Players peaks and ages

What i'm interested is that after an some age players attributes will start to drop but does that different between positions? For example 37 years old goalkeeper could still be good even in premierleague or meybe decent but anyway and 31 years old could be too high age for fast running striker. If i put here players positions, could someone fill up their opinion about after what age will the current attributes start to drop, and maybe an example or reason why?

GK

DL/R

DC

DM

MC

(A)ML/R

AMC

ST

Its different for each player mate. Beckham is still good but take a player from the same age in the same position well he could be worse then crap. So no point in this imo.

But maybe the nice people in GD have a different opinion about this.

Generally players peak around 24/25. Start to drop off around 31 for all positions.

But really depends on their mental, personality.

Goalies not sure, only have 1 young keeper.

There is obviously not definitive answer - as players professionalism, natural fitness etc, as well as the amount that they play, will have a potentially massive impact. Training will also have an impact - look not to overwork aging players, and focus on keeping up their physical abilities.

From experience though:

GK - The very best GKs tend to show their promise from an early age, such as Buffon and Casillas. Those who aren't brilliant at a young age may develop significantly through experience of playing in matches, but obviously a number will spend much of their time as backups and reserves. The peak of a top goalkeeper is probably about 30-32, but some could be considered world-class at a much younger age (23-25 perhaps).

Due to the decreased physical demands places on a GK, some could stay at the top level until at least 40, with even the less fit and less professional GK probably not starting to deteriorate before 35-36. If the player decides to move to lower level when their stats start to decrease, they could perhaps prolonged their career until they're well into their '40s.

DL/R - This is a position where it's highly dependant on their style of play and on their potential to perform once their start to lose their physical advantage. A wing-back type player may be at their peak at as young as 24-25, and may be on the way out by about 31-32 unless their game is adapted. If they take the Maldini approach and adapt to a more defensive game, then if technically and mentally capable they can last until well into their late '30s.

Players who from the start are naturally defensive in their approach may be similar to DCs in that, with technical and mental abilities often taking priority over physical stats (except perhaps stamina), they may peak later, and can maybe be depended on to constantly produce until a later stage in their career. Physical stats are perhaps more important to some DL/DR than to any position (with the exception perhaps of wingers and some strikers).

DC - The standard DC will probably be at their peak in their early 30s - when their mental skills have developed, and their physical stats have not yet started to significantly dwindle. Players such as John Terry and Nemanja Vidic rely on their reading of the game, and this comes with age and experience. However, the best DCs rely too on technical and physical ability, needing the ability to win the ball on the ground or in the air and then to be able to successfully get his team out of danger.

Some DCs may have different priorities however. Some defenders may rely more on their pace, either to play a different role (being required to chase down loose balls or close down more), or simply to compensate for their technical and/or mental deficiencies. For example, a player may be a poor reader of the game and get repeatedly caught out of position, but such a player may have the physical ability to get back and put in a crucial tackle, and so for them their pace is essential. Consequently they may peak earlier (25-27) and may need to adapt their role or drop to a lower level if they wish to prolongue their career beyond 33-34.

Some DCs do not rely on pace or technical ability and are simply there to get to the ball and get it away however possible. Such a player may never have a peak per se, but be able to constantly perform for a much greater period of time, lasting into their late '30s if their crucial stats are sufficient.

DM - Increasingly in the modern game there are two distinct types of DM. The creative player, and the no-nonsense ball winning anchorman. A creative player is likely to be more technically capable, and as such may be able to perform at a high level at a younger age, being naturally blessed with the ability to pass the ball around and get the ball forward from a deep position, with less of a responsibility to win the ball back or act as a physical presence infront of the defence. Such a player may not peak until 28-30 though, as experience will improve them mentally, and perhaps increase their ability to play the role of a ball-winner, or alternatively may see them develop into more of a deep-lying playmaker.

An ball winner and/or an achorman is a completely different kettle of fish however. Such a player relies on their sheer presence to win the ball back and put pressure on the attacking side - looking to protect their defence and clear the ball out of danger. This type of player may need to be technically and physically capable to perform at a top level, with tackling, marking, heading, stamina and strength amongst others aiding their play (as there's little point winning the ball to give it away again). However, where such a player excels is mentally, using their experience and reading of the game to act as a cool head in the centre of the park and steadying the ship, so to speak. This type of player will get better with age and experience, and so may not peak until into their '30s, and may experience their best years between 31 and 34. However, there's little stopping such a player carrying on until they're in their '40s, if played right.

MC - I'll take this 'MC' role as a creative player, as I covered ball-winning players in DM. The main role of a creative CM, either a deep-lying or advanced playmaker, is to get the ball forward and play passes through to the strikers and other attacking players, hoping to split the opposition defence. Too it is often their responsibility to act as a mature head in the middle of the pitch, roaming around looking for a pass and retaining possession while looking for an opening.

Such a player is often hugely technically and mentally capable - needing the abilities and the technique to play defence-splitting through balls, while needing to be able to spot such a pass in the first place and read the runs of his teammates. As this type of player relies less on their physical stats (often not being the fastest and having other players around them as protection) they could be capable of playing at the top level for a number of years. The top players may get into top teams at a young age (Fabregas, Xavi) and stay there throughout their careers (Guardiola). Such a player will rarely lose their technical abilities, and can only improve with experience. Although physical stats are of lesser importance, stamina may be an exception. For this reason, the peak of a creative CM is probably 27-32 although they could still be a valuable player to have at 38!

(A)ML/R - I'll divide this in to two main catagories. Wingers and forwards. All but the very best wingers rely chiefly on their acceleration and pace to be able to get into advanced and dangerous positions and to beat their man, before putting a ball into the area. Such a player may not be mentally brilliant, but too may have little need to - having one primary role in the team. As such, they may be at their peak as young as 24-27.

The best wingers though may too be very technically capable and better mentally, both allowing them to do more with the ball once in a dangerous position, and allowing them to get into such a position better, avoiding running into dead ends or giving the ball away needlessly. The best wingers will have the technical and mental ability to adapt their game once their pace leaves them, or may not even need to be particularly quick, relying on technique over speed to get into a position for a cross. This type of player may have a much longer career at the top, perhaps only peaking at around 27-29, and such as in the case of Figo or Giggs, be able to stay there much longer.

Forwards are generally more technically capable, and more able to create something out of nothing. Although often a wide player, they will have more of a responsibility in the team than simply to get crosses in, and may be a significant goal threat too. These are often some of the most technically capable players and some of the hardest to play against (C. Ronaldo, Messi, Arshavin).

Mental and physical attributes may be important depending on a player's role, but such is their technical ability these are often not essential - pace, flair and creativity can be hugely beneficial to their game however, and the ability to link up well with their team mates may make them hugely difficult to defend against. This type of player could peak at any age, depending on their role to play, and often are very good at a young age, allowing less room for future improvement - and so could peak anywhere between 23 and 29. As with wingers, their ability may mean that they are able to adapt their game and play at a top level for a prolonged period of time.

AMC - Attacking midfielders are often hugely technical flair players, able to produce moments of brilliance out of nothing. However, there is quite a bit of room for differentiation.

AM are often playmaker who, much like the MC, are very technical players, and often looking to play passes through to the other attacking players. The difference however is that they are often the main goal threat themselves, able to shoot and dribble better than a deeper lying player, and often more of a physically capable player. They are often however less hardworking players, who won't offer much defensively, and instead will be the main attacking outlet for the team. Such a player often peaks young, perhaps at 24-28, but may have the technical ability to be a very useful player at an older age. As they develop mentally and lose their physical ability, they may drop into a deeper position (eg. Scholes).

Some AMC are much more like MC to begin with, while others are more like strikers. The position itself is thus much more about the role the player has.

ST - Different strikers rely on different attributes:

- An advanced striker or a poacher may rely on pace and reading of the game, and as such may peak at a young age (eg. Owen), but others may play a similar role, relying on technical ability over pace to get into positions from which they can score. (eg. Inzaghi, Luis Fabiano). As such, it depends greatly on how they are to be used. While they could peak at 23-26 if their pass is being utilised, if their play adapts so that their technical ability becomes most important, they could have a second peak of sorts, at perhaps 30-32.

- A complete striker is likely to be a very good all-round player, good technically, physically and mentally. They may be very effective at a young age (Torres, Aguero) and may have the ability to play at a top level for a long time. Statisically however, the best strikers tend to peak at 27-30.

- A target man relies on physicality and presence, and as such is less dependant on pace or technical ability. With experience, they may get better at reading the game, and as such may peak at 29-33. However, target men with technical ability may peak earlier - if they are being used as a goal threat opposed to a support player.

Anything I've missed, or anything I've said obviously wrong? :confused:

Thanks Hershie, that was what i needed. I print that to myself as a guidebook.

Apologies if it's a bit vague, waffley etc. Was just me throwing down a few ideas and opinions.

Well written Hershie, some interesting points in here for FM newbies and even veterans.