Help With Soccer Lingo

[FootyLovin]

I think I'm fairly knowledgeable and I'm often stumped by an acronym or some other lingo. So I'd like to create a thread as a resource with the following basic structure. Please only post (I know I'm about to try herding cats but ...) the following.

If you have a question about what a term means, post the term with a ?.

E.g., ST? box-to-box midfielder?

If you know the definition, or wish to add to an answer, please reply with special callout to be clear about what term you are addressing.

Here's a starter list of terms that I've seen thrown around:

ST?
Box-to-box midfielder?
FA?
Winger?
CF?
RW?
CB?
CDM?
Fullback?
FO?
CBA?
DP?

And most recently:

PV?

Snark always appreciated. But please do keep in mind that I offer this thread as a resource to help more people come to know and love the beautiful game. The better the definitions, the better the resource.

 

[Z4CH3B99]

PV - Patrick Viera

CF - Center Forward

ST - Striker

Dp - Designated Player

I would translate more of these acronyms, but I am feeling pretty lazy right now.

 

[Christopher Jee]

ST? Context helps, but I think this is an abbreviation of "striker"
Box-to-box midfielder? As contrasted to a typical #5 (central defensive midfielder) or #10 (central attacking midfielder). Lampard used to be a box-to-box midfielder. Paul Scholes was a good example. In modern times, Vidal is a great example I think.
FA? Free agent
Winger? More attacking than a left midfielder or right midfielder. Arjen Robben as an example.
CF? Center forward, also "striker".
RW? Right wing.
CB? Center back.
CDM? Central defensive midfielder, e.g. Busquets / Mascherano.
Fullback? Left back or right back, e.g. Allen / Iraola / Angelino.
FO? No fucking idea.
CBA? Collective bargaining agreement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_agreement
DP? Designated player.

 

[FootyLovin]

What is the difference between ST and CF?

 

[FootyLovin]

#8?
#6?

 

[Christopher Jee]

What is the difference between ST and CF?

I don't think there is one. You could maybe argue that CF is more of a general term for somebody who leads the attacking line. There are many types of center forward, but strikers tend to be pure goalscorers vs. playmakers or "false 9s".

 

[Christopher Jee]

#8?
#6?

There was a time when numbers corresponded directly to positions on the field. An obvious book suggestion, but a goodie: http://www.amazon.com/Inverting-The-Pyramid-History-Tactics/dp/1568587384.

In modern terms, #8s and #6s are box-to-box midfielders I think. In a 4-3-3, e.g. Barca's, that would be Iniesta and Rakitic. I don't know that I'd call Iniesta a box-to-box midfielder though, partially because Barca doesn't spend a lot of time near their own box ;D

 

[JayH]

FO? front office.

 

[Paul]

#6?

I always thought in the modern game the 6 was the CDM (central defensive midfielder) or holding midfielder. Some teams, think Spain during the years of their dominance, played two (called a "double pivot") with Busquets and Xabi Alonso each playing in front of the defensive back 4.

 

[FootyLovin]

False 9?

 

[Falastur]

I always thought in the modern game the 6 was the CDM (central defensive midfielder) or holding midfielder. Some teams, think Spain during the years of their dominance, played two (called a "double pivot") with Busquets and Xabi Alonso each playing in front of the defensive back 4.

It depends somewhat on culture. Different places in the world developed their tactics differently - sometimes ending up at the same formations, but having moved different players around to get there. Thus, there can be a little confusion when cultures meet over what exactly each number represents.

False 9?

Referring to the above discussion about remembering a time when every shirt number specified the exact position a player took on the pitch, number 9 was traditionally one of the main strikers. Gradually, as tactics shifted from having two main strikers plus two wingers to one, it became standard to have the player wearing the number 9 shirt drop back a little to feed the number 10 and create moves rather than focus on just hitting shots whenever possible. This then developed into the "false 9" system, where the 9 starts out up front and often comes up to play right up top, but will drop back into an attacking midfield (AM) position when suitable and concentrate more on being a playmaker than a striker. Part of their role is directly engaging the defence like a striker and seeking to drag them out of position by making runs off the ball which the main striker can then exploit, which is why they are considered a "false 9" and not just labelled a straight midfielder.

There was a time when numbers corresponded directly to positions on the field. An obvious book suggestion, but a goodie: http://www.amazon.com/Inverting-The-Pyramid-History-Tactics/dp/1568587384.

Good book. I've been reading it for the last few weeks, as it happens.

 

[Angela Miller]

ST? Context helps, but I think this is an abbreviation of "striker"
Box-to-box midfielder? As contrasted to a typical #5 (central defensive midfielder) or #10 (central attacking midfielder). Lampard used to be a box-to-box midfielder. Paul Scholes was a good example. In modern times, Vidal is a great example I think.
FA? Free agent
Winger? More attacking than a left midfielder or right midfielder. Arjen Robben as an example.
CF? Center forward, also "striker".
RW? Right wing.
CB? Center back.
CDM? Central defensive midfielder, e.g. Busquets / Mascherano.
Fullback? Left back or right back, e.g. Allen / Iraola / Angelino.
FO? No fucking idea.
CBA? Collective bargaining agreement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_agreement
DP? Designated player.

ST? Context helps, but I think this is an abbreviation of "striker"
Box-to-box midfielder? As contrasted to a typical #5 (central defensive midfielder) or #10 (central attacking midfielder). Lampard used to be a box-to-box midfielder. Paul Scholes was a good example. In modern times, Vidal is a great example I think.
FA? Free agent
Winger? More attacking than a left midfielder or right midfielder. Arjen Robben as an example.
CF? Center forward, also "striker".
RW? Right wing.
CB? Center back.
CDM? Central defensive midfielder, e.g. Busquets / Mascherano.
Fullback? Left back or right back, e.g. Allen / Iraola / Angelino.
FO? No fucking idea.
CBA? Collective bargaining agreement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_agreement
DP? Designated player.

ST? Context helps, but I think this is an abbreviation of "striker"
Box-to-box midfielder? As contrasted to a typical #5 (central defensive midfielder) or #10 (central attacking midfielder). Lampard used to be a box-to-box midfielder. Paul Scholes was a good example. In modern times, Vidal is a great example I think.
FA? Free agent
Winger? More attacking than a left midfielder or right midfielder. Arjen Robben as an example.
CF? Center forward, also "striker".
RW? Right wing.
CB? Center back.
CDM? Central defensive midfielder, e.g. Busquets / Mascherano.
Fullback? Left back or right back, e.g. Allen / Iraola / Angelino.
FO? No fucking idea.
CBA? Collective bargaining agreement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_agreement
DP? Designated player.

 

[Angela Miller]

Thanks for posting the meaning of Box to Box. I wondered that myself!

 

[Ulrich]

What is the difference between ST and CF?

I've always thought the difference between Center Forward & Striker is that the CF is more of a towering Back-to-goal type forward (think Brian McBride) while the ST is the more nimble dribbler/shooter (like Romario).

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I've always thought the difference between Center Forward & Striker is that the CF is more of a towering Back-to-goal type forward (think Brian McBride) while the ST is the more nimble dribbler/shooter (like Romario).

I would pretty much concur. CF is used more in the sense of a hold up player.

The same player could alternatively described as either, depending on how he is tactically deployed from game to game or even within a game.

We often played DV as a CF, at least functionally. He is not very good at it. I'd pretty much call Drogba a CF.

 

[Keith Putnam]

FA?

Football Association

In England, this would be *the* FA, meaning the organization which evolved from the people who created Association Football (aka soccer) in the mid-late 19th century, and which ostensibly governs the sport within England while attempting to assert its influence worldwide as an eminence grise w/r/t the Laws Of The Game. They frequently rattle their saber by fining Jose Mourinho for saying something pissy about refereeing and generally fail to exercise competent oversight of the Premier League cartel. They also organize the eponymous FA Cup, which is theoretically one of the most prestgious prizes in football.

When used generally, *an* "FA" is whatever body oversees football in a given country or territory. US Soccer and CONCACAF are FAs which have jurisdiction over the United States.

FIFA (International Federation of Association Football, but in French) attempts to act as the world's FA and makes a tidy profit for its officers through absurd amounts of corruption and graft. But I digress. FIFA organizes the World Cup, among other various international competitions.

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) acts as an FA for all of Europe (plus Israel and some former Soviet territories which are geographically Asian) and frequently has jurisdictional and philosophical friction with FIFA. UEFA organizes the Champions League, the Europa League, and the Euros (national teams competing in a European championship).

 

[ktdNYCFC]

I've also seen FA used for future acquisition, so it would depend on the context.

 

[Paul]

I've also seen FA used for future acquisition, so it would depend on the context.

FA can also mean free agent in the context of Major League Soccer.

 

[Keith Putnam]

it would depend on the context.

As does everything, my friend.

 

[gbservis]

Referring to the above discussion about remembering a time when every shirt number specified the exact position a player took on the pitch, number 9 was traditionally one of the main strikers. Gradually, as tactics shifted from having two main strikers plus two wingers to one, it became standard to have the player wearing the number 9 shirt drop back a little to feed the number 10 and create moves rather than focus on just hitting shots whenever possible. This then developed into the "false 9" system, where the 9 starts out up front and often comes up to play right up top, but will drop back into an attacking midfield (AM) position when suitable and concentrate more on being a playmaker than a striker. Part of their role is directly engaging the defence like a striker and seeking to drag them out of position by making runs off the ball which the main striker can then exploit, which is why they are considered a "false 9" and not just labelled a straight midfielder.

I would pretty much concur. CF is used more in the sense of a hold up player. The same player could alternatively described as either, depending on how he is tactically deployed from game to game or even within a game. We often played DV as a CF, at least functionally. He is not very good at it. I'd pretty much call Drogba a CF.

Combing these two ideas I have seen the false-9 role often referred to as a CF and the more forward player referred to as the ST.

In USMNT terms Jozy is a ST, always the furthest forward looking to score, where as Dempsy when played centrally as an attacker will often play a more CF role where he drops deeper to receive the ball, dribbles at people and is looking to pass as often as he is looking to get a shot for himself. He plays the same role with the Sounders with Martins as the ST in that case. To make it more confusing when Dempsy starts dropping even deeper it's hard to say if he's a CF or CAM.