WHAT MAKES A GOOD FORWARD OR STRIKER?

 There are different types of strikers that have the same role, but work through their own methods. Effective forwards do share some basic characteristics significant for their success:
1. Positioning – there are plenty of attackers who lack skills but score simply because of their positioning. Watch any productive striker and you will see that he can read the game quickly and anticipate plays. This greatly increases his chances of scoring. For example, at the moment when a shot is taken, the attacker closest to goal should immediately run at the enemy goalkeeper in case he mishandles the ball.

 2. Operating under pressure – good attackers can do their job even if you limit their space and time. Some may use their speed; others will shield the ball or use fancy tricks. How you deal with enemy pressure determines to a large extent your "style.

 

 

3. Finishing touch – some skill is required in order to be effective as an attacker. The most important technical ability for the job is one-touch finishing. Having a hard long-range shot means nothing if in order to execute it, you need to have the ball set up for you. Effective strikers can score from any position and with all parts of their body. Applying a preparation touch is rarely an option at the higher levels of the game.

 WHAT MAKES A GOOD OUTSIDE MIDFIELDER (WINGER)?

 1. Possessing the ball – most successful wingers have the ability to carry the ball up the wing and beat opponents through dribbling. The flanks are relatively less "crowded" so the winger needs to be effective in one-versus-one battles.

 

 

2. Distributing the ball – the outside midfielder has to be an efficient passer. He must be able to cross, serve the ball forward, pass to the inside and back.

3. Speed and stamina – playing as an outside midfield is physically demanding and requires covering a lot of ground. Wingers have to help out the defense, support the midfield and even make forward runs. Without good fitness, the winger will not be able to participate in the development of plays.

 WHAT MAKES A GOOD DEFENDER?

 1. Tactical anticipation
Top level defenders read the game well and are always one step ahead of their opposition. Observe quality defenders in competitive matches and you will see that they anticipate the movement of the person they are marking. Even if their enemy has more pace, they close him down and (usually) beat him to the ball purely thanks to their good tactical apprehension/anticipation. 

 

 

2. Experience
The more 1v1 challenges you make throughout your development, the more familiar you will become against offensive tricks, turns and moves. Good defending is not just about how you tackle. As you gain more experience you will learn to “get into the head” of your opponent and his moves will never surprise you. One of the biggest mistakes young players commit is lacking patience. Never charge in at an opponent unless you know that he lacks the option of beating you/going around you.

3. Fitness
Quickness, strength and stamina are probably the three main abilities needed when you are playing in defense. Closing down your opponent is done by quickly repositioning or shuffling your footing so that you are always in front of him. Strength will help you in winning 50-50 balls and when shielding the ball. Good stamina is very important. When you are tired, you lose concentration and react slower.

4. Fundamental skills
Defenders can get away with a lot of things but fundamental skills are required. Heading, passing and ball control are most important. You need to be confident in your ball skills because technical mistakes are very costly for defenders.

 POSITIONS

 #3. Sweeper
The sweeper must always be "the last player" in defense (after the goalkeeper, of course). His job is to close down gaps left by other defenders. The Sweeper roams laterally, a few meters behind the last line of fullbacks. He must try not to sway too far towards the flanks. The sweeper analyzes the development of plays, anticipates where open angles and passing lanes are forming and make quick decisions about dealing with them. Because they never mark enemy attackers, sweepers can move a great deal forward when their team is in possession of the ball. This frequently finds the enemy defense unprepared as an unmarked player is unexpectedly introduced to the play. Overall, the sweeper should be very perceptive (usually experienced) with good ball handling skills and confidence.

#3. or #5. Stopper / Center fullback
The stopper is the center player in a defensive line. Some teams may use two stoppers in conjunction. Their main task is to mark the most advanced enemy forwards and fight with them in 50/50 encounters. This is the most defensively-oriented field position in soccer. Stoppers have to remain in the backline, almost at all times and usually cover the shortest distance in a match (second only to goalkeepers). Stoppers rarely get involved in offense, except in set pieces like corners and during initial buildup. Playing in the middle of a defensive line means having the ball served in your area from various directions and at variable heights. Dealing with such situations requires aggressiveness, strength, speed, good heading ability and courageousness in one-on-one battles.

 #2. or #4. Fullback
Fullbacks are the defenders positioned on each side of the stopper. They cover the space along the entire flank and therefore must be fairly quick. In defense, the fullback usually marks an enemy forward or covers his flank, awaiting incoming enemy wingers. Fullbacks get actively involved in their team’s offense by staying wide, making overlapping runs and pushing up the flank. In modern football, it is not uncommon for a free (not marking) fullback to move up the wing and take the position of a winger thus spreading the enemy defense apart. To do this job, fullbacks need to have good speed and stamina.

 #6. or #11. Outside midfielder
The outside midfielder must be very fit and is supposed to be active in both defense and offense. In defense, the he must mark the widest opponent on his flank. When he finds himself free, the outside midfielder may pinch in towards the middle while remaining on the same level with the ball. This way, he is preserving the defensive compactness of his team.
In attack, the outside midfielder must stay wide, especially in the early stages of buildup. By providing width, he will stretch out the enemy defense. The outside midfielder should make supporting runs up the sideline and should be able to carry the ball. Besides good stamina the winger must also possess good one-versus-one skills.

#6. or #11. Winger
Even although the classical winger who dribbles up the sideline is nowadays being replaced by an all-purpose outside midfielder, the "old" winger position is still present in many teams today. Wingers are most common in teams who play with three attackers.
The traditional winger is strictly an attacking player who stays wide, dribbles the ball at the enemy goal and serves in crosses.

 #5. Defensive midfielder
The defensive midfielder is the backbone of the team. His job is similar to that of the sweeper with the exception that he operates in front of the defense, between the offensive midfielders and the stopper. He roams laterally from sideline to sideline, usually pressuring the ball. If any of his teammates gets beaten in the middle of the field, the defensive midfielder is expected to be first in providing backup.
In offense, the defensive midfielder must stay behind the attacking line, collecting rebounds and miss-kicks. He is also expected to make supporting runs and give back pass options, especially when the ball is out, near the sideline.

 #8. or #7. Center / Attacking / Offensive midfielder
Offensive midfielders are usually the fittest players in a team, considering that they have to be involved in almost every attacking play. Apart from their top form, midfielders need to have good technical ability. When a skillful midfielder is dribbling, he is not supposed to look at his feet, but should be scanning the field for open space and moving teammates. In a practical sense, the midfielder needs to possess enough skill so that he can concentrate on his primary job of distributing the ball without worrying about the mechanics involved. Overall, the job requires skill, stamina as well as vision and tactical understanding.
When his team does not have possession, the center midfielder is expected to drop back and pressure the ball. In offense the attacking midfielder should be in involved in the action by making runs towards the ball. Even before he gets it, he should already know where and how he wants to distribute it.
Offensive midfielders who are very active in directing their team’s attacks are often given the title "playmakers". Playmakers need to be fed a lot of passes in order to coordinate the offensive movement of their team.

#10. Striker
The main ability of this player must be his strength and heading. His job is simple: to stay in front of the enemy goal, attract enemy defenders and score. Unlike the typical forward, the striker doesn’t shift to the sides as much. He stays in the middle as a target man and will typically be marked by at least one player. On attacks, he may try checking to the ball and shielding or laying it off, but he’ll usually stay with the last enemy defender. The striker’s defensive duties are to pressures the opposing defenders while they are initiating an attack.
They are powerful, good in the air and it’s almost impossible to knock them off the ball.

#9. or #10. Forward
The job of the forward is not merely to head for goal every time he receives the ball. He must also make runs towards his own goal and support the midfield rather than simply rush forward. This can best be observed by watching top level games, where forwards are often playing with their back turned to the enemy goal.
Whenever a team is playing with two forwards, they must both move in conjunction. If the ball is on the left flank for example, they must shift towards it so that one of them is in the center and the other near the sideline. By keeping the distance between each other constant, forwards can work the ball effectively while pulling apart the enemy defense. Since forwards usually work under a lot of enemy pressure, they need pace and quick ball handling skills.

Coaches, have fun building your team and remember, just because a player can score goals doesn’t mean they’re the best player on the team or they’re a “Striker” by defacto.

 Build position agnostic players that love the game, understand situations and can handle pressure anywhere on the pitch, and I’ll show you a well rounded player that can play at a high level that any coach would love to have.  IE-high school, college, or pro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers-