Nigel Winterburn: Chris Waddle was the first ‘modern’ winger
Former Premier League defender Nigel Winterburn has told NewBettingOffers.co.uk that Chris Waddle was the first winger from his playing days that showed attributes and playing style associated with the ‘modern’ winger.
Speaking to NewBettingOffers.co.uk, Winterburn said: “The game is completely different now to how it was when I was a player, it’s far more possession-based. The teams that I played with and against were more direct and tried to play through the lines a bit quicker.
“Usually, you came up against wingers that wanted to take you and go on the outside. Chris Waddle was the first winger that showed signs of the ‘modern’ player, cutting inside from the right-hand side.
“Nowadays, players on the right are strong with their left foot, and those on the left can play with their right. There’s a lot more cutting in and linking up now, so I think the position has evolved with the game itself, so it’s really hard to compare wingers now to those I played with.”
Beckham and Overmars perfect examples of completely different old-guard wingers
Winterburn commented on players he used to play with, and how each of the wingers he’d either played with or come up against had their own unique style of playing on both sides, and how it was essential to identify those traits to keep them quiet during the games.
“David Beckham was completely different to players in that position now, I wouldn’t even call him a winger. He’d pick the ball up and just spray passes around. When I was playing left-back I wasn’t instructed to head up the pitch to track and mark players, the managers didn’t want us to vacate our position.
“Marc Overmars was a brilliant player with so much ability and close control, but he also had sheer power. In terms of his pace and strength, he was a great wide player for me to play around. There were lots of wide players with different attributes back then.”
Luis Figo at Barcelona was my toughest opponent
When challenged to name the greatest winger he ever played against, Winterburn cited Portuguese winger and Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo as his hardest opposite man.
“If I had to pick one winger I played against who I’d say was my toughest opponent, it’d have to be Luis Figo when he was at Barcelona,” said Winterburn. “He was absolutely incredible. What you have to do as a full-back when you come up against a player like that is solve the equation and nullify their impact over 90 minutes.
“Playing in the Premier League and Champions League, you know you’re coming up against players who deserve to be there with huge talent. Defenders in my time had to know how to defend against these wingers who wanted to cause you harm and embarrass you!”
I wouldn’t shy away from any of the current wingers in the Premier League
Winterburn discussed how as a full-back, you have to be up for a battle against any winger, as that’s what playing at the top level requires.
“I’d be happy to play against any of the current wingers because I’m a huge believer in wanting to test yourself against the best week-in week-out and if you don’t want to do that then I don’t know why you’re playing!
“I played against some great players in my time, but I don’t like picking out any in particular because all these players are there for a reason and bring something different to the table and it’d be disrespectful to say one player is miles better than another.
“From my point of view, it’s just about identifying your opposite man’s unique strengths and nullifying them each game. That was my job back in the day, and for defenders in general. We were just trying to avoid embarrassment, which was what those wingers wanted to do to us.”
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