll pull away defenders and allow those wingers (and other midfielders) space to attack. This is where attacking fullbacks also make runs to occupy the defending fullbacks and allow the wingers to "peel off" their opponent.
I've never considered it too much, but it would all seem to revolve (more or less) around understanding the positional movement of your teammates, though Victory's wingers (Rojas/Archie/Nabbout) seem to have a bit less tactical instruction and are playing more by instinct. Particularly in Archie's case, seeing as his role hasn't changed a great deal.
Phil Moss, Mariners' assistant coach, addressed the Tassie C Licence course this weekend. Yesterday morning we were able to ask him about the game against Victory in Launceston, which the course participants watched as a group.
PM said that the 1-4-3-3 with the false nine, was difficult to play against. He said that CCM's CBs were often caught in a dilemma about whether to go forwards to mark Flores, pulling the zonal defensive structure out of shape.
Conversely, CCM could stay back, keeping a zonal defence and compact shape, but at the same time, giving Flores time to turn and face the CCM. Then CCM contended he could be deadly with his killer passes and defence splitting passes.
CCM also had to deal with Archie and Rojas, who PM said can be very difficult to mark and play against. I think Flores' goal was the classic cutback to the trailing midfielder.