Players positions

[Rich]

Why do some people on here think that some players, maybe being described as a striker, think that for some reason, they can't adapt and play in a different position, as and when necessity dictates? 

I've seen many posts moaning at team selection where so and so has been played at wing back or,  shunted to full back, or wherever. It just seems like another tool to have a bash at the manager.

If you've ever played the game, it is quite possible for a player to be adaptable and have the attributes/skills to fulfil a number of positions. I've seen lots of cases where players have started out as a striker and ended up as a quality defender, or even a defender turned into a keeper. I understand this happens a lot on the training pitch to see if those players are adaptable, or give them a different perspective on what's required elsewhere. It's all part of their football education.

Most recently people were moaning about Sam Bell being used as a wing back.  I expect the reality is, like others, we/he won't know his best position for another couple of years yet, along with the likes of Scott, Pring, Towler, Benarous, I believe even Weimann is classed as an out and out striker, when he's more versatile than that. And Scotty was signed as a fullback, I believe.

I'll name a few more: Whitehead, winger to fullback then centre back. Burns, striker to centre back. Cashley, full back to keeper.

Feel free to add any more that have changed position.

 

 

[Johnny Musicworks]

Donny Gillies forward to defender and Keith Curle 

 

[Robbored]

Scott Murray went from full back to winger.

Of the current squad I reckon Dasilva could would make a decent midfielder. He has all skills necessary to do well in engine room.

[Davefevs]

Dennis Bergkamp was a RB in Ajax youth team.

There are gonna be pros and cons.  I do see benefits in playing different positions, you can understand passing angles, positioning etc.

[cidered abroad]

Tanner was a striker when he started at Man U and has been converted to right back on his journey from MU via Carlisle.

NP likes players with speed and so that could be a reason for him to see what Sam Bell could do there. It didn't go too well for Sam but will add to his experience and I wouldn't be surprised to see him there again in the future.

[ralphindevon]

Keith Curle made the biggest impact for me.

To call him an average winger would have been very kind to him, he didn’t exactly set the place alight at Rovers and Torquay despite electrifying pace.

We signed him and next thing he’s an England international centre half.

[Silvio Dante]

Being able to play multiple positions is the sign of an intelligent and all round footballer - best exhibit in our squad is Scott, who’s played RB, RWB, DCM, CM and ACM this year. He can do it because he’s got the awareness, without needing the leadership/talking as much. 
 

If you take Bell at RWB, yes, he may be able to play there eventually but currently his positional awareness (stemming from an instinct to get further forward) makes him high risk.

I agree that you don’t always know the best position at a young age - coaching 10 year olds who all want to be strikers beat that into me - but what you look at in any fundamental different position is the basics - eg as a defender, how’s the positioning, how’s the awareness, how’s the “stance”, do they do force diagonals, do they time the tackles correctly. Unfortunately you cannot typically learn that at the championship level “on the job”.

With Bell, again, Pearson would have seen the “physical” attributes of pace and stamina, and technical of crossing, and would have wanted to see could he do the above. And although those aren’t really talent factors, they’re bloody difficult to learn which is why you don’t see wholesale position changes from 18+
 

 

[Robbored]

22 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Dennis Bergkamp was a RB in Ajax youth team.

There are gonna be pros and cons.  I do see benefits in playing different positions, you can understand passing angles, positioning etc.

Many of the Dutch players back then were coached ‘total football’ as young lads and eventually developing into to be very versatile - I wonder what happened to that model of coaching..

[chinapig]

Gerry Sweeney played midfield and full back.

Trevor Tainton, winger who became one of our best ever midfielders imo.

[Silvio Dante]

Oh, I nearly forgot. Also playing someone in a different position when you think they’ve got the attributes can magnify the poor side of their game that may not have been as obvious elsewhere. By common consensus Vyner did well at CM under Holden (or better than expected), but you misjudge a ball or miss a tackle there it’s lower risk. Pushing him into the back four/three again just highlights limitations.

 

[chinapig]

4 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Many of the Dutch players back then were coached ‘total football’ as young lads and eventually developing into to be very versatile - I wonder what happened to that model of coaching..

At youth level Ajax players had to play in a variety of positions to develop a wide range of skills. No idea if they still do that.

[Red Shadow]

John Galley went from striker to centre half.

[Davefevs]

4 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Oh, I nearly forgot. Also playing someone in a different position when you think they’ve got the attributes can magnify the poor side of their game that may not have been as obvious elsewhere. By common consensus Vyner did well at CM under Holden (or better than expected), but you misjudge a ball or miss a tackle there it’s lower risk. Pushing him into the back four/three again just highlights limitations.

 

I played the vast majority of my football at Centre Half - typically I watched the game down the pitch.  I after I came back from my ACL I played up-top as a target man pretty much - again I only had to play one-way, looking the opposite way down the pitch.  If I played in CM, that was a different kettle of fish needing to play 360 degrees.

Edited April 5, 2022 by Davefevs

[alexukhc]

Bradley Orr

[chinapig]

In the modern game I think it's often better to think in terms of roles rather than positions.

Take the various England right backs for example. Walker, Trippier, James and Alexander Arnold. All called right backs but each performs a different role for their club side.

[Gazred]

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I played the vast majority of my football at Centre Half - typically I watched the game down the pitch.  I after I came back from my ACL I played up-top as a target man pretty much - again I only had to play one-way, looking the opposite way down the pitch.  If I played in CM, that was a different kettle of fish needing to play 360 degrees.

Could of been copy and pasted from Paul Warhurst's biography!

[1960maaan]

14 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Many of the Dutch players back then were coached ‘total football’ as young lads and eventually developing into to be very versatile - I wonder what happened to that model of coaching..

I think it was the Ajax academy, at one stage got players to move around and experience the other positions. With the theory it gave them a better understanding of what the team mate was doing.

[Robbored]

11 minutes ago, chinapig said:

At youth level Ajax players had to play in a variety of positions to develop a wide range of skills. No idea if they still do that.

It was a model that worked for them back in the 70s and early 80s. Holland reached two World Cup finals losing both.

I remember at the time many pundits were cooing about ‘total football’ - it was certainly a new approach back then.

Edited April 5, 2022 by Robbored

[SBB]

Paul Warhurst 

[RedRock]

Wasn’t Harry Kane a keeper?

I did the same transition from keeper to striker and it gives you an unbelievable advantage as you can pretty accurately second-guess what the keeper is going to do. The number of ‘chipped’ goals I scored was unbelievable. You know when the keeper is ‘getting set’ and you just work him in that split second. Simples (at least at pub league standard!). 

Think Ray Cashley went from full-back to keeper. 

[Lanterne Rouge]

Didn`t Tins start out as a winger?

[Simon79]

All about having a footballing brain, understanding the game. For example, Wayne Rooney could play in any position you put him in. Some players just haven’t got the understanding, composure or awareness to play multiple positions, which in reality is crazy. COYR 

[Davefevs]

Just now, Simon79 said:

All about having a footballing brain, understanding the game. For example, Wayne Rooney could play in any position you put him in. Some players just haven’t got the understanding, composure or awareness to play multiple positions, which in reality is crazy. COYR 

I always thought Gerrard would be the best RB in the world had he switched there…wasn’t bad in midfield to be fair.

[Silvio Dante]

Didn’t Calum O’Dowda go from ineffectual winger to ineffective centre mid to ineffective full back?

Proof positive it can be done with no reduction in performance.

 

[Simon79]

8 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I always thought Gerrard would be the best RB in the world had he switched there…wasn’t bad in midfield to be fair.

Another great example of a player who understood the game & could of played multiple positions. Might be wrong, but I think Gerrard actually started as a right back. COYR 

[The Gasbuster]

5 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Didn’t Calum O’Dowda go from ineffectual winger to ineffective centre mid to ineffective full back?

Proof positive it can be done with no reduction in performance.

 

Not forgetting ineffective wing back as well, of course.

[Silvio Dante]

22 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I always thought Gerrard would be the best RB in the world had he switched there…wasn’t bad in midfield to be fair.

I was always on the Gerrard side of the Lampard-Gerrard argument. Miles better player.

For Chelsea, Lampard played often as the “1” off Drogba and his average position was akin to a second striker. Huge number of shots taken. When asked to play in a midfield 2 for England, he couldn’t do it - instinctively pushed forward and meant our best CM had to sit as opposed to go box to box, detracting from his game. As we also didn’t have the same focal point as Chelsea, Lampard didn’t pick up as many “spares” to shoot in the forward position.

I’ll die on this hill, but Lampard was a very overrated footballer who found a system that was a perfect fit but was poor - and unintelligent on the pitch - outside of those confines.

Edited April 5, 2022 by Silvio Dante

[Simon79]

9 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I was always on the Gerrard side of the Lampard-Gerrard argument. Miles better player.

For Chelsea, Lampard played often as the “1” off Drogba and his average position was akin to a second striker. Huge number of shots taken. When asked to play in a midfield 2 for England, he couldn’t do it - instinctively pushed forward and meant our best CM had to sit as opposed to go box to box, detracting from his game. As we also didn’t have the same focal point as Chelsea, Lampard didn’t pick up as many “spares” to shoot in the forward position.

I’ll die on this hill, but Lampard was a very overrated footballer who found a system that was a perfect fit but was poor - and unintelligent on the pitch - outside of those confines.

I might have to join you then! COYR 

[Rich]

56 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Being able to play multiple positions is the sign of an intelligent and all round footballer - best exhibit in our squad is Scott, who’s played RB, RWB, DCM, CM and ACM this year. He can do it because he’s got the awareness, without needing the leadership/talking as much. 
 

If you take Bell at RWB, yes, he may be able to play there eventually but currently his positional awareness (stemming from an instinct to get further forward) makes him high risk.

I agree that you don’t always know the best position at a young age - coaching 10 year olds who all want to be strikers beat that into me - but what you look at in any fundamental different position is the basics - eg as a defender, how’s the positioning, how’s the awareness, how’s the “stance”, do they do force diagonals, do they time the tackles correctly. Unfortunately you cannot typically learn that at the championship level “on the job”.

With Bell, again, Pearson would have seen the “physical” attributes of pace and stamina, and technical of crossing, and would have wanted to see could he do the above. And although those aren’t really talent factors, they’re bloody difficult to learn which is why you don’t see wholesale position changes from 18+
 

 

You're not suggesting that Bell was selected to play there, without first being tried on the training ground, or occasionally in the under 23's, are you? That would be high risk.

[Offside]

50 minutes ago, alexukhc said:

Bradley Orr

Yes, he sticks in my mind too -  an indifferent midfielder who became a very decent right back. 

[Rich]

12 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I was always on the Gerrard side of the Lampard-Gerrard argument. Miles better player.

For Chelsea, Lampard played often as the “1” off Drogba and his average position was akin to a second striker. Huge number of shots taken. When asked to play in a midfield 2 for England, he couldn’t do it - instinctively pushed forward and meant our best CM had to sit as opposed to go box to box, detracting from his game. As we also didn’t have the same focal point as Chelsea, Lampard didn’t pick up as many “spares” to shoot in the forward position.

I’ll die on this hill, but Lampard was a very overrated footballer for who found a system that was a perfect fit but was poor - and unintelligent on the pitch - outside of those confines.

England problem for years, the pressure of having to have the best player from the best team as guaranteed starters, regardless of the impact on the team.

[Bristol Rob]

Chris Sutton.

[Gillies Downs Leeds]

Michael Antonio was a full back / winger before being converted to a striker. Matty Cash was a winger / wide mid before converting to full back. Those are another couple in recent times.

[TBW]

46 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

Didn`t Tins start out as a winger?

He played out wide for us for years.

How young are you?

Edited April 5, 2022 by TBW

[Davefevs]

30 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I was always on the Gerrard side of the Lampard-Gerrard argument. Miles better player.

For Chelsea, Lampard played often as the “1” off Drogba and his average position was akin to a second striker. Huge number of shots taken. When asked to play in a midfield 2 for England, he couldn’t do it - instinctively pushed forward and meant our best CM had to sit as opposed to go box to box, detracting from his game. As we also didn’t have the same focal point as Chelsea, Lampard didn’t pick up as many “spares” to shoot in the forward position.

I’ll die on this hill, but Lampard was a very overrated footballer who found a system that was a perfect fit but was poor - and unintelligent on the pitch - outside of those confines.

Crikey, almost a replica of my own thoughts, although I’m not quite as critical of Lampard.  Had England had Drogba….

20 minutes ago, Simon79 said:

I might have to join you then! COYR 

[alexukhc]

23 minutes ago, Offside said:

Yes, he sticks in my mind too -  an indifferent midfielder who became a very decent right back. 

Never been replaced

[Rich]

Charles Charlie Charles was rubbish in goal but, Brilliant with the ball at his feet.

[alexukhc]

3 minutes ago, Rich said:

Charles Charlie Charles was rubbish in goal but, Brilliant with the ball at his feet.

Never good with his the nose though

[tin]

45 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I was always on the Gerrard side of the Lampard-Gerrard argument. Miles better player.

For Chelsea, Lampard played often as the “1” off Drogba and his average position was akin to a second striker. Huge number of shots taken. When asked to play in a midfield 2 for England, he couldn’t do it - instinctively pushed forward and meant our best CM had to sit as opposed to go box to box, detracting from his game. As we also didn’t have the same focal point as Chelsea, Lampard didn’t pick up as many “spares” to shoot in the forward position.

I’ll die on this hill, but Lampard was a very overrated footballer who found a system that was a perfect fit but was poor - and unintelligent on the pitch - outside of those confines.

And Scholes was better than both of them IMO. 

[archie andrews]

18 minutes ago, TBW said:

He played out wide for us for years.

How young are you?

but he did start as a number 3 old school left back for newcastle.....

[Rich]

Bradley Orr. Midfield to right back.

[Lanterne Rouge]

34 minutes ago, TBW said:

He played out wide for us for years.

How young are you?

I meant an out and out winger when he played for Bradford, More of a wide mid/central for us.

Edit: just looked at his time at Newcastle and he was a left back!

[DaveInSA]

1 hour ago, Robbored said:

Many of the Dutch players back then were coached ‘total football’ as young lads and eventually developing into to be very versatile - I wonder what happened to that model of coaching..

When I lived in Cape Town, Ajax (Cape Town) used to talk total football, that was 2002-2017.

My view is that being a goal scorer is more natural, it’s instinct, gut feel, precise and immediate.

Whereas being a talented defender is much more nuanced and skilful. The best defenders hardly make a tackle, and they’re never on their arses sliding tackling all over the show. They read the game, position themselves and stand up.

[Lanterne Rouge]

Just now, DaveInSA said:

When I lived in Cape Town, Ajax (Cape Town) used to talk total football, that was 2002-2017.

My view is that being a goal scorer is more natural, it’s instinct, gut feel, precise and immediate.

Whereas being a talented defender is much more nuanced and skilful. The best defenders hardly make a tackle, and they’re never on their arses sliding tackling all over the show. They read the game, position themselves and stand up.

Was it Maldini that said if I have to make a tackle I`ve made a mistake?

[Silvio Dante]

43 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

Was it Maldini that said if I have to make a tackle I`ve made a mistake?

There is an insane stat a couple of years ago that Van Dijk made about 10 tackles in a season.

When coaching, you try and impart that a tackle is a last resort. Your key defence is positioning. If that’s right, you don’t need to tackle. This is evidenced in Maldinis statement 

[Waconda]

Playing a 19 year old Centre Forward at Wing Back in a Championship game when there were other options available was a ridiculous decision.

I can't believe that some people have gone so far down the rabbit hole that they attempting to equate this situation to that of Clive Whitehead or Chris Sutton.

We all know it was a mistake, attempting to justify it is embarrassing.

[TBW]

2 hours ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

I meant an out and out winger when he played for Bradford, More of a wide mid/central for us.

Edit: just looked at his time at Newcastle and he was a left back!

Played out on the left for about 6/7 years. It's hardly an example of a player being converted to a different position. A bit like saying David Beckham was a centre midfielder...

[tin]

9 hours ago, Waconda said:

Playing a 19 year old Centre Forward at Wing Back in a Championship game when there were other options available was a ridiculous decision.

I can't believe that some people have gone so far down the rabbit hole that they attempting to equate this situation to that of Clive Whitehead or Chris Sutton.

We all know it was a mistake, attempting to justify it is embarrassing.

A selection mistake said with the benefit of hindsight for that one specific game which had no bearing on our season.

Bell had played over an hour at RWB in the home win over Boro and did OK, so I could understand his selection for Birmingham. He hasn’t been selected in that position since. 

Given the injuries and small squad we have, having players who can play more than one position is very useful. 

[GrahamC]

13 hours ago, chinapig said:

Gerry Sweeney played midfield and full back.

Trevor Tainton, winger who became one of our best ever midfielders imo.

Sween did a decent job at Centre Half a few times too, what a player.

[GrahamC]

3 minutes ago, tin said:

A selection mistake said with the benefit of hindsight for that one specific game which had no bearing on our season.

Bell had played over an hour at RWB in the home win over Boro and did OK, so I could understand his selection for Birmingham. He hasn’t been selected in that position since. 

Given the injuries and small squad we have, having players who can play more than one position is very useful. 

Yep & as I pointed out previously he did ok there v Coventry as well but that doesn’t fit the “never played there before, out of position” narrative, does it?

[Super]

12 hours ago, Silvio Dante said:

I was always on the Gerrard side of the Lampard-Gerrard argument. Miles better player.

For Chelsea, Lampard played often as the “1” off Drogba and his average position was akin to a second striker. Huge number of shots taken. When asked to play in a midfield 2 for England, he couldn’t do it - instinctively pushed forward and meant our best CM had to sit as opposed to go box to box, detracting from his game. As we also didn’t have the same focal point as Chelsea, Lampard didn’t pick up as many “spares” to shoot in the forward position.

I’ll die on this hill, but Lampard was a very overrated footballer who found a system that was a perfect fit but was poor - and unintelligent on the pitch - outside of those confines.

As a goal scoring midfielder there was nobody better in the PL era. I guess it depends on what you want from a midfielder.

[TRL]

Ruud Gullit.

 

Personally I believe to be the best all-round footballer ever.  Centre Back, Right back, Left Back, Sweeper, Defensive Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Central Midfield, Winger, Striker, he could play all of these positions at the top level of the game.

 

If there has ever been a better all-round footballer, and in turn best footballer ever I am yet to see it.  Granted there were better players in each of these positions, but as a all-round footballer, I think the term banded about now is GOAT

[Waconda]

50 minutes ago, tin said:

A selection mistake said with the benefit of hindsight for that one specific game which had no bearing on our season.

Bell had played over an hour at RWB in the home win over Boro and did OK, so I could understand his selection for Birmingham. He hasn’t been selected in that position since. 

Given the injuries and small squad we have, having players who can play more than one position is very useful. 

A selection mistake - Thank you.

[tin]

13 minutes ago, Waconda said:

A selection mistake - Thank you.

Said with the benefit of hindsight…

If you’re going to quote me, quote the full sentence for context.

Good to see you and your bias are back, VT.

Edited April 6, 2022 by tin

[Waconda]

6 minutes ago, tin said:

Said with the benefit of hindsight…

If you’re going to quote me, quote the full sentence for context.

Good to see you and your bias are back, VT.

But still a selection mistake as much as it pains you to admit.

[grifty]

10 hours ago, Waconda said:

Playing a 19 year old Centre Forward at Wing Back in a Championship game when there were other options available was a ridiculous decision.

I can't believe that some people have gone so far down the rabbit hole that they attempting to equate this situation to that of Clive Whitehead or Chris Sutton.

We all know it was a mistake, attempting to justify it is embarrassing.

I haven't agreed with much you've said that I've seen over the last couple of days, but I agree with this.

Trying to justify playing a forward player with less than what, 3 championship appearances under his belt at RWB/RB was not a good decision. People saying it's worth a go because Ray Cashley was once a defender and ended up a goalie is very odd.

We have a rubbish defence as it is, we'd be better off sticking 5 centre backs (if we had that many). Across a back 5 and just let the forward players do their thing.

[Rich]

17 hours ago, Waconda said:

Playing a 19 year old Centre Forward at Wing Back in a Championship game when there were other options available was a ridiculous decision.

I can't believe that some people have gone so far down the rabbit hole that they attempting to equate this situation to that of Clive Whitehead or Chris Sutton.

We all know it was a mistake, attempting to justify it is embarrassing.

As others have stated, this wasn't his first time in that position and, the mistake if you really want to call it that, was rectified at half time. I think you do have to give someone a bit of time to try and turn things around. Maybe he came up against opponents that were just too good for him at this time.

I would assume, you being a "professional" in the game, would know that it is more than possible to play in different positions, and, at no time was I down a rabbit hole trying to equate the situations of years ago with the recent exposure of the young lad. Merely stating a fact that it's been done before and, expanding it as a point of discussion, which worked.

What I find strange is, a "professional" slagging off a fellow professional, suggesting he be sacked/removed/moved on/got rid of, whatever you want to call it.  Plus denouncing in a brash way, anyone who supports that person while disagreeing with your version of events on a public forum.  That I would suggest is embarrassing.

[RedRock]

7 hours ago, grifty said:

I haven't agreed with much you've said that I've seen over the last couple of days, but I agree with this.

Trying to justify playing a forward player with less than what, 3 championship appearances under his belt at RWB/RB was not a good decision. People saying it's worth a go because Ray Cashley was once a defender and ended up a goalie is very odd.

We have a rubbish defence as it is, we'd be better off sticking 5 centre backs (if we had that many). Across a back 5 and just let the forward players do their thing.

Was that Ray Cashley reference related to my post?

If so, my reference was just a generalisation, not specific to Bell. That decision was a bit bonkers frankly (hence my reference to some bizarre selections by Pearson in another thread).

Can only assume Pearson had tested Bell in that defensive role against CoD in training and Bell did enough to convince the manager he could play in that position. Unfortunately, most opposition players pose a greater challenge than CoD, as Pearson found out against Brum. 

[Cowshed]

22 hours ago, Rich said:

Why do some people on here think that some players, maybe being described as a striker, think that for some reason, they can't adapt and play in a different position, as and when necessity dictates? 

 

Because individuals have differing aptitudes and skill sets. Some players really will not, and c annot meet the challenges of differing roles within teams. Famara Diedhiou as a mobile ball retaining and ball winning centre midfielder? That is fanciful. 

[Rich]

2 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

Because individuals have differing aptitudes and skill sets. Some players really will not, and c annot meet the challenges of differing roles within teams. Famara Diedhiou as a mobile ball retaining and ball winning centre midfielder? That is fanciful. 

I'm fully aware of that, thanks for pointing out the bleeding obvious. But, that's not what I was implying. I referred to the ability of "some" players, not "all" players. There's also a difference regarding age of players and the expectations on whether they could do this or that type of role. Could Deidhiou have performed a a centre back? Much like has happened on numerous occasions with players of age as well.

I wasn't for one moment suggesting that a skillful slightly built winger would turn out to be a great central defender, or a bruising six foot five defender be a tricky winger. Merely suggesting that to the coaching staff, he'd done enough to give him more game time there.

[Rich]

15 minutes ago, RedRock said:

Can only assume Pearson had tested Bell in that defensive role against CoD in training and Bell did enough to convince the manager he could play in that position. Unfortunately, most opposition players pose a greater challenge than CoD, as Pearson found out against Brum. 

I think this is where we have problems, you've hit the nail on the head. Our defenders have to train against our forward players, so have little if any threat in the air to deal with in training. The same cam be said throughout the squad, are we challenged enough in training by good enough players to replicate proper match day scenarios. 

We see them get done on a too regular basis individually, yet think we've got a good squad.

[Cowshed]

1 minute ago, Rich said:

I'm fully aware of that, thanks for pointing out the bleeding obvious. But, that's not what I was implying. I referred to the ability of "some" players, not "all" players. There's also a difference regarding age of players and the expectations on whether they could do this or that type of role. Could Deidhiou have performed a a centre back? Much like has happened on numerous occasions with players of age as well.

I wasn't for one moment suggesting that a skillful slightly built winger would turn out to be a great central defender, or a bruising six foot five defender be a tricky winger. Merely suggesting that to the coaching staff, he'd done enough to give him more game time there.

And my reply mentioned some. I provided an example of a forward. Striker was in your post.   

Its a rare beast in the championship that can play adeptly multiple roles. What we do see is norms where players move from roles where their skill sets = Qualities required - RB - RWB. The positions are not wholly different. 

Could Diedhiou performed at centre back? No. He did not man mark and was poor at following tactical approaches like screening. Defending is tactical and psychologically demanding. Heading a few corners while guarding a zonal space is easy in comparison, and in comparison, current players do similar as well. As for his recovery post explosive movement, his physical corner was poor. Defenders need recovery qualities to sustain levels under pressure. 

[RedRock]

17 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

And my reply mentioned some. I provided an example of a forward. Striker was in your post.   

Its a rare beast in the championship that can play adeptly multiple roles. What we do see is norms where players move from roles where their skill sets = Qualities required - RB - RWB. The positions are not wholly different. 

Could Diedhiou performed at centre back? No. He did not man mark and was poor at following tactical approaches like screening. Defending is tactical and psychologically demanding. Heading a few corners while guarding a zonal space is easy in comparison, and in comparison, current players do similar as well. As for his recovery post explosive movement, his physical corner was poor. Defenders need recovery qualities to sustain levels under pressure. 

Yeah, but…… Flinty at centre-forward!

Agree though, each role on a football pitch requires application of a different set of mental and physical abilities. Few, certainly at Championship level, can effectively adapt between forward and defensive roles.

Surprised tbh that Pearson thought a raw youth with little experience in his favoured position could go from a forward to wing back role, particularly when pitched against a quality opponent. Even more baffling when we all know our ‘midfield’ is sub-standard with its own issues. For Pearson to ask them to afford protection to the inexperienced wing-back when they’re struggling to form anything resembling an effective unit was/is a bit bonkers. 

[Simon79]

9 hours ago, TRL said:

Ruud Gullit.

 

Personally I believe to be the best all-round footballer ever.  Centre Back, Right back, Left Back, Sweeper, Defensive Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Central Midfield, Winger, Striker, he could play all of these positions at the top level of the game.

 

If there has ever been a better all-round footballer, and in turn best footballer ever I am yet to see it.  Granted there were better players in each of these positions, but as a all-round footballer, I think the term banded about now is GOAT

Gullit was definitely someone I thought of last night, along with Hoddle. But I think you would do well to beat Gullit, although I think Gerrard could of played all those positions that you described if he was asked. Although Gullit actually did! COYR 

[Waconda]

6 hours ago, Rich said:

As others have stated, this wasn't his first time in that position and, the mistake if you really want to call it that, was rectified at half time. I think you do have to give someone a bit of time to try and turn things around. Maybe he came up against opponents that were just too good for him at this time.

I would assume, you being a "professional" in the game, would know that it is more than possible to play in different positions, and, at no time was I down a rabbit hole trying to equate the situations of years ago with the recent exposure of the young lad. Merely stating a fact that it's been done before and, expanding it as a point of discussion, which worked.

What I find strange is, a "professional" slagging off a fellow professional, suggesting he be sacked/removed/moved on/got rid of, whatever you want to call it.  Plus denouncing in a brash way, anyone who supports that person while disagreeing with your version of events on a public forum.  That I would suggest is embarrassing.

Oh dear.