Position · Attack · WG
What does a winger do?
Hugs the touchline to give width to the attack and attacks space with pace. Can deliver crosses from the by-line (wide winger) or cut inside to shoot (inverted winger).
How the winger moves
Stays wide to stretch the defensive shape and draw the opposing full-back; or makes an inside diagonal run when his own full-back overlaps beside him.
Types of winger
- Wide winger / by-line runner: reaches the end-line and crosses.
- Inverted winger: left-footer on the right (or vice versa), cuts inside to shoot into the far corner.
- Linking winger: drops into midfield to connect play.
Why the winger plays there
Width forces the defence to stretch horizontally — a stretched defence has central gaps. When the winger cuts inside, he opens the overlap lane for the full-back: the two never occupy the same channel simultaneously (channel rotation).
In Gaffer FC you click the winger on an interactive pitch and switch formations to see how the role shifts. See inside the app.