While natural right backs often play LB? Similarly, why are there so few natural left footers who have a strong right foot or are ambidextrous?
Why are left backs never played at right back
- Thread starter DJ Jeff
- Start date
There aren’t that many left footed footballers, so you’re much more likely to use them at left back.
Daley Blind played right back for a while when he was loaned out to FC Groningen. Coentrao played at right back at Real Madrid (at least once) under Mourinho. Given the amount of right footed players who've made it work on the left, the reversed probably shouldn't be a problem if the players are suited for it.
Like the guy above said though, left footed players are already a minority so maybe that makes it more unlikely for them to end up on the right. Might feel weird for managers to play a left footed defender on the right side as well, making it less likely for them to make that choice.
Weirdly enough a guy like Van Gaal who seemed quite obsessed with having that perfect left foot right foot symmetry in his defense won the league with AZ Alkmaar while playing with two left footed centre backs (Moisander & Hector Moreno), combination you don't see that often either. He also played Dirk Kuijt as a left wingback at the World Cup 2014.
Like the guy above said though, left footed players are already a minority so maybe that makes it more unlikely for them to end up on the right. Might feel weird for managers to play a left footed defender on the right side as well, making it less likely for them to make that choice.
Weirdly enough a guy like Van Gaal who seemed quite obsessed with having that perfect left foot right foot symmetry in his defense won the league with AZ Alkmaar while playing with two left footed centre backs (Moisander & Hector Moreno), combination you don't see that often either. He also played Dirk Kuijt as a left wingback at the World Cup 2014.
Left footed people are about 10% of the population? If you've got a good left footed person why would you train them as a right back?
Only Top Elite leftie footballers can play with both legs, like ehem, Messi.
I made this thread after seeing Spurs play Davies, Rose and Foyth together today. Thought Spurs were gonna put one of Davies/rose on the right but its a lumbering CB instead. Feels like if it was the LB who was out there'd be a right footed full back there to me
Vincent Candela
Balzaretti played at RB against Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final.
Scored an offside goal and gave away a penalty in stoppage time that Ozil scored and led to Neuer playing as a sweeper in Italy's half for the rest of injury time.
Scored an offside goal and gave away a penalty in stoppage time that Ozil scored and led to Neuer playing as a sweeper in Italy's half for the rest of injury time.
Makes more sense to play Foyth. Neither Rose or Davies are going to be as effective going forward down the right, Rose isn't much of a defender anyways so putting him on the right would just make everything worse. If you've only played left back you're going to be uncomfortable defending on the other side because all of your instincts and training will be inverted.
Guy I used to play with is left footed and said that lefties aren’t really coached in using their weaker foot as much, because they are typically told to stick on the left.
You can’t support Barcelona and United, come on
He was right footed. Right footed left backs can and do play RB reasonably frequently, Maldini and Irwin come to mind. The rarity will be left footed right backs. Another thing with left footers is that on average, their right foot seems to be weaker than right footed players left. Now this could just be because they rarely have course to use it but it's worth noting.
Evra playing RB in the demolition of Roma 7-1.Yeah, it's rare because 1) natural left-footed players are a lot fewer than natural right-footed.
2) That left-back slot needed someone to be put in, and if you have left-footed defender, might as well try it, since supposedly they'll be more natural there eg. easier to clear and cross and shoot with their left foot, than putting a right-footed player there who may struggle at first since they need to cut inwards to their right foot to clear/cross/etc.
3) A lot of right-footed player playing LB had to develop their weaker left foot first to master the position, and not many players can do this. Easier to just put a natural left foot player there.
I support both clubs in their respective leagues, the PL is by miles my favorite football league-I don't care that much about LaLiga but Barça plays there, so...;
Been a fan of both clubs since the early '90s; when they cross paths in the UCL, I just go "oh shit" and sit back, and may the best team win (1994, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2019)
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You can’t truly support 2 teams. Pick one !
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I can and I will. Same with women.
I've got a vague memory of Evra playing right back once. Possibly a Champions League game?
This is a thread for @Ecstatic and Jose Antonio Camacho
For the same reason they get trained as right wingers.....
It is the numbers thing.
SAF early on played a few RFs at LB I think. Saying it ought not to be that difficult, which is true to a point.
Clayton Blackmore right footed I think.
I'm left footed but only originally because I confused left & right as a kid (for feet) - I thought it swapped over from hands to feet like it does when you are opposite someone & shake hands. Yes, honestly. I never asked, no one ever told me. I was about 12 when I found out.
My left foot is pretty good. My right is better than most people's 'wrong' feet. I never minded turning either way. I could carry the ball away if I needed too & that was the foot best suited to do it. Cross if I really had to, after a fashion. Not anywhere near the same ability to shape the pass or improvise, or take several touches, though.
The thing I'd lose most is the relationship between my body position & the location of the ball. I'd never be searching for the ball if it was there to kick on the left, just completely naturally choose, move & get on with it. So much more limited for choice & greater care required actually making the proper contact on the other side.
At quite a decent standard you can see people falling over in confusion if they find themselves receiving on the wrong side. Or shooting, that was always funny.
And we must have all done that first touch passing training over 20 yards or so. Just knock it & run to the back of the opposite line. Now let's try it with your other foot... I've seen some very decent players crap themselves & try to ruin that before they get made to look too silly.
And I'm not just giving it large here. I got in to some teams just through being left footed. There's so much more competition over there on the right. The best of which you then get to play against,.
SAF early on played a few RFs at LB I think. Saying it ought not to be that difficult, which is true to a point.
Clayton Blackmore right footed I think.
I'm left footed but only originally because I confused left & right as a kid (for feet) - I thought it swapped over from hands to feet like it does when you are opposite someone & shake hands. Yes, honestly. I never asked, no one ever told me. I was about 12 when I found out.
My left foot is pretty good. My right is better than most people's 'wrong' feet. I never minded turning either way. I could carry the ball away if I needed too & that was the foot best suited to do it. Cross if I really had to, after a fashion. Not anywhere near the same ability to shape the pass or improvise, or take several touches, though.
The thing I'd lose most is the relationship between my body position & the location of the ball. I'd never be searching for the ball if it was there to kick on the left, just completely naturally choose, move & get on with it. So much more limited for choice & greater care required actually making the proper contact on the other side.
At quite a decent standard you can see people falling over in confusion if they find themselves receiving on the wrong side. Or shooting, that was always funny.
And we must have all done that first touch passing training over 20 yards or so. Just knock it & run to the back of the opposite line. Now let's try it with your other foot... I've seen some very decent players crap themselves & try to ruin that before they get made to look too silly.
And I'm not just giving it large here. I got in to some teams just through being left footed. There's so much more competition over there on the right. The best of which you then get to play against,
.