tieio

Sorry to drag up an old conversation, I did use the search and found so many differing answers that my head started spinning. I also did not find anything related to the new game about it, so maybe it has changed... anyway, on with the point.

Playmaker and Target Man, remember those words about a million times? What are they? What is the difference?
I have found some posts saying they have no difference, I have found some saying Playmaker makes the plays and a Target Man finishes them, I found some posts saying they are almost identical in role.
Which is it?
I imagine a Target Man being like a Peter Crouch and a Playmaker being a Steven Gerrard? I may be off, you guys let me know, I am a football newb still.

Something clear and defining would be great with this topic as there is so many differing opinions and no clear answers. The simpler you put this, the better. Pretend you are explaining this to a 3 year old, because that is exactly how many years I have been watching football now.

Thanks in advance to any helpful answers and Boo! in advance to any hecklers.

swash

You are pretty much there with your Gerrard and Crouch examples to be honest, except in FM terms a target man does not always have to be a big towering centre forward.

Your playmaker is usually going to be a central midfielder, this includes DCM/CM/ACM and is going to be the player who creates opportunities for others. The target man is going to be a striker who could be the Peter Crouch type who you aim a lot of high balls at, but equally you could set a Michael Owen, Jermaine Defoe type of striker as your target man, but set up the instructions, to play the ball to feet, or run on to ball.

Natemonkey

To put it simple your playmaker looks to create the goals goals whereas the targetman will often look to score them

tieio

Perfect and simple, just as I had hoped. Thanks guys.