Ivan Toney style of play analysis

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Ivan Toney’s performances in the Premier League have earned him an England cap and led to transfer links with Arsenal. His 32 Premier League goals across two seasons have been a key factor in Brentford establishing themselves in the top division under Thomas Frank. All of which is recognition for the hard work it took to establish himself as a leading Premier League forward.

That route to the elite began in 2012 when, aged 16, he became the youngest player in Northampton Town’s history. A move to Newcastle United followed in 2015.

Toney made only four appearances in three years on Newcastle’s books, but continued to cut his teeth with loan moves. Spells with Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Wigan yielded 110 appearances, before he signed for Peterborough in 2018.

A record of 49 goals in 94 games for The Posh attracted the attention of Brentford, where 31 Championship goals in his first season fired the Bees to promotion. “Ivan’s skillset in terms of finishing, composure in those moments, link-up play, presence, character… he is a very good package,” was Frank’s assessment.

Here, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed the Brentford striker’s style of play, the positions he plays and his technical capabilities…

Technical analysis

Toney is a versatile, right-footed centre-forward, who can play alone or in a pairing. Elite-level movements have helped him to score a variety of goals from open play and dead-ball situations. His exceptional final-third runs and movements enable him to get into ideal scoring positions regularly.

Whether inside the box or making a longer run into the penalty area, he often times his movements to perfection. He will hide from his direct marker — usually a centre-back — before appearing in a goalscoring position just as the ball arrives.

Similar to Harry Kane, Toney looks to position himself out of the defender’s eyeline. Opponents must take their eyes off the ball in order to check his subtle movements and catch the exact moment he begins moving to the ball. But they can’t watch both player and ball. The moment they lose sight of him, Toney is adept at capitalising, to time his run as the ball is released. This is especially useful for near-post finishes (below), or attacking wider deliveries.

Aerial threat

Because Toney is such a strong aerial threat inside the box, defenders can be tempted to over-cover the spaces ahead. In this case, the powerful forward can attack whipped deliveries, or passes over the pressure. Instead of running across, he will attack from behind, using his power to outjump opponents and hang in the air as he directs headers at goal.

His movements and aerial qualities are also an advantage with set-pieces. A big threat from corners and free-kicks, especially on the second phase, Toney regularly sneaks around the back with impeccable timing. In these dead-ball situations, it’s not always the quality of finish that makes the difference, but the timing of his run. He pulls his direct opponent away from the space he wants to score from, before arriving with precision on the second phase.

When Toney attacks with defensive pressure ahead of him — rather than from wider deliveries — he is a calm and reliable finisher. He strikes the ball cleanly and accurately, generating power with minimal backlift. From the first 31 penalties of his career, he scored 29 goals, developing a distinctively calm approach to the ball when stepping up to the spot.

While adept at attacking wide deliveries, he also provides a transitional threat through the central spaces and when running beyond. In these instances, he has been known to use his direct opponent to hide the ball from the goalkeeper’s eyeline, before shifting and shooting with speed and precision (below).

Link-up play

As well as his final third and goalscoring attributes, Toney’s link-up play and combinations are also notable. He can pin and hold the ball up against physical centre-backs, or win aerial duels. Here, he can flick on for central runners or set the ball into midfield.

He competes well for loose balls in transitional moments, setting up counter-attacks with play around the corner, or spinning and driving forward himself. The ability to secure these balls also helps with regaining possession.

Toney’s best link-up play often comes when moving wide after starting centrally. He typically comes back inside and finds clever passes into narrowed runners, especially teammates in the front line (below).

He hasn’t been known for his assists at Brentford, but he has played a key role in progressing the ball forward. This is especially the case against more physical opponents, who he can match for strength but also outplay on the ball.

Lone centre-forward

Under Frank, Brentford have tended to use a 4-3-3 shape at home, or when facing teams towards the lower end of the Premier League. Here, Toney leads the line as a single central forward and is joined by wide players, such as Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade, moving into the inside channels. When Brentford’s three midfielders also push up, locking opponents deep into their half, Toney has even more teammates to link and combine with (below).

In this shape, Toney is the prime target for crosses, cut-backs and general wide play from the winger and number-eight pairings. When up against more compact blocks, he can readjust inside the penalty area and find new spaces to attack, using inverted wingers as decoys. He will also look to drop out and combine in the 4-3-3 shape, again readjusting and entering the penalty area from a new position. There, he can attack balls into the box, either unmarked or up against a weaker direct opponent.

Centre-forward pairing

Frank has also deployed a 3-5-2 formation with Brentford in the Premier League. This is usually when playing away from home, or against teams at the top end of the table. In this shape, Toney has been part of a central-forward pairing, operating directly against one opposing centre-back. His forward partner — mostly Wissa or Mbeumo — then works off the other central defender.

With a teammate close by who can operate around the opposing central defence, Toney has had more licence to drift, rotate or roam to receive. Here, his wider movements have been seen at their best; he links the play well away from opposing central-defensive pressure. Should Toney’s direct marker follow him, Brentford often look to exploit the gap and find their other central forward. In these moments, Toney becomes key in dragging players out of position, then linking the play to support a penetrative attacking pattern.

As with the 4-3-3, the 3-5-2 operates with three in central midfield, giving Toney central support to link with, or receive through balls from. Brentford have often used this shape when they need an extra defensive presence, when they may have less of the ball than with the 4-3-3. That has placed extra emphasis on Toney’s ability to secure direct passes, pin and hold up to create counter-attacks, as well as duel for loose balls.

More direct play into the front-line pairing is also evident here. Toney’s dropping movements and wide positioning has helped to create counter-attacks, with support from the midfield trio and wing-backs (below).

Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane finished ahead of Toney in the 2022/23 Premier League Golden Boot rankings. That is a measure of the level he has achieved, playing for a club not expected to challenge for honours or European football, but one which Thomas Frank has nonetheless transformed into an impressive outfit.

To learn more about the technical and tactical aspects of football, and gain insights from coaches at the top of the game, visit CV Academy

Author: The Coaches' Voice