Attacking in the Final Third "Training the Forwards"

Attacking in the final third involves the forwards and the main job of the forwards is to score goals. Many assume the role of the forwards is to simply score goals, however this is often misuderstood. Yes, forwards must be tricky, deceptive, even selfish players at time, adept at scoring and brilliant in the final third. However, this is not their only role. Often a team with forwards who can only score often find themselves having a difficult time scoring.

The first role of the forward is to target for the rest of the team. As the ball moves through the defensive middle thirds of play the forwards must always be aware of what the ball is doing, where their teammates are and how they can help them. A forward who can serve as a target and be a dangerous threat in front of the goal is truly a dangerous player and one in great demand. A target forward will win the ball in the final third, (sometimes the middle third) and create with his midfielders, fullbacks and other forwards. Being able to get in the air, hold off defenders and win challenges and fifty-fifty balls are key skills for the target forward.

As forwards tend to be somewhat selfish players it is important for these players to understand their role within their team structure, specifically when they are not in front of the goal. They must learn that if the rest of the team cannot connect with them, the ball will never advance to the final third. They must also learn if they are black holes; places where once the ball goes it never sees another player again, it will be especially difficult to score. Teams will key onto this and prevent the player from turning and going to goal. A great forward knows this and connects with his teammates opening space up for himself in front of the goal.

Forwards need to learn to work together, showing back to the ball in seams to connect with their teammates. Whenever they are playing in a system with more than one forward they must learn to work together in lines and on angles. This creates optimal conditions for scoring and combination play. As the ball moves from side to side in the back and in the middle the forwards must work together across the field working alternately as short target and long target in the final third. With two forwards, one forward will often check to the ball and be the short target, while his teammate is the longer forward. They are often in line or nearly so.

Examples and diagrams below show the benefits of working in line. The one forward system and the three forward systems are discussed below as well and vary slightly from a two forward system.

The ball begins with the oppositions’ forwards but is won by the right fullback. While the opposing forwards have the ball, F1 and F2 maintain good distance away from the ball (length). After the full back wins F2 shows as the short target. F1 shows as the long target. It certainly can work the other way around but due to their positioning at the time this makes the most sense. Finally notice that both forwards are in a straight line and have shown to the ball in the seam to create passing lanes.	In this case the forwards have now worked over and taken the passing lanes away. The right full back plays away from pressure and reverses the ball around the back. As this happens the forwards must readjust. The long forwards checks in hard and the short forward loops out to be long. The short forward is now a great target. However, the long target is certainly a viable option for a long ball as a target or for a thru ball down the line.
Play the Way You Face vs. Turn and Face Once the fullbacks or midfielders have found the forwards the forwards there are have two options. The first is to play the way they face to the other forward, a midfielder or to the fullbacks. The second is to turn and face the defenders to go at goal.
Turn and Face:  Direct Play
Playing the Way You Face.

Attacking: The Whole Picture