Are there any current or past players who, in your humble opinion, could have had more success if they were coached in a different position, or in a different style?
Although not a player I personally would put in the category, John Obi Mikel did a recent interview with The Athletic that made me think of this. Some of it touched on a subject that is sore for many Nigerian fans. Mikel was a silky AM/no.10 as a youth player but under Mourinho became a DM. Many Nigerian fans think he could have had more success as a more advanced midfielder. As said though I (and other Chelsea fans) would probably agree DM was very much right for him.
Another previously seen example is Moussa Dembele. Poch is on record as wishing he got to coach him earlier in his career, to be able to get the best out of him as a deeper central midfielder. He spent half his career playing as an AM/CF, and I see what Poch says that his game was much more suited to the deeper role he ended up in.
Anyway, few players I can think of:
Marcelo I don’t usually subscribe to the narrative that attacking full backs should play more advanced but with Marcelo despite his undoubted success as a full back, I can’t help but feel he could have been used/coached somewhere more advanced. Whether that be as a CM, even an AM or wide player. His all round game so good at his peak, I think he could have really influenced the game well in these areas.
Moussa Sissoko I think he could have had more impact on the game as a RB. At his best a great vertical player, great stamina, can beat players. His weaknesses in ball retention and vision would be less of an issue as a RB.
Marcos Alonso It’s a classic tongue-in-cheek discussion with Chelsea fans that he should be played as a striker. But it’s easy to see where that comes from. His strengths, finding space in the box, aerial threat, and good striking technique, would be of use there. And literally everything a full back should typically be good at, he is not. In another life I could see him being a 10-15 goal a season slow target man.
Any others?
Players Who Got Coached in Wrong Position
posted on 30/3/21
Happens a lot. Players often excel in a particular position but in order to get game time are shoe horned into the team in a different position. They have to learn the new role and it can affect their development.
posted on 30/3/21
Eric Dier is a pretty obvious one. He started with us as a CB/makeshift right back, then Poch tried turning him into a midfielder. One decent season there (his lack of natural ability masked by Dembele and dropping in to make a back 3 at times) left him in limbo. I reckon if he'd stayed a CB the whole time he would be a lot better than he is now. That said, with Toby and Vert around he wouldn't have got games.
posted on 30/3/21
AMN is a good example for us.
posted on 30/3/21
Does anyone else think Gerrard would have been an unreal striker?
posted on 30/3/21
Walcott
posted on 30/3/21
comment by Come to Salah, Come to Success. (U12335)
posted 42 minutes ago
Does anyone else think Gerrard would have been an unreal striker?
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Na not really
posted on 30/3/21
Coached in the wrong position?
Players find their chance in a position based on their pace or ability.
You cant teach someone to be a striker imo, they either are or they are not and then they learn all there is to know as they grow.
In general most players start more forward and head backwards as they agree and faster kids displace them.
As for obi Mikel. He hadn't a hope of being an attacking cm any more than Lucas did.
Alonso is a nasty person who deserves nothing but I will play along. He isn't good enough to be a striker, never.would be and hes not fast enough nor does he have the skill to be a left winger but he was enough to be a bad full back.
A lot of full backs are failed wingers
Same story for marcelo. Theres a reason he got stuck at full back and that's he doesn't have the vision.
It's rare enough a player makes a move like Scholes did from average striker to midfield playmaker (who couldn't tackle) when they are a senior player.
It's even rarer that a player moves forward like bale did.
posted on 30/3/21
It's a fair point. Though I think there are cases such as Dier where you can see they underperformed in an unsuitable role for too long before finding their 'natural' position later in their careers.
I think Sissoko is another, who despite lacking any notable qualities of a midfielder has continued to play there. He should've moved back to fullback like the many you mention (Marcelo, Rose, Valencia..) years ago
posted on 30/3/21
It's even rarer that a player moves forward like bale did.
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Seems like these type of players turn out to be really good. Wasn’t Cuadrado another one from RB to winger? Drogba/Torres as have been mentioned.
posted on 31/3/21
Personally I think intelligence and willingness to work are most key rather than anything else.
Players find their own level in terms of talent but a guy can punch above his weight if he has these and move a position to get a game.
The example I would give is Conor coady.
This lad played beside andre wisdom in our then u21 team and it was lfc that moved him from cm to cb. To play there in the youth sides. Coady could always pass but he was also captain and always a leader.
He was never good enough but he applied himself and went on loan to sheff utd and then was bought and he played cm and cb. He found a role at wolves under a good manager to function as a sort of sweeper. I think him playing for england and at least temporarily wearing the captains armband proves what intelligence and work rate can do. Cos let's face it nobody would play coady in a back 4 set up. He isn't great but he can still pass.
We also moved wisdom from cb to Rb and gave him his debut and lots of loans. The guy is now still plodding along in the championship. He was quicker and better than coady but he just didn't show the same application or intelligence.
Personally talented players will find their role somewhere but to progress you have to be willing to do whatever is needed