| Subject: Editorial: Wingers ¡V A Dying Breed? |
Author:
Son
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Date Posted: 12:05:28 02/04/03 Tue
Lately, football has seen fewer and fewer wingers coming through the ranks. Teams often play without out-and-out wingers as the there has been a shift in importance from the wide positions to the middle of the pitch in recent years. It's quite a shame really as the use of a quality flanker (as they have been called) can not only improve the entertainment level of a squad and a match but also give any team an extra dimension- a bit of spice to the offense.
The old-fashioned wingers and the few endangered ones left today had a few distinctive characteristics. Just about all of these characteristics have to do with the basics of football (i.e. dribbling, passing, crossing, etc). Most of the great wide players would be exceptional dribblers, men who seemed to have the ball glued to their feet. Passing and crossing of the ball were expected from wingers and it was not uncommon to see the great wings of football's past deliver Beckham-esque balls into the box to service their forwards. The true wingers however, not only had these skills but also the ability to take and beat defenders in one on one situations. The stereotypical great winger could weave his way past defenders and send in an inviting cross or cut inside to try to score if the opportunity arose. The main characteristic of the great wingers of the past was the element of surprise, a nut-meg on a defender or a quick 1-2 that would unleash a teammate onto goal. It was this type of invention that made the winger such a sought after and dangerous player.
It is not a coincidence that many of the great wingers in football's history have also been on some of the most successful teams in the past. Names such as Stanley Matthews, Garrincha, Zoltan Czibor, 'Paco' Gento, Rivelino, Jimmy Johnstone, Kurt Hamrin, and George Best are just some famous wingers whose names are synonymous with championships and great teams. Though slowly decreasing in numbers there are some quality wingers in today's football. Ryan Giggs, Pedro Munitis, Denilson, more recently Damien Duff, Joaquin, Vicente, and Jermaine Pennant are just some of the best wingers currently plying their trade.
The problem in modern football is that the skills of the winger have not been lost but rather a combination of changes in formations and tactics have led teams to use wide players less and less. Even if the players are put out on the wing they have a more withdrawn role as they are asked to concern themselves with helping out the midfield when need be. Many teams in the today's football rely on pace but more importantly power as there is a tendency to pack the middle of the pitch and win the "midfield battle". If the 50's and 60's were the age of the winger then currently we are in the age of the defensive midfielder. This player is assigned the role of disrupting the other team's attacks as well as kick-starting his own team's offense. The importance placed on this position helps show us that the thinking has been placed on dominating the center portion of the pitch and has led to playing of a more narrow football. It is also tougher to classify a wing player this day and age. Is Robby Pires a winger? What about his namesake Robby Carlos? There is more switching of positions in modern football and even in one match we may see Pires beating two players and crossing from the wing in one minute while dictating the tempo from central midfield a few minutes later. In truth the days of the natural winger, players who made their living solely by their runs up and down the flanks, are gone.
Ultimately, for teams to be successful they must possess some threat from the flanks or they risk being too unimaginative and predictable. There are many examples of teams that suffer because of a lack of width to their game. One need look no further than the current situation at Liverpool. Gerard Houiller has many world-class players within his ranks, though he is the first to admit that his side too has no natural wingers. Houllier blames that fact on the overall lack of wing players in the global game and he has tried to fill in the gaps in the wide positions by employing there the likes of Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey. Now don't get me wrong, Gerard and Heskey are quality players at their normal positions, but stick them out on the wing and they are in no man's land. Gerard performs adequately in a wide position but with him there the 'Reds' lose too much in the middle of the park. Heskey is a good target man but is all the things a good wing player isn't. Sven-Goran Eriksson must also wish that the field was narrower as he as well as his predecessors have yet to figure out a proper solution for England's left sided problem, an area of the pitch that they have been weak in for years. In the modern game you can get away without using out and out wingers and still win, but even then you need quality midfielders or defenders who can play in a wide position. Real Madrid uses Salgado and Roberto Carlos on the flanks and they are defenders, but they push up and constantly help the attack. In fact, Roberto Carlos somewhat mirrors a natural winger with his forays up the left side and many have stated that defense is only where Roberto Carlos can be found in case of an emergency.
The trend to lean towards beefing up the center of the pitch will hopefully be done away with in the coming years. When the pitch is made bigger by increased play on the flanks, we see more attacking football, creativity, and flair from teams. Generally speaking, football is by no means dull right now; however the preference of power and pace over skill and pace can stifle individual as well as team creativity. There must be a move towards increased usage of the wings, only then will we see more talents like Joaquin, Vicente, Denilson, and Pennant emerge as well as more exciting and entertaining football. This will not only be good for the fans, but also for football teams everywhere and perhaps fewer sleepless nights from the likes of Mr. Houllier and Mr. Eriksson.
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