Is the ‘false 9’ position a real thing, or is it some sky sports pundits made-up nonsense?

I have a memory of Robbie Savage pulling the phrase out of nowhere (I know where, but I am to polite to say) about 4 years ago after he sat next to Thierry Henry for an entire afternoon and had nothing of real value to say. But I can’t ever recall hearing the phrase before then.

So do actual real Premier League managers and professional footballers use it, or is it just some made up nonsense used by sky sports pundits to try and sound intelligent?

  • o_mesmo_pensador@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Hey there! The ‘false 9’ position is a real thing in football tactics. It’s not just some made-up nonsense by pundits. It’s about a forward dropping back into the midfield, messing with the opposing defenders.
    Sure, the term got a bit more attention in recent years, but it’s been around in football discussions and coaching for a while.
    I get the skepticism, though. It might sound like pundit jargon on TV, especially the way they toss it around.
    But real managers and players use and understand it. However, I agree with you - in today’s football, the false 9 doesn’t always fit every team’s style. It’s all about what works for each manager and their strategy. The game’s always changing, and tactics need to evolve with it.

    Hugs from Portugal! 🇵🇹