By Martin Graham
This Premier League season has seen a noticeable shift in how teams use their attacking flanks. The number of conventional wingers starting matches has dropped sharply, with most sides opting for inverted wide men or deploying wing-backs instead.
In this context, “traditional” refers to right-footed attackers operating on the right or left-footed players staying on the left side. In contrast, inverted wingers cut in from the opposite flank, much like Mohamed Salah at Liverpool or Bukayo Saka at Arsenal.
Last year, by this stage of the campaign, the average number of traditional wide players starting each weekend was 11. That figure has now fallen to just 4.4 — a reduction of 60%. While some of this decline is tactical, managerial changes and newly promoted clubs have also influenced the numbers.
Tactical trends and exceptions
A few sides continue to rely on more orthodox positioning. Everton, for example, has frequently started Iliman Ndiaye — a right-footer — on the right to allow Jack Grealish to occupy the left. Ndiaye had mainly been used on the opposite side the previous year.
Bournemouth have also occasionally lined up in a more traditional manner. Andoni Iraola has selected left-footed David Brooks on the left and right-footed Antoine Semenyo on the right three times this season, though they often swap during games.
In the latest round of league fixtures, only three natural wide men were positioned on their stronger side: Savinho for Manchester City, Yankuba Minteh at Brighton, and Anthony Elanga at Newcastle. In the same set of matches a year ago, that number stood at 10.
Giggs calls for a return to the old ways
Ryan Giggs, the former Manchester United winger, has publicly expressed his wish to see orthodox wide play make a comeback. Speaking at a coaching conference at Old Trafford, he argued that the modern game has become overly controlled.
“I hope it comes back, left footer on the left, right footer on the right,” the 51-year-old said. He referenced stars such as Gareth Bale, Arjen Robben, and Mohamed Salah, whose success on the opposite flank has shaped current tactical thinking.
Giggs recalled a time when teams relied on beating defenders down the outside to deliver crosses, often using two strikers or a number 10. He contrasted that with the current preference for players to cut inside and combine in central areas.
A different footballing culture
Reflecting on his own playing days, Giggs noted that managers encouraged creativity. “Sir Alex used to say ‘give the guy who works in the factory something to smile about’,” he said, describing how he relished taking risks, playing forward passes, and using the outside of his foot to surprise defenders.
He believes that, although the current generation is technically gifted, their freedom has been reduced by constant instructions from the touchline. Jack Grealish’s adaptation at Manchester City is often cited as an example — a player once celebrated for his unpredictability, whose game became more structured under Pep Guardiola.
A changing game
Giggs admitted he is “a bit biased” as a former winger but feels the sport has grown more rigid, with teams relying on pre-set patterns and defensive structures. Nevertheless, he still sees flashes of individuality in certain players, naming Josh King at Fulham and Martin Ødegaard as examples of those who still bring excitement.
For now, with crossing from the byline less common and inverted wingers dominating tactical setups, it seems the traditional wide man is becoming a rare sight in the Premier League.
