Why wing backs are becoming the most important players on the Pitch

With the ascension of the two defensive midfielders or the three central defenders, full backs are pushing further and further forward. This means the players playing there have to be getting better and better on the ball. Often full backs are criticised for their in ability to defend anyway. However a well rounded full back can make a bigger impact that many might think.

Lahm is an exemplary full back for his defensive qualities but also for knowing when to move forward. As mentioned about what it means to 'Dictate the tempo' it is import for the full back to respond with the right runs at the right time. He must know when to go and when to stay. Lahm does this perfectly. He can sense danger coming his way but also has a sense of when his team need to pile numbers forward and when the space is available for him to make his move.

Mourinho's implementation of full backs does not help attack. Part of his philosophy means his full backs always stay back and rarely overlap. Of course Mourinho has always proven successful and I would never suggest otherwise however, two of the most successful teams of the last 5 years Bayern Munich & Barcelona have used there full backs to great effect and contradict Mourinho's style of play. It may also contribute to other players improving their game. For example when Messi picks up the ball, Suarez is in front of him. Iniesta is close to him. Neymar is looking for a run in behind and Alves and Alba are often unmarked on the wings. This gives Messi options and lots of them. Often the wing backs dart into the box for a ball over the top. When Hazard picks up the ball. Costa is in behind. Fabregas is near him and Willian if open for a switch of play.  This gives Hazard 1 easy option and 2 difficult (not including running it himself) where as Messi has 3 easy options and 2 more difficult. Of course Azpilicutta and Invanovic are available at times but they are under orders to stay back, despite the amount of goals Invanovic has scored this season, he will rarely hit the bi-line. So effectively Hazard has fewer options and in turn this means defenders can defend better against him. Part of taking people on is using the space created while defenders try to cover all the options available to a player.

So let's be clear, as is fairly evident, Mourinho's teams are generally better defensively than most and often shut teams down, but they don't always pose as much of an attacking threat outside of individual brilliance.

So this is how important wing backs can be if executed correctly. They can be two of a back four or five and two of a front 6. They just have to be able to get up and down the pitch, which is no more taxing than a box to box central midfielders role. Get those two players right and a team can be seriously upgraded.