Defenders are like hired goons
[quote=“KIB man, post: 584024”]
- Real - Redondo & Makelele. [/quote]
You’re some man to bullshit, i will give you that much
might have overstretched on that one alright, they never played together at real 
Kevin, De Jong is most certainly a holding midfielder, he rarely deviates from his plot in the centre of midfield, breaks up play better than anyone in the game and is very efficient on the ball. I’m a big fan of his, City need to partner him up with a more creative source than Barry, Milner or Toure IMO.
I wouldn’t classify Gattuso as a holding midfielder KIB, he was the kind of player who pressed wherever the ball went. I’ve always Massimo Ambrosini was a much better player than Gattuso and never really got the credit he deserved in that famous Milan side.
There are many different types of central midfielders.
Holding midfielders - include the likes of Mascherano, De Jong, Mikel. Their main role is to protect the back four and win the ball back in the midfield sector, before playing simple passes to their more creative team-mates. De Jong is the best in the business here. Hold their position very well and rarely vacate it
Withdrawn playmaker - include the likes of Pirlo, Gago Pizarro, Xavi. Responsible for being the starting point of attacks, very efficent on the ball and possess a wonderful passing range. Like the holding midfielder, they hold their position in the centre of midfield for the most part. They are usually the most important player in their team and if you can shut them down then you will go a long way to getting a result.
Box-to-box midfielders - include the likes of , De Rossi, Vieira, Keane. Generally cover an awful amount of ground during a game, some players have more an emphasis on defending to attacking or vice versa. Work best in a 3 man central midfield and great players of this regard usually possess magnificent tactical discipline.
Support midfielders - very common in the British game, include the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Perrotta. Are usually freed from tactical responsibility and given license to get beyond the attackers. Most of their best work is done off the ball, characterised by their late runs into the box and high goal yield. Usually very athletic and even more effective if they are good long range strikers of the ball, given the positions they will find themselves in.
Advanced playmaker - the creative spark of a team, examples would be Van Der Vaart, Sneijder, Ronaldinho, Totti. The key creative force to their teams, possess high volumes of flair, creativity, vision and incisive passing. Usually are the matchwinners in their team and it’s very important to stop them from getting on the ball. Also freed from tactical repsonsibilites, can also be brandished as lazy by those who do not understand the finer points of the game.
Of course you do have other players who combine different syles in their game, Iniesta for instance shows elements of an advanced playmaker, box to box midfielder and support midfielder. Kaka exhibits a hybrid of a support midfielder and advanced playmaker. Fernando Redondo still remains the most complete midfielder I’ve seen in the game.
I hope that has helped clear up the conundrum of the many complexities of a midfielder.
Now that’s a post and a half.
Well done Mr Totti.
Interesting to see Argentina’s keeper Sergio Romero is joining Sampdoria from AZ alkmaar for around 3 million quid.
Is he no longer first choice there, hard to see why he would leave behind Champion’s League football for Serie B football
Great post in fairness Totti, well explained and good examples.
Would Keane not have been a box to box who converted to a holding though?
In an unrelated matter Totti how did you become such a fan of Italian football and Roma?
great stuff totti,
You are a credit to this forum
Rocko put this on the front page
totti,
What type of midfielder would you consider jack wilshere? would it be fair to say that some midfielders are capable of performing more than one specific role as classified above?
Totti’s move from the huddleboard to TFK has been the highlight of the past two transfer windows.
What’s with the high level of debate on this site over the past few days.
Could we please get back to petty name calling, lame puns and hilarious one liners.
I’m beginning to feel left out.
Enrique has been confirmed @ 6m. If Liverpool can add a centre back this Will not have been a bad window. Granted they paid over the odds for downing and Henderson but there is depth and some width there at last. I haven’t a clue what the ideal formation / selection he is gonna go with but you feel a fit gerrard will be vital to a push for 4th / silverware.
I would have thought most centre forwards were the miost unfit players on the team(bar us goalkeepers who hardly count) as they have the least amount of running to do.
Its a load of bollix, many many players don’t have the discipline or intelligence to play at the back and out perform guys who are better athletes than them.
Good post on midfielders as well.
KIB - Sammer played in midfield for many seasons, i’m pretty sure he moved back after one injury, and retired after the 2nd. But someone like Totti might remember for sure.
Sammer was indeed a midfielder Kevin, but changed to a sweeper when that particular position was in vogue in the early 90’s. It’s a shame we don’t see sweepers in the game today. 
As a complete matter of interest Kev, where do you generally play?
I’m having trouble understanding what you are saying there.
Having played all over the pitch, I can honestly say playing full back in soccer is the handiest position going.
I would say Centre back is the least physically exhausting, but where you are more open to being skinned or making a vital mistake. If you are lucky enough to be put there being a protective defensive midfielder was definitely my favourite position, but it was not something many managers would tell you do.
Farmer i would have played Centre Half or central midfield.
I agree on this, would love to see the sweeper system making a comeback. I played sweeper all through my schoolboy career and bloody loved it. We used to play 4-3-3 with a sweeper and I always liked to think we were at the forefront of tactical developments in the Wexford District Schoolboys Leage. Sadly we eventually switched to 4-4-2 which is boring.