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[edit] Positions

Contents 1 Positions 1.1 Goalkeepers 1.2 Defenders 1.2.1 Centre defenders 1.2.2 Flank defenders 1.3 Midfielders 1.3.1 Normal midfielder 1.3.2 Defensive Midfielder 1.3.3 Offensive Midfielder 1.3.4 Winger 1.4 Attackers

There are 13 positions divided into 4 sections, which will be described below. As long as you are VIP manager you can give your players the desired position of your choice. That position does not influence anything, but make the player listing more comprehensible and easier to keep track of the players.

It's when it comes to match day that it matters where you put your players. Different positions on the pitch differ in their need of combinations of skills. The manager that utilizes his players the best in the lineup can over bridge an apparent disadvantage in player quality.

[edit] Goalkeepers

The player who protects the goal is one of the most important positions to fill. As you have specific players to choose from to this position the choice might seem easy, but a goalkeeper can look rather different and still be effective. There are only five skills that the keeper need, but he needs all five of them.

A keeper with high reflexes is the first choice, but he should be backed up with reasonable positioning. Keepers with high Interception helps the defence against high passes into the box, but without control the keeper releases dangerous rebounds or can even fumble the ball into the net. Organization is a skill that helps the defence in the penalty box in all situations, although it's most important during set pieces.

Details: The goalkeeper is the only position that does not get tired. He can still get injured or be sent off for a foul.

[edit] Defenders

These positions require able defensive skills, especially for the centre defenders. The flank defenders are a bit more offensive and have good use of their creative skills, primarily Passing.

[edit] Centre defenders

Defensive Positioning is the most important skill as it prevents the attackers from becoming totally free with the keeper. But without Tackling and Aerial the defenders cannot stop the attackers and must rely on the saving skills of the keeper. It's hard for the centre backs to be able to stop all kind of attackers, which is why they seldom have creative skills, although they do support the build up in the centre midfield.

They also support the midfield defensively in the central defensive midfield zone, but their main responsibility is the penalty box. Unless you lack centre backs, they are the ones that will be the active defenders in the penalty box, but they never move up to the midfield.

The most defensive centre defender is called a Sweeper. He does not support the midfield in any way, but helps his team mates in the box more and is the most likely player to be the active defender in the penalty box.

[edit] Flank defenders

The flank defenders are subject to midfield adjustment as all players in midfield, which is why they should have reasonable high passing in combination with their defensive skills. Although the flank backs never moves up in midfield to receive passes or dribble, they support the flank midfielder with his Passing, Offensive Positioning and Ball Control.

If the opponent moves forward into the offensive flank midfield zone, the defender will always be the active defensive player, while he is the active defender in midfield 25% of the time. He supports the defensive midfield zone in the centre a bit, but that is not his essential job. His main strength in assistance is split between the flank midfield and the penalty box where he is as valuable as a half a centre back.

The Wingback is an offensive flank defender. He assist his flank in midfield at much higher efficiency compared to a normal flank defender, but only assists the penalty box with the equivalent of a quarter of a centre back. He has much better use of Offensive Positioning and Ball Control than a flank defender, which is why this position tends to be filled by the broadest of players. He is quite frequently the receiver of passes offensively and he faces about a third of the attacks on his midfield flank, and all attacks in the deep midfield flank (as a regular flank defender). The wingback also make better use of high Constitution.

Details: The Flank Back only assists 50% offensively and 75% defensively in midfield. Unless the opponent goes deep (short pass or dribble) then the Wing Back is primary defender every third attack and the Flank Back every fifth attack. The Wing Back is frequently active offensively on his flank, whilst the Flank Back never is.

[edit] Midfielders

These are the most balanced players on the pitch as they need a high passing skill to be effective, but have good use for both the defensive and offensive skills. Being core attackers and defenders in the midfield, they don't move into the penalty box unless there is a set piece or if they are ordered to.

How high Ball Control the midfielders need is dependent on high defensive skills the opponent has on his midfielders and vice versa. The players that you want to move forward into the offensive midfield zones should have a bit higher in the Offensive Positioning and Ball Control. Even scoring is useful to get the best out of the offensive zone.

[edit] Normal midfielder

These are the only players that can make use of their defensive skills, in addition to Offensive Positioning and Ball control, to support the normal midfield zone offensively. The centre midfielders have a bit more use for Ball Control and Tackling than positioning compared to the flank midfielders. Having very low Offensive Positioning compared to the Defensive Positioning of the defensive player is also more disadvantageous for the flank players.

[edit] Defensive Midfielder

This position requires less creativity than the position of a normal midfielder and make more use of the defensive skills as the DM is always is the core defender in the central defensive midfield zone and even supports the defenders in the penalty box. Although primarily a defensive player, the DM often starts opportunities with a pass and occasionally receives passes or dribbles too.

[edit] Offensive Midfielder

The counterpart of the Defensive Midfielder, the OM supports the midfield with his creative skills and even supports the attackers in the box, but are less active in the defensive duties of the midfield battle.

[edit] Winger

This offensive flank midfielder is only half as effective as a normal flank midfielder in assisting the centre midfield. He does not use his defensive values offensively either. But he does assist in the penalty box equal to a quarter of a forward.

[edit] Attackers

What would any football club be without the over glorified players that score the goals? The Forwards usually keep to the penalty box, but support the centre midfield with their passing ability. They need Scoring, Offensive Positioning, Ball Control and preferably also Aerial.

The forwards even help the midfield with their defensive values if they have any. It's almost impossible to create the perfect attacker, but they only need to find one hole in the defence to score. If you attacker does not know how to pass, you might want to keep him from the midfield by assigning him as a Striker. Consequently, the Striker does not support the midfield at all.