Target Man is referring to a player who operates up front and acts as the target of long ball and direct passes.Target Man is usually deployed in defensive formation for underdog teams.An effective target man will be able to hold the ball well and keeping it in possession while waiting for supports from on-rushing midfielders.
Advantages of having Target Man
The biggest advantage of having a Target Man is their ability to transform a mediocre team into a winning side.Their physical presence and aerial ability will be the best weapons to disrupt oppositions' defense and opens up spaces for their striking partners and supporting midfielders.
It also come handy when it comes to set pieces if you have target man in your team.Their jumping and heading attributes will prove to be vital in beating the keeper in close range efforts.
Jump and beat the defender in the airTypes of Target Man
For now, in FM 2010, there are two types of Target Man.
1. Target Man who supports
- This kind of Target Man will look more likely to play simple passing to keep the possessions and bring others into play.
2. Target Man who attacks
-This kind of Target Man is different from those who support the others. Their job is to lead the line of attacking and open up spaces for teammates to move into.
Hold the ball is one important attribute needed by a Target ManYou can't simply put on any player as target man because they simply wont play well.Some people tend to think that it doesn't matter as long as the players' overall attributes is good but it actually backfired.You don't need a Rooney, a Messi or a Torres to be a target man.You just need strikers with the RIGHT attributes.
For Target Man who supports others, these are the important attributes:
-First Touch
-Heading
-Long Shots
-Aggressions
-Bravery
-Determination
-Team Work
-Work Rate
-Jumping
-Strength
For Target Man who has the duty of attacking, these are the important attributes:
-Finishing
-First Touch
-Heading
-Anticipation
-Bravery
-Determination
-Team Work
-Work Rate
-Jumping
-Strength
Using Them The Right Way
Even when you know the important attributes, you still have to use them the right way.Take Wayne Rooney as example.
Based on the stats, he is deemed to be weaker in terms of heading and jumping.With good first touch and finishing, he would play better if the ball meets his feet and not his head.
Step 1:
Go to the team instruction section and look at the lowest column.
There are 3 options - Primary playmaker, Primary Target Man and Target Man Supply.Step 2:
Tick Target Man Supply.
You can see 4 options available.Pick the one you think is appropriate. If you ask me my opinion, I would pick "To Feet" .My Personal View :
I have been using Target Man since day 1 because QPR is not a strong team.The formation ought to be a little defensive in order to ensure the team stop leaking goals.The good thing about using Target Man is my team often score against big team like Chelsea, Aston Villa and ManUtd even when we were small little team in Championship.
Out of 7 matches against big team during my days in Championship, I have never lost...Not even once and since then have won 4 of them.In 7 matches, I have already scored 8 goals and only one match, my team fired blank.
The advantage of using a target man is that we will be able to attack using his dangerous physical presence and aerial ability with long ball, direct passes and bombing in crosses .Thus, we don't have to risk conceding goals upfront when our wingers and wingbacks and cross from far away, still in their position and the target man will do the rest.
In addition to that, it also works well when you are playing against small team who plays 9 players in penalty box.Setpieces and the aerial ability of Target man will be able to help you in breaking up the deadlock of the game.
Hope this will help to clear up your doubts and folks, a post on the Top 7 Target Man in FM 2010 will come shortly.Stay tuned!
