soccer positions

[stryker29]

OK, here goes. Was wondering about soccer positioning. I know the basics but for example what makes a great two-way player exactly. Where(traditionally) do coaches and teams put their weaker players? In mid-field, where would you put your strongest mid, left,center, or right?(Assuming all the mids shoot predominantly right footed) Where would you hide a weak player in most situations? Is it the same philosophy across all levels playing 11 a side or is it different for youth players, high school,college? If given a choice, would you rather have a player with great speed or one with great idividual touch and passing vision? I know it's alot of questions but your opinions are appreciated. Thanks.

[juanse_moncayo]

I will assume you are coaching kids being that you keep mentioning your weakest player. There is no other way a weak player should be ina field. I know you made a lot of questions but i already am forgetting..lol. Basically ruling are pretty much the same for all leagues although I know their are some differences in the time played and the amount of subtitute players you can change, specially when its little kids. As for a two way player is a player who can respond in defense as well as in attack. usually this player works great as midfielder or as lateral (example: roberto carlos, puyol,mendez, etc) however, pretty much any player with qualities and specially, endurance and a lot of stamina and discipline. now about the type of player i would choose, it depends on the type of football you want to display. south american football is a good example of individual skills usually, and english is a great example of long passing and speed. however if i have the chance i would use the two types of players, usually try to have laterals or forwards with speed that can come from the back and win a divided ball to the goal, passing and individual, can be left in the middle creating the game, setting the play and making the passes. now if you have a player with both skills, i would always try to put him in an attacking position. perhaps not necesarilly forward but an attacking midfielder, kind of what ronaldhino does. if in the other hand, you have a player wihtth no habilities, if you cant keep him in the bench,,, i would perhaps try to create defensive tactics that require the whole line to participate, moving as a block, and show that player his positioning, perhaps as a defensive midfielder, always moving as a block, guiding and locking his positioning to the defensive line,,,(is that understandable??? sorry..) that way, all he needs to understand is positioning and discipline. i would say that is the best advise i could come up with....well, i am sure other people will differ with what i say but i stick to my opinion :cool: . good luck and let me know how it goes.

[stryker29]

Thanks for responding. I am not necessarily talking about kids or coaching in general. It just seems to me(being fairly new to the game) that the line between a great player and a good one is very thin. For example, why is Ronaldhino considered the best? The hypothetical question remains if you had 11 people to roster a team, where would you put each player and why. For example, what makes a great center-mid or can you intercange center mids with the wings. What exact qualities are specefic to each position?

[JoseP]

Thanks for responding. I am not necessarily talking about kids or coaching in general. It just seems to me(being fairly new to the game) that the line between a great player and a good one is very thin. For example, why is Ronaldhino considered the best? The hypothetical question remains if you had 11 people to roster a team, where would you put each player and why. For example, what makes a great center-mid or can you intercange center mids with the wings. What exact qualities are specefic to each position?

Speed on the outside, talented up front, reliable in the middle of the field, strong and steady, not necessarily talented, in the center defense, none of the above as goalie. Apologies to all goalies.

[juanse_moncayo]

Thanks for responding. I am not necessarily talking about kids or coaching in general. It just seems to me(being fairly new to the game) that the line between a great player and a good one is very thin. For example, why is Ronaldhino considered the best? The hypothetical question remains if you had 11 people to roster a team, where would you put each player and why. For example, what makes a great center-mid or can you intercange center mids with the wings. What exact qualities are specefic to each position?

well it varies in the function each position has, wings for example are the type of players that cover the most the field, they need speed, fast responses and a minimum of creative abilities to create an attack from their side. mid fielders have to make many of this functions but at the same time they dont need to cover the speed and strength of defense so they may lack in that area, perhaps they are fast, but they may not have the stamina to last a whole game at that pase. each positions requieres specific abilities and physical attributes not needed in other positions. is just like basket or football. speed for someone like rice, positioning creativity for someone like montana, body size for the defense line! its the same. what makes a great player, is the fact that you can relie on a good player on mantaining a level of game that helps his or her team perform. a great player is a player that on his bad days, will make a team perform just like a good player, but that you relie on being able to make a better team because of your habilities. Ronaldinho, C. Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Drogba, all of this players, just make their team grow to a different level and push the adversary to their limits, and yet, they allways come back with something new that astonishes everyone....example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlzOUrEWPqg

ps: about the goalkeeper comment. he needs to be in good shape and in perfect conditions as any, a player with a lack of good reflexes and great physical conditioning will suck as a goalie, and lets remember goalies always end up being either heroes or enemies of the team, that is the reason why they are as important as any, if not ask the italian goalie, he gave italy the WC

[coppa]

OK, here goes. Was wondering about soccer positioning. I know the basics but for example what makes a great two-way player exactly. Where(traditionally) do coaches and teams put their weaker players? In mid-field, where would you put your strongest mid, left,center, or right?(Assuming all the mids shoot predominantly right footed) Where would you hide a weak player in most situations? Is it the same philosophy across all levels playing 11 a side or is it different for youth players, high school,college? If given a choice, would you rather have a player with great speed or one with great idividual touch and passing vision? I know it's alot of questions but your opinions are appreciated. Thanks.
Traditionally with all the coaches I have been with have put weaker players up front for the short time they are in. Why? So they don't have defending responsibilities because they simply cannot keep up.

I would put my strongest mid in the center. More action and more depends on them.

Strikers need to have individual skills, midfielders need to have speed on the outside and defending and distrubuting skills in the middle. The back needs to be solid in defense.

[stryker29]

Thanks for the response. So, how important is pure speed? For example, at the youth level it seems speed is the end all. However, at the more advanced level it seems speed is equalized somewhat, with touch becoming the deciding factor.

[guyy]

nice questions stryker29... bump

[EllandRoad]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by a 'two way' player, but it sounds like it could apply to either a wingback or box-to-box midfielder. Pace is more important for the wingback than the midfielder, as they are operating on the flank, but the sheer workload involved in both positions means that stamina is a predominant factor in their effectiveness; watch someone like Steven Gerrard or Daniel Alves play and see just how much work they do throughout the 90 minutes.

[guyy]

Thanks for the response. So, how important is pure speed? For example, at the youth level it seems speed is the end all. However, at the more advanced level it seems speed is equalized somewhat, with touch becoming the deciding factor.

I think physical fitness is the biggest difference between youth levels and pros. If you see the modern game... there is a lot of emphasis on fitness. Most players are empty by 65-70 mins because the game is so intense... and yet the level is being pushed further with better and better physical fitness. Take the German team for example.
Speed, Stamina are all a product of fitness. Put it this way... a good skilled player can be a much more effective skilled player with the right physical conditioning.