5 players who are currently being played out of position

In a game that needs you to be dynamic and be a workaholic, a player is needed to play according to the best interests of his team. Currently, in football, there is a great need for players to be flexible and make changes to their game as the team needs them to do.Over the years we have seen many managers putting their players on the bench, or selling them altogether, just because they could not fit into their side. From playing central midfielders as makeshift central defenders, to shifting the central defenders into the fullback positions, there have been many such instances where players have had to play out of their position just to keep their manager and fans satisfied.There is no question that the interest of the team and the club comes first, but it also means that the players who have over the years developed their skills to be specialists in one particular position, are forced to play in a position they are not very comfortable in.There have been many examples over the years where players like Theirry Henry, who started as a winger, but finished his career as an out-and-out striker, just because his team and manager required him to play at a position where the team had a shortage because of injuries or suspensions.We look at the five such players, who are are currently being played out of position:

#1 Sergi Roberto

Being played as a right-back at Barcelona

After two years of being an outcast in the first team with very few minutes and underwhelming performances as a midfielder, the young Spaniard welcomed a challenge this season after coach Luis Enrique began to test him as a full-back, and Roberto thrived on it, becoming a key component of the squad in the middle of an insane start with injuries and painful losses.

Enrique has good reason to be happy with Roberto's performances in his new position. But his conversion has not happened overnight; it has been on the back of a lot of work in training and many tactical chats with his manager, who has shown a lot of confidence in him.

The summer could not have been easy for Sergi Roberto. It seemed like a step back in his growth; the brakes put on his progression. He was being shifted out to right back out of necessity more than anything else. It was difficult for him to get games in midfield and to top it, the club had signed Arda Turan from Atletico.

Tactically responsible, technically perfect, defensively intelligent and mentally prepared for his new role, Sergi Roberto has become, thanks to Luis Enrique's and his hard work, the perfect alternative for the right-back spot – if not the eventual first choice. He is being played out of position, but its a role the player has grown into and excelled at.

And, despite that, the logical doubts about the player persist: What will happen when, in January, Aleix Vidal can play? The answer, as in all cases, will be Luis Enrique's motto: "Whoever deserves to play, plays."

#2 Ashley Young

Being played as a right-back at Manchester United

Manchester United winger Ashley Young signed a new three year deal at the start of the new season. He has been labelled as a team-man by his manager Louis Van Gaal. The United boss has been particularly impressed with Young's selfless attitude and his willingness to play in different positions for the sake of the team.

But the thing about experimentation is that either its a success or a failure. In Ashley Young’s case, it has been a complete failure. A player who was termed as the next big thing in English football when he used to play at Aston Villa, has been disappointing playing in the winger’s role or in the new right-back role.

Traditionally, a winger, Young started his United career under Sir Alex Ferguson, but after a fairly good first season with the club, his form dipped. With the likes of Rooney, Nani, Hernandez, Van Persie, the Englishman never had a shot at consistent first team football. He was always seen as a back-up to potentially bright players in Mata and Valencia.

Never managing to cement his place in the team has led him to such a fate. Young has been the back-up right-back for United this season, owing to United’s injury list. With Luke Shaw out for a while, Van Gaal has been experimenting, playing Darmian at left-back, leaving the right-back position empty.

It is one thing to be a dynamic, team player – but not always. Under Van Gaal, Young has managed to make only 9 appearances this season, which has also left the fans wondering what the best position for Young is – or if there is a position for him at all at United.

This change of positions and poor vein of form has also left Young out of the England squad. At 30, the player has failed to add to his thirty England caps since playing in the 0-0 draw against Ukraine in September 2013. And despite his return to favour at United, Hodgson has continually overlooked Young.

#3 Antoine Griezmann

Being played as a striker at Atletico Madrid

Griezmann is traditionally a wide attacker who made his name at Real Sociedad. He has been known for being a quick, clever runner on the flanks who had the ability to cut to the line and cross the ball into the box or to get round the defender, cut inside and look for a shot. The French international wasn’t renowned for his finishing ability or for his strength, but he was fast, fairly direct, and great at running in space with the ball.

Replacing Diego Costa was always going to be one of Diego Simeone's hardest challenges at the Vicente Calderon in 2014/15. However, whilst Mario Mandzukic had done well, it was one of Atletico's other signings that had really stunned followers of La Liga.

French star Antoine Griezmann was brilliant for Real Sociedad in 2013/14 but was very much a left-sided winger prior to his €30 million switch from the Anoeta. Whilst the 24-year-old has played the occasional match out wide, as well as a secondary striker, Atletico's ability to mould the youngster into an out-and-out forward has been crucial to keeping the Madrid club in the upper echelons of Spanish football.

Out of the 22 goals he scored last season, 15 had come from 20 starts as a centre forward, compared to 7 in 13 when playing elsewhere. Moreover, his ability to bamboozle defences from a central role has undoubtedly made him one of the most feared attacking figures in Europe.

However, it took Griezmann several months to settle in with Atletico and during that time their attack struggled as they became extremely dependent on their set piece threat.

At the last winter break, Atletico had scored 34 goals, 19 of which came from set pieces, accounting for 55% of their goals. No other La Liga side scored more than eight set piece goals during that time. It was a remarkable record, but it arose out of necessity caused by their lack of counter-attacking threat as Costa was gone, Mandzukic wasn’t particularly adept at the kind of rampaging runs that Costa specialized in, and Griezmann had not found his form since his move.

But in the new year, Atletico had found their counter-attacking style again and Griezmann had been at the heart of it. There were actually hints of a revival prior to the break as Griezmann picked up his form as a striker.

Thanks to Griezmann’s ability to take up that part of Costa’s role in the Atletico attack the Rojiblancos are once again looking like a dangerous counter attacking side able to hit opponents quickly and score on the break. The change of positions for Griezmann (scored 5 goals) is evident as he continues to play as a striker for Atletico ahead of Fernando Torres, Ferreira Carrasco, Jackson Martinez (scored 2 each) and Luciano Vietto (scored 1 goal).

#4 Aaron Ramsey

Being played as a right-sided midfielder at Arsenal

Aaron Ramsey had his breakthrough season for Arsenal two seasons ago when he was played centrally by Arsene Wenger, in a much advanced role. He prefers to occupy the centre ground, and has convinced all by making a difference from that position, leading the Gunners to two consecutive FA Cup titles.

Ramsey had been stuck out wide on the right by Wenger for most of the second half of last season, but after a chat with the manager he was back to where he wanted to be in the late stages of last season, and he wanted to stay there. But Wenger has had other ideas this season. The Frenchman has played Ramsey at the right-side of midfield, ahead of Chamberlain.

But Ramsey has said, he likes to play in the middle, but also wants to do what his manager tells him to do. He said, "I like to get the ball and drive the team forward, to start from a defensive position and push the team forward with little one-twos. You don't see much of the ball out wide.”

Starting from the right wing to allow the double pivot of Francis Coqelin and Santi Cazorla to reunite, Ramsey was still extremely effective at the start of the season for Arsenal until he picked up a hamstring injury, which has kept him out for five weeks. When playing, the Welshman has managed to get on the scoresheet and also found himself in dangerous positions more than once as he looked to influence the game from the right-hand side.

Though he has started on the right flank Ramsey has been clearly given a fairly free role to roam when Arsenal have been in possession, allowing Héctor Bellerín to provide the width from right-back.

Playing a player of Ramsey’s calibre out of his usual central midfield position shows that Arsenal have lacked a right sided winger, but Wenger insists that his squad is enough to get his team consistent wins.

#5 Kurt Zouma

Being played as a right-back at Chelsea

Kurt Zouma had been regularly employed out of his favoured centre-back position during his first season with Chelsea, often played in the holding role in midfield in the absence of Nemanja Matic.

At the start of the new season, foreseeing a potential lack of defenders for the 2015-16 season, Mourinho played Zouma in his third different position in the last 12 months when he moved the 6ft 3' player to left-back during pre-season. And having learned how to play the role, Zouma said that he is ready to be deployed there during the new season, despite Chelsea having bought Baba Rahman this season.

Speaking of playing players at other positions, Mourinho said, "We have good players, we have to get players to play in positions that are not their positions, to play in positions where we don't have cover and we have to be ready for that. We are working with players to play in other positions. I don't have a second left back but I have other players that we are working with to, in the future, able to play in that position in case we don't get cover."

When usual right-back Branislav Ivanovic had been ruled out for three weeks after picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty for Serbia, Kurt Zouma was brought on by Mourinho, despite Baba Rahman being in the squad as a cover.

Mourinho explained that Rahman was not yet ready to play in the Premier League for the Blues. With Chelsea struggling in 16th position in the Premier League, Mourinho did not risk the youngster, instead keeping Azpilicueta on the left and playing the powerful Kurt Zouma at right-back. Along with Kurt Zouma, Spanish fullback Cesar Azpilicueta, a traditional right-back is also being played out of position after spending the last 18 months on the left.

Zouma’s pace, strength and athleticism makes him a versatile player - he has played in midfield and at both full-back positions for the Blues, but Chelsea’s troubles have not vanished. Zouma himself has expressed that it is "really not a problem" for him to play at left-back and is ready to take up whatever position is asked of him as Chelsea await defensive players returning from injury.