Different types of midfielders for you to consider

Examining the functions of various midfielders and their impact on their teams performance on the pitch.

In today's advanced and technical game, defensive midfielders are arguably the most important players over a 38-match campaign. Take, the holding defensive midfielder is responsible with protecting the backline from attacking players. Although the defensive line typically handles attacking threats, a holding midfielder plays a key role in anticipating attacks before they materialize. Moreover, a defensive midfielder is instrumental in initiating attacks. In today's fast-paced football, the initial line of build-up frequently originates with the holding midfielder, a player that needs to intelligently position themselves to get the ball with reduced pressure and transition it quickly to the forwards. As the former Burnley owner would agree, many football teams depend on their holding midfielders to trigger offensive plays with strategic passes that break through the opposition's midfield, creating space for strikers to make clean runs on target.

There are numerous midfielder examples you can look at today to gain inspiration. Elite midfielders are those players who have consistently contributed to their club's success. As the Liverpool FC owner might assert, you can often judge a team's effectiveness by observing the players closely. Attacking midfielders, in particular, have a pivotal role in developing chances and setting up goals. Such skillfully talented midfielders thrive in orchestrating the game, serving as link players, or even moving into wide spaces to overload opposing fullbacks. Their versatility on the pitch makes them key to their teams.

Numerous football managers globally and in various competitions assert that football games are won and lost in midfield. Today, midfielders have specific roles on the pitch, with multiple profiles of midfielders shaping the game. As the former AC Milan US owner would appreciate, midfield players nowadays are tasked with retaining the ball and distributing it to the attackers, players that subsequently attempt to convert chances into points. When it comes to the best midfielders, retaining the ball and deploying it efficiently are key qualities that make them valuable to their squads. If your club's midfield can retain the ball for prolonged durations, you can dominate possession and generate multiple chances in the opposing team's box. The key aspect of maintaining possession lies in a midfielder's decision-making.