You laughed the other day at Nedved's comment about Krasic needing to defend better.
I laughed at the comment because it was typical in various ways, including how Mr. I Run A Marathon on Christmas Day Nedved would always say, "you need to work harder!"
Foremost, a winger needs to attack, but the best ones are those who know where and when to balance the team.
It's always nice to have players that work hard for the team and help out at both ends of the pitch. But the best wingers in the world, at least right now, are primarily offensive wingers who are certainly not Pavel Nedveds without the ball. Robben, Ronaldo, Nani, et cetera. I'd say that if those in charge of the team are worried about this discussion like some here, then we are missing the boat of football evolution.
If I walked up to someone on the street and asked them if they'd want Robben on their side, and they responded by asking, "can he defend", I'd punch him in the face. Well no I wouldn't, but I would recommend a nearby mental hospital.
Our attacking phase doesn't start with getting the ball wide to a winger, it starts with us getting on top of the opponent and getting the ball off them. To dictate play you can't afford to let players run down your channels at ease, that just puts you on the back foot.
If you want to dictate the play from an attacking perspective with wide attackers then these players need to be of high quality, high athletic ability, and the centre of midfield needs players who can win the ball.
I agree with most of that. But this is why I feel we shouldn't be using the straight 4-4-2. We have one good winger in Krasic and that's it. We have limited fullbacks, which isn't suitable considering they have to add to the counterattack when we win the ball back, or when we have the ball further forward. And last but not least, we have a rather lethargic team mentality, both when we have the ball and when we don't. The straight 4-4-2 works best when you have the various facets you mentioned above, along with central midfielders having the ability to complete passes, and complete passes quickly. So they really have to be box to boxers. You can't have two ball winners in there who are rubbish in distribution as then your counters will be stifled and you'll have limited options in the final third through the middle. This is why I can't stand the Capello 4-4-2, but praise the Manure 4-4-2 of the past with great contempt.
And lastly, your description of how a winger-based system should work reminds me of someone we have used on our flanks. His name starts with an M and he certainly isn't a winger. That's another flaw of our unbalanced system.
Giovinco's best position is as a wide left attacker. More wide space to utilise his pace and dribbling against isolated opponents, go outside or inside on his stronger foot and good shot, whilst not being crowded in a central area by bigger opponents.
I agree. And that's partly why with the players we had/have, the 4-3-3 would be the better option.