Topic: Kostas Tsimikas

[Red Beret]

Quality back up and doesn't seem that fussed that he is a backup, seems to be a great guy in the changing room from his social media.

Like someone said above, he would be starting LB for most clubs in the PL.

Wasn't it in the Everton thread recently that one of that lot was scratching their head about how our bit part players are actually happy to be bit part players and never kick up a fuss? 

[Beninger]

 Love that left peg. He works great with Mane in the final third.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

I just realised that Tsimikas, in his in game photos, always looks like a man in his mid 30’s waking up from a bender the night before.

[RyanBabel19]

Still want to know if he can play right back as cover
 (part of my continued amazement there aren’t more inverted fullbacks given how teams set up to attack in modern football)

Defending on your weak foot side is one of the hardest things in the game, even against a winger who likes to come inside. I've tried it a few times and it just feels unnatural, everything you do is going against the usual movements of defending and you lose a yard or two just adjusting for each passage of play. Managers would simply switch their wingers and the fullback would be fucked.

Imagine a wrong side fullback against Mo and Sadio they would take them outside on their wrong foot constantly then take them inside just to throw a spanner in the works. There's a reason it's rarely used, its the left sided CB right sided CB discussion x 1000

[farawayred]

Trent and Robbo switch positions now and then. Not of then, but they do. And neither looks out of place.

[FlashGordon]

Trent and Robbo switch positions now and then. Not of then, but they do. And neither looks out of place.

Only when defending corners.

[afc tukrish]

Only when defending corners.

Or when Robbo decides to press all the way to other side the pitch...

[farawayred]

Only when defending corners.

Not only. There have been several times when they had the opportunity to switch back, but they didn't. I'm sure they've been instructed to do so, but I think my point stands.

[afc tukrish]

I just realised that Tsimikas, in his in game photos, always looks like a man in his mid 30’s waking up from a bender the night before.

"Warriors, come out to play-ay... Warriors!"

[Crimson]

I just realised that Tsimikas, in his in game photos, always looks like a man in his mid 30’s waking up from a bender the night before.

You just realised? That's only the first thing most people notice about the Greek Scouser.

You must be as tired at Tsimikas looks 

[Welshred]

Not only. There have been several times when they had the opportunity to switch back, but they didn't. I'm sure they've been instructed to do so, but I think my point stands.

They only swap back when there's a break in play long enough for them to swap

[Welshred]

I just realised that Tsimikas, in his in game photos, always looks like a man in his mid 30’s waking up from a bender the night before.

Mate if you look at his Instagram the bloke never sleeps, no wonder he doesn't look like that haha

[Eeyore]

Defending on your weak foot side is one of the hardest things in the game, even against a winger who likes to come inside. I've tried it a few times and it just feels unnatural, everything you do is going against the usual movements of defending and you lose a yard or two just adjusting for each passage of play. Managers would simply switch their wingers and the fullback would be fucked.

Imagine a wrong side fullback against Mo and Sadio they would take them outside on their wrong foot constantly then take them inside just to throw a spanner in the works. There's a reason it's rarely used, its the left sided CB right sided CB discussion x 1000

Milner and Glen Johnson had no problem covering both full back positions.

[fredfrop]

Cough

Arbeloa, Messi

Cough

[B0151?]

Milner and Glen Johnson had no problem covering both full back positions.

Johnson had a decent left foot to be fair. https://youtu.be/MHll6Z4UN8g

[RedG13]

Milner and Glen Johnson had no problem covering both full back positions.

Right footers are normally taught growing up to be able to cover more spots. Left footers dont do the same. in Ice Hockey being a left shot is more common(overal) then right shot for defenders(Right hand dominant) so when your young you are much more likely to work on backhand stuff etc for practice and be used on both sides. You do see right hand Defender play on the left at times but it pretty rare.
If Billy Koumetio becomes good enough to play for the senior team with Virgil still here it will be interesting to see how much he would play with Virgil considering he left footed and Virgil is left side dominate(I think Virgil can play right side but not something he has done very much over his career)

[RyanBabel19]

Milner and Glen Johnson had no problem covering both full back positions.

Good for them, makes zero difference to my post whatsoever. I said it was one of the hardest things in the game and rarely used... not impossible

[LallanaInPyjamas]

Johnson had a decent left foot to be fair. https://youtu.be/MHll6Z4UN8g

Tsimikas has a really good right foot, too, so it'd be interesting to try it out. Tomorrow night could be the perfect opportunity.

[Mister Flip Flop]

Think he's boss to be honest. Serious competition for Robbo this season

[Eeyore]

Good for them, makes zero difference to my post whatsoever. I said it was one of the hardest things in the game and rarely used... not impossible

There are plenty of examples though. Cancelo plays both full back positions for City, Milner has played both full back positions for us, Azpilicueta has played both full back positions for Chelsea. They are top sides with good squad depth.

Then at the last Euros Boril, Maehle, Trippier, Spinazzola and Hubocan all played on their so-called wrong side.

There are also all time greats like Nilton Santos, Paulo Maldini and Giacinto Fachetti who played on their wrong side.

[Sangria]

There are plenty of examples though. Cancelo plays both full back positions for City, Milner has played both full back positions for us, Azpilicueta has played both full back positions for Chelsea. They are top sides with good squad depth.

Then at the last Euros Boril, Maehle, Trippier, Spinazzola and Hubocan all played on their so-called wrong side.

There are also all time greats like Nilton Santos, Paulo Maldini and Giacinto Fachetti who played on their wrong side.

Any left footed right backs?

[Eeyore]

Any left footed right backs?

Andy Robertson and Nigel Winterburn have both played right back .

The reality is that around 80% of footballers are right footed so the chances of having two top left-footed full backs is very slim. Personally I think we are in that position at the moment and it might be worth trying Kostas at right back.

[Bobinhood]

I play left back quite a bit just for the extra challenge, find it fun. its a little harder but i prefer to think of rb as "the easy side" 

[redgriffin73]

I play left back quite a bit just for the extra challenge, find it fun. its a little harder but i prefer to think of rb as "the easy side" 

I always thought Glen Johnson often played better on the left, like he had to concentrate more and it led to better performances.

[A-Bomb]

Wasn't Irwin right footed and played left back?

[tubby]

Wasn't Irwin right footed and played left back?

Yup.  But these are the days of overlapping fullbacks, it wasn't a huge part of his game back then.

[El Lobo]

Yeah right footed left backs don't seem that rare, but can't think of one left footer playing right back. But as Al says, there's a much smaller percentage of left footers in football. Don't see any reason why Tsimikas couldn't play there if we needed.

[the_red_pill]

Switching flanks isn't normally an issue and I'm sure many can do it. Many teams/managers decide to play a lefty on the right or vice versa, as cover or as a tactic or somesuch, but I'm just of the opinion that it shouldn't happen, IF we can help it, in a "high profile" game, because what happens in those split-seconds when instinct takes over, or a split-second quick decision needs to be made? The moments that determine such games?

You get a shot on goal, but instinctively decide to roll it over to your left (or doubt about your ability creeps in) in the heat of the moment..... and the chance is gone, and you're in the 95th minute, at 1-1 or 2-1 down and it's a crucial game in the race or a knockout tie.
You get a pass and under pressure from a predator of a striker, you decide to control it with your left, instead of your right- an instinctive decision... and blam!- you're dispossesed and flat on your arse as he goes onto score.

It will work in bread and butter games and that's where I would rather see it, but very risky in the big matches. And you become the target for those top attackers during that game- to add to the pressure. The goal is not just to beat you- everyone knows you're a top player, but to put you under pressure so you can be forced to make a pivotal instinctive decision and hopefully, a "mistake", because that's not your usual position.

[Funky_Gibbons]

As mentioned earlier, I think defensively having someone playing fullback on their weaker foot is fine, but I think it would limit them offensively in our system.

[Chris~]

As mentioned earlier, I think defensively having someone playing fullback on their weaker foot is fine, but I think it would limit them offensively in our system.

Probably not much from right back now we're playing with Salah and Henderson/Elliott overloading a lot more wide. Could even mix it up a bit more and put Mane right if you want another right footer. Always going to be ways to balance this kind of thing out

[Funky_Gibbons]

Probably not much from right back now we're playing with Salah and Henderson/Elliott overloading a lot more wide. Could even mix it up a bit more and put Mane right if you want another right footer. Always going to be ways to balance this kind of thing out

Trent and Robertson will look to whip the ball into the box as early as possible once they’re in the attacking third. Having a wrong-footed player would mean having to check back onto their stronger foot, giving the defence a chance to organise.

What’s interesting is a majority of those players mentioned who have played on the ‘wrong’ side haven’t been the most natural at attacking in open play. Johnson is probably the exception. Irwin scored a lot of goals but he was a free-kick and penalty taker from what I remember. 

[PoetryInMotion]

Good for them, makes zero difference to my post whatsoever. I said it was one of the hardest things in the game and rarely used... not impossible

Also, there were constant complaints on them always cutting inside to their right. Which was one of the reasons we bought an actual LB as backup for Robbo.

[Dim Glas]

This thread title needs #greekscousers in it

[RedForeverTT]

Yeah right footed left backs don't seem that rare, but can't think of one left footer playing right back. But as Al says, there's a much smaller percentage of left footers in football. Don't see any reason why Tsimikas couldn't play there if we needed.

Left footer are harder to come by so when a coach finds a left footer they wouldn’t waste their left leg to play right back.

But I must say two of the best left back in the world has seen are right footed - Philip Lahm and James Milner.

[daggerdoo]

Left footer are harder to come by so when a coach finds a left footer they wouldn’t waste their left leg to play right back.

But I must say two of the best left back in the world has seen are right footed - Philip Lahm and James Milner.

Not sure about that, Lahm was average imo

[PoetryInMotion]

Not sure about that, Lahm was average imo

I hope you're joking. Although Lahm wasn't a LB for long. He became a RB and then DM in his later years.

[newterp]

This thread title needs #greekscousers in it

Actually it needs "#100PLGoalsClub" too.

[Eeyore]

Also, there were constant complaints on them always cutting inside to their right. Which was one of the reasons we bought an actual LB as backup for Robbo.

Our system has evolved though. We used to play a narrow front three with Trent providing the width on the right. Mo now plays much wider and Trent plays more like a Guardiola full back tucking in and playing almost as an extra midfield player. If our right back is going to play narrower then being left footed or right footed is less critical.

[redgriffin73]

This thread title needs #greekscousers in it

And #godsplan

[PoetryInMotion]

Our system has evolved though. We used to play a narrow front three with Trent providing the width on the right. Mo now plays much wider and Trent plays more like a Guardiola full back tucking in and playing almost as an extra midfield player. If our right back is going to play narrower then being left footed or right footed is less critical.

I don't think Mo staying wide or cutting in is an evolution of the system. Trent is coming in after what Southgate did to him. I don't think Klopp wants that from his FBs specifically. If so, Robbo would also be coming inside and he isn't.