The number 9 position in football is one of the most recognizable roles integrated into a large amount of EFL sides across the three divisions. However, with a transition to a modern system of football, some have suggested that the art of the number 9 position is fading out with an increased demand for productivity and an increased importance being placed onto other roles such as the number 10 and number 7 positions respectively. In this article, we will look at previous representations of the number 9 role, how this has changed and what I think about this change in reference to the question above.
Previous Definitions of the Number 9 Role
Traditionally, the player with the number 9 was seen to be the main striker acting as the central figure at the top of the field whose main role was to score goals whether that be through their head or left and right foot. This more traditional version of a number 9 had to embrace 3 pivotal qualities to be successful with the first of these being an effective finishing ability to ensure that the number 9 would be able to score efficiently and with ease. Furthermore, number 9s were traditionally seen to need commanding physical attributes through their height and strength to be able to jump and win the ball in positions where others wouldn’t be able to. Finally, a traditional number 9 was seen to need excellent positioning which was achieved through both a natural instinct and their movement across all areas of the pitch to be able to access the ball and shoot towards the goal.
A Modern Philosophy’s Impact
As football moved into the modern age, differing philosophies were seen affecting areas such as the formation of a team with managers going away from more traditional formations such as the 4-4-2 and moving towards shapes such as the 4-3-3 which increased the importance of both the midfielders and the wingers. In a way, this can be seen to change the role of the number 9 with previous qualities such as height not being as important.
These are the qualities that can be seen to “fade” out with a change in philosophy. This formation can be seen in EFL clubs around the country with a prominent example being Bristol City. In this formation, we can see that their striker Sinclair Armstrong embraced a “false 9” striker with the 21-year-old dropping into midfield to offer an option giving wingers such as Anis Mehmeti and Scott Twine the space to create and score goals as we can see in the image below before Bristol’s first goal against Stoke.
This formation can be seen to be just one example of how the number 9 role has changed with number 9’s now having to embrace other qualities such as an improved playmaking ability to contribute to attacks in ways that aren’t shots as well as an increased stamina to be able to get back into position after these contributions are made.
Elements of Continuity
However, in some leagues, we can see that teams still embrace a “traditional” number 9 with this role proving highly successful for some. A good example of this is Andy Cook at Bradford who has scored 85 goals in his 4 and a half seasons with the Bantams whilst acting as the central striker figure whether this be in a 1 up top or 2 up top system – dependent on the manager’s decision.
As you can see in the video below, Cook embraces his strengths of height, strength and positioning, attributes typically associated with a traditional number 9, to win his header in the box and score a goal. This is a method that has proved highly successful for Cook with the 34-year-old scoring 12 goals in this current season whilst also winning 153 aerial duels which has helped the Bantams to progress forward and score goals. This “traditional” version of a number 9 can also be seen to be embraced in League 1 with Richard Kone as the 6ft 1 striker tops the scoring charts at the time of writing with 16 goals – the majority of these have also come from open play.
How Has This Impacted Top Scorer Figures?
With this “change” in how a number 9 works, we can see the clear impact on the top goal scorer statistics across all three divisions with 2 out of the top 3 goal scorers in the Championship not being strikers (the first one of – Borja Sainz – has not scored since late November). This proves the importance of midfielders and wingers in systems in the league. In League 1, this impact is less but can also be seen although a more “traditional” number 9 tops the charts with Louie Barry – a left winger – in third with 15 goals from his 23 matches in the division. In League 2, the impact is even less with “traditional” number 9s consistently scoring high numbers. This can be seen through Alassana Jatta who has scored 16 – tied with both Matthew Stevens and Michael Cheek with the latter of these options playing on his own at the top of the field. This shows the popularity of “traditional” number 9s with these roles accumulating the most success when it comes to scoring goals in the EFL’s bottom division.
Writer’s View
In my opinion, the art of the number 9 as a position isn’t fading out. However, the art of the “traditional” number 9 is – with this happening more quickly in certain teams than others, whether this be through a change in formation or through the changes made. This has forced number 9s to adjust their gameplaying styles through an increased press as well as an enhanced playmaking style to be able to both contribute to attacks and also to goals through assists. What is clear is that the role of a number 9 is changing as we move into a “modern” style of the beautiful game, and this is something that number 9s must adapt to as their teams switch over to this shape.’
