Selecting the Right Player for the Right Position

Football is a team sport. In order to keep the team intact, every position has a different role. While the positions can be segregated into 4 primary categories: Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards, the game is considerably more complicated than that. With the shifting dynamics of modern football in terms of formations and tactics, it is critical to select the right player for the right position.

The second football webinar for the year 2022 was conducted by RFYS in partnership with AIFC as part of our Online Education Program for aspiring athletes and coaches. In this webinar, Narendra Vakare, Analyst & Scouting at Hero ISL club-Mumbai City FC, discussed the skill sets and qualities that scouts look for in various positions on the football field.

Narendra Vakare, Analyst & Scouting at Hero ISL club - Mumbai City FC

Narendra examined the many positions and dexterities required of each player on the pitch, ranging from the goalkeeper to the striker. The following are the points he highlighted:

Attributes Required in a Goalkeeper:

• Distribution with hands and feet
• Communication with Defense/Team
• Positioning
• Reflexes
• Ball Handling

Narendra stated that in modern football, where teams build from the back, shot-stopping is not the only skill that goalkeepers should have. Goalkeepers must be quick on their feet and have excellent vision in order to pick out passes and start an attack.

Attributes Required in a Full-Back:

• Defending 1v1
• Quality in the final third
• Positioning in both attack & defense
• Ability to cross the ball
• Athletic (Pace, Endurance, Stamina)

Attributes Required in a Center-Back:

• Aerial Dominance
• Positioning in Defense
• Leadership and Communication
• Diving into tackles
• Man-Marking Ability

The conventional back-four in football is still used by the majority of football clubs. Despite the fact that they are referred to as defenders, Narendra emphasised their importance in building up play and initiating an attack from behind.

Attributes Required in a Defensive-Midfielder:

• Passing
• Ability to Operate Under Pressure
• Passing Ability and Vision
• Ability to Dictate the Pace of the Game
• Discipline

Attributes Required in a Central Midfielder:

• Ability to play Under Pressure
• Ability to play box-to-box
• Playmaking Ability
• Control the game at the heart of midfield
• Ability to Shoot the Ball

Attributes Required in an Attacking Midfielder:

• Decision Making in the final-third
• Ability to Pick out Passes
• Decision Making
• Ability to Dribble the Ball
• Control the Tempo of the Game

Narendra underlined the importance of midfielders as the heart of the pitch while discussing the three types of midfielders. They serve as a link between the defence and the forwards.  They must run forward while the team has the ball and return to defence when the team loses possession.

Attributes Required in a Winger:

• Ability to Cross
• Pace & Agility
• 1v1 Attacking
• Ability to Dribble past defenders
• Flair and Tricks

Attributes Required in a Striker:

• Movement
• Work Rate
• 1v1 in Attacking
• Ability to Finish
• Good First Touch

Narendra Vakare, Analyst & Scouting at the Hero ISL club-Mumbai City FC, talks about Selecting the Right player for the Right Position during the webinar session.

To motivate the aspiring scouts and webinar attendees, Narendra shared his experiences and talked about his journey from playing for Minerva Punjab to becoming an analyst at Northeast United to becoming the Head Scout at Mumbai City FC.

Narendra wrapped up the session by suggesting that the important insights from the webinar be instilled in both scouts and young players. The session came to an end by addressing queries & doubts in the final Q&A session.

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