Wingers converted to Fullbacks - is that so wrong?

[Marcus]

Right now we have Valencia and Ashley Young who have gone through such a conversion. I think they have done well but age may be catching up with them.

If FB is the easier position to master than being a winger, then it makes sense for us to continue looking for wingers who can and are willing to switch positions.

The skills as a winger are skill, touch and pace. If you already have such qualities in your armour, then being well coached on defensive positiong later on in your career will bring more success than say trying to buy a good fullback and trying to coach the skills necessary to bomb forward.

In short, instead of looking to buy fullbacks with offensive skills, we should be looking to buy wingers willing to convert. There should be more of those around.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Seems pointless. Just get good fullbacks period.

Don't look for experiments. Last thing we need now.

 

[stepic]

usually wingers that turn into fullbacks are wingers that were never that good (Valencia).

fullbacks that turn into wingers are usually good (Bale).

lets stick to just good fullbacks

 

[Paxi]

usually wingers that turn into fullbacks are wingers that were never that good (Valencia).

fullbacks that turn into wingers are usually good (Bale).

lets stick to just good fullbacks

Um, what? Tony Valencia was a fecking brilliant winger in his pomp.

But I agree on the second point! Full backs that turn into wingers tend to stand out more.

 

[Marcus]

usually wingers that turn into fullbacks are wingers that were never that good (Valencia).

fullbacks that turn into wingers are usually good (Bale).

lets stick to just good fullbacks

Bale is an exception though. I recall him being a really unsuccessful fullback at Spurs. He might have been better when playing for the Saints.

 

[VeevaVee]

Shunting a player into a first choice position because you don't have one, when they're only good enough for second/third in a similar role is never going to work great.

 

[Invictus]

Sounds good in theory — e.g. Alves played on the wings as a youngster, and Alba played as a winger or even a striker, however, those players transitioned at an early stage of their career, and why would you want to convert wingers into fullbacks when you could easily sign specialized fullbacks and wingbacks that have great offensive skill as well as relatively advanced defensive/positional nous? The pool of proper wingers isn't as deep as fullbacks in the contemporary game to begin with (compared with 10-20-30 years ago), and you'll have to look for specific characteristics within that subset — like willingness and aptitude to make the transition, readiness to improve in a defensive sense (which is oftentimes beyond a lot of wingers - even if they are interested in the move), stamina and physicality to shunt up and down the flank and make high-intensity runs while tracking back (which is not always a priority for more attack minded wingers), the ability to tough it out in defensive duels with alacrity, etc. Why not sign someone who has already cemented a niche as an attacking fullback or wingback (maybe even a winger that has successfully moved backwards), instead of searching for needles in a haystack and then spending an indefinite amount of time on a transition that maybe or may not bear fruit in the long run?

 

[Class of 63]

It didn't do Roger Byrne any harm switching, though he was a bit younger

 

[Marcus]

Great to hear different views. I guess my point is that we do not need to close off the possibilty of converting wingers to FB or WB if we can't find any readily available ones.

 

[Denis79]

usually wingers that turn into fullbacks are wingers that were never that good (Valencia).

fullbacks that turn into wingers are usually good (Bale).

lets stick to just good fullbacks

At one point SAF even gave him the nr 7 shirt after an incredible season as a winger. Bit unfair to say he never was a good winger.

 

[Varun]

As long as they're top drawer, no one really cares about the path they took to get there.

 

[Ashley R1+O]

Really strange train of thought. Fullbacks need to be able to defend first and foremost. Tuck in and work with their CB, adequately return from the attack to relieve covering CB's, close down and manage their matchup one vs one and in the scheme of the defense communicate and stop wide threats.

Their ability to attack tangibly is nothing more than an added bonus. The synergy they provide going forward must come from a stable defensive base.

 

[rcoobc]

As Gary Neville says, full backs are either failed wingers or failed centre backs

 

[Marcus]

As Gary Neville says, full backs are either failed wingers or failed centre backs

Did he? I do seem to recall it being said that the FB positions are the least risky to try players out.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

As Gary Neville says, full backs are either failed wingers or failed centre backs

Carragher.

 

[Tarrou]

As much as Young and Valencia have done quite well for us there, we need better options there now. I don't care what position they used to be if they fulfil that criteria.

 

[Red_toad]

Evra, Ivanovic, Alaba, Bellerin and Marcelo are a few of the ex wingers who converted. It's very possible to convert certain players and have them perform to a very high standard.

 

[Jinn]

Problem with Young and Valencia is their age. If they were full backs in their early 20's, they would be brilliant. Unfortunately neither of them knew how to defend at that age.
This team need to get specialists for those positions.

 

[roonster09]

I don't think it's a problem as long as they have ability to learn.

Coentrao was also converted from winger and he was very good LB.

 

[Social Madworks]

Bale is an exception though. I recall him being a really unsuccessful fullback at Spurs. He might have been better when playing for the Saints.

Spurs failed to register any win in Bale's 1st 24 matches at the club, starter or from bench.

 

[Class of 63]

As Gary Neville says, full backs are either failed wingers or failed centre backs

And when he'd made sure Peter Schmeichel was out of earshot he said goalkeepers are generally failed footballers who are only in it for the comradery(sp)

 

[redIndianDevil]

Really strange train of thought. Fullbacks need to be able to defend first and foremost. Tuck in and work with their CB, adequately return from the attack to relieve covering CB's, close down and manage their matchup one vs one and in the scheme of the defense communicate and stop wide threats.

Their ability to attack tangibly is nothing more than an added bonus. The synergy they provide going forward must come from a stable defensive base.

Depends on the system most likely, they'd really need to defend in systems employed by the likes of Simeone, Mourinho et al. Where as in systems like Guardiola's or Klopp's it'd be much different, they'd be expected to offer more in attack and pressing.

 

[redIndianDevil]

Not wrong per se. But in our case Young, a right winger playing as a LB is absolutely disastrous especially considering all our left sided attackers love to cut inside. Also a winger who cannot put in a decent cross in the entire 90 minutes, yes I'm talking about Valencia is absolutely wrong.

 

[roonster09]

Not wrong per se. But in our case Young, a right winger playing as a LB is absolutely disastrous especially considering all our left sided attackers love to cut inside. Also a winger who cannot put in a decent cross in the entire 90 minutes, yes I'm talking about Valencia is absolutely wrong.

Young wasn't right winger. He was left winger and that's where he made his name.

 

[SoCross]

Young wasn't right winger. He was left winger and that's where he made his name.

But he's right footed. Think that's the point he was trying to make, no width on the left for us since Young is also more comfortable cutting inside.

 

[roonster09]

But he's right footed. Think that's the point he was trying to make, no width on the left for us since Young is also more comfortable cutting inside.

Not sure if that's the point, if so then fair enough. Young was very good left winger in PL before he joined ManUtd.

 

[SoCross]

Not sure if that's the point, if so then fair enough. Young was very good left winger in PL before he joined ManUtd.

Definitely. Never hit the heights he hit at Villa for us though. If I recall right, he was playing as a 10 in his final season with them too.

 

[roonster09]

Definitely. Never hit the heights he hit at Villa for us though. If I recall right, he was playing as a 10 in his final season with them too.

Maybe, it was long back so don't remember completely. I remember Carew and Agbonlahore playing up top with Young as LW though.

 

[SoCross]

Maybe, it was long back so don't remember completely. I remember Carew and Agbonlahore playing up top with Young as LW though.

Now that's a blast from the past! Wonder where the guy is at now.

Anyway back on topic, think I agree with the general consensus that we should primarily be looking to buy specialists instead of taking a risk to experiment. Anderson would have made a great left back though lols

 

[haram]

Now that's a blast from the past! Wonder where the guy is at now.

Anyway back on topic, think I agree with the general consensus that we should primarily be looking to buy specialists instead of taking a risk to experiment. Anderson would have made a great left back though lols

He’s still at Villa.

 

[Acole9]

If those players don't play their natural position anymore then I have no issue. Valencia is on the wane and I'm not a huge fan of Young at left back.

 

[Craig Ward]

Now that's a blast from the past! Wonder where the guy is at now.

Anyway back on topic, think I agree with the general consensus that we should primarily be looking to buy specialists instead of taking a risk to experiment. Anderson would have made a great left back though lols

he's at Villa. Had a torrid few years.

Rumour is he's close to retirement at 31.

Agree we should sign specialists. Wingers are such a rare breed in the modern game, its all about inside forwards and false 9 and such.

The only real width in modern football is a specialist FB, which is drummed into players from very very young.

I'm sure there is a ready made FB out there for us, rather than converting positions.

Valencia has worked to be fair, he;s been a solid RB. Young I would argue not so much. We need an actual LB

 

[Zlatattack]

Um, what? Tony Valencia was a fecking brilliant winger in his pomp.

But I agree on the second point! Full backs that turn into wingers tend to stand out more.

No he wasn't. He was never a goal threat and was only good at charging up the pitch and whipping in a cross (never all that accurate), or stopping and passing it to Gary Neville to cross.

Young was also a poor winger. Not a regular goal threat, could only cross with his right do was forever cutting back in, and could inky beat a player if he had loads of room to run into.

Compared to Giggs, Nani, Ronaldo - they were a big step down.

 

[saivet]

Vasquez?

 

[onemanarmy]

Meunier is also a converted winger. Doing pretty good for himself.

Still think he isn't the best defender out there, but his attacking game is excellent, especially his crossing.

 

[edgar allan]

No he wasn't. He was never a goal threat and was only good at charging up the pitch and whipping in a cross (never all that accurate), or stopping and passing it to Gary Neville to cross.

Young was also a poor winger. Not a regular goal threat, could only cross with his right do was forever cutting back in, and could inky beat a player if he had loads of room to run into.

Compared to Giggs, Nani, Ronaldo - they were a big step down.

Yes, but the surprising thing is they have been defensively very sound but poor at going forward.
They were never world beaters as wide men but it's almost like they lost their crossing skills, especially Valencia.

 

[SoCross]

No he wasn't. He was never a goal threat and was only good at charging up the pitch and whipping in a cross (never all that accurate), or stopping and passing it to Gary Neville to cross.

Young was also a poor winger. Not a regular goal threat, could only cross with his right do was forever cutting back in, and could inky beat a player if he had loads of room to run into.

Compared to Giggs, Nani, Ronaldo - they were a big step down.

Didn't Young consistently average about 8-10 goals and 10+ assists with Villa?

It was such a shame how Nani's career here went. Was definitely better than Valencia and Young but Valencia had that right wing spot sewn up.

 

[Zlatattack]

Didn't Young consistently average about 8-10 goals and 10+ assists with Villa?

It was such a shame how Nani's career here went. Was definitely better than Valencia and Young but Valencia had that right wing spot sewn up.

Yeah Young was really good at Villa, but I think it's because they directed a lot of their play through him. At United he wasn't the centre piece of our attack. He's still been a good player for us, as has Valencia, just not as good as we've been used to.

 

[borrays]

It's not wrong. i've seen many great fullbacks started their career as winger like Evra, Marcelo, etc. What wrong is when you dont replace them when they're about to past their peak. Valencia was the best RB in league last season but now he's 33 y.o and age is finally catching him. this season we shouldve tried to bed Mensah in for RB position but we stucked with Valencia and Darmian instead. That's poor planning imho.

 

[robinrooney]

Um, what? Tony Valencia was a fecking brilliant winger in his pomp.

But I agree on the second point! Full backs that turn into wingers tend to stand out more.

LOL, are you serious?????

He had 1 move which was to square the LB up and then kick the ball and run after it and use his pace to get to it before the defender and cross. If that didn't work then he'd turn back and pass to the RB. Nani was miles better but very inconsistent. Valencia had 1 good season when he got quite a few assists. His crossing has always been poor. He resorted to just smashing it as hard as he could over the last few years, mostly into the LB's shins.