The 'Left Wide Forward' Position

[DanB90]

Worlds best players in being able to play all across the forward line shocker.

 

[Paul Rideout]

In that case I'm wrong and a pacy winger will become arguably the best player in the world and coveted by the Galacticos if you stick them up front. We've missed a trick with Bolassie, Lennon and Christian Atsu.

I disagree with Zat, fwiw, but I can’t resist people who make claims without actually thinking of potential answers (BTW Johan Cruyff played left wing and up front).

I prefer him where he is, for the next 5 plus years at least.

 

[Paul Rideout]

Worlds best players in being able to play all across the forward line shocker.

People on forums make sweeping statements without any room for caveats shown glaring errors exclusive.

 

[Goat]

People on forums make sweeping statements without any room for caveats shown glaring errors exclusive.

At least you agree that Rico will never be played centrally, thats all I care about.

 

[Nymzee]

Not another one.

 

[Paul Rideout]

At least you agree that Rico will never be played centrally, thats all I care about.

I agree he shouldn’t be played there at the moment. Maybe, one day, move him there if he’s as capable and there’s an able replacement. But tbh he’ll probably be sold before that day comes with us. Just enjoy him in the moment is what I say.

 

[Zatara]

You can’t really say we’re not playing with traditional wingers and then make your argument based solely on 90s traditional wingers...

Ultimately, a lot of successful attacking teams in the modern game have players across those 3/4 positions that can interchange and I believe that’s what we’ll look to do; seems odd to buy such young, mobile options and then pigeonhole them into only playing left/right.

Once all options are fit and firing, I anticipate Tosun being a target man CF, with 3 interchangeable attackers behind him. If one or both of the wide players are having no joy against their full-backs, they should be encouraged to switch intuitively to suit the game.

I was actually replying to goats points...which are sometimes confusing, but wasn't using wingers in any example related to the OP...but to his points which went off on a tangent

I like the idea of the attacking players interchanging, but if they are all used to playing on the left then surely its going to end up a bit lopsided as naturally they will all migrate there.

if we swapped 2 wingers over who weren't familiar with their roles then its like a coin toss



no...

Wide forward players/wingers should nowadays be able to switch flanks and operate on both sides, and be able to change during the game. City do this most games to give opposing defenders something new to think about. Therefore I would have no worries at all about ours being mostly from a leftist persuasion.

How often do we see those wide forwards change sides in the world cup (for example)

My guess is without inside knowledge that he considers either Bernard or Lookman as the primary back up option on the right. More specifically it's probably Lookman

Lookman wont be good on the right...

Not another one.

Didn't you want richarlison played up front?

 

[Goat]

I was actually replying to goats points...which are sometimes confusing, but wasn't using wingers in any example related to the OP...but to his points which went off on a tangent

I like the idea of the attacking players interchanging, but if they are all used to playing on the left then surely its going to end up a bit lopsided as naturally they will all migrate there.

if we swapped 2 wingers over who weren't familiar with their roles then its like a coin toss




no...



How often do we see those wide forwards change sides in the world cup (for example)



Lookman wont be good on the right...




Didn't you want richarlison played up front?

Lookman will be fine on the right, you need to stop this dream of him playing central for us, I doubt it will ever happen.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Just chipping in, I don'tt think we ever missed a trick with some of the players who have been here recently...they just were not good enough.
However, with added quality, we certainly look much healthier in the wide areas that we have for a long time.

This should never mean we try and accommodate players. They need to be in on merit.
The team is still evolving and has a way to go yet.

Hold on tight!

 

[TheBigIguana]

I was actually replying to goats points...which are sometimes confusing, but wasn't using wingers in any example related to the OP...but to his points which went off on a tangent

I like the idea of the attacking players interchanging, but if they are all used to playing on the left then surely its going to end up a bit lopsided as naturally they will all migrate there.

if we swapped 2 wingers over who weren't familiar with their roles then its like a coin toss




no...



How often do we see those wide forwards change sides in the world cup (for example)



Lookman wont be good on the right...




Didn't you want richarlison played up front?

If he is as good as you think he is then he will be able to do a competent job on both wings. Very few wingers are unable to switch sides and they have to be the best of the best to get away with it. For example I can't really see Robben down the left

 

[Cary Hattrick]

Well done, you found 1 player in the last 30 years.

Currently Zaha and Arnautovic, too early to say if successful or not but early signs are promising.

 

[Bluebonic]

I find it quite interesting that we currently have five players who favour this position on our books.

Richarlison -- Looks a superstar in the making on the left but some chitchat about him moving to centre forward at some point?

Bernard -- Known to be effective from the left by Brazilians but surely he wasnt bought to rotate with Richarlison? Will he play behind the striker?

Lookman -- May be on his way but can also play centrally and currently on paper a great rotation option.

Walcott -- Has said he favours the left as he can cut inside and shoot...however we have no similar right sided players.

Onyekuru -- On loan at Galatasaray this season but scores goals on the left and not so effective as a central player.


On paper it appears as though we would start like this;

Centre Forward
Richarlison Bernard Walcott
​

This season would see Lookman as direct rotation/cover for Richarlison + Bernard. If Walcott is out then Bernard moves to the right and Lookman comes in centrally.

Next season we should see Onyekuru joining, who would need to be played on the left...

For those that can imagine Richarlison moving to the centre forward position, this would make a lot of sense on paper in terms of numbers. It would allow us to give him some game time there this season and (with Onyekuru arriving) move him upfront permanently next season.

So, this leads me to two questions;


A-- What benefit would the team see in moving Richarlison up front and why would he perform better there than on the left?

B-- With Walcott as our favoured right sided player (though he prefers the left) surely we need to explore who else can play there aside from possibly Bernard? Suggestions?

Never heard of a left wide forward, but then again, i dont agree with men spending more time on beauty products than their birds do, so i suppose i am just old of the five you mention, i genuinely dont think we will ever see onyekuru in a blue shirt, and i do think Lookman will stay, everything about him screams reluctance at the moment? So of the thre left, all can play through the middle too, and I wouldnt be surprised if Richarlison and Bernard could hold the fort on the right at a push?

 

[Zatara]

If he is as good as you think he is then he will be able to do a competent job on both wings. Very few wingers are unable to switch sides and they have to be the best of the best to get away with it. For example I can't really see Robben down the left

Lookman isn't a winger...best for England youth and Leipzig in the centre....by a mile....

 

[TheBigIguana]

Lookman isn't a winger...best for England youth and Leipzig in the centre....by a mile....

He didn't play a single game for RBL in the center. I'm not really sure where you got that idea. I guess maybe because they are very fluid and allow there wingers to move central but he was not at any point a center forward or traditional number 10 but still he is a wide player in the Everton system at the moment

 

[Nymzee]

@Zatara I meant another thread not another left winger.