ROLES OF MODERN MIDFIELDERS

The positions of a football midfielder varies depending on a manager's tactics. The game is a beautiful game. A game of skill, talent, intelligence and strength.
    The midfield is arguably the most important area of the pitch as it is where the myriad of actions take place and a midfielder might also be the most hardworking player in a team(brain and work rate).
   Some midfielders are there to create chances, some are there to create balance, some are there to give the team a base for the kind of football they want to play etc. Midfielders have different roles and the system + manager's style dictate their functions. Not everyone of them is there to send through balls. Sure, sometimes, the opportunity arises and they can. But most times, if it's not your primary assignment within the system, you don't prioritize it. You focus more on your core function in the team. Below are the roles of modern midfielders.

*The box-to-box midfielder*
Often a pacey workhouse with a tendency to sneak in for a cheeky goal while all the opposition defenders are looking at the forwards. Funny how they do this and then rush back to make a tactical foul on someone when they threaten.
   This player is charged with spreading play laterally rather than moving up the pitch like a traditional no. 8. The box-to-box midfielder will look to push forward and aid attacking moves, he does not necessarily need to be involved in the final third, also breaking up opposition attacks, driving the team forward and picking the safer ball. He is like the heartbeat of the team as he contributes to both defence and attack. They need to be energetic, industrious and versatile. Modern box-to-box midfielders are Ngolo Kante, Allan of Napoli, Paulinho.

*The defensive midfielder (A destroyer)*
   Always positioned just in front of the defence line. He is the deepest of all the midfielders as he covers the CBs and the FBs. It is safer to use a deep-lying playmaker alongside him because of their inability to use the ball efficiently.
   A destroyer fouls, intercepts, and challenges for the ball in aeriel duels. Creating is not a primary duty. Wilfred Ndidi and Declan Rice are famous examples in EPL.


*The defensive midfielder (A workhouse)*
   A jack-of-all-trades, master of none, the workhouse is the player you can't quite pin down, so you slap a CM label on them and walk away. He does a bit of everything, but nothing exceptionally and that's his purpose. To clog up play, get the ball up, repeat. Clear examples are Jordan Henderson, Fred. They can also play the role of a destroyer.

*The regista*
The deep-lying playmaker (conductor) mops up a bit but their primary role is to create attacks from behind while the rest of the midfield focuses on gaining possession and dictating play. Vision and passing is their core.
     They won't rack up assists as you think a midfielder should but they will likely supply the initial smart pass that leads to the goal, turning recoveries into creativity, starting counter attacks. They also decide the pace: will the game be quick or arduous? Through the flanks or down the middle?
Examples are Julian Weigl, Jorginho, Verrati, Sergio Busquet, Rodrigo.

*The attacking midfielder (trequartista)*
   He is basically the "space investigator" as they are charged with exploiting the little spaces.
   His main function in a team is to drift infield and find pockets of space in which to thrive. This position is dying a slow death in modern football because of the style deployed by many modern football managers. The attacking midfielders are now often used as wide players. When deploying an AM as a wide player, you are essentially instructing them to cut inside and exploit the channel rather than staying out wide and stretching the pitch.
     The midfielder is not usually concerned with defensive matters so it important to have a solid foundation behind him.
    The trequartista collects the ball in a fixed position and them make a quick, decisive decision. He floats and collects the ball in various positions.
    You don't expect him to make driving runs into the box as he is the creative box and that is what he's expected to do: create. Examples are; Isco, Mesut Ozil, James Rodriguez, David Silva, Juan Mata, Dmitri Payet, Kevin De Bruyne among many others.

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