Advice for playing as a defensive midfielder

[Supernova.M]

Hey everyone, I'm quite new to the forum as I'm sure you can tell from my post count, so first off - hello, and may I say that I really enjoy visiting this forum.

Tomorrow I am playing football as a holding midfielder, a role I'm rather unfamiliar with. My coach has played me left-wing, up front, box-to-box and as an attacking midfielder, and even as a right-back, but never as a holding midfielder (alongside a VERY attacking player), and so I was wondering if anybody had any good tips for me, both positionally and otherwise.

If it helps I am quite a good passer (at the level I play at), and dribbler, but am poor in the air. I am also two-footed.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[Fordy]

conserve energy mate, you main role is to protect the back 4. try and stick to a certain area to play in all game (if that makes sense)

 

[van_Pommel]

Also try to cover the full backs if they go forward, but be carefull not to leave the defence exposed.

 

[chinaman]

It is strange that your coach doesn't tell you what to do ?

 

[Blotto]

It is strange that your coach doesn't tell you what to do ?

A little...anyway, don't spend your energy on (too many) runs into the attacking third--look to facilitate others on attacking runs and keep the ball in rotation, get stuck in in the midfield and don't forget that defense is about the team--so cover for your mates and make your clearances count.

That's what I was told as a lad, at least...:shrug:

 

[Real_madyidd]

Smash the shit out of thier attackers. Make them fucking terrified of coming near you. A few early fouls will let them know who is boss, and you wont get booked early in the game.

Also, whisper that you are going to fuck their mothjers up the arse while their dads watch, if they react take a dive and complain that "the gay one" punched you.

 

[Bonjour]

I've been playing holding for my team up until this season. I've been moved back to more of a sweeping role now as I've gotten older / slower.

Key thing is to play with your head. Read the game and try to think of where the ball is going to be, rather than where it is (if that makes sense). If a player beats you with a bit of skill, get straight back at him as fast as you can - never give up. Hassle the feck out of 'em, Robbie Savage style.

A really good holding midfielder often hardly gets noticed. Just do the job quietly and efficiently - win the ball, lay it off to another player, resume position.

Just watch any game with Makelele to see how it should be done. He's tiny, but man he can read the game perfectly.

 

[milkman]

Smash the shit out of thier attackers. Make them fucking terrified of coming near you. A few early fouls will let them know who is boss, and you wont get booked early in the game.

Also, whisper that you are going to fuck their mothjers up the arse while their dads watch, if they react take a dive and complain that "the gay one" punched you.

nice welcoming comment for a new boy on SC! :wink:

 

[mdharris]

Harrying is a good tactic, gets their heads down. And early on, if one goes past you, go in hard on him, really make him feel it.

 

[Andy]

Whatever you do don't be greedy or dwell on the ball, get it and pass it off asap, nine times out of ten mistakes and goals come from players trying to run the ball out of their own half, don't be afraid to punt the ball away in an instance if needed,
strikers tend to track back a small amount and you'll be the one to get the kicks in the ankles (they mistime challenges more than most on a pitch)
Also and this is most important don't wimp out of challenges if you do it straight away then the opposing player will have you in his pocket for the game.

 

[Kyras]

Depends, if you've got the fitness to run around and harass all game like a headless chicken, then do so. If not, try and not to press to far in front of your back four. If you're a really good "footballer" try and dictate play, Hudd/Carrick style, but it more depends on the needs of the team.

Make sure that you impose yourself, hard challenges and jump over hte top for the first couple of headers, and make sure your positioning is perfect (look all around you, especially behind) you will run around 30% less.

 

[Disconosebleed]

I had a spell in holding midfield for my Uni team but I was bollocks at it. It's an incredibly difficult skill because it's all about positioning really - I didn't really know what I was doing, and the ball got passed through and around me all the time.

Eventually got moved into attacking mid and then finally up front, where I scored a magnificent four goals over the season. Sadly that made me joint top scorer. My team is absolutely shite.

 

[Andy]

I had a spell in holding midfield for my Uni team but I was bollocks at it. It's an incredibly difficult skill because it's all about positioning really - I didn't really know what I was doing, and the ball got passed through and around me all the time.

Eventually got moved into attacking mid and then finally up front, where I scored a magnificent four goals over the season. Sadly that made me joint top scorer. My team is absolutely shite.

either your Huddlestone or Ginger Pele :wink:

 

[Blotto]

Smash the shit out of thier attackers. Make them fucking terrified of coming near you. A few early fouls will let them know who is boss, and you wont get booked early in the game.

Also, whisper that you are going to fuck their mothjers up the arse while their dads watch, if they react take a dive and complain that "the gay one" punched you.

Best advice ever; going to have to share this one with the lads I am to coach next fall. :lol:

Had a coach tell me once that if I got beat early on by someone, I should put him on the ground twice for every one time he managed to get by me...he called it "psychologically advanced play" :up:

 

[Disconosebleed]

either your Huddlestone or Ginger Pele :wink:

Funny enough when they put me there it was on the basis that I would be like Huddlestone - not a particularly hard worker but with an eye for a pass and the technique to pull them off...that's why they ended up putting me in attacking mid, pretty much a Riquelme role. All I did was wander around demanding the ball and occasionally creating something.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Apart from the fouling and covering advice, the best thing you can do is talk. Have a word with the centre-halves before the game and say it's the first time you've played there so if they think you need to be somewhere to tell you.

Then in turn be prepared to call the shots of the guys around you. When you win the ball you might not have time to do too much with it, so if your wide players or attacking mid aren't immediately showing for it give them a bollocking. You'll be in a great place to be able to see how both sides are playing and building their attacks and you might spot something (weak-footed defender or attacker playing on the full-back making diagonal runs rather than directly up top), which will give your team the advantage.

Ultimately, it's all a learning experience, so hopefully your team won't expect too much. And as I told my boys today - enjoy.

 

[punkisback]

I played holding mid when i played for my hometown team last year on holiday. I have to say its my favourite position. You need to be constantly aware of everyone and everything, never ever lose concentration. It helps that like you i'm two footed and a very good passer, so make sure to use those curling over the top balls to wingers or overlapping fullbacks in the opposition's final third, this relieves a lot of pressure. Also Keeping it simple is the key, if the play is messy control the ball, tidy the play and dictate the tempo. I'm a decent tackler but my main strength lies in interceptions, and with your good dribbling skills you may have the composure to retain the ball in tight situations then release it to the attackers.

 

[Defsta]

Just keep kicking and tackling everything what moves and you'll be doing just fine :up: