FALL OF ‘TRADITIONAL WINGERS’ AND RISE OF THE ‘MODERN WINGERS’

A thread....

Two decades ago the most prominent system in tactical football was the 4-4-2 flat formation. Two big Centre-backs where positioned at the heart of the defense, a pair of midfielders where used to cover their defenders and also to transition play from defense to attack...

...and the two forwards where responsible for getting the goals. Traditional wingers along with Full-Backs were deployed either side of the field. Basically, the job of the traditional wingers was to provide width, support their full-back in defense and support the strikers in...

...attack by using the width they provide to deliver crosses. Crossing was easier for traditional wingers because most of them were conventional wingers (strong left-footer on left side, strong right-footer on right side). The likes of Giggs Beckham Figo were traditional wingers.

The development of modern Full-Backs who fly up and down the flanks and are more attacking provided the team width. Also the fading away of the classic no.10(AMF) contributed to the rise of the modern winger. Since the modern Full-backs such as Alves Cole Alba etc...

...provided width especially in attack, the role of wingers changed. Wingers became players who in attack start from wide positions and get into the box to finish of chances, that’s why players like Salah Messi Sterling and Mane score loads of goals.

Their defensive responsibility also changed from helping their Full-Backs to pressing the opposition high up the field. That’s why teams like Barcelona Liverpool and Mancity always win possession high up the field.

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