Attacking Midfielder vs Central Midfielder vs Defensive Midfielder

appoo · 19 Oct 2004, 05:28 PM

I'd like to know what every one else defines these positions as and what role they play in a soccer match. I think a lot of discussions around here are popping up because people keep on misunderstanding where the other is coming from. So this is mine:

Attacking Midfielder: His first and foremost responsibility is to lead the team's attack. He needs initiate through balls, making attacking runs into the box, and organize wingers and strikers. He should be in the midfield area but does not neccasarily have to have the ball at his feet to be effectivre. Should be quick, decisive, have great vision, excellent passing skills, good finishing ability both inside and outside the box, have some set peice ability, creativity is essential as willingness to not only spread the ball around, but to be selfish when neccasary
- Examples: Rui Costa, Zidane, Rooney, Diego, D'Allessandro
Defensive Midfielder: His first and foremost responsibility is to destroy the other teams attack by use of ball winning and marking the attacking midfielders out of the offense. He must disrupt passing lanes, and help relieve pressure from the defense. He doesn't have too many offensive responsibilities outside of not turning the ball over in the middle of the4 field. Should not be responsible for initiating the offense at any given moment, rather - just get the ball to an offensive player. His is more to transition rather than initiate. A good defensive midfielder will be aggressive, smart, have excellent lateral quickenss and good tackling skill aong with hgood ball winning skills. Size isn't too much of an issue but is definatly something you'd want when availible. Passing skills don't have to be very good.
- Examples: difficult because they are mostly invisibly and good teams don't usually field them. But...Chris Armas would be the classic D-Mid.
Central Midfiekder: not an A-Mid not a D-Mid. His main responsibility is to set tempo and try to control the game. Its his responsibility to tell the team when to attacl, when to to defend, and at what intensity. He must understand the flow of the game and must make decisions based upon it. Its his job to both transition, initiate when availible for the offense, and support the defense at all times. Integral assignments is to be availible to the ball AT ALL TIMES. whether on the attack or defending, he must be in position for his teamate to pass him the ball. Key skills include ability to posses under pressure, mental ability to read and understand the game are at a premium. Should not be overly aggressive , should not be too conservative. Should be happy attacking or defending. Must have an idea of when to counter and when not to counter during the flow of the game. Generally, this is the player who can win a ball, turn around and send a class through ball. Generally thought of as the best soccer players in the world because they must be able to excel in all 3 facets of the field game, offense, defense, and the mental game.
- Examples: Keane, Viera, Davids, Baraja, Galasek

JohnR · 19 Oct 2004, 06:18 PM

Didn't Brazil win a World Cup with Dunga as a true destroyer Dmid?

At any rate, I'm fine with your definitions. Or you could just say Donovan, Reyna, Armas as prime examples of attacking, central, and defensive, and I'd be fine too.

Adam Zebrowski · 19 Oct 2004, 06:20 PM

so where do we place a holding mid in to this classification??

Is it a 4th type or should it be placed withe the generic central mid??

appoo · 19 Oct 2004, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Zebrowski

so where do we place a holding mid in to this classification??

Is it a 4th type or should it be placed withe the generic central mid??

whats a holding mid?

btw - I do have an ulterior motive for this. so please keep it in this forum Mods

Adam Zebrowski · 19 Oct 2004, 06:28 PM

not an A-Mid not a D-Mid. His main responsibility is to set tempo and try to control the game

was the first sentence in describing the central mid...and almost 90% of what you post a CM to be fits into my concept of a HOLDING MID...

except I don't see reyna as a keane...but I see reyna as a holding mid

Ringo · 19 Oct 2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appooOnU

btw - I do have an ulterior motive for this. so please keep it in this forum Mods

I'm tingling with anticipation.

twenty · 19 Oct 2004, 07:03 PM

Good definitions. I think most would agree with those, except the part about the central midfielders generally being thought of as the best players in the world. You are entitled to your opinion, so it's fine if you think that, but don't try and say that that is the general thinking, because it's not.

Generally, people regard attacking midfielders, like Ronaldinho, Kaka, Totti, and Zidane in his prime as the best players in the world. Players like Viera, Baraja, etc are generally regarded as great players, but most would not rank them in the same class as the top attacking midfielders.

Also, many good teams have no use for a defensive midfielder, because they usually have a great player who can go beyond the bounds of these conventional definitions. For example, Zidane in his prime could control the pace of the game better than any central midfielder and still orchestrate lethal attacks at the same time, so he could be paired with Viera, a central midfielder and Viera could concentrate more on defending.

Another example is Davids in his prime, who could shut down any attacking midfielder and still contribute greatly to the attack.

XYZ1234 · 19 Oct 2004, 07:16 PM

I think some of this is fair, especially the AM description, but some is a bit off the mark.

A Dmid doesn't have to be just a destroyer. The destroyer title just seems to be reserved for players with very little ball skills. Does anyone think that Armas or even Dunga are better Dmids than Keane, Viera, or Davids? Or that Keane, Viera or Davids aren't Dmids because they actually have skill on the ball? This just seems silly to me.

appoo · 19 Oct 2004, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allosm

I think some of this is fair, especially the AM description, but some is a bit off the mark.

A Dmid doesn't have to be just a destroyer. The destroyer title just seems to be reserved for players with very little ball skills. Does anyone think that Armas or even Dunga are better Dmids than Keane, Viera, or Davids? Or that Keane, Viera or Davids aren't Dmids because they actually have skill on the ball? This just seems silly to me.

I think it depends on the responsibility. Dunga and Armas aren't asked to get involved in the attack. Keane is. So you might be right in that Keano is better than both od those players as pure D-Mids, you shouldn't because they have different responsibilities

appoo · 19 Oct 2004, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Zebrowski

not an A-Mid not a D-Mid. His main responsibility is to set tempo and try to control the game

was the first sentence in describing the central mid...and almost 90% of what you post a CM to be fits into my concept of a HOLDING MID...

except I don't see reyna as a keane...but I see reyna as a holding mid

whats the 10% that seperates a holding mid from a central mid?