In my time coaching I’ve tended to lean on these three traits when assessing/profiling wingers, before I ever consider passing tendencies, work rate, two footedness etc. This was not my discovery but one passed on by coaches better than me.
I like to think the masters, or at least those great at all three are the true unicorns among wide players. Those who do two of them can have good to immense value, whereas those with only one seem limited, unless empowered by a system catered to their game.
So much discussion amongst players seems oversaturated with 100 different points of comparison, I’m interested to know from those watching every week, where do your wingers land?
Feel free to take issue with any player I’ve placed already, I simply used them as examples, some of which may not be entirely accurate (apart from the middle slot).
by TH0316
2 comments
How about crossing (and passing)?
But that’s if we’re just talking about attacking, which really doesn’t cut it anymore, esp. in the Prem. You have to track back and underlap and intercept.
Just from a Chelsea POV, we’ve had an inadvertant, yearlong ‘experiment’ of seeing where everyone plays best, and even if Poch can’t figure it out, I’d say that Cole P is mostly a winger, Nico J is better as a winger (certainly viable as a striker), and Misha M better as a CAM than a winger. Oh, and Chilly certainly not a viable winger (if anyone over the age of 16 in the org is not injured).
At this point, our only natural winger that plays there regularly is Noni M, who has all 3 of the listed traits as “developing” but not quite ready to go yet.
Gordon with Doku