Preface notes
- Can see what is downloaded and most downloaded is Outside Defenders, cool, but I think it's because of how episodes are listed.
- Can listen to positions in any order want, but make sure to listen to Position Numbering system first. That is base for positions, so pause this one here and go listen to that one first if you haven't
- Know I said Center midfielders most important, but it was shortest episode. Not intended, they are most important and usually most skilled. Only position I haven't played much of so I can't just talk as much.
Outside Midfielders/wingers
- Sits outside of center midfielders
- Usually provides width to field
- Usually provides the crosses into box
- Most likely to take corners but that varies from team to team
- Wingers are like attacking center midfielders (so a little overlap) in that they are more attacking minded the normal outside midfielders
- doesn't get rid of their defensive responsibilities though
- Inverted Winger (Arjen Robben & Meghan Rapione)
- Traditionally an outside midfielder/winger plays with their dominate foot to the outside of the field
- Modern game some teams have swapped it, so outside midfielders, more specifically wingers now have their dominate foot on the inside of the field or on the side the goal is on
- Usually causes the player to drive towards goal getting shots off and through balls to forwards/ strikers instead of crosses
- False Winger
- Putting a player who normally plays in middle in wing spot
- During match they move to center and play there
- Will move defenders out of position
- congest center of field and give a numbers advantage to attacking team allowing them to own center of field and create chances for forwards
- Also leaves space for full-backs (if remember Ep. 2 = defenders) to make overlapping runs on sides of field.
Main Responsibilities of Outside Midfielders
- Create goal scoring opportunities
- Stretch opposition defense
- Move ball up field/bypass defenders
- Support defense
- usually drops to the inside and defensive side of the opponents outside midfielder or winger on their side
- Will work with their outside defender on their side to stop any attack that comes down their side of the field
Main Responsibilities of Winger
- Pretty much all of the ones listed for Outside Midfielders but with more emphasis on the attacking stuff and less emphasis on the defensive stuff
- They are not completely absolved of their defensive responsibilities, they still have to get back and help. Just not expected to play go as deep to help defend.
- Expected to not only create goal scoring opportunities but to score a fair share of their goals
Qualities of good Outside Midfielders/Wingers (enough overlap to not separate)
- Athletic ability
- Speed
- Agility
- Acceleration
- Reaction
- etc.
- Sound technical ability
- dribbling
- shooting
- passing
- crossing (very important to most outside mids, due to being main threat to opposing defense)
- work these to be able to take people 1v1/not afraid
- Tactically sound
- need to know where to position themselves to be most effective\
- when to push hard on the attack and when to sit back
- High work ethic
- do the things other don't want to
- requires a lot of playing on both side of ball
- May have to push high on the attack and then turn around and drop behind the ball on offense very quickly
- lots of sprinting to both ends of field
- Endurance or having an engine
- Unselfish
- Good vision on the field (hard to train, almost a natural gift)
Famous Outside Midfielders/Wingers
- Stanley Matthews (considered England's best winger, won first ever Ballon d'Or trophy, known as the "Golden Ball" and signifies best player in the world)
- Paco Gento
- Roberto Rivellino (perfected the Elastico which became a prominent move of a bunch of high profile players today. Ronaldiho being the one I associate it with the most. He was also a teammate
of Pele and Pele was never able to learn this move.)
- Garrincha (Known as one of, if not, greatest dribbler of all time. Teammate of Pele on Brazil teams that won 58 and 62 World Cups. Inspired first Ole chant that is used all over soccer world now. He was born with right leg 1 in shorter than left and left leg turned outwards and right turned inwards leading to being declared crippled as a kid, hence his nickname Bent-Legged Angel or Anjo de Pernas Tortas in Brazil)
- George Best (Probably one of my favorite players. Played a lot like Messi does now in my eyes.)
- Luis Figo
- (early) Ryan Giggs (winger)
-eventually transitioned to center mid
- Arjen Robben (inverted winger)
- Good example of swapping sides to get that push in
- David Beckham (classic outside mid)
- Bernd Schneider
- Eden Hazard
- Gareth Bale
- Alexia Putellas (won women's Ballon d'Or for 2021)
- Been wingers at certain points, but also forwards. I consider more forwards than wingers. Depends on team composition. Used all over the attack due to versatility
- Raheem Sterling
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Neymar
Best American Outside Midfielders/Wingers
- Christian Pulisic (current player)
- Paul Arriola (current player)
- Cobi Jones
- Meghan Rapinoe (inverted winger)
- Tobin Heath (one of my favorite USWNT players to watch, great dribbling skills and not afraid to take players on, super flashy and fun to watch, wish she'd get more playing time, watch double nutmeg from US v Canada '09)
- Christen Press
Things of note
- Have web page up and running, go visit https://www.socceraperspectiveforparents.com
- link should be provided by most platforms listening on
- If not link is in description
- Go visit and lets begin having discussions and ask any questions you have
- Also have email up and ready, soccerpodcastforparents@gmail.com, email me any questions, comments or gripes you have
- Don't forget to leave a rating and comment on your whatever platform you are listening, it helps a ton
- I am also thinking about how to do a video aspect as well, let me know if you would be interested in this.
- Working out the logistics of exactly how to this right now though
- Want to have a white board to draw on that people can see
- Also I see the person listening in Kenya, was not expecting to go international so soon, but thank you and welcome.
Online Sources
- https://soccercoachtheory.com/winger-in-soccer-the-ultimate-guide/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midfielder#Wide_midfielder
- https://footballiconic.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-wide-midfielder-and-a-winger/
- https://www.explainsoccer.com/what-does-a-midfielder-do-in-soccer/