29 Jul 2026 07:15:24
Does anyone think it's time to at least experiment with left-footed left wingers and right-footed right wingers?
Tuchel used Rio on the right in a WC warmup game and he looked comfortable, still a threat.
Just thinking how to get the best out of Isak and Wirtz personally I'd like to see variety within the same match - wingers swapping sides and asking different questions of the fullbacks.
Plus it should create space in the final third, particularly against teams who set up to frustrate with 10 players behind the ball.
Seems such a simple tweak to make in-game, Ed01 is this the kind of thing we can expect from AI?
{Ed001's Note - he likes his players to be flexible and did play wingers on different sides at times, so it is very possible.}
29 Jul 2026 07:34:27
Pompey, I've been screaming this for ages. Turning fullbacks around can cause panic in defence. Variety is the key. Be unpredictable. Unlike us last year.
29 Jul 2026 07:49:21
Experiment? This is exactly how it was in the days before introverted full backs and false nines!
29 Jul 2026 07:58:32
Honestly, I don't mind a winger who recharges their energy through solitude, focuses on internal thoughts rather than external stimulation, and often prefers quiet environments.
29 Jul 2026 08:27:27
? Good work, Meijer. ?
29 Jul 2026 08:31:48
Iraola very often used the right footed Semenyo on the RW and the left footed Tavernier on the LW. They often swapped sides throughout games as well.
29 Jul 2026 08:38:40
A left back's weaker foot is his right foot, so instead of going down the touchline to beat him, and him being able to tackle you with his stronger left preferred foot.
Robben/Salah would cut inside with their stronger left foot, so the left back would have to tackle you with his weaker right foot.
You are also turning him, and opening up a shorter route to the opponent's goal rather than running towards the corner flag sometimes, plus you have more passing lanes to your team mates cutting inside the full back, and it opens up more of the opponent's goal to shoot at.
29 Jul 2026 08:47:45
So if AI isn’t rigid on introverted wingers, would we have enuff variety with Rio, Munoz, Barcola, Frimpong and Gakpo?
Potentially means we could use any remaining funds to strengthen at CB and RB.... ?
I’m assuming midfield only gets added to if someone leaves...
29 Jul 2026 08:53:39
Gotta love that predictive text. ???
29 Jul 2026 09:03:40
Like Chrissy says, it's about variation. You want a defender to not know whether a winger is going to cut inside or try and beat him down the line and get a cross in. Last season, we knew every time that wingers were gonna cut inside, so it was easy to defend against.
29 Jul 2026 09:11:49
Iraola regularly switches his wingers.
29 Jul 2026 09:28:38
You can achieve the same by having wingers adept at going either way.
Slot didn't have that season.
29 Jul 2026 09:35:29
Frimpong is not a winger, he is a wing back. He cannot play with us back to goal, nor is he enough of a goal threat to be considered a winger.
29 Jul 2026 09:36:29
I've always found it mental that the so called best players in the world on incredible amounts of money struggle badly with their weaker foot. You'd think at the highest elite level that being good on both feet would be the bare minimum required. But it's not, which to me is just mind boggling.
29 Jul 2026 09:41:17
Shankly used to switch Ian Callaghan and Peter Thompson when things weren't going to plan, with great success, so it's been done before.
29 Jul 2026 09:44:59
I agree with that too, hellohello. They kick a ball for a living, so I'd expect them to do it well regardless of what leg they're using. Especially since they're paid extremely well.
29 Jul 2026 09:54:02
It's all about being flexible. I love my women to be flexible.
29 Jul 2026 10:02:10
I'd say Frimpong is more extroverted than introverted. I don't know the fella but it's just a feeling I get.
29 Jul 2026 10:07:32
Same hellohello, I was screaming for Slot to use Kerkez at LB and Robbo at RB instead of Frimpong, Jones or Szobo, but he never even thought about it probably.
It's not that hard to play on the opposite side you're used to.
I've played every position on the pitch except for CB and GK. Was able to play semi pro. I wasn't that two-footed, just enough, and I was pretty much at the same level on either side.
29 Jul 2026 10:24:28
We were soo bad at times last year, and Slot tried desperately to shake things by changing player positions/formations - so I'm amazed he didn't at least try swapping Gakpo/Rio and Salah/Frimpong.
Like, it's clearly not working up top so I'll just keep doing the same thing?
Last season really was mind blowing on so many levels.
29 Jul 2026 12:08:12
I find it mind blowing that playing left footed players on the left and right footed players on the right is seen as weird or experimental.
I remember when that was the standard for all teams.
I remember GH playing Kewell on the right and being furious about it because at the time that was just madness lol.
Foots a lot more free flowing and flexible these days than it used to be, I feel.