keepers are the best! we make game winning saves, and the forwards get credit for scoring! you can't win without preventing goals. so what's your vote?
Obviously everyone is gonna pick the position we play. I don't really see a point in this thread, because you can't win a match without any of the positions...its blatantly obvious. GK: shot stopper, protects the goal, without the keeper, goals galore. Def: first line of offense, last line of defense, however you look at it. Protect the goal and make it difficult for the attackers to get clear cut chances on the goal. Gritty, nasty, dirty, will do anything to stop a goal. Mid: Control the entire flow of the match. Create the opportunities for scoring, lend support to the attack and the defense. The link between defense and attack. Without, no possession and a weak defense and attack. Fwd: Put the ball in the old onion bag...finish the chances created by the midfield. Pressure the defense and create havoc for the keeper. Constantly run at the defense and creat chances themselves. So I don't really understand voting for which position is better...you can't win without all of them.
Actually I'd have to say Keeper is last (and first) line of defence. But defence is by far my fav. I love the shirt that says "Forwards sell tickets, Defence wins championships". "Soccer is not about life or death, but something more"
I was a pretty good forward and midfielder. However, as I've slowed down, now I'm much better at referee. At least now I've got more cards to deal with any complaints about my skills.
I always used to play in midfield, but over the past couple of years, I have altered my game to be a forward. I did this because I feel that it is the most important position on the field due to having the mentality to be able to finish the ball under pressure and also acting as the first line of defence. I have a good example: On Saturday we played top of the league, we were 6-0 down at half time due to our defence being poor. I came on at half time upfront, and I just constantly ran at their defenders when they were in possesion, and we were a totally different side! Our defence didn't have too much to do due to this, and we ended up winning the half 1-0 (I know, still not good, but we were against a very good side). I suppose it may depend on what type of team you are playing against to what the most important position is.. Sometimes even the ref makes some dodgey decisions, and through experience, if they want the other team to win, then there is a good chance they will.
I gradually shifted forward from outside back to d-mid to playmaker to striker as I got slower. Speed is more important in a defender than in a forward. As a forward, I think being able to maintain possession against numbers until the midfield catches up is an underrated skill.
GERR18 WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERY POSITION IS IMPORTANT ON THE FIELD. BUT IF I HAD TO PICK ONE IT WOULD BE THE CENTER MIDFIELD POSITION (WHICH I PLAY OF COURSE). YOU ARE THE PLAYMAKER ON THE FIELD AND YOU MAKE EVERYTHING HAPPEN. THE GOOD CENTER MIDFIELDERS ARE ALWAYS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WORK HARD THE WHOLE 90 MINUTES. HE IS THE PLAYER ON THE FIELD THAT SHOULD HAVE THE MANY ASSIST AND SOME GOALS ALSO. IN OUR TEAM STANDINGS FOR MY CLUB TEAM, TWO OF OUR FORWARDS ARE IN 1ST AND 2ND, THEN OUR 3 MAIN MIDFIELDERS ARE IN 3RD(ME),4TH, AND 5TH AND THEN BACK TO OUR OTHER FORWARDS AND SO ON. THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS I THINK CENTER MIDFIELD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
Even though i'm a forward i think that midfield is the best postion to play becasue u are involved in both attack and defence and you got more time on the ball unlike defence or up front
I agree that midfield in general is the most important position on the field. The midfield dictates the pace of a game. They cover the greatest space on the field and have to participate in both offense and defense. If you have a weak midfield, it will have a negative affect on both the offense and defense. Without the midfield given service to the forwards, the forwards would almost never be getting the ball. The forwards depend on the midfield to be given good through balls and crosses to create scoring opportunities. A weak mid affects defense because then the other team can carry the ball down the middle of field and go on a 5v4 or 6v4 against your defense. I am not even a mid. I play outside back, and play mid infrequently, but I still realize that it is the most important on the field.
I have a similar "evolution" as you do, switching from right back in highschool to d-mid in college to d-mid/forward nowadays. However, I don't agree that speed is more important in a defender than in a forward. As a forward you sometimes have to change speed to go past defenders, and during counter attacks the ability to outpace the defender is also important as a forward.
My evolution was a bit faster, probably because it was pushed by injuries. Made U-13 regional ODP as a right back (lasted all of one practice before a horrendous series of injuries kept me off the field for a full two years), started out as a d-mid in high school and switched to outside mid (both wings) and then to attacking center mid by the time college started; by sophomore year of college, having been injured quite a few more times, I was playing forward only. If it's important for the forward to be able to outpace the defender on a counter, it's also important for the defender not to be outpaced. But there is no substitute for speed as a defender. There are alternatives as a forward. (Of course it also depends on the team. A slow forward can still be very effective in a possession-oriented team, but certainly not in a counterattacking team.)
gotta put in another vote for goalkeeper. Until you train like one and begin to think and behave like one not only on the soccer field but also in everyday life, you'll never understand the good health and exhilaration(sp?) it brings to your life.
I play midfield(center), and of course that controls the whole game. Without me, you get no great or creative scoring chances, and have no possession either. I do enjoy playing sweeper if my team has a lead because it really is a fun position if you play it with skill. Almost like center mid except it is much easier to distribute from the back(only one way to go, lol)... your right tho, this is kind of a dumb arguement
I have to agree with NC, midfield is the mastermind. With out them it would just be long ball. I also don't agree with this thread tho cuz there are no real positions, everyone plays offense in some way and defense in another way. I by starting position am a wing defender(in a flat back four) but I go forward so much it is as if I am in midfield. See my point?