What do you guys look for in a winger?

[cristianoronaldo17]

I play for my JV high school team, last season I did not play as many games as I would of wanted to. My style of playing is that of a Cristiano Ronaldo and you can't blame me cause even though I am short I can easily get passed a 5'10'' defender cause of my speed. Anyway my style is like a Cris Ronaldo, you know with step overs, back heels and roulettes and after the defence is rid of the deadly cross comes in. Last season, I started 8/11 games. But as a coach, in the first practices what do you look for in a winger, would you want a cris ronaldo or a .................................I dont know you guys tell me!!!!

[Ray Luca]

I play for my JV high school team, last season I did not play as many games as I would of wanted to. My style of playing is that of a Cristiano Ronaldo and you can't blame me cause even though I am short I can easily get passed a 5'10'' defender cause of my speed. Anyway my style is like a Cris Ronaldo, you know with step overs, back heels and roulettes and after the defence is rid of the deadly cross comes in. Last season, I started 8/11 games. But as a coach, in the first practices what do you look for in a winger, would you want a cris ronaldo or a .................................I dont know you guys tell me!!!!

I look for a guy that can beat the first defender like you, and knows how to lose the second defender.

I think of a winger as a close pass option for who ever has the ball from the inside of the field to the flank for my team.

I think of someone who knows when to run so if his team loses the ball he does not have to make a 70 yard recovery run to get behind the ball.

I expect a wing to get behind the ball when his team loses the ball.

I think of a guy who knows when not to run if the ball is on the other side of the field and a overlap is taking place. So he can get back and take a defenders position if his team losses the ball.

I think of some one who has space to play in and stays there until a defender comes to him. Then a give and go with an inside mid and he beats that defender. That creates space.

I don't like a wing that has space to play and moves up field to a waiting defender where he has less space to play I think that is stupid.

I think of a wing as someone that does not get caught in a small space and does not get lost in wing space. Meaning your team starts to reverse the field and plays the ball away from you. If you can see it happening early enough you will get out of that space and move to less congested space.

[whirlwind]

I'm awfully leery of a player who bases his playing style (and BigSoccer handle) on any one player. CR isn't the be-all and end-all of wing play. He's gifted, but the ability to do a thousand stepovers doesn't make you a great player.

Learn to play the game, not just a position. Giggs can play wing or striker (and could probably play attacking mid or overlapping outside fullback if need be.) Be a complete player.