Didn't pay much attention...how is our boy doing at the Olympics? They've reached the final.

I think he's been benched most of the time, Damiao playing instead.

I see. Sadly.

He played 85minutes without being injured in one match though! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (he scored 1 goal in that one too)

Yep, saw that one. Hopefully he'll play a role in the final.

Just noticed that Pato will be wearing the 9 shirt this season. Why the change?? I mean, I understand how someone changes to a "lower" and more "typical striker" number from say 33 or 22 - but he had the 7 worn by Shevchenko, that meant something. I'll always consider Pato as a natural Milan 7.

I think Pato is more a #9 than a #7, but he got 7 from the beginning. maybe they're all superstitious and think of this as a new birth for him or something.

No. 7 has been my favorite number in football, it's been worn by some... special cases... Pato can be special, too bad he gave it up.

I guess, I'm the only one who's happy he took '9', then?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Ronaldo to Pato. Sheva was and is more than what Pato can be, he used to create as well as score, a '7' in the best of molds, like Baggio before him. Pato taking the number '9' means that he's ready to be the team's premier striker - a true goalscorer, first and foremost.

And by golly do we need 20, 30 goals from the kid, or what?! Besides, who knows, who arrives in the next couple of weeks to take the '7' shirt, we really don't know what's going down behind the curtains.

This

By the way, he's what think of the numbers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And well, they're generally classically believed to be so:

1 - Goalkeeper, the solitary figure between the posts.
2 - Right back, more often than not.
3 - Central defender, most often the best one in a team.
4 - Central defender, second half of the CB duo.
5 - Holding midfielder, positioned in front of the defense.
6 - Left back, very usually.
7 - Supporting striker, one who can track back, dribble, and shoot.
8 - Dog, the midfield general, one who gathers the ball from opponents as well as lost balls.
9 - Striker, the main forward of the team, one that possess both skill and shot.
10 - Trequartista, an attacking mid, usually the most creative midfielder.
11 - Poacher, a player ahead of the main striker, with eye for positioning to tap in the goals.

So by that token the trequartista and supporting striker are part of the attack, but the former is often a midfielder and the later, a forward. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) But like all things in life, there have been exceptions, different formations and tactics, wingers, and fullbacks, etc. Hence you get unique guys like Pele and Neymar (number 11s), and wingers like Messi and CRON slotting in impressive number of goals.

And well '12' is the reserver keeper, and '23' (at least in the NT) is the dirty guy, a mid who isn't afraid of layind down the pain and hurt on other players. And then the higher numbers, of course.

A LB generally takes the 3 IIRC

Aye, like I said, traditionally most LBs take 3, but like I said numbers are messed up now a days. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) I quite liked the fact that in the Italian NT they used to give their most good looking player the number '10' shirt, instead of their most talented ones. This little practice has pretty much died down too, after Totti and company.

Things like these made following football, purely as a game, fun. Back in the days. Now? Not so much. It's free for all now. The only numbers that matter are - wait for it - financial ones: $$$, £££, and €€€.

I always thought it was more like this, traditionally.



4/6 sometimes interchangable.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Aug 12 2012, 07:38 PM

Ah, that depends if both the '7' and '11' are wingers, so to speak. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But there are like a hundred different formations and styles team can play. Do agree about the numbers '9' and '10', they're the closest to the opposing goal. And if Pato is willing to become our true number '9' and score goals, few would be happier than me.