Positions and Importance?

[Ksearyback]

Been several years since I played FIFA, but decided to play this year. I generally post on the UFC thread and just read over here as I'm ignorant to this sport (but love playing the games).

Question about the difference between an RW/LW and a RM/LM? I'd certainly appreciate a realistic answer, but the reason for the question is specific to offline career mode for me. Like, is there a major difference in type of player -- and specifically, is there any impact functionally/mechanically in player output when using a winger as an outside midfielder, and vice versa?

(I have the same question with functional and practical confusion between CF/CAM, and LWB/LB, but I assume the answer to the first question will be applicable.)

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[coach422001]

Re: Positions and Importance?

Been several years since I played FIFA, but decided to play this year. I generally post on the UFC thread and just read over here as I'm ignorant to this sport (but love playing the games).

Question about the difference between an RW/LW and a RM/LM? I'd certainly appreciate a realistic answer, but the reason for the question is specific to offline career mode for me. Like, is there a major difference in type of player -- and specifically, is there any impact functionally/mechanically in player output when using a winger as an outside midfielder, and vice versa?

(I have the same question with functional and practical confusion between CF/CAM, and LWB/LB, but I assume the answer to the first question will be applicable.)

Thanks in advance for any insight.

In general, there isn't a difference between the type of player a left wing is vs a right wing, or a left mid vs right mid. It usually comes down to their stronger foot putting them on one side or the other. In the game I really don't notice any difference.

A CAM is generally assigned to the midfield but pushes up with the attack (vs a central defensive midfielder who should stay behind and provide cover for the central backs as well, though in this game the CDM also often pushes up). The CAM should be coming back more defensively when the ball is in their half. A central forward is more often a target man for setting the play up in the opponents half, often holding the ball up for the other attackers to come up and get involved.

A left back will be your outside defender, usually in a 4 man back line, will occasionally overlap with the midfielder, but primarily has defensive duties. The left wing back I see employed with a 3 man defensive set up where the outside players will do both come back defensively or push forward playing as an outside midfielder. I generally assume the wingbacks will have more speed and ball skills than the fullbacks, who often have more than the central backs.

Within the game I usually don't see penalties for having players not in their normal positions. I've moved Zaha from left to right and from midfield to striker. I've had Joel Ward, a right back play midfield. In older versions there used to be an overall penalty when you set someone out of position but I'm not seeing that these days. As you can imagine if you put a central back at striker it would be noticeable, but asking a player to play one of these alternate roles does not seem to me to affect the game.

[Ksearyback]

Re: Positions and Importance?

Thanks so much for all that detail.

One thing I should have written more clearly. The positions I'm not certain about the difference was comparing outside midfield to the attacking wingers (LW/RW). Is LW/LM and RW/RM interchangeable?

In other words, depending on formation I might have a RM or an RW. Based on your answer above, it sounds like RMs are more balanced than an RW.

If I use a 433, for example, I might build a team with wingers. So, if I change to a 4411, should I have entirely different players to be on the outside or can I look at RW/RM as interchangeable?

Hope that makes sense

[coach422001]

Re: Positions and Importance?

Thanks so much for all that detail.

One thing I should have written more clearly. The positions I'm not certain about the difference was comparing outside midfield to the attacking wingers (LW/RW). Is LW/LM and RW/RM interchangeable?

In other words, depending on formation I might have a RM or an RW. Based on your answer above, it sounds like RMs are more balanced than an RW.

If I use a 433, for example, I might build a team with wingers. So, if I change to a 4411, should I have entirely different players to be on the outside or can I look at RW/RM as interchangeable?

Hope that makes sense

In real life, you'd probably want players who are more true midfielders than wingers if you played a 4411. However, in the game I have generally not noticed a difference if I put someone shown as a LW in the LM slot in my set up.