(UPDATE: SUMMER 25) Here we are, yet again, taking a look at one of the most important positions on a soccer field. If the previous 3 episodes (where we broke down the 3 different types of ‘Target Men’) hasn’t started a fire under your belly to want more content for your reading pleasure then I think this game wasn’t meant for you…
So, I hope all whom are viewing this are the true Soccermanagerites in pursuit of becoming the greatest Manager that they can be because we’re about to discuss yet another game changing role. Yes lads, today we’ll be talking about one of the more popular roles within soccer in the modern game: The ‘Deep-lying Forward’
‘D.L.F’s’ (labeled ‘Deep Forward’ within SMW) have many different types of names (False 9, Withdrawn Forward, Floating no.9) but they all mean the same thing: a striker who is so good that he might as well play in midfield. The origins of this role can be traced all the way back to the 50’s where the great Brazilian, Italian and Hungarian teams would all have diminutive strikers playing up front who were so good that they gave them the freedom to drop into midfield and start doing their thing on the ball.
Within the modern era (like the past 20 years), the one man who was crucial to re-popularizing this role was no other than Pep Guardiola. It started with his time at Barca where he played Lionel Messi as the ‘D.L.F’ which created the Legend that we see today (although it is debated that Messi would’ve still became a goated player regardless of Pep’s influence; Let me also clarify that there has been strikers dropping deep to become creative players like a Cantona or a Zola of yesteryear, but they always played with a partner upfront. However, the beginning of playing that withdrawn no.9 up front on his own can be traced back to Pep’s Barca). The Spanish tactical genius has yet again transformed the role by converting ‘Wingers’ and ‘Midfielders’ into players who are capable of operating like a ‘Deep-lying Forward’ (think K.D.B, Foden, Gündoğan, for example). Honestly, where would soccer be without Guardiola?!
A ‘Deep-lying Forward’s’ role is one of my favorites not just because of it’s popularity, but due to the fact it is the most difficult striker role to obtain a successful season with. Now, when I say “successful”, in this situation I’m not talking about trophies… The success I’m referring to is being able to use a player as your ‘D.L.F’ all season and have him in the top 5 of either the top scorers or top assisters within the League and Cup competitions. The reason why it’s so difficult to accomplish is due to the fact that this is one of those roles that require the entire XI to be molded in order to get the best out of one man (in a very similar way to the ‘Classic no.10’).
Now, you might say that your intentions are to use your ‘Deep-lying Forward’ in a similar way to how Liverpool used Firmino alongside Salah and Mané, but the outcome remains the same in terms of how challenging it is to get your ‘D.L.F’ up the charts.
ATTACKING PHASE
When it comes to being in possession, there is quite no other player like the ‘D.L.F’. They always drop deep into the midfield to get unto the ball and they’ll drop as far as where your DM(C) operates if the situation is right!
Now, unlike any other F(C) that drops deep to collect the ball, when a ‘Deep-lying Forward’ drops into the middle of the park he does so with the inention of being an extra playmaker. So, what this means is that he’s not gonna drop in just to get a touch on the ball. He’s gonna drop in to attempt to dictate the match with his passing abilities and vision. He will also turn and run at the defence depending on your pattern of play, and he likes to make intelligent runs once your team is within your attacking third.
The one drawback is that ‘D.L.F’s’ spend most of their time on the pitch outside of the box which is why having the right kind of teammates who are willing to make runs into the box is crucial to maintain your attacking threat.
DEFENSIVE PHASE
‘D.L F’s’ are similar to ‘Technical Target Men’ in that they have such a great football brain that they press intelligently. When it comes to the attribute of Workrate it solely depends on the player, but generally speaking, ‘D.L.F’s’ don’t need to have a high work ethic in order to function well within your defensive setup.
POSITIONAL TRAITS
When it comes to where a ‘Deep-lying Forward’ likes to be on the pitch there’s only two positions to look out for: F(C) and AM(C), with the key being the AM(C) position as this is the position that indicates if a player will be able to play as a ‘D.L.F’ (With just the one exeption down below).
Earlier, I mentioned that ‘Deep-lying Forwards’ are the most difficult strikers to get a lot of goal contributions from. In order to ensure that your F(C) is playing as a ‘D.L.F’, you MUST point his arrow to ‘defending’ as well as NEVER ticking the ‘use target man’ box. I personally believe that the creators of Soccermanager have yet to implement the ‘Deep-lying Forward’ role into SM Worlds yet but it is probably down to the fact that not a lot of people atempt to use their F(C)’s arrow in this manner (UPDATE: Thankfully, the ‘Deep Forward’ role is now avaliable to use within SMW and the only thing you’ll need to ensure is that you choose the ‘No’ option under ‘Use Target Man’).
Episodes like this is why these blogs were created in the first place. To completely change the narrative of Soccermanager Worlds just being a “match engine unrealistic game”. And it’s down to us to make these changes occur Soccermanagerite, since there’s no game without us die-hard fans! (🙌❤️🔥)
KEY ATTRIBUTES (From SM26 and beyond)
Positioning
Finishing
Dribbling
Long shots
Control
Long passing
Passing
Creativity
Composure
Concentration
Flair
BEST PLAYERS OF ROLE IN SOCCERMANAGER WORLDS
UPDATE: Time to play that game of ‘then VS now’… 😁
The top 10 ‘Deep-lying Forwards’ within SMW back in March 2023 (in my opinion) :
Lionel Messi 🇦🇷
Harry Kane 🏴
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 🇸🇪
Roberto Firmino 🇧🇷
Antoinne Griezmann 🇫🇷
Dusan Tadic 🇷🇸
Kai Havertz 🇩🇪
Joao Felix 🇵🇹
Jonathan David 🍁
Iago Aspas 🇪🇸
The top 15 ‘Deep-lying Forwards’ within SMW as of Summer 2025 (again, in my opinion) :
Lionel Messi 🇦🇷
Antoine Griezmann 🇫🇷
Harry Kane 🏴
Lautaro Martínez 🇦🇷
Thomas Müller 🇩🇪
Julián Álvarez 🇦🇷
Mikel Oyarzabal 🇪🇸
Kai Havertz 🇩🇪
Júnior Neymar 🇧🇷
Jonathan David 🇨🇦
Paolo Dybala 🇦🇷
Matheus Cunha 🇧🇷
João Felix 🇵🇹
Ayoze Pérez 🇪🇸
Andrej Kramarić 🇭🇷
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Christopher Nkunku 🇫🇷
Coady Gakpo 🇳🇱
João Pedro 🇧🇷
Phil Foden 🏴
Charles De Ketelaere 🇧🇪
One more Forward role to go!!! 🔥
The Soccermanager Experience 