Help With Soccer Lingo

[Jock]

ST?

Season ticket? Slutty Tramp?

Box-to-box midfielder?

Good for blocks/layoffs on the edge of the box and bouncing play with tippy-taps all the way up to the edge of the opposition area (where they can pop off a shot)? Think Lampard 10 years ago.

FA?

I think this is also Free Agent/Football association. Can also mean "f*ck all" as in "We've won sweet FA"

Winger?

Never heard of it. Probably to do with the preparation of the chicken strips for the buckets.

CF?

I always thought of a centre forward as a big lumbering type to hold the ball up and lay off for other players. A focal point of the attack, but not necessarily always the man to stick the ball in the net.

RW?

Right Wing? See: Hitler, Adolf.

CB?

Center back (or center half). As NYCFC fans we have yet to see one of those.

CDM?

Central Defensive Midfielder. Sits in front of the back line, ostensibly to mop things up and provide cover for the defenders. Pirlo is kind of one of these with a magic foot.

Fullback?

Player to be converted to center half.

FO?

No idea. Might not be a football term, could just mean fuck off.

CBA?

No idea.

DP?

Double penetration. Ask your mother.

And most recently:

PV?

Some French guy.

 

[FootyLovin]

#10?

 

[LionNYC]

Can someone give me an explanation of FKW? I think it means Full Kit Wanker.

 

[Gotham Gator]

I've long been confused by the number terms applied to player positions in soccer - #4, #6, #8, #10 - other than a false #9, they always seem to be even numbers.

I've even done some research to figure it out, but that only reveals that many of the terms are not used consistently.

I feel like I've got a good handle on the #10 and false #9 terms, but the others less so. I do notice that generally, the higher numbers play farther up the pitch and even numbers mean middle of the field.

 

[jerseyhotspur]

Can someone give me an explanation of FKW? I think it means Full Kit Wanker.

a guy who wears not just a jersey, but the jersey, shorts and socks. almost as if he's going to go out and play in a game. I can't shame a little kid who wants to dress up, but I think full kit wanker is usually reserved for adults (especially that are not in shape to actually play).

 

[Jock]

I've long been confused by the number terms applied to player positions in soccer - #4, #6, #8, #10 - other than a false #9, they always seem to be even numbers.

I've even done some research to figure it out, but that only reveals that many of the terms are not used consistently.

I feel like I've got a good handle on the #10 and false #9 terms, but the others less so. I do notice that generally, the higher numbers play farther up the pitch and even numbers mean middle of the field.

I grew up watching football when they still had numbers 1-11 and no names on the shirts - in those days #10 was more like the center forward and #9 would be the poacher/finisher/goalscorer.

Seems these days, #10 is used more to refer to a creative type of player that plays "just off the striker(s)", kind of how Rooney wants to play, how Hazard plays for Chelsea and Coutinho for Liverpool too.

Also the traditional line up, going by numbers 1-11 is more or less:

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

With 4/6 slightly interchangeable

 

[joe]

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

Great book, although I don't remember it really helping (me, anyway) with the position numbers.

Thorough summary of positions and roles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football_positions

 

[mgarbowski]

I'm reading Inverting the Pyramid now and it does have a good explanation of the numbers and why they are so messed up. Basically, the original traditional formation was 2 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 5 forwards. That this has roughly flipped on its head is why the book is called Inverting the Pyramid. Anyway, the FA decided to "modernize" and adopt player numbers that had been in use informally for decades just at the same time that the original formation was no longer dominant. But the FA insisted that the numbers be assigned as if everyone were still playing a 2-3-5. When I get home tonight I'll copy the diagrams that make it clearer.

 

[Ulrich]

I'm reading Inverting the Pyramid now and it does have a good explanation of the numbers and why they are so messed up. Basically, the original traditional formation was 2 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 5 forwards. That this has roughly flipped on its head is why the book is called Inverting the Pyramid. Anyway, the FA decided to "modernize" and adopt player numbers that had been in use informally for decades just at the same time that the original formation was no longer dominant. But the FA insisted that the numbers be assigned as if everyone were still playing a 2-3-5. When I get home tonight I'll copy the diagrams that make it clearer.

You can still see that formation played at the U-6 level..... two kids hanging back playing with rocks & grass, 3 kids running around in circles, and 5 standing in front of the goal yelling to have the ball passed to them because they're open.

 

[mgarbowski]

As promised, here is the numbering system applied to a classic 2-3-5:


But as I mentioned above, when the FA officially adopted it in 1939 the new, hip formation was known as the W-M, reflecting that it was comprised of a flexed front line with 5 players and a reversed flex back line with 5 players:


If you picture lines connecting the players you can see the W and M.
Suddenly a lot of things make sense, such as why center-back is sometimes synonymous with center-half: especially in England. That's the 4 and 5.
9 is up front, supported by 8 and 10. Why 10 eventually designated a more forward role, or at least attacking mid while 8 became box-to-box mid I don't know. I guess they had to pick one way or another. 6 is a defensive mid. 7 and 11 became wingers.

 

[Calmness Personified]

As promised, here is the numbering system applied to a classic 2-3-5:
View attachment 3602

But as I mentioned above, when the FA officially adopted it in 1939 the new, hip formation was known as the W-M, reflecting that it was comprised of a flexed front line with 5 players and a reversed flex back line with 5 players:
View attachment 3601

If you picture lines connecting the players you can see the W and M.
Suddenly a lot of things make sense, such as why center-back is sometimes synonymous with center-half: especially in England. That's the 4 and 5.
9 is up front, supported by 8 and 10. Why 10 eventually designated a more forward role, or at least attacking mid while 8 became box-to-box mid I don't know. I guess they had to pick one way or another. 6 is a defensive mid. 7 and 11 became wingers.

In England 4 tends to be a defensive midfielders number and 6 is the centre back, it seems to be the opposite in other European countries.

 

[typicalcity]

1
2. 4. 5. 3
6
7. 8. 11
10. 9

That's pretty much what numbers used to play where before squad no,s

 

[FootyLovin]

As promised, here is the numbering system applied to a classic 2-3-5:
View attachment 3602

But as I mentioned above, when the FA officially adopted it in 1939 the new, hip formation was known as the W-M, reflecting that it was comprised of a flexed front line with 5 players and a reversed flex back line with 5 players:
View attachment 3601

If you picture lines connecting the players you can see the W and M.
Suddenly a lot of things make sense, such as why center-back is sometimes synonymous with center-half: especially in England. That's the 4 and 5.
9 is up front, supported by 8 and 10. Why 10 eventually designated a more forward role, or at least attacking mid while 8 became box-to-box mid I don't know. I guess they had to pick one way or another. 6 is a defensive mid. 7 and 11 became wingers.

Thanks for this!

 

[joe]

As promised, here is the numbering system applied to a classic 2-3-5:
View attachment 3602

But as I mentioned above, when the FA officially adopted it in 1939 the new, hip formation was known as the W-M, reflecting that it was comprised of a flexed front line with 5 players and a reversed flex back line with 5 players:
View attachment 3601

If you picture lines connecting the players you can see the W and M.
Suddenly a lot of things make sense, such as why center-back is sometimes synonymous with center-half: especially in England. That's the 4 and 5.
9 is up front, supported by 8 and 10. Why 10 eventually designated a more forward role, or at least attacking mid while 8 became box-to-box mid I don't know. I guess they had to pick one way or another. 6 is a defensive mid. 7 and 11 became wingers.

Thanks for posting. It'd been a while since I've read it.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

In England 4 tends to be a defensive midfielders number and 6 is the centre back, it seems to be the opposite in other European countries.

Really? I would have never known that. Does the typical English fan even refer to positions by numbers? So taking one of our NYC players, folks would say "Mix should be playing at the 6 or 8", but in England would they say "...4 or 8" or is it just not ever phrased that way?

eta: if Calmness Personified isn't around for a while, let me direct this to Falastur as well.

 

[joe]

Support for regional differences in numbers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_number_(association_football)

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Support for regional differences in numbers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_number_(association_football)

The first documented instance of numbers being used in Association football was on March 30, 1924 when the Fall River Marksmen played St. Louis Vesper Buickduring the 1923–24 National Challenge Cup.[2]

Look at us Americans. I still can't believe the game lay dormant here for nearly 50 years. WHY????? Ugh. We could already be great at this shit.

Edit: Interesting note at the very end of the article that our varying esteemed former gaffer was the 2nd player to have his number retired by an MLS club.

 

[Ulrich]

Look at us Americans. I still can't believe the game lay dormant here for nearly 50 years. WHY????? Ugh. We could already be great at this shit.

Edit: Interesting note at the very end of the article that our varying esteemed former gaffer was the 2nd player to have his number retired by an MLS club.

2nd place only counts....

https://twitter.com/x/status/2242460777

 

[Falastur]

Really? I would have never known that. Does the typical English fan even refer to positions by numbers? So taking one of our NYC players, folks would say "Mix should be playing at the 6 or 8", but in England would they say "...4 or 8" or is it just not ever phrased that way?

eta: if Calmness Personified isn't around for a while, let me direct this to Falastur as well.

No, we don't. You talk about a "false 9" for sure, and occasionally a commentator will refer to a "classic number 10" meaning an out-and-out striker in the traditional form, i.e. all power and speed and little technique. Plus everyone talks about a goalkeeper as the "number 1". But we never refer to any other positions by their numbers, even though it's assumed that most will know that 2 is classicly the right FB and so on. Instead we just use the positions - centre-half, full-back, winger, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, striker, etc. I'm not sure why there's no tradition of referring to positions by their numbers, but it just isn't done that way.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

No, we don't. You talk about a "false 9" for sure, and occasionally a commentator will refer to a "classic number 10" meaning an out-and-out striker in the traditional form, i.e. all power and speed and little technique. Plus everyone talks about a goalkeeper as the "number 1". But we never refer to any other positions by their numbers, even though it's assumed that most will know that 2 is classicly the right FB and so on. Instead we just use the positions - centre-half, full-back, winger, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, striker, etc. I'm not sure why there's no tradition of referring to positions by their numbers, but it just isn't done that way.

Wait, so a striker with no technique would be a classic "10"?

Shit. No wonder you guys are about as good as us at the world cup.

Nonetheless, I appreciate the cultural instruction.