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

[RozzySean]

im sorry but i think your all wrong... All the top teams have that holding midfielder who protecs the back 4 and breaks the play up... He is some times called the water carrier, and plays such as Hargreaves, Essien, Mascarano etc all preform this job for there club sides... Roy Keane and Patrik Viera were two of the best examples in recent years, just look how important they were...

I love this position (it was my favorite to play) and it's a great asset to have a great one, but I think it's easier to make up for a weakness in this position than it is to cover for a bad keeper or lack of a good attacking midfielder or forward.

[El Kabong]

Center Mid....they have the opportunity to touch the ball the most and have an effect on attack and defense.

PROOF
Can Liverpool win without Reina?
Can Liverpool win without Torres?
Can Liverpool win without Gerrard?


.....CENTER MID

[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.