Ben Osborn: how to play as a wing-back or wide midfielder

Game | Positions | Ben Osborn | 15.07.2021

Ben Osborn outlines the key attacking and defending points when playing as a wing-back or wide midfielder. Image: getty images

Learning: 

• Understanding your strengths as a player

• Reading the game and making tactical decisions

• The importance of work rate and effort out of possession

Be hard to mark and don’t be predictable

When I'm playing out wide, I try not to be predictable. 

I wouldn't say I'm slow, but I’m definitely not the fastest, especially when we were in the Premier League, so I can't just be looking to get the ball, get to the byline and get balls into the box. 

It means I’ve got to be clever with my positioning. Sometimes I’ve got to break the shape up and come inside and look where the space is. I think that's a big thing. 

Even when I was at [Nottingham] Forest, if I was playing on the left, I'd never really be hugging the touchline. I'd always be looking to come infield and be hard to mark. 

From my experience of playing left-back when the opposition midfielder is drifting all over it does give you a bit of a problem.