The #10 - Are They Being Moved Out Wide?

As tactics continue to evolve in the game, you tend to see different trends in individual and team tactics.

One trend was teams moving away from using a #10 - the creative attacking player. It was not uncommon for teams to deploy a player in that role, either as a withdrawn striker or as an attacking midfielder. He was almost like a 'designated attacking player', much in the way that baseball uses a 'designated hitter' to only participate in offense.

With the demands of the game changing, you tend to see less and less teams utilizing a player in that role that stars like Pele or Maradona made famous. With such a premium placed on the middle of the midfield in turf battles, most teams use more two-way players in those roles.

Saying that, you have seen teams in recent years deploy creative geniuses in a wider role in the field, where there is more space to be able to take players on and get into the attacking third of the field.

Ohio Wesleyan soccer coach Dr. Jay Martin weighed in recently on the idea of dangerous attacking players being moved from central roles to being played wide in the midfield.

Looking into the future, it appears Landon Donovan has been switched over to the right flank for good for both club and country. Looking at the game today to me this is where the best/most dangerous players in the world are currently playing for the most part – Ronaldo, Messi, Ribery, Schweinsteiger, Henry (at Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (for England).

Donovan’s switch is particularly intriguing because of the BIG NEWS England international Ashley Cole’s recent broken ankle and the turbulent time the 3 Lions have been going through with John Terry and Wayne Bridge. If Bridge is the first choice left back come the World Cup, how badly can Donovan expose England’s weakness in that first group game?

"The trend of putting the playmaker on the outside started a few years ago. With most teams shutting down the middle of the field, it was important to get the attacking/playmakers out wide. There is more time and space and it is hard to double team a player out wide. Ferguson was the first with Ronaldo and Bayern followed with Ribery right after.

"Donovan will find more room and more time out wide. He can serve the ball so this is a good place for him. He is playing very well in that position for Everton. His success now will give him confidence for the WC. He should do very well v Bridge – but who will be on the end of the serve?"