Football questions, a bit embarrassed to ask...

[Annabel]

I love football, I watch a LOT of football, but I find myself a little confused by commentators/pundits and a few commentators on here. I think there's a bit of football 'jargon' I'm not getting, so without further ado & with many thanks if anyone answers I have a few questions.

1) What's the difference between full backs and wing backs?

2) What is a 'rush goalie'

3) What is a "false number 9"

4) What is playing 'between the lines'? Isn't this just looking for space to move into?

5) Doesn't playing 'inverted wingers' reduce the service to the striker?

6) Why is Robbie Savage paid for his opinion?

 

[Montasura]

I'll have a go at the false 9 one...

A traditional No. 9 is generally considered an out and out goalscorer/poacher. Someone who is usually fairly quick and plays up front most of the game, often off the last defender. I'm thinking Falcao here. Someone who's primary role is to put the ball in the net.

A false 9 is someone who often plays in that position but perhaps has a different skillset and is better at holding the ball up, passing, and bringing others into play. A false 9 is often an attacking midfielder playing in that kind of lone striker position. A lot of people would consider Messi as a false 9.

Hope that helps and I'm sure they will all jump on my back to point out any errors or elaborate, but I've put it in fairly simplistic terms.

 

[llamafarmer]

A rush goalie is a classic childhood football rule used in the casual kickabout, where usually nobody wants to play in goal. Each team can nominate a goalie who can obviously handle the ball as normal, but at any time they can run up the other end of the pitch to join an attack and another team mate will take on the goalkeeping duties until they fancy playing outfield and swap with someone else. In theory you have one goalie at a time, but nobody is forced to stay in goal the whole game. It's as synonymous with my childhood football memories as jumpers for goalposts.

I'm not sure where you'd have heard that in commentary though - it might have been more in reference to a 'sweeper keeper' like Lloris who likes to rush off his line to clear up loose balls behind a high defensive line.

 

[Danners9]

I can't help with number 6, at all. Not sure any of us know.

 

[Montasura]

I can't help with number 6, at all. Not sure any of us know.

Did you ever see the program where he had the cameras into his home??

 

[Danners9]

Did you ever see the program where he had the cameras into his home??

i've seen him on Footballers Cribs, if you mean that one? he has the life of luxury, not bad for a painfully average player. Done very well for himself and he's a good host for 606 but his opinions are worthless. He's a toned-down BBC version of Adrian Durham.

 

[biscuitbeck]

I love football, I watch a LOT of football, but I find myself a little confused by commentators/pundits and a few commentators on here. I think there's a bit of football 'jargon' I'm not getting, so without further ado & with many thanks if anyone answers I have a few questions.

1) What's the difference between full backs and wing backs?

2) What is a 'rush goalie'

3) What is a "false number 9"

4) What is playing 'between the lines'? Isn't this just looking for space to move into?

5) Doesn't playing 'inverted wingers' reduce the service to the striker?

6) Why is Robbie Savage paid for his opinion?

A rush goalie is a goalkeeper who comes out of his goal and acts as an outfield player when his team are attacking. This is never seen in professional football, other than maybe the last couple of minutes of a match where a team is losing, and the goalkeeper goes up for a corner. Still, that's not really a rush goalkeeper as it is a one off and not a tactic.

Playing 'between the lines' is when a player operates in front of the back 4 but just behind the midfield 3/4/5 with the aim that he is not directly marked by either a defender or a midfielder, thus having more opportunity to influence the play.

Robbie Savage is paid for his opinion because he is a former player and they always take preference over pundits/commentators who haven't played the game, although he is clearly inferior

Hope that helps.

 

[easley91]

Was a delight to see this sight at the Broadfield Stadium. A Derby player went over the boardings that night too!

 

[Montasura]

i've seen him on Footballers Cribs, if you mean that one? he has the life of luxury, not bad for a painfully average player. Done very well for himself and he's a good host for 606 but his opinions are worthless. He's a toned-down BBC version of Adrian Durham.

Yeah that's the one, couldn't remember if it was cribs or some sort of one off Robbie Savage special lol. I actually don't mind him too much, he doesn't come across as a particularly bright spark, was indeed an average footballer, but he always sees to be a fairly happy sort!!

 

[dvdhopeful]

Rush goalie, as others have said. Does anyone else remember the 'Stick' Goalie who was the nominated goal keeper and couldn't leave the goal and 'Spider' Goalie where not only could a side not find anyone who wanted to be in goal but they were also shit, so basically anyone could be goalie at anytime? 'Spider' always degenerated because of arguments over where the penalty area was and just ending up in a game of HandEgg.

 

[nightgoat]

Aaah, rush goalie. 3 and In. Wembley Doubles. Jumpers for goalposts... Then someone boots the ball on the gym roof and it's game over.

*nostalgia*

 

[Montasura]

Oh and a wing back is essentially a more attacking full back, running the wings and generally pressing higher up the pitch.

 

[nightgoat]

A wing back is basically Jason McAteer. Hoddle used to play them, too. Was a bit of a 90's trend.

 

[Wolver]

Classic wing back example would be Cafu and Roberto Carlos for Brazil in the 90's to early naughties, very attack minded.

 

[alfie103]

I'll have a go at number 5, (please correct if wrong). It was a usual tactic for wingers to hug the byline and look to cross the ball into the box for the centre forwards to head into the goal. These are 'classic' wingers. Inverted wingers are players who generally look come off the side of the pitch and generally are opposite footed to side of the pich they are (e.g. if they are on the right of the pitch then they are generally left footed.) This would mean that these players can cut inside and pose more of a goal threat by being able to play through balls or shoot at goal.

 

[Spurger King]

4) What is playing 'between the lines'? Isn't this just looking for space to move into?

Essentially yes. Obviously it depends upon particular formations being used, but the 'lines' could be broken up into defence, midfield, and attack. I don't think there's an exact definition, but generally speaking, playing between the lines is where the space between the lines is bridged (temporarily or for a whole match). Players like Vertonghen could be said to be doing this when they break out of defence and temporarily become part of the midfield.

The 'hole' is 'between the lines', so players like VDV (or indeed Bale at times last season) would be playing between midfield and attack - neither staying too deep, or too far forward, but covering both.

Along with 'the channels' it's really just pointless jargon to describe occupying areas of the pitch in relation to the general formation of both teams.

 

[RickyVilla]

I will have to pass on all 6 questions.

 

[Lufti]

I love football, I watch a LOT of football, but I find myself a little confused by commentators/pundits and a few commentators on here. I think there's a bit of football 'jargon' I'm not getting, so without further ado & with many thanks if anyone answers I have a few questions.

1) What's the difference between full backs and wing backs?

2) What is a 'rush goalie'

3) What is a "false number 9"

4) What is playing 'between the lines'? Isn't this just looking for space to move into?

5) Doesn't playing 'inverted wingers' reduce the service to the striker?

6) Why is Robbie Savage paid for his opinion?

1) Wing backs are expected to do a lot more attacking work and often replace wingers. Usually deployed in a system with 3 centre backs so that the less defending which they're doing goes more unnoticed and they can be covered for when bombing forward

2) Someone who doubles up as a sweeper ie Lloris. Expected to come off his line quickly to deal with through balls and balls over the top from the other team

3) Someone who is playing the number 9 spot but is often a midfielder rather than a striker, looking to create and deploy the ball to the wings rather than being an out and out finisher. Often carries the ball from deep rather than being the last one on the end of the cross

4) Yeah, if you're playing against a 4-4-2 system for example then you're no. 10 or attacking central midfielder will set up position in between the other team's 2 lines of 4.

5) Yeah, but you'd be looking for more service through the middle due to the 3 central midfielders. Definitely a more narrow formation but of course it has it's benefits and causes more confusion to the opposing full backs (positionally) and creates a greater threat on goal (arguably)

6) Because he has a ponytail. They're back in, didn't you know?

 

[Syn_13]

1) Wing backs are expected to do a lot more attacking work and often replace wingers. Usually deployed in a system with 3 centre backs so that the less defending which they're doing goes more unnoticed and they can be covered for when bombing forward

2) Someone who doubles up as a sweeper ie Lloris. Expected to come off his line quickly to deal with through balls and balls over the top from the other team

3) Someone who is playing the number 9 spot but is often a midfielder rather than a striker, looking to create and deploy the ball to the wings rather than being an out and out finisher. Often carries the ball from deep rather than being the last one on the end of the cross

4) Yeah, if you're playing against a 4-4-2 system for example then you're no. 10 or attacking central midfielder will set up position in between the other team's 2 lines of 4.

5) Yeah, but you'd be looking for more service through the middle due to the 3 central midfielders. Definitely a more narrow formation but of course it has it's benefits and causes more confusion to the opposing full backs (positionally) and creates a greater threat on goal (arguably)

6) Because he has a ponytail. They're back in, didn't you know?

I see you've been playing your Football Manager, Lufti.

I love seeing teams deploy wing backs properly. Napoli and Juve have used them very well in recent years and Italy bossed Spain with them (particularly Maggio) in this past Confederations Cup.

3-5-2 is one my favourite formations and I'd love to see us try it if we could get in another centre back of the Vertonghen mould to go on the right with Kaboul in the middle. Walker would suit being a wing back too and he's got a lot of energy, likes to push forward and is very determined.

 

[brasil_spur]

I'll have a go at the false 9 one...

A traditional No. 9 is generally considered an out and out goalscorer/poacher. Someone who is usually fairly quick and plays up front most of the game, often off the last defender. I'm thinking Falcao here. Someone who's primary role is to put the ball in the net.

A false 9 is someone who often plays in that position but perhaps has a different skillset and is better at holding the ball up, passing, and bringing others into play. A false 9 is often an attacking midfielder playing in that kind of lone striker position. A lot of people would consider Messi as a false 9.

Hope that helps and I'm sure they will all jump on my back to point out any errors or elaborate, but I've put it in fairly simplistic terms.

van de Vaart for me was the classic false number 9 example.