Inverted Wing Back is another part of Pep Guardiola’s tactical revolution in football, besides adding more prominence to Sweeper Keeper and Ball-Playing Defender. This tactical improvement is used to add more players in the central zone, the most important part of the field according to Pep. An Inverted Wing-Back is another derivation of Wing-Back, the other one is the Complete Wing-Back.
It might be confusing at first, if this role is on the flanks, how does it deal with players in the central areas? Let’s go and check this role.
Introduction
An Inverted Wing-Back will play like Full-Back or Wing-Back in their own half. The difference between an Inverted Wing-Back with Full-Back or Wing-Back? An Inverted Wing-Back will provide help and drift inside in the middle of the pitch instead of advancing forward like a normal Full-Back or Wing-Back, creating space for players around him. Just like both Full-Back, Wing-Back, and Central Midfielder (middle of the pitch), this role has three mentalities: Defend, Support, and Attack.
The three mentalities of Inverted Wing Back have these key attributes: Marking, Tackling, Decisions, Positioning, and Work Rate, with Defend duties, have another key attribute in Acceleration. Both Support and Attack duties have an additional key attribute of Passing and Stamina, and finally, Attack duties have an additional key attribute of Dribbling, Off The Ball, and Pace.
On the preferable attribute side, all duties have Anticipation and Concentration attributes. The rest of the attributes for Defend are Passing, Pace, and Stamina, the rest of the attributes for Support are Dribbling, First Touch, Technique, Composure, Off The Ball, and Pace, and finally, the Attack duties have an additional attribute of the First Touch, Long Shots, Technique, Composure, and Acceleration.
Let us dig deep into the players. Who are the Inverted Wing-Backs?
Analysis
Best Defender: Nacho (Defend), Daniel Alves (Support and Attack)
Nacho tops the Inverted Wing-Back position on Defend role, while Alves conquers the duties of Support and Attack. For the top five Inverted Wing-Backs, only Andrew Robertson that marks his place on all the mentalities. There is a four-point difference in the total of the attributes for both Defend and Support duties on the first and second place, while on Attack duties, the defense is widened into seven points.
The top five Inverted Wing-Back for defensive duties is Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Nacho Monreal, Andrew Robertson, and Mario Gaspar, while on the Support and Attack duties, Alex Sandro is not far behind Daniel Alves on the runner up. Sergi Roberto and Andrew Robertson are both third and fourth in Support duties, and they swapped positions on Attack duties. Finally, Jose Gaya is the fifth-best Inverted Wing-Back for Support Duties, and Marcelo is the best for Attack duties.
Out-of-the-Radar: Mario Fernandes and Mario Gaspar (Defend), Alex Grimaldo (Support), Fagner (Attack)
This is the first unique case of a position where all of the players that are considered out of the radar are playing on different duties. Mario Fernandes at that time is playing at CSKA Moscow, Mario Gaspar for Villarreal, Alex Grimaldo is playing for Benfica, while Fagner is playing for Corinthians.
The top skill of Fernandes is his Stamina and Pace. while the powerful attribute for Gaspar is Work Rate and Concentration. Alex Grimaldo records a high rating for Passing and Technique for an Inverted Wing-Back, while Fagner’s work rate is considered precious for his team. For Gaspar and Grimaldo, this is another position where they are considered out of the radar, after recording a high attribute rating for Wing-Back and Complete Wing-Back position, respectively.
You can see the complete chart of the players here:
