| Playing the Outside Wing |
Ball control and speed are essential in that position
By Billy Liddell
Wingers in the old days
Soccer Journal was one of two publications for soccer coaches that were published annually in the 1950s. The following article first appeared in the 1953-54 edition of Soccer Guide, which was published in late summer and mailed to NSCAA coaches. Edited by Soccer Journal’s Don Yonker, it contained summaries of the previous year’s scholastic and college seasons as well as coaching articles. Yonker later would select articles for inclusion in Soccer Journal from time to time. Here is one by Billy Liddell, who played for Liverpool F.C. and was an “All-Scotland, All-Britain” player. It describes wing play of that day.
A diagram is included here for reference purposes.
The outside wing positions are highlighted, as are the “triangulations” described by Liddell.
In soccer today more attention is paid to the role of the outside winger than was customary in former years. Then the sole purpose of a wingman was to collect the ball, take it along the touchline and put over a cross for the inside forwards to apply the finishing touch.
The old type of wingman had to practice the art of crossing the ball to a particular spot and seldom worried about shooting for goal. Nowadays the winger must have all the attributes of his predecessors plus the ability to cut into the middle of the field and have a shot at goal.
This change in tactics has come about because of the modern “stopper” center halfback style of play. By the time a winger gets down the touchline and crosses the ball he usually finds the middle of the field well covered by the defense and his center forward is being hampered in his efforts to gather the ball for a shot at goal.
My own particular style of play has been described as unorthodox. Before I give details of my secrets it would be better to give the outline of the duties of an ordinary and orthodox wingman.
The greatest essential for a wingman is ball control and this can only be acquired by constant practice. It is not necessary to practice with others. You can learn by kicking the ball against a wall or fence, killing the bounce on the rebound, gathering the ball in your stride and carrying it away. The wingman also must be quick off his mark, for it is the initial burst of speed which makes the space that is necessary to gain control of the ball before an opponent has time to tackle. The sudden burst of speed should be emphasized by practicing continually over short distances of 10 to 15 yards.
Allied to ball control and speed, the wingman must have the ability to cross the ball on the run. This comes naturally after constant practice. When a wingman has to stop before crossing, he loses the vital seconds which are necessary to success.
If a winger can cross the ball while on the run, it means his inside forwards get a better chance of a shot at goal as the defense does not get time to cover up effectively. The great secret of any ball game is to keep your eyes on the ball at all times. To look up when you are about to part with the ball is a mistake.
Once you take your eyes off the ball to see whereyour teammates are positioned or where to kick the ball, you generally lose control or mis-kick. The idea at all times is that before you receive the ball or as soon as you commence running with it, you should know exactly where all your colleagues are and should be able to pass the ball to them by judging the distance and direction of their calls for the ball. Again it is a question of practice making perfection. The more you practice, the more proficient you will become.
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The outside winger is used to carrying the attack into the opposing half of the field, but there are times when he has to give help to his own hard-pressed defense. Then he must go back to his own half of the field ready to receive the ball from his own defenders and turn defense into attack. However, the main objects of a wingman are in creating scoring opportunities for his inside forwards and to score goals himself.
The common mistake committed by inexperienced wingers occurs when they are approaching the goal from an angle. On reaching the penalty area they shoot into the wrong side of the goal netting. It is always easier to score from directly in front of goal than from an angle, as there is more space at which to shoot. Before shooting for goal it is good policy to see if any of your teammates are in a better scoring position.
If you feel justified in having a shot, always remember to shoot for the far post, not the near one, for the following reasons:
1. The goalkeeper may be only able to push the ball out and then possibly towards one of your own forwards;
2. Your shot may travel wide and this will enable your opposite wingman to recover the ball and possibly supply the finishing touch;
3. The ball has more chance of being deflected into the net by an opponent as well as by one of your teammates;
A winger must acquire the habit of thinking ahead and foster an awareness of his teammates’ positions. I learned this the hard way while still a schoolboy. It had started snowing during the game and it became difficult to see the lines. Getting the ball on the touchline I started racing down the wing with my eyes glued to the ball and the snowflakes driving in my face. I cut infield and, when I thought I had gone far enough, slipped the ball inside for my other forwards to get. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had passed over the goal line without seeing it or hearing the whistle. From then on I realized the full importance of remembering my teammates’ positions before settling down to a run.
The tactics used when middling or crossing the ball have to be varied according to the circumstances such as the height of your own forwards and the opposing defense. It is obvious that if your forwards are small in stature and the opposing defense tall, you should not cross the ball high in the air. If your forwards have the advantage in height, then you must make full use of this advantage. The most dangerous cross is the one where the ball is sent right over the goalmouth and just over the heads of the defensemen, out of reach of the goalkeeper. In this case, the opposite wingmen or inside forwards can head the ball towards the goal.
A ball that hangs in the air is usually “made” for the goalie and gives him ample time to pick it out of the air, so I advise a good, strong cross for three reasons:
1. The goalkeeper may mishandle the ball and present an easy opportunity for one of your other forwards to score;
2. The ball is easily deflected into the goal by either side during a goal-mouth scrimmage;
3. A fast cross makes it easier for the inside forwards to head and more difficulty for the goalie to save a fast-traveling header.
Corner kicks are important and a great amount of time should be spent practicing them. When playing the right wing, I normally take corner kicks with my right foot, and, if on the left wing,I use the same foot and kick what are generally known as “in-swingers”, i.e., the ball curves in towards the goal. The difficulty with in-swingers is that you may place the ball too near the goalkeeper, allowing him an easy catch. On the other hand, with sufficient practice you may entice the goalie to leave his goal just far enough to prove fatal. As variety is the spice of life, so it is with corner kicks. Make them long or short, high or low, but keep the opposition guessing on what’s next coming across.
An outside wingman depends on others for his supply of the ball and it is essential to get a good understanding with the inside forward and wing halfback. They should work together as a team within a team. Use them to help you beat the opposition. Get them to call for the ball as you go in preparing to elude the fullback. It is surprising how this will affect the fullback. He hesitates that fraction of a second as his attention is distracted and a body swerve will carry you past him. Of course the easier way to elude a defender is to pass the ball to your inside partner and then dash into a position behind your opponent to again receive the ball. Two men always have a better chance of besting one, so it is good policy to have an understanding that your partner is always near when you receive the ball.
Now to the unorthodox player. I personally do not believe that a wingman should be glued to the touchline. There he is an easy target for a defender. If he comes infield from the wing, he has a better chance of getting the ball and at the same time pulls some of the defenders out of position. It is the unexpected that brings goals and I am not averse to popping up on inside right when playing at outside left. It gets the defense bothered when they never know where you are going to take part in the play. I am always ready for a breakthrough down the middle when a ball is lobbed over the head of the center halfback. He is expecting the center forward to follow him up and is surprised when he gets a challenge from the wing.
The disadvantage of a roving wingman is that he may upset his own teammates, but once again this can be solved by constant practice and teamwork. Teamwork and team spirit are always essential factors for success, and a wingman’s job, whether he be orthodox or otherwise, is just part of a game which calls for harmony, self-control and strict training.
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