What’s all this playing wide players on the wrong side nonsense?

M

Memphisboy

Well-known member
We don’t have Robben in the team so makes absolute zero sense. CJ not comfortable on his right and Lyon’s left foot is for standing on. Both players aren’t the sort who’ll cut in and shoot so what benefit is it to the team. Think Critchley trying to be too clever, just play with CJ or Thompson on the left and Lyon’s or Gabriel on the right. On the rare occasion they pass the opposition fullback you know the resulting cross will in all likelihood be a letdown as neither have any confidence on their wrong foot. It’s not rocket science. The issue as to whether players should be comfortable with both feet is another issue.
 
Don’t shoot the messenger here but the theory is that when going forward they should be more potent coming inside on their stronger foot. It couples with not playing an out and out CF when your job involves getting to the byline and crossing.

As we don’t have that kind of player at present Critchley is trying to create pressure on the edge of the opponents box.
 
Memphisboy said:
We don’t have Robben in the team so makes absolute zero sense. CJ not comfortable on his right and Lyon’s left foot is for standing on. Both players aren’t the sort who’ll cut in and shoot so what benefit is it to the team. Think Critchley trying to be too clever, just play with CJ or Thompson on the left and Lyon’s or Gabriel on the right. On the rare occasion they pass the opposition fullback you know the resulting cross will in all likelihood be a letdown as neither have any confidence on their wrong foot. It’s not rocket science. The issue as to whether players should be comfortable with both feet is another issue.
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Bit late in the day to be questioning a tactic that's been used for quite a few seasons now including by BFC.
 
Wilburrabbit said:
Don’t shoot the messenger here but the theory is that when going forward they should be more potent coming inside on their stronger foot. It couples with not playing an out and out CF when your job involves getting to the byline and crossing.

As we don’t have that kind of player at present Critchley is trying to create pressure on the edge of the opponents box.
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Isn't that more applicable to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, with the full backs then pushing on to create the width, with a 3-5-2 it's the wing-backs that need to create the width, but playing them inverted prevents them from doing that.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Isn't that more applicable to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, with the full backs then pushing on to create the width, with a 3-5-2 it's the wing-backs that need to create the width, but playing them inverted prevents them from doing that.
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Also slows everything down and makes it hard for the front two to time their runs.
 
Inverted wing backs also helps in theory defensively aswell mainly when playing against inverted wingers as they show you onto your stronger foot to defend the inside.
Personally I like inverted wingers but as with most things it depends on the type of winger you have. If like CJ he always goes on the outside and is a bit shot shy coming inside then I suppose it's not really beneficial having him inverted but it may help him on the defensive side and help him with passing inside to say Norburn by being on his stronger foot.
 
Critchknows said:
Inverted wing backs also helps in theory defensively aswell mainly when playing against inverted wingers as they show you onto your stronger foot to defend the inside.
Personally I like inverted wingers but as with most things it depends on the type of winger you have. If like CJ he always goes on the outside and is a bit shot shy coming inside then I suppose it's not really beneficial having him inverted but it may help him on the defensive side and help him with passing inside to say Norburn by being on his stronger foot.
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Hamilton has had his best games for us on the left, this system could work but not with Hamilton and Lyons. Makes us too ponderous and predictable.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Isn't that more applicable to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, with the full backs then pushing on to create the width, with a 3-5-2 it's the wing-backs that need to create the width, but playing them inverted prevents them from doing that.
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That is the issue we are struggling with at present but I was only explaining not defending it.
 
It seems to be the new norm. Pep started it with Cancelo and Trent does it too. They create an extra man in midfield by tucking inside onto their stronger foot.
 
CJ didn't used to be shot shy. In that first spell in Lg1 he smashed home some belters and looked confided doing it.

I suspect tho, it's a place holder for when Gabriel can be teamed up with Lyons or for us getting a.n.other wingback in.

But it's Critch so who knows. 🤷
 
There is nothing more you can say that it’s absolutely utter madness. Just because Lyons played left wing back for some Irish team, people think he can play there. It was a problem all day and limited our attacking options.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
There is nothing more you can say that it’s absolutely utter madness. Just because Lyons played left wing back for some Irish team, people think he can play there. It was a problem all day and limited our attacking options.
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Some Irish team? Says it all about you. Peering down your nose, you my friend are a knob!
 
Generally, in life, I‘m not a fan of taking the obvious solution and doing the exact opposite.
Just ends up making everything x10 harder.
 
Would it not be better for the player putting the cross into the box using his dominant foot to be more accurate
If the wing back cuts inside he doesn't have to shoot but if using his less comfortable foot just keep it hard and low
Better still coaches should encourage the use of both feet from an early age I think keepers are
 
I suppose that playing inverted wing-backs away from home make they team more solid, but yesterday it nullified the pace that both CJ and Lyons have in abundance.
 
PR3BFC said:
Suspect CJ’s pace to keep up with Mitchell may have played a part in the thinking
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The danger was on the other side of the pitch with Chelsea man Rankine supposedly being the quickest player in league 1 and Lyons being a far more accomplished defender than CJ
 
Ping Pong said:
What's wrong with swapping them over occasionally during the game, to confuse the opposition??
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Used to do that when managing at junior level and it worked a great. I think I nicked the idea from Olly at the time, he was a big fan of the tactic from memory.
 
The problem with inverted wingbacks is that when the ball is played long over the top from the centre of defence

they cannot control the ball when they are running forward with their natural foot, it has to be done with their weaker front,

and both Lyons and CJ are not good enough to do that. Also, their crossing with their weaker foot is not as good, and

not helped in CJ's case by no one running toward the near post, everyone waits either in the middle or the far post

and the cross is never good enough to get through to them.
 
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