I am currently a sweeper for my team as of right now. I would like to sit down and have atalk with my coach about moving me to right or possibly left fullback. I watch from the sweeper position and see a ton of great opertunities for my fullbacks to go up and make runs down the sideline. I feel i can do that, i have pretty well dribbling abilities and i feel like i have a great first touch also. My only hesitaion is that by me asking to move myself to left or right fullback i feel as if i am down grading in a position. I won't have the authority that i do now and ive always looked and the sweeper being the defense captin if not the captin of the whole team. I feel i will be looked down on as a left or right fullback. I would love any sort of advice and have open ears.
Wouldn't you rather talk to him about how you as the sweeper can contribute to the offense. Use the outside backs making wide runs as an example. Providing depth to the attack and changing the ball from one side to the other may not seem as important as making a long overlapping run into a winger position (a/k/a providing width to the attack), but it is as important. As is being in a good position to react immediately should the ball be turned over. How much freedom your coach allows you will probably depend on how able the other defenders are at covering the sweeper position for you should you be caught out of position by a turnover. You may have noticed central defenders (heading is a useful skill for central defenders) going forward on corner kicks and free kicks in the attacking third. At the very least, the coach could give you his thoughts on how you could improve your play.
i would definatly have a talk with your coach, if you think you can see something that your l/r backs cant see then tell them or tell the coach so he can get them looking. dont think for a second that a l/r back is a downgraded position to centerback. i started at centerback moved to right back and ended up on the right wing. its not just ahobut seeing the run you cna make to boost the play you have to be able to run up there and then run back again. you need to have good vision to pick passes, you need to be able to read the game to make the runs in the first place and you need some pace to stick with the winger coming at you. people seem to put far too much store in the ability to dribble with the ball. yeh its a handy skill, but some of the best players in world football dont dribble past people. i would also add that you can easily be the teams captain and the defences leader from any position at the back. but you cant go bombing forward if you cant get back, thats the decision you have to take at the time. you you are confident you have the winger in your pocket then its easier to do. do you get on with the guy on the right/left wing? having a good relationship with your wide partner is a great boost to beating teams down one particular side. while playing at right wing, my right back and i could easily carry the ball from one end to the other with good interplay, off the ball runs and pace. good luck with whatever happens, but remember that playing at fullback and centerback are two very different roles.
there are more opportunities for you to get forward if you are playing a flat four. maybe suggest that if you have the ability to play that way. but the outside backs do indeed have a lot of chances to get forward, especially if your opponent is playing with a sweeper. they can sometimes dominate a game from their deep lying positions. but what is going to best for your team? and more importantly, for your development as a player?
i go between both positions with my club and school teams as i'm usually one of the better passers and longballers on the team (brag brag brag). i don't see wing fullback as a downgrade. they are two different positions and depending on the system, you could completely change a game. Roberto Carlos made a legacy with the wingback position. one thing about making runs is that if you're wing mids don't get what you're doing and don't fill in, your team has a huge risk of being countered (and you being chastised). if you are a good distributor of the ball, almost a holding mid, i'd say stay as sweeper. you can move up a bit and really direct the play. good defenders that can get rid of the ball well are sometimes hard to find. whatever works for the team's system. btw, what type of midfield does your team use? i could be wrong but it seems like there's more of a need for wingbacks making runs in a diamond midfield.
yes we do use a diamond midfield and a diamond defnse but its more like 2 dfensive middies and a flat back 3. I do struggle with making good long passes under the preasure. I have no trouble making them regularly but when its passed back to me i have a hard time looking up the field and finding someone to pass to so i just ussally try to kick to a flag. And the game a played today was horrible i "played scared," well thats how the coach put it any way. I am not afriad of getting hurt or running someone over its them barely beating me to the ball and touching it around me then they have a 1v1 vs the goalie. I also feel like i have talents in certain areas going to waste. I can dribble with ball pretty well, have one of the better shots on the team. And i am one of the better crossers if not the best crosser. i also feel like me and the winger could make some great runs down the field workng of eachother, if he coperates and dosen't hog the ball. So yes thats my situation, please keep the advice coming its been very helpful
if you are worried about them just beating you to the ball then you need to watch more of europes top defenders. 90% of the time they stay on their feet for no other reason than there is little need to be sliding in every time. as soon as you do that you are out of the game. chat with the coach, ask if you can play on the wing or something in a practise game or soemthing and see how you do. if you are the best crosser its only really an advantage if your team isnt scared of heading the ball. as for keeping your head under pressure, that something that comes with confidence. you will know that you have enough time to pick a pass instead of just thumping it, also you need to be able to trust that the person you are passing to isnt going to let the attack in. keep your head up at all times and for the love of god dont ball watch. when the ball isnt at your feet you need to be watching not only the game as it unfolds but also the players around you, where are they positioning themselves, what are they doing. that way when the ball does come to your feet you have a good idea of where your team mates are. much of the great passing moves you see in pro games is down to familiarity. the players play so muchrtogethe that they KNOW that x will be making the run at that time so you can just pass the ball there, knowing he will get to it. watch as much football as you can, but watch the players and not the ball. learn football, learn to predict whats happening where the best pass is and who is the most dangerous out of any particular player at any given time.
I agree. Seems like a move to the wing would be in order. and it will give you more time 'on the ball'. in the end, it may be best for your development, as you can always be converted back to a defender once you start reaching high level club and college ball. (all of the starting defenders on my college team played forward or midfield in high school and club, and with my current men's team, only 1 of us in the back played there in college.)