A player who's always getting hurt. Whether it's bad luck, poor training habits, or physical fragility, the pattern repeats. Clubs hesitate to invest heavily in injury-prone players because you can't rely on them. The label can be unfair when injuries are random, but some players genuinely seem to break down every few months.
Jack Wilshere's career became defined by being injury-prone - his talent was obvious when fit, but persistent ankle and knee problems meant he barely played after 2015, becoming a cautionary tale about careers derailed by persistent physical issues.
Robbie
Jan 31, 2026
A wide player who starts out on the flank but drifts inside to get shots or play passes centrally. Usually placed on the opposite side to their strong foot so they can cut in and shoot. The role took over from traditional wingers because managers wanted goal threats from wide areas, not just crosses. Pace, dribbling, finishing, and smart movement into space all matter.
Arjen Robben perfected the inside forward role at Bayern Munich - starting on the right wing, he would inevitably cut onto his devastating left foot, and despite everyone knowing what was coming, he scored countless goals from that trademark move.
Robbie
Jan 15, 2026
Paying a transfer fee in chunks over time rather than all at once. Most big transfers are structured this way - £100m might be £25m a year for four years. It helps the buying club's cash flow and often makes the difference between a deal happening or not. The selling club prefers upfront payment but usually has to compromise.
Chelsea's summer 2022 spending spree relied heavily on installments - while the total fees were enormous, structuring payments over 5+ years meant the immediate cash outflow was manageable.
Robbie
Jan 28, 2026
A full-back who moves inside into midfield instead of staying wide, letting the winger provide width. Guardiola made it famous with Cancelo and Walker at City. The idea is to overload the middle of the pitch, keep the ball better, and create triangles that are hard to press. It changes the shape completely - a 4-3-3 becomes something like a 3-2-2-3 when you have the ball.
João Cancelo's performances as an inverted full-back for Manchester City in 2021-22 showcased the role's potential - he'd drift inside to play as an auxiliary midfielder, picking up the ball in half-spaces and spraying passes across the pitch while Riyad Mahrez hugged the touchline.
Robbie
Jan 31, 2026
A winger on the opposite flank to their dominant foot - right-footer on the left, left-footer on the right. When they cut inside, they're on their stronger foot to shoot or pass across goal. Similar to an inside forward but might still provide width and use trivela crosses. Became standard once managers realized wingers could score as well as create.
Mohamed Salah epitomizes the inverted winger role at Liverpool - his left-footedness on the right wing allows him to cut inside past defenders and shoot with his stronger foot, a move that has produced over 200 goals for the club.
Robbie
Feb 2, 2026