Donovan Better On The Left

[Guiseley Blade]

Seen this mentioned on a few threads and agree, Donovan looks so much better playing on the left hand side on his natural foot. He's closed out a few games over on that side now but never started.

Main reason is that (like Brooks last year) on the right, he checks back all the time and runs into traffic. It stops all good momentum and is completely reliant on a Seriki overlap to save the move, which we now can't do.

Can you see this happening more? If so, who do we have to plug a gap at RW?

 

[Groucho Blade]

I wonder if the Duffy role will soon be known as The Donovan role

 

[ATL Recs]

Seen this mentioned on a few threads and agree, Donovan looks so much better playing on the left hand side on his natural foot. He's closed out a few games over on that side now but never started.

Main reason is that (like Brooks last year) on the right, he checks back all the time and runs into traffic. It stops all good momentum and is completely reliant on a Seriki overlap to save the move, which we now can't do.

Can you see this happening more? If so, who do we have to plug a gap at RW?

He does not check back all the time he does more running at people is more direct and draws defenders in creating space for our walking footballers to exploit
It’s not going to work every time allow him don’t stifle his hunger
tbut he was very effective on the right and when he moved to the left was much more isolated and deep until he made a great run and Phillips picked him out

 

[ancientblade]

Seen this mentioned on a few threads and agree, Donovan looks so much better playing on the left hand side on his natural foot. He's closed out a few games over on that side now but never started.

Main reason is that (like Brooks last year) on the right, he checks back all the time and runs into traffic. It stops all good momentum and is completely reliant on a Seriki overlap to save the move, which we now can't do.

Can you see this happening more? If so, who do we have to plug a gap at RW?

i was one of them who suggested donovan on the left once chong is fit again and it worked perfectly for the winner tuesday night if bbd had picked the ball up there he would have checked back inside on to his right foot and that does give the opposition that bit more chance to get a block in

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Hold the back page!
“Left footed wide man plays better on left”…Stone the bloody crows!!!

 

[AWetFlannel]

Seen this mentioned on a few threads and agree, Donovan looks so much better playing on the left hand side on his natural foot. He's closed out a few games over on that side now but never started.

Main reason is that (like Brooks last year) on the right, he checks back all the time and runs into traffic. It stops all good momentum and is completely reliant on a Seriki overlap to save the move, which we now can't do.

Can you see this happening more? If so, who do we have to plug a gap at RW?

I disagree. He's not played on the left nearly enough to conclude he looks better there, and there's a reason the vast majority of clubs (including his parent club Brentford) play wingers on their "wrong" side.

 

[Working Class Hero]

He scored from the left, but looked far better and was far more involved on the right the other night.

 

[Blademan89]

I disagree. He's not played on the left nearly enough to conclude he looks better there, and there's a reason the vast majority of clubs (including his parent club Brentford) play wingers on their "wrong" side.

Yep.

Play winger on theor natural side when they are very 1 footed players is easy to defend against - only can go 1 way.

Play on opposite side the defender has to keep guessing os he going to come inside and shoot or pass or on outside to beat me to byline.

Its not hard to understand why wingers playing on opposite flanks. I'm not sure why we need a new post everytime this happens or when they go back onto their natural side (due to us having no one else there to play), all I can assume is prople have never played football who are thinking these up.

 

[SwitchBLADE Smiles]

He’s effective on both wings and an outlet we can switch up whenever it suits. I like the idea of having Donovan and BBD on the pitch at the same time and would prefer to have the latter on the left as we’ve seen before, BBD isn’t particularly good on the right.

 

[Zeblades34]

Does my tits in how wingers can't use both feet anymore

 

[CPB]

It's why we needed another option for the wing.
As it stands now once Chong is back we have a bit more to choose from. Burrows could possibly play LM too.

Shackleton didn't look terrible at RM. So could be an option at times too. We need to use the squad where we can.

Doherty can play RWB too so could be deployed RM too.

Can't work out what's going on with him. Can only assume our coaches don't think he's up to speed? Would have expected him to be involved Vs Cardiff etc.

 

[Keen Blade]

Yep.

Play winger on theor natural side when they are very 1 footed players is easy to defend against - only can go 1 way.

Play on opposite side the defender has to keep guessing os he going to come inside and shoot or pass or on outside to beat me to byline.

Its not hard to understand why wingers playing on opposite flanks. I'm not sure why we need a new post everytime this happens or when they go back onto their natural side (due to us having no one else there to play), all I can assume is prople have never played football who are thinking these up.

If the players we can afford are very one-footed , then an inverted winger is dead easy to defend coz he's never going on the outside - he's always gonna move inside into traffic or check-back to pass.
The only inverted wingers which give the defender a problem are those who are fairly strong on their weaker foot and we can't afford them - they play in the PL , as do most genuinely two-footed players.
What we should do is allow our wingers to swap over , at will , during the game , which at least tests the defender in different ways , and in the heat of battle he may even forget which way the one who's coming at him is gonna go.

 

[sportsmanblade]

Ive said it many times already, i think hes a 10. He needs to be given a free role to find pockets, let the wing back push up in attack, and Kalvin drop in the pivot for the pings
4132 but i trust Wilder he will figure it out UTB

if not its going to be pretty predictable to defend against us

 

[Blademan89]

If the players we can afford are very one-footed , then an inverted winger is dead easy to defend coz he's never going on the outside - he's always gonna move inside into traffic or check-back to pass.
The only inverted wingers which give the defender a problem are those who are fairly strong on their weaker foot and we can't afford them - they play in the PL , as do most genuinely two-footed players.
What we should do is allow our wingers to swap over , at will , during the game , which at least tests the defender in different ways , and in the heat of battle he may even forget which way the one who's coming at him is gonna go.

Even heavily 1 footed players playing invterted can go on the outside using theor strong foot, so still harder to defend against. If they have the speed to grt past the defending on the outside.

Either way im big believer in professional footballers being able to use both feet and It infuriates me seeing those playing at the highest level that cant use both, its stuff you expect in sunday league levels.

My dad coached me to use both feet at a very young age and it paid dividends for me personally (well would say annoying for me more in my youth, as there wasnt msny left footed ppayers in the teams I played for growing up, so i often got stuck on the left hand side as i could use it like my right).

Whats a bit extra work in training or after training for these players to focus on being two footed.

 

[Silent Blade]

It is obvious that the fans who are against inverted wingers have never played football for their school teams or for a local team. I am right footed and usually played in right midfield which was my preferred position, quite a few times I would be asked to play on my left and it could be easier to cut inside or deliver early crosses. As I wasnt really quick footed I was more comfortable playing on the right.

Over the few years playing local football I have seen players with quick feet are more effective playing as inverted wingers. I have seen the same with watching professional football in the last 56 years that high class players play more effectively as inverted wingers. Examples are Peter Taylor (Palace and Spurs), Chris Waddle, John Barnes, John Robertson and the list goes on

All the whinging about inverted wingers is very boring!

 

[ancientblade]

Yep.

Play winger on theor natural side when they are very 1 footed players is easy to defend against - only can go 1 way.

Play on opposite side the defender has to keep guessing os he going to come inside and shoot or pass or on outside to beat me to byline.

Its not hard to understand why wingers playing on opposite flanks. I'm not sure why we need a new post everytime this happens or when they go back onto their natural side (due to us having no one else there to play), all I can assume is prople have never played football who are thinking these up.

i played football from school and up to mid 70s in local football so i assure you i wasnt just thinking it up when i suggested donovan down left its just another option and cant just be dismissed

 

[AWetFlannel]

If the players we can afford are very one-footed , then an inverted winger is dead easy to defend coz he's never going on the outside - he's always gonna move inside into traffic or check-back to pass.
The only inverted wingers which give the defender a problem are those who are fairly strong on their weaker foot and we can't afford them - they play in the PL , as do most genuinely two-footed players.
What we should do is allow our wingers to swap over , at will , during the game , which at least tests the defender in different ways , and in the heat of battle he may even forget which way the one who's coming at him is gonna go.

Swapping wings at will can create problems, such as being out of position during the swap and not being as familiar with the winger and full back you're up against. It's more difficult to build a relationship with your full back if you swap, and wingers might have specific roles out of possession to deal with a threat on their side.

Plenty of inverted wingers are completely one-footed, going back to someone like Robben. Donovan has already shown he can go both ways, as did Brooks.

Given our lack of wide options, we might have to play Donovan on the left, but it won't be because he's better there.

 

[AWetFlannel]

i played football from school and up to mid 70s in local football so i assure you i wasnt just thinking it up when i suggested donovan down left its just another option and cant just be dismissed

Football has changed a lot since the 70s. Rather than crossing the ball at the first opportunity, the vast majority of teams want to control the ball in the final third, probing while waiting for a good opportunity to cross or play into the forwards. Because wingers now need to play the ball back and inside more often, it makes sense to have them inverted.

 

[ancientblade]

Football has changed a lot since the 70s. Rather than crossing the ball at the first opportunity, the vast majority of teams want to control the ball in the final third, probing while waiting for a good opportunity to cross or play into the forwards. Because wingers now need to play the ball back and inside more often, it makes sense to have them inverted.

well personally im more in favour of putting early crosses in to the box when the opposition defence isnt set dont like the way we play in triangles on our right slowing play down and allowing the oppositions defence time to get set thats why seriki is a big miss for us he goes on the outside at speed and puts dangerous crosses in to the box but all about opinions everybody has different takes with tactics utb

 

[Kenilworth]

It is obvious that the fans who are against inverted wingers have never played football for their school teams or for a local team. I am right footed and usually played in right midfield which was my preferred position, quite a few times I would be asked to play on my left and it could be easier to cut inside or deliver early crosses. As I wasnt really quick footed I was more comfortable playing on the right.

Over the few years playing local football I have seen players with quick feet are more effective playing as inverted wingers. I have seen the same with watching professional football in the last 56 years that high class players play more effectively as inverted wingers. Examples are Peter Taylor (Palace and Spurs), Chris Waddle, John Barnes, John Robertson and the list goes on

All the whinging about inverted wingers is very boring!

My view is that I am fine with a player playing as an inverted winger but also mixing it up and reverting to an orthodox winger for their stronger foot.

At cubs and school and beyond, I played left side a lot even though I am predominantly right footed. I taught myself to be able to use either foot at an early stage. That meant I could choose to go either way. Got to the point where I could take corners, accurately, with my left peg, too.

Shame I wasn’t good enough to make the grade as a pro

 

[Dnblade]

Even heavily 1 footed players playing invterted can go on the outside using theor strong foot, so still harder to defend against. If they have the speed to grt past the defending on the outside.

Either way im big believer in professional footballers being able to use both feet and It infuriates me seeing those playing at the highest level that cant use both, its stuff you expect in sunday league levels.

My dad coached me to use both feet at a very young age and it paid dividends for me personally (well would say annoying for me more in my youth, as there wasnt msny left footed ppayers in the teams I played for growing up, so i often got stuck on the left hand side as i could use it like my right).

Whats a bit extra work in training or after training for these players to focus on being two footed.

I was the same,i practiced right foot v left foot against the wall when i was a young lad until i was as comfortable on my left as on my right.
Watching Donavon on the right,i've seen him cut in on his left and then go past on the right,on the outside...then other times he'll cut in and he can put Hamza or Femi in on the overlap or get a shot off if possible...looks a good exciting player,but seems to have good work rate off the ball aswell.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

He scored from the left, but looked far better and was far more involved on the right the other night.

He was good all over the pitch. Very tricky and tenacious with a low centre of gravity…Nearest thing I’ve seen to Illiman in a Blades shirt. I’m sure there’s more to come.

 

[Guiseley Blade]

When I asked the initial question, I wasn't actually referring to all inverted wingers. For example BBD is great on the left and I hate him on the right. Someone mentions higher up pace of the player is a big factor in this.

I think the point a lot have correctly raised is some players don't seem to be two footed anymore which is odd. Peak Wilder was about complete balance and same side player over/under lapping and crossing into Sharp etc. Feel we've lost this option recently.

Football works in cycles and tactical trends make their way back. The Athletic discussed 'same side' wingers as their most predicted tactical trend of this season. So isn't complete dinosaur stuff.

Or I'm going crazy praying a Burrows or Seriki can do a job for us up to Xmas, otherwise we're toast. (Prefer them to shackleton anyway).

Even though he has an odd tendency to balloon cross from the right, think Donovan could play anywhere and be our best attacker though, great start & good to watch.

 

[Keen Blade]

My view is that I am fine with a player playing as an inverted winger but also mixing it up and reverting to an orthodox winger for their stronger foot.

At cubs and school and beyond, I played left side a lot even though I am predominantly right footed. I taught myself to be able to use either foot at an early stage. That meant I could choose to go either way. Got to the point where I could take corners, accurately, with my left peg, too.

Shame I wasn’t good enough to make the grade as a pro

All pro footballers should attempt to strengthen their weaknesses and the prime candidate for such improvement should be your weaker foot.
I find it very frustrating when you see a pro footballer in our team who can't reliably make even a basic clearance with his weaker foot.

 

[Keen Blade]

He was good all over the pitch. Very tricky and tenacious with a low centre of gravity…Nearest thing I’ve seen to Illiman in a Blades shirt. I’m sure there’s more to come.

You reckon him better than RakSaki already ? Genuine question

 

[Kenilworth]

You reckon him better than RakSaki already ? Genuine question

I believe he probably is.
I really like his attitude. The lad will go far.

 

[wak1889]

Yep.

Play winger on theor natural side when they are very 1 footed players is easy to defend against - only can go 1 way.

Play on opposite side the defender has to keep guessing os he going to come inside and shoot or pass or on outside to beat me to byline.

Its not hard to understand why wingers playing on opposite flanks. I'm not sure why we need a new post everytime this happens or when they go back onto their natural side (due to us having no one else there to play), all I can assume is prople have never played football who are thinking these up.

Just so I can understand this , explain the difference why a left footed winger going on the outside on his natural foot or cutting inside to his weaker foot is more likely to keep a defender guessing than a left footed winger on the right going on the outside on his weaker foot as opposed to cutting inside on his stronger foot ?

 

[Blademan89]

Just so I can understand this , explain the difference why a left footed winger going on the outside on his natural foot or cutting inside to his weaker foot is more likely to keep a defender guessing than a left footed winger on the right going on the outside on his weaker foot as opposed to cutting inside on his stronger foot ?

Dont have to go on outside with your weaker foot, surely you would dribble woth your stronger foot?

When hes on the natural side there pretty much 1 way he can go thats down line in ourside cross it in usually.. coming inside hes having to shoot with ourside of stronger foot or pass it off.....

On the other side he can come in shoot with natural foot better or pass it or go on the outside beat the defender for pace or trickery and drive into the box......

 

[pollster]

It is obvious that the fans who are against inverted wingers have never played football for their school teams or for a local team. I am right footed and usually played in right midfield which was my preferred position, quite a few times I would be asked to play on my left and it could be easier to cut inside or deliver early crosses. As I wasnt really quick footed I was more comfortable playing on the right.

Over the few years playing local football I have seen players with quick feet are more effective playing as inverted wingers. I have seen the same with watching professional football in the last 56 years that high class players play more effectively as inverted wingers. Examples are Peter Taylor (Palace and Spurs), Chris Waddle, John Barnes, John Robertson and the list goes on

All the whinging about inverted wingers is very boring!

You should stay silent mate
'The exceptions prove the rule'
does NOT mean the exceptions define the way ALL should play
as Wilder has decided on his Backstabbing Heckingbottom return
With ironically the MOST LIMITED players playing the traditional way!
It's hardly 'building your team around the best players'
It is the OPPOSITE hence the shite outcomes since Wilder came back under Saudi49er
'
Pointed out the stupidity of this when we went to Bochum
Are people really saying that our greatest winger and crosser of a ball Alan Woodward should have played on the left?
THAT IS TOTALLY INSANE
Perhaps he should have been left out as left footed Salmons should have played right 'wing'
and TC played the Hamer role of left 'wing'

Tony Coleman at Hillsborough was the first winger I can remember favouring the wrong wing.
You ALWAYS knew which foot he was going to cross with though
(He often played to get freekicks to take a dead ball which is why/how I remember him.)
Unlike true wingers like Saka who PLAY and POSITION and CROSS as a right winger does.
Donovan yesterday looked as though he had been INSTRUCTED not to go on the outside
as Brooks looked for about the last 10 games of last season

We have an army of imbeciles like Wilder
who have seen Pepshit Cocoa the Clown do it
And taken OUTCOMES as CAUSATION not CORRELATION
He had the best budget and best players
and could afford to be pretentious and play silly buggers
BUT STILL won basically F ALL at European level
and he lost many of the key games
ie SMALL MARGINS become key factors the higher the level.

School and local teams?
Surely I am not the only one who has done a hell of lot better than that?
Perhaps I am?
Pros get a different voice/platform.
But generally are too close to criticize.
(As Peter Duffield did on Blades TV, never to be heard from again)

Yes it helps if you played but you are missing the key points of wingers
of getting BEHIND the defence
of TURNING defenders
of getting defenders to face their OWN goal (and perhaps score one!)
of being able to shield the ball, rather than moving it towards your opponent
of moving QUICKLY FORWARD into SPACE rather than sideways into the bulk of opponents,
of retaining possession through throwins and corners WHEN you get tackled - rather than leaving yourself open to counter attack
with your fullback out of position waiting for you to pass wide to them - with a defensive central midfielder out of HIS position covering for the full back leaving gaps there as well
To point out just a few

Its a demented shambles with everybody doing the WRONG job
Like full backs trying to cross after sprinting 80 yards rather than the specialist wingers
We're talking about pros
THEY are talking FINE MARGINS, MARGINAL GAINS as THE difference in outcomes
Hence an army of so called specialists
Then they do this crap!
Or as Bill Shankley put it
'Football is a simple game
Complicated by people who SHOULD KNOW BETTER'

Donovan looks our best fit attacker in terms or dribbling crossing shooting and CREATING CHANCES
The only time he went 'outside' an opponent yesterday
was to dribble BACK towards his own goal to get out of trouble
and pass backwards into OUR own half
As largely against Bolton until finally switched by Wilder when Shackleton came on
(Perhaps we were worried he would break down if he had to run to the opposite side of the pitch?)
HE WAS WASTED yesterday (by Wilder not by booze or drugs)
He should have been on the LEFT in a 3-4-3
WE NEED WIDTH and crosses
because the hold up play of Bamford (aka Bamby) and Cannon is none existent
At least Campbell can run in behind and beat a man
As can BBD probably our best finisher but as Donovan wasted too deep wasting too much time defending generally badly
I don't want our so called manager and staff wasting time teaching BBD to defend as they seem to have done with Donovan since Tuesday
We need to be looking to pass forward and wide
eg with the use of diagonals of a traditional 3-4-3 (as well as with tradional shorter passing)
For example using Wilder favourites and specialist picks we could have gone

Donovan Campbell BBD
McCallum Reidewald Peck Choudhury
RND Kitching Tanganga
Cooper

There's only one change in the starting selection of players
(Yes I know Bamford scored but he was shit and missed 3 chances the first half v Bolton equivalent to much easier - a sitter from 7 yards)
but the team and approach is totally different
(It is NOT the defence I would have picked as I have stated elsewhere
and as also stated I would be looking to get Burrows as the LCM when fit as the last worst alternative)

Although in fairness I cannot see Tanganga and RND pinging diagonals like Robinson and Souttar did and can
Or anyone having the excellent sweeping behind of Anel or his ability to carry the ball forward if space opens up in front of him
It's a crime (quite possibly literally) that we could not find £4 million for Anel
Assuming he would want to play under Wilder.
I wouldn't or let anyone I was respomsible for.

ps two years ago we BEAT Norwich just before Christmas
with a team weakened by injuries (and possibly suspensions)
We did it by playing
McCallum LEFT SIDED MF
Hamer RIGHT SIDED MF
presumably because it was felt McCallum like Shackleton (but NOT Burrows earlier in that season !!!!!)
could NOT play in the wrong position of this insanity

 

[CarlMcBlade]

You reckon him better than RakSaki already ? Genuine question

Yes I do, whereas both players had/have a tendency to lose the ball occasionally. I think Donovan is probably more pro-active at trying to get it back. I also think he could fill the O’Hare role…Although I think that position in this team is now probably obsolete.