Players who changed positions

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FellTop

FellTop

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2020
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I was thinking about how well Winchester has done this season at RB. He looks very comfortable there. We as fans often though rush to see them pushed back to their 'natural' position. I am not sure we should be so desperate for that though as loads of players convert to new positions as there career progresses and are better for it.

Pirlo was a 10 before Ancelloti signed him and played him in front of the back 4.

Ronaldo obviously turned himself into a fantastic centre forward which would have been hard to predict when he first arrived on the scene.

Kompany was a midfielder when he arrived at Man City.

Other less glamorous players have done it as well such as Paul Warhurst, Alan Smith at Man Utd, Dion Dublin.

As a coach I see young players develop into very different players over the years. Maybe there is some merit in letting the likes of Winchester develop as a full back...
 
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FellTop said:
I was thinking about how well Winchester has done this season at RB. He looks very comfortable there. We as fans often though rush to see them pushed back to their 'natural' position. I am not sure we should be so desperate for that though as loads of players convert to new positions as there career progresses and are better for it.

Pirlo was a 10 before Ancelloti signed him and played him in front of the back 4.

Ronaldo obviously turned himself into a fantastic centre forward which would have been hard to predict when he first arrived on the scene.

Kompany was a midfielder when he arrived at Man City.

Other less glamorous players have done it as well such as Paul Warhurst, Alan Smith at Man Utd, Dion Dublin.

As a coach I see young players develop into very different players over the years. Maybe there is some merit in letting the likes of Winchester develop as a full back...
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Kevin Phillips started off as a left back not surprised he got released as a youngster
 
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Gordon Armstrong said:
The best example of a player changing positions to me is Dave Watson, who we bought as a centre forward from Rotherham for £120,000 I think, and he was dreadful . . . . he developed into the best centre half that I've ever seen playing for S.A.F.C. :emoticon-0105-wink:
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My all time favourite player
 
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Confucius said:
Kenny Burns arrived at Birmingham as a defender, but replaced Bob Latchford up front, then went back to a defender with Forest. Wasn’t a bad striker either
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Played against Kenny Burns once. Decent Saturday team, after he retired of course. He played centre mid and so did I. I took one look at the size of him and thought I would run him into the ground. I barely touched the ball and he never left the centre circle. He would receive it and play it. I tried to get tight but he was as strong as an ox and just shoved me away. Whenever I got it he just made me go wide and never let me through the middle. Basically he made my look like a bairn playing a mans game, which on that day I suppose I was. Best player I have ever shared a pitch with.
 
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FellTop said:
Played against Kenny Burns once. Decent Saturday team, after he retired of course. He played centre mid and so did I. I took one look at the size of him and thought I would run him into the ground. I barely touched the ball and he never left the centre circle. He would receive it and play it. I tried to get tight but he was as strong as an ox and just shoved me away. Whenever I got it he just made me go wide and never let me through the middle. Basically he made my look like a bairn playing a mans game, which on that day I suppose I was. Best player I have ever shared a pitch with.
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He played in the World Cup finals to be fair, when England didn’t. That’s an idea for a new thread mate. Who has played against ex professionals
 
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Confucius said:
He played in the World Cup finals to be fair, when England didn’t. That’s an idea for a new thread mate. Who has played against ex professionals
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Well not football but i once beat a commonweath bronze medal winner in a long jump comp at an atheltics meet. I was only 18 as well.

That being said he won his bronze medal in the shot put but we'll keep that bit to ourselves
 
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Ozzymac said:
Well not football but i once beat a commonweath bronze medal winner in a long jump comp at an atheltics meet. I was only 18 as well.

That being said he won his bronze medal in the shot put but we'll keep that bit to ourselves
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<laugh><laugh>
 
Not exactly like he "changed position", but in terms of filling in at positions O'Shea has to get a mention for playing in all of them including goalie.
 
Ozzymac said:
Well not football but i once beat a commonweath bronze medal winner in a long jump comp at an atheltics meet. I was only 18 as well.

That being said he won his bronze medal in the shot put but we'll keep that bit to ourselves
Click to expand...

Trevor Francis was at the hotel I had my honeymoon. I beat him at table tennis, but his side did comfortably win the beach football.
 
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FellTop said:
I was thinking about how well Winchester has done this season at RB. He looks very comfortable there. We as fans often though rush to see them pushed back to their 'natural' position. I am not sure we should be so desperate for that though as loads of players convert to new positions as there career progresses and are better for it.

Pirlo was a 10 before Ancelloti signed him and played him in front of the back 4.

Ronaldo obviously turned himself into a fantastic centre forward which would have been hard to predict when he first arrived on the scene.

Kompany was a midfielder when he arrived at Man City.

Other less glamorous players have done it as well such as Paul Warhurst, Alan Smith at Man Utd, Dion Dublin.

As a coach I see young players develop into very different players over the years. Maybe there is some merit in letting the likes of Winchester develop as a full back...
Click to expand...
Look into his playing career he has played there before
 
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