Using numbers instead of positions

[WA Toffee]

Can someone help me here. It seems people think they are cool by referring to positions by a shirt numbers. Fine in concept, but given that there are so many tactical formations now, I really can't get my head around how it works now.

For example, is a "number 10" the same role in a 442 as it is in a 433 or a 4231 or a 343? What about a "traditional number 7". Is that different based on the formation or are we going to shoehorn an obselete position into a modern line up?

Or are people just trying to be hipsters and proving that they don't really understand football at all?

 

[davids]

I'm still thinking inside left and right half.

 

[chazzle_dazzle]

I class a number 10 as a link up player, someone who will drop and make things happen, they can play in any formation. in 442 they just drop behind the number 9 to open doors.

 

[Blue Shoes]

Yeah, it has become a bit irrelevant now, number 4 would be a centre back in older times, but more recently its more of a DM.

 

[paulbefc]

I always thought a "number 10" was an "attacking midfielder", between your true CMs and your strikers. Usually central.

Number 8 would be a standard CM, neither attacking nor defensive.

Number 6 - DM.

Number 9 - traditional striker.

Using any other number is taking it too far.

 

[street end]

I see a number 10 as the link between midfield and strikers, 4 and 5 etc are traditionally centre backs, the new one seems to be the number 6 which sounds like a defensive midfielder

 

[tommye]

No1 wee
No2 poo

Cant even think what a 10 could be.
Add me to the confused list

 

[Furey1878]

1
4---------5
2---------------------------3
------6
7------------8-------------------11
10
9​

 

[Lord Buckethead]

2--4--6--8

​

Never too late
Me and my radio trucking on through the night

 

[KaiserEFC]

It’s in reference to how many studs the player has on their boots isn’t it?

 

[nsno-chris]

No1 wee
No2 poo

Cant even think what a 10 could be.
Add me to the confused list

I think it’s a blumpkin

 

[Lord Buckethead]

I thought these numbers were based off some sort of FIFA score?

 

[arch stanton]

No1 wee
No2 poo

Cant even think what a 10 could be.
Add me to the confused list

a wee and an aborted 2?

 

[Big Neville Southall]

I was always a good old fashioned no 12.

 

[Nymzee]

Can someone help me here. It seems people think they are cool by referring to positions by a shirt numbers. Fine in concept, but given that there are so many tactical formations now, I really can't get my head around how it works now.

For example, is a "number 10" the same role in a 442 as it is in a 433 or a 4231 or a 343? What about a "traditional number 7". Is that different based on the formation or are we going to shoehorn an obselete position into a modern line up?

Or are people just trying to be hipsters and proving that they don't really understand football at all?

It's been a thing for years and years and years grandad.