Striker
From Soccer Manager Wiki
Strikers, also known as forwards and attackers, and formerly inside forwards, are the players on a team in football (soccer) in the row nearest to the opposing team's goal, who are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals.
Modern team formations usually include one to three strikers; two is most common. Coaches typically field one striker who plays over the shoulder of the last Defender (close to the opposing team's goal), and another attacking forward who plays somewhat deeper and assists in making goals as well as scoring.
The former is usually a large striker, typically known as a target man, who is used to win long balls or receive passes and "hold up" the ball as teammates advance, to help teammates score by providing a pass ('through ball' into the Penalty area, or to score himself; the latter variation usually requiring quicker pace. Less frequently, some strikers operate on the wings of the field and work their way goalward.
This very advanced position and its limited defensive responsibilities mean strikers normally score more goals than other players; accordingly, strikers are often among the best-known and most expensive players in their teams.
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[edit] Centre forward
The centre forward, or an "out-and-out" striker, is normally the principal goal-scorer of a football team. Centre forwards act predominantly as "targets" or the focal point of an attack; it is the duty of the midfield to supply and to assist them to score.
Some centre forwards are goal poachers who work in and around the penalty area to snatch goals and who are sometimes referred proverbially to as a "fox in the box". These strikers are known for their positional sense and excellent reflexes. Other forwards may rely on their pace to latch on balls from outside the six-yard area. Other players rely on their excellent dribbling ability to pierce through opposition defences.
Other centre-forwards are known as "target men" and are usually of above-average height, with good heading ability. They hold the ball up and bring other players into the game, scoring from crosses, often with the head, and use their body strength to shield the ball while turning to score. Centre-forwards with exceptionally towering figures and accurate heading abilities also make great "target men".
Some current well-known centre forwards include:
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Miroslav Klose
Michael Owen
Dimitar Berbatov
Luca Toni
Diego Milito
Didier Drogba
Samuel Eto'o
[edit] Second striker
Deep-lying forwards have a long history in the game, but the terminology to describe them has varied over the years. Originally such players were termed inside forwards, or deep-lying centre forwards. More recently, the preferred terms have been withdrawn striker, supporting striker, second striker, or playing "in the hole" (i.e., the space between the midfield and defence of the opposing team). In Italy this position is referred to as Trequartista.
The position was initially developed by the famous Hungary national football team of the late 1940s and mid 1950s-nicknamed the "Golden Team" or the Aranycsapat (Hung lit: Golden Team).
The position is a loosely-defined one somewhere between the out-and-out striker and the midfield. Such a player is either a skillful, attack-minded midfielder or a striker who can both score and create opportunities for a centre forward. Although the differences might be subtle in some cases, the Second Striker position should not be confused with the Playmaker role: players who base their game in ball control, deep offensive passing, and a great vision for tactically "reading" the game.
[edit] Wing forward
A winger is an attacking player who is stationed in a wide position near the touchlines. They can be classified as forwards, although they're usually counted as part of the midfield.
It is a winger's duty to beat opposing fullbacks and to deliver cut-backs or crosses from wide positions. They are usually some of the quickest players in the team and usually have good dribbling skills as well.
