Numbers - A poorly researched look at how Racing could line up

In 1993 the English Football Association decided for some reason (probably money) to abandon the shirt numbering system that had been in use since 1940. This system was somewhat invented by Herbert Chapman, Arsenal FC's first great coach. Numbered shirts were first worn by an English top division team in a match by Arsenal against Sheffield Wednesday in 1928. Over the next few years most teams adopted a system of assigning numbers based on the players position on the field. Regardless of who the team played at striker (#9) the striker wore that number for that game. If a different player started the next game at striker, then he would wear the number 9 jersey. The numbers weren't so much squad numbers, as they were match jerseys. Theoretically a player could wear 11 numbers in 11 games, although I’m sure nobody ever did. Since this was a new concept, players didn't really think of themselves as having a “number”. However, soon players began to covet certain numbers, mostly because it meant that they were playing in their preferred position. Here is an example of traditional numbering system for a 4-2-3-1 formation:

1 Goalkeeper

2 Right back

3 Left back

4 Central midfielder (more defensive)

5 Center back

6 Center back

7 Right winger

8 Central midfielder (box-to-box)

9 Striker

10 Central midfielder/playmaker

11 Left winger

This was not a system without flaws for fans. Say as a fan you had a favorite player. This player was a bit of a utility player and could play out of his natural position, so you might not know what number to look for on the field during the match. In addition, while you knew where to look for number 2 on the field, you might not be sure who was actually planning right back. Enter names on the back of the jersey, increased kit sales and the birth of the squad number. Many players today still like to take the jersey number of their preferred position. The numbering system is important to me for a couple of reasons. One, it’s how the players from the prior generations of English footballers who are now pundits and analysts talk about the game. It’s a language shortcut. Second, if you don't know much about a player you might be able to infer something about that player by their squad number. You don't often see a center back wearing #9, so I would assume someone with a squad number of nine is almost certainly a striker.

Now, what does this have to do with anything? Well, I like to predict how my favorite teams might line up. Racing now has 3 new players who haven't played a second for the team, but very soon will likely be in the starting XI. We also have a player wearing #5, playing out of position, but that position is definitely not center back.

How might Racing line up against Houston?

This is where the poorly researched part comes in. I did just enough research on each player, but not exhaustive. I finally found some good resources thanks to Bekki Morgan and other users on Twitter, but by that time I was tired of researching and many of these assumptions may be flawed. I tried to look at recent history as much as possible. Someone might tell me that in Nadia Nadim's last stint in the NWSL, she lined up as a right sided attacker exclusively. Fair enough, that could be true (like I said I didn't research it), but I am basing most of my analysis on recent history.

Let's start with the easy one. Gemma Bonner plays center back on the left side. She has done it in a back 3 and also a back 4, which was Manchester City's preferred setup. She will almost certainly slot in at center back on the left side.

Here's where is gets harder. I don't think Salmon or Nadim have recently been lining up as a true #9. Nadim for example, wore #10 for PSG but to my eyes played as a center forward vs. a playmaker that traditionally wears number 10. It looks like she lined up a position directly behind the main striker. She has also been referred to as a striker in her recent interviews. Ebony Salmon, who will wear number 9, also wore #9 for Bristol City. She lined up in all three forward positions: left, right and center. I think most of her starts came on the right. My gut tells me that Nadim and Salmon might interchange quite a bit on the pitch or play in a front two instead of a single striker.

Now for the hard one. CeCe Kizer has started in the striker position for all of the league matches. While at Houston, she quite often came off the bench, so it's hard to tell what position she took as a sub. She did start a couple of games, so that had the potential to be helpful. NOPE! She started at striker in those game too. For someone who's constantly being complimented for playing out of position, I can't tell what her preferred position might be. She is listed on some sources as a forward/midfielder and midfield is where Racing needs the most help, so I assume that's where she is going to be for the time being.

The Lineup

So I think we know the following names are no doubters in the Starting XI:

Betos, Fox, Bonner, McCaskill, Kizer, Nadim.

I think right back, right center back, one midfielder, and two forwards could be up for grabs. For the time being, I think those positions will be filled by Simon, Hendrix, Milliet, Nagasato and Salmon respectively. I think Salmon is all but a shoe in. She was the top scorer on a team that was relegated. I assume Bristol City probably didn't have a lot of possession in many games, so she should be used to scoring on the counter. Again, that bit was not researched at all, but it seems reasonable. This is almost certain to be wrong, and Nadim might not even be in Louisville in time to start against Houston, but here's my projected lineup for that match.

Disagree and have a better idea? Feel free to comment below, or start a pointless Twitter discussion with me @FleurdelisFC1.

Eight more days to go before the next match. (Audible sigh)

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