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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]To the economist - technically you are correct.  Goal scorers and creators have the highest market value, even though there is no supply shortage of players wanting to play these roles, precisely because they are the most in demand.  The international transfer market demonstrates this today, as it always has:  https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/marktwerte/pokalwettbewerb/CL

However, in context this was a question by a parent asking which positions were most "in demand" by club teams and college recruiters.  He or she may not have used the right terminology, but I took the question to be more along the lines of "what positition should my kid play to have the best chance of (getting selected/playing time on a good team, playing in college, etc...)."    In other words, I think what they were really asking about had more to do with talent scarcity.   A better way to ask the question might have been "in which positions is there a shortage of supply."

A lot of the responses make more sense if you look at the issue that way.  A fast and skillful left footed player has a better chance competing for a spot at left back, than right forward.   A tall and athletic player has a better chance competing for a spot at center back than center forward.  A player who can play 2-3 midfield positions, and either right or left full back, has a better chance of breaking into a team than someone who insists they have to play "10".  [/quote]

In youth soccer the desire must also meet the ideal player and player profile. From U9-U13 finding a kid who WANTS to play in the back, on either side is hard. Finding a kid, particularly with girls, a kid who wants to play keeper is even harder.

Add the ideal profile of a left back and things get more complicated. You mentioned ideally they should be left footed. Well, only 10% of the population is even left handed to begin with. Now, we need a bigger and fast kid as well. That puts a general genetic makeup on the prototypical player before we have even determined if the kid has any skill.

It is more life finding a center in basketball. To have a good to great center is a huge competitive advantage but how many are simply just good enough. But without a quality point guard you are screwed.

With soccer, that truly dynamic Left back is rare but most teams do simply get by with good enough. A coach can scheme defense and as long as a unit is well coached and plays disciplined you can succeed with good enough players.

Having a skillful and creative midfielder or forward cannot be schemed. A midfielder rarely has the option of "when in doubt kick it out" on their side. Their ability to control the ball, take space, distribute, know where options are 360 degrees is far more impactful and far, far harder to find. That more midfielders get converted to other positions like left back does not in fact demonstrate the greater value of a left back, it demonstrates the overall value of a midfielder to be a smart enough and skilled enough player to trust anywhere on the field. [/quote]

It’s not actually been established that midfielders are as a trend being converted to left back.  In any case, what you are saying about midfield is more reflective of traditional styles of play.  Everything used to revolve around midfield, but the game has evolved beyond that.  Actually a common trend I see now is to move away from having midfielders have to carry the team in makings plays.  In fact, we’ve been in multiple clubs now that simply want one touch possession play from midfielders with more creative license going to the wingers and wing backs. [/quote]

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