I think a club can be rated based on qualities that full backs bring to the team–a point not lost on managers. Many are prioritizing full backs as the stepping stone in building balanced teams.
Full backs are vital to team success. Clubs understand that and they are investing huge amounts of money in the position. One example is Man City’s investment in Danilo, Walker, and Mendy. Another example is Alves’ surprise move from Juventus to Paris Saint Germain.
Full backs bring dynamism and tactical flexibility to the game. Full backs can be used as wing backs in a back-three formation and they can also provide width in a traditional back-four formation.
Full backs are positioned to deliver quality crosses in the box. They are tactically set up to make up numbers during offensive and defensive transitions. And they have the ability to switch play while trying to create openings.
Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal (photo, Bleacher Report)
Having quality full backs is a key in building strong teams. In recent years Real Madrid has proven to be the best team in Europe. Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Kroos, and Ramos have been instrumental in helping the club achieve success. But Carvajal and Marcelo have been exquisite on the Madrid side, too. They do superb work on the flanks, which includes the ability to attack with intensity, defend solidly, and manage the defensive/offensive aspects of the game–without being caught out of position.
The opposite rings just as true. Take Manchester United, for example. That team needs to address issues on the left back if it is to compete for major honours this season. Antonio Valencia has shown that he has what it takes to remain the first choice at right back. He has the ability to attack with pace on the flank and put his body on the line while defending.
But Blind, Damian, Rojo and Shaw have struggled to offer the quality needed to fill the void at left back. Blind and Shaw are good going forward, but their defensive abilities are questionable. While Darmian and Rojo have proven to be defensively solid, they don’t measure up on the attacking side of the game.
I think this explains why Valencia has inherited a big workload. There’s little quality at the left back to ease his burden, and that’s why I think United needs to invest in the left back position.
Overall, I think a club can be rated based on qualities full backs bring to the team. That point is not lost on managers. Many are prioritizing full backs as the stepping stone in building a balanced team. While it remains to be seen whether full backs will continue playing a major role from a tactical perspective, one thing is for certain: it’s a joy to watch an attacking style of football that involves full backs.
