Target Men and Playmakers: Part 2: The Attacking Playmaker

A quick explanation for those who don’t know

The target man and the playmaker are two types of players who are very similar in one way and quite different in another. They are similar because they both become a player that your team will generally look to pass to. They are different due to the roles they play in your team; the play maker will receive the ball and look to dictate tempo and spray creative passes around the pitch. The target man will look to collect balls from your other players, either to their head, their feet or in front of them to run on to; becoming the focal point of your attack.

Play Maker

There are three types of play makers, the defensive based one (dmc), the attacking type (amc), and the more controversial type (cm) which will not be mentioned because it is basically in between the other two. In this article I will be looking at the
Attacking play maker

Some attributes to consider before using this play maker

Creativity, passing, decisions, anticipation – these attributes define how good your playmaker will be good at spotting clever passes at the right time, which important for any playmaker.

Off the ball, dribbling, flair, pace – without these set of attribute your attacking play maker will fail to perform in his attacking/goal scoring role in the team, which is obviously vital for this playmaker.

Using your playmaker effectively

Now you know some important attributes, you need to know how to employ the play maker into the heart of the team.

AMC

Although the classic attacking play maker would play in the amc role, he could in fact play the AMR/L position as long as he has the right instructions. Like the deep lying play maker, the amc will look to dictate tempo but in a different way. He will be receiving the ball higher up the pitch and will have a lot more opportunities to run at defenders and shoot towards goal, so you can see how decisions plays a massive role so he can make the right option whether it is to pass, run or shoot. Kaka would be a perfect example of the attacking player; some one who dictates the tempo with his passing, runs havoc into the opposition’s defence and constantly finds the back of the net.

Forward runs: Mixed/Often – sometimes it is effective to have this at mixed so your playmaker can it back and read the game, but often would be the optimum choice so your man is right in the mixer.

Closing down: Rarely – you definitely want your amc to hold his position in the advanced central position, and ordering him to close down could disrupt that.

Creative Freedom: Much – the more creative freedom he is giving the more he will look to hit them clever long balls – obviously.

Mentality – It should be the second highest after you striker/s but having it to close to your striker couple with forward runs often could end up putting him to far up and acting as another striker.

Through balls: Often – in case you didn’t know, you want your playmaker to use his passing credentials to his advantage with through balls.

Passing style: Short – I highly recommend short but it could be a low mixed. I say this so your amc can ping short passes and one-twos and at the same time using his creative freedom to basically let him bend your instructions if the opportunities rises.

Free role – giving your attacking play maker a free role is very effective, it will give your amc even more free and let him move around the pitch to, once again dictate the tempo of the game.


One more thing:

Don’t try and use this player if he doesn’t have the right the right attributes. For example, if your play maker has crap decisions then this is where your whole team could fall apart. A play maker who can’t hit the pass at the right place in the right time is no use to whatsoever and will lose a lot of possession. The best questions to ask your self if you are unsure to use an attacking playmaker is; can he score? Can he run at defenders? And can he dictate tempo?