The Jesús Ferreira Dilemma

The term “9.5” has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to describe players who operate somewhere between the Nos. 9 and 10 positions. Notable examples include Joshua Zirkzee, Omar Marmoush, and even Julián Álvarez, at moments.

The concept of a “9.5” is not a new one — it’s a modern term for an established archetype: the false nine. The difference, perhaps, lies in how these players are used; each generation comes with its own in-vogue formation, and while there’s an argument to be had that these labels are nothing more than misdirecting terms for the same fundamentals, in most cases, the roles of players evolve as the formations around them come and go.

Ten years ago, the 4-3-3 felt inescapable, and this was where the false nine found their home. Today — or at least for the last few years — it is the 4-2-3-1, and with it, the 9.5. The change from 3-3 to 2-3-1 has not been drastic, but even yet, the role of the semi-striker has changed. 

The false nine’s mission is to fall back, to receive, and to distribute. The 9.5’s goal is to do these same things, but the new term carries with it even more responsibility. As the footballing world at large transitions from the lone No. 10 and its all-encompassing orbit to a more decentralized attack, teams require more full-time creators, not less. It is here where the 9.5 finds their spot — a goal-scorer, sure, but with the full creative responsibilities of a modern No. 10. This (often self-imposed) weight sets the bar extraordinarily high for these types of players and perhaps is at fault for why the position’s poster boy, Zirkzee, has failed to live up to expectations.

The future, however, holds even more change in store. After Leverkusen’s invincible Bundesliga campaign and the rising popularity of “new-age” coaches like Alonso, Amorim, and Motta (before his dismissal), tomorrow’s prevailing tactic may very well be the 3-4-2-1 (or 3-4-3, 3-5-2, 3-4-1-2, etc.). It is this seismic shift that threatens the increasingly scarce not-quite-nine. 

It is a rare breed of player, but a passionate one — to be crazy enough to take on the burden of two positions at once, the player must feel they cannot go without either. The adaptation to a formation that excludes this type of duality is thus all the more difficult; does the player convert to a No. 10 and abandon the poacher’s persona? Do they assume the classic role of striker and let the players behind them do the creating? Do they fizzle out, lost between positions, forever trying to find their place within the squad? 

This dreaded crossroads is where Jesús Ferreira now finds himself, stuck in limbo. Half 9, half 10; half DP, half TAM; half healthy, half injured. 

While the above trends may have been generalized to a global scale, it is undeniable that the Seattle Sounders have followed almost this exact same trajectory. From the 4-4-2 era of Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey (who himself may have exhibited 9.5-esque traits) to a short-lived 4-3-3 spell in 2016 and the ultimate transition to a 4-2-3-1 that saw incredible success, the Sounders have tried and tested all of the above. While the three-at-the-back may not necessarily be new (and Brian Schmetzer has shown he is unafraid to pivot away from it depending on personnel), its impact on new signing Ferreira cannot be understated.

Ferreira has long struggled to define his position. In Dallas, he played both up top and at CAM, wore the literal No. 10 shirt as an homage to his father, and even made his way to starting a World Cup knockout match at striker for the United States. Ferreira seemed comfortable switching between the two positions, and although it seemed that center forward would be his ultimate landing place, he was young, and coaches were in no rush to pin him down. 

Over the winter, as the Sounders' promised rebuild began to take shape and rumors around Ferreira’s imminent arrival swirled, most would have guessed that he would come in as backup for Jordan Morris and generate a real goal-scoring threat — something in which the team was in dire need. And yet, months later, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s what the multi-million dollar forward’s shot map looks like: