Most important/valued position in football (soccer to our american cousins)

[killersheep]

Manager IMO

[BIG H]

Peter Cech is Chelsea's most important player, him (and the back four) were the main factors in them winning their 2 titles. But Man Utd wouldn't have won the league last year without Ronaldo, so it's difficult. Keepers = more points per season imo

[Mikkel_K]

It's hard to single out a position that is not the keeper. But players in other positions might sometimes win games singlehandedly - strikers, midfielders or defenders (like Beckenbauer) for that matter.

Also, Brazil has never really had a world class keeper for example, and they've done pretty well over the years. Might have done better with a Schmeichel, Cech or Buffon though.

[RozzySean]

If keeper were the most important position, wouldn't the US team do better? We produce more good keepers than anything else.

Keepers can certainly steal a game (see Oliver Kahn against the US in the World Cup quarterfinals) and they are one of the most important. I guess it depends on how you think about it. It's probably impossible to win consistently at a high level with a mediocre keeper, but if you can't score or defend, the best keeper in the world can't save you.

I'll take a great center-midfielder anytime. I don't think any position can dominate a game like a great center-mid. A guy like Zidane can practically carry a whole team - like he did in the 2006 semi.

Perhaps I'm being biased, because the U.S. never seems to able to produce anyone decent at that position.

[C-Lo]

I think the keeper is too. I maybe a bit partial because the goal keeper in soccer is like the libero in volleyball and that was the position I played in college.

Offense wins games, Defense win championships...

[CutMeMick]

Keeper.

[Munkymagic]

I guess the way i thought of it is which position could you not absorb a weak player.

I think maybe any other position on the field you may be able to absorb a weaker player into the team.

For example a team of good players with one weak outfield player, the team could possibly absorb that players weakness across the team and still do well. Whereas i don;t think a weak keeper can be absorbed simply because (IMO) so much rests on him. Last line of defence and all that, also nowadays has to be skilful on the ball with the backpass rule and also initiates the next attack with distribution.

I guess there can be an argument for any position but i think the teams with really strong keepers tend to do better.

Big H's point about Petr Chech is very valid. I know he had a great defence in front of him but 25 clean sheets in a season is incredible. Also again...untd would not have won the title without ronaldo.