Wing back V. Winger

[American Red]

What is the difference between a wing back, side back, and side mid fielder exactly?

Is a winger a forward or a midfielder?

[King-James]

What is the difference between a wing back, side back, and side mid fielder exactly?

Is a winger a forward or a midfielder?

I could be a bit wrong here...
My interpretation...
A side back is almost always the two wide players when playing 4 at the back. They usually do a lot of defending, while some attack aid. Generally may not be as quick on or off the ball as wing backs.
A wingback often is a wide player of a 5 man back line, or the wide player in midfield in a three man back line. Usually going back to defend a bit, but much more attack oriented. Needs a lot of stamina, up and down the field. I guess they can play in a 4 man back line, but I don't know about that. (well, they could be 'natural wingbacks' playing as 'side backs')
A winger IMO can be a forward or a midfielder, depending on the situation and interpretation. Typically very attack oriented, and may not do much defending at all. Usually good speed, dribbling, and hopefully passing and goal scoring ability. Usually a bad header, and not as strong or as good balance as a center forward.
A side midfielder generally is a more standard midfielder than a winger. They may not be as good on the ball, or as quick, and may drift around the middle a lot more. More of a two way player. Sometimes better at defending than wing backs.

[gaijin]

You normally find wingbacks in a 3-5-2 or a 5-3-2 where they basically do the job of defending as well as bombing foward like a winger to support the attack. The principle is that they are to cover the space occupied by just a 3 man midfield as well as give more defensive and attacking coverage.

I always think this position is much difficult to play and you need the right personnel to employ it.

A winger in a 4-4-2 or even 4-3-3 will play far more attacking than a wing back and won't get back as much. He is basically an attacking midfielder who would require at lot of attacking strength and less defensive qualities. I would say a true winger would not be a forward or a midfielder, but rather something in between.

A side back? Not too sure what you mean, but I think you mean a full back. A full back will be on either side of a four man defence. He will defend like the central defenders and will get foward now and again to support the midfield positions, but won't be as attacking as a wing back or winger. Of course there are exceptions to the rule like Ashley Cole and Roberto Carlos, who are more wingbacks playing a fullback position.

[Bertje]

What you call a sideback (fullback) only goes forward in a zonal defense. In a man marking system they mostly stay back while the libero can move up and down the field.

[leg_breaker]

What you call a sideback (fullback) only goes forward in a zonal defense. In a man marking system they mostly stay back while the libero can move up and down the field.

What?

[American Red]

Thanks for the replies all. Whats a libero?

[gaijin]

Thanks for the replies all. Whats a libero?

The expression libero is from Italian meaning 'free'. It can often be called a 'sweeper' position. A sweeper basically sits in front or behind the defence and has a 'free-role' amongst the backline. He basically does what the position would require, playing a roaming position and sweeping up the mess and then creating the attack. He's normally a much better all round player as a defender and needs to be good going foward as well.

A libero would be required to help out the defence and then help build up the attack once in possession. Think of a defender who almost plays a Makelele position, retaining possession in defence but getting foward to build up the attack. Beckenbauer was probably the no1 sweeper in the world. He would be able to get possession in his own 18 yard box and then build up an attack from here and then get himself inside the opponents box to help his attack.

The position needs probably the best allround player on your team and as a result there are very few natural 'liberos' in the world. Also many tactical systems now don't favour one.

There are players that you often see playing a mini-sweeper role like John Terry for example, who will be composed enough to gather the ball in his defence and bring it forward to the midfield. A libero will go one further however and go and support the attack. Given the fact that most coaches now employ more rigid tactical systems and there are far less natural 'liberos' in the game, its quite hard to find one.

[Rakim_22]

Another example of a great "libero" is Ronald Koeman. Great all-around defender who scored over 200 goals in his career.

[King-James]

Another example of a great "libero" is Ronald Koeman. Great all-around defender who scored over 200 goals in his career.

He played quite like a "Pirlo-vian" role, didn't he? While playing CB for Barca. Good on the ball. Had that magic free kick :D :D

It's a bit outdated to mention it as standard strategy though... does any top quality player play that role regularily these days?

[dmar]

He played quite like a "Pirlo-vian" role, didn't he? While playing CB for Barca. Good on the ball. Had that magic free kick :D :D

It's a bit outdated to mention it as standard strategy though... does any top quality player play that role regularily these days?

The Pirlo of Barcelona was Guardiola.

[Bertje]

Koeman was more of a controlling midfielder in posession then a creating player.

[MikeLastort2]

Thanks for the replies all. Whats a libero?
A libero is also known as a sweeper. He's the last defender in front of the goalkeeper, and makes the defenders more of a diamond shape than a flat like.

The position was really made popular by (and some would argue invented by) Franz Beckenbauer.


LB---------CB--------RB
---------Sweeper
-----------GK

The position is actually more free in that the libero can decide when and where to move forward to stop breakaway attempts or long passes my by the other team. He's got to have a very strong positional sense and must also be able to react quickly to changes on the field.

You might see the sweeper lined up directly in front of the keeper, but you might also see him leading a counter attack after he's intercepted a pass into the box.

[thebigman]

cafu = wing back

ryan giggs = winger

not hard :0