Matt Smith at Salford City: English football’s most effective target man in 2023/24 – scout report

The role of a target man may be something we see less and less of in top-tier football these days, but it stands the test of time in EFL, with several teams effectively utilising a big, physical centre forward as a critical element of their attacking tactics.

Possibly the most effective and dangerous target man this season in England (so far) has been Salford Citys Matt Smith. While the League Two club sit 13^th after a mixed start to the campaign, their attacking output has been promising, and they have some strong tactical checkpoints in their identity.

This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of Smiths role in Salfords tactics, with the analysis viewing key areas of contribution so far this season. Specifically, we will analyse how he interacts with the midfield unit in transitions and build-up phases while also looking at the threat he poses inside the penalty box – from both open play and set-pieces.

Salfords attack – a brief overview

Neil Wood, who has been the clubs first-team manager since May 2022, has been seen to deploy a variety of formations, all of which lend themselves to providing attacking support for Matt Smith, whether he plays a lone forward or with a partner up top. Their most common shape has been 4-2-3-1, where Smith receives a lot of central support from the attacking midfielder.

While they are highly successful with long passes, with 57.8% of their attempts being accurate (the highest rate in the league), they also have one the lowest attempt rates, averaging just 48.96 long passes per 90. This may surprise some, with the assumption being that they like to fire long balls up to Smith, but, as this scout report will explain, that is rarely the case.

In terms of utilising Smit