I am a big believer in training footballers to be COMPLETE FOOTBALL PLAYERS instead of training them to be position-specific as forwards or midfielders or fullbacks. There certainly are times when position-specific training is needed (especially for goalkeepers but also for other positions as well); however, in modern football, we need to develop and produce complete footballers as opposed to position-specific players.
Recently, ManU was playing Wolfsburg in the European Cup and due to numerous injuries, ManU had to start one regular fullback and three midfielders as their back four. While there were occasions when it was apparent the back four were not the regular fullbacks, for the most part, they did an excellent job (and ManU won 3-1!). Now, how many of you forwards are prepared technically, tactically and psychologically to move to a midfield or fullback position? How many of you players think of a move to the back four as a "promotion" instead of "demotion"? And how many of you players think of ourselves as "football players" as opposed to "forwards" or "midfielders" or "fullbacks"?
Food for thought, don't you think?
Recently, ManU was playing Wolfsburg in the European Cup and due to numerous injuries, ManU had to start one regular fullback and three midfielders as their back four. While there were occasions when it was apparent the back four were not the regular fullbacks, for the most part, they did an excellent job (and ManU won 3-1!). Now, how many of you forwards are prepared technically, tactically and psychologically to move to a midfield or fullback position? How many of you players think of a move to the back four as a "promotion" instead of "demotion"? And how many of you players think of ourselves as "football players" as opposed to "forwards" or "midfielders" or "fullbacks"?
Food for thought, don't you think?
