More Positioning And Less Creativity: The Decline Of Role 10 In Modern Football
Introduction
Football has had many changes over the years, especially from the tactical point of view, leading to the birth of new positions. However, with new positions, we are slowly losing the old position that brought subtleties and magic to football.
Well, it is the condition of modern football. Pep breaking the pitch into 12 parts to ask his players in that confined zone has brought fluidity and flair to football. Likewise, it has seen the loss of creativity, especially the death of role 10 in modern football.
Similarly, managers like Jose Mourinho, Conte, Klopp, Arteta, Tuchel, Zidane, and so on are moving on to role 10 to bring more control and decisiveness to football. Conversely, it has led to a steep increase in backward and sideways passing. And inherently, players lose their footballing minds.
Therefore, in the next section, we will discuss more reasons for its decline –
Reasons For The Decline Of Role 10 in Modern Football
Role 10 is the player that makes things happen in football. From great Brazilian teams to Argentina and France, they all have relied on their role 10s to do magic in football. Even though there are role 10 players like Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bryune, it is becoming an extinct position. You can also learn more about the tips from the sports betting tips today. They offer great articles to read.
Evolution Of 4-3-3 Formation
The evolution of the 4-3-3 formation has been the reason for the decline of role 10 in modern football. Modern managers look for a deep-lying playmaker (CDM) who intercepts, defends, and moves the ball forward to the forward players. Following this, there are right and left midfielders who are more like box-to-box midfielders.
Their role is to press the other half of the defensive line so that with one or two passes, you can unlock the defense and score goals. In terms of defense, you can form a triangle like the Bermuda Triangle. This way, you can trap the ball in the midfield and control the game with and without the ball.
Consequently, this has an effect on role ten players who are more into attacking stents rather than following their defensive work. Eventually, it leads managers to make necessary changes and choose a central midfielder over a role 10.
You can see this in the teams built by Klopp, Mourinho, Tuchel, Pep, and Zidane. They rely more on two midfielders to do all the functioning. That is why we saw managers losing players with James Rodriguez, Isco, Ozil, and Mata. Hence, you will see that youth systems focus on building likewise.
More Positioning And Less Creativity
Following the last point, we can come to the fact that managers need to press the gap and fixate on positioning to press and pass the ball. This way, with less creative and skillful players, you can easily stretch the defense to create goal-scoring chances. This way, teams like Brighton, Brentford, Atalanta, and Frankfurt rise to the bigger occasion.
Therefore, you will see managers look for players who can run for 90 minutes and beyond. This gives the managers leverage to keep a high defensive line and also keep your fullbacks even higher. Consequently, you can squeeze the pitch even more with the right positioning and minimize the chances of counterattacks.
In the recent Coaching Voices, Ralf Ragnick showcased the importance of midfield overload, which can ensure that when the team loses the ball, then they can win it quickly. Moreover, when the players are trained in certain positions over months, even in the subconscious mind, they will do the same. That is why you can win matches with a less creative midfielder.
Hence, you can see more of a McDonaldization of modern football rather than just depending on skills and creativity. It was seen when Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona in the 2012 Champions League semi-final. In simpler words, it led to the end of Tiki-Taka in modern football. This later made Pep, Klopp, and Tuchel opt for the tactics to win leagues – thus focusing on central mids rather than role 10s.
Effect On Modern Footballers
Consequently, with managers looking to opt for a dynamic 4-3-3 system, we can say that it has some effect on modern footballers. Therefore, we can divide them into parts –
Adopters
When big managers looked to apply the system in the clubs, there were some players who had highly performed in the system. They have been successful in the system and adapted to the relentless agility of the 4-3-3 formation.
Therefore, players like David Silva and De Bryune have changed their game to shift to Pep’s style. This has given Pep the liberty to control the ball in the midfield. This has led to a reduced loss of possession in the midfield. That is why they can play smooth and stylish football.
Similarly, you can see that Firmino is shifting to the false nine position to give freedom to Mane and Salah. Even Bernardo Silva came to central midfield from the flanks to make room for wingers and forwards to get the ball to score goals.
Moreover, you can see similar things with Modric, Kroos and Isco, who have made Real Madrid the best side in the world.
Victims
Conversely, you can see that there are players who have been victims of the 4-3-3 formation. For example, players like Ozil have fallen out with Arteta and Emery as he failed to backtrack and defend with others. Also, there was a lack of pressing and other elements of football. This has eventually led to the decline of role 10 in modern football.
Even players Juan Mata and James Rodriguez have had issues adapting to the agility and mechanical process of playing football. Lastly, you cannot forget the decline of Coutinho in Barcelona, who failed to fill Iniesta’s boots.
The 4-3-3 Is Modern Football
Lastly, we can say that the 4-3-3 formation is the essence of modern football, which has made football more mechanical. There are no longer 60 m diagonal or even shooting skills of Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Riquelme. Hence, we are watching football, which is just positioning and systems rather than just fun and creativity.
Lastly, we can be hopeful that teams and managers will once again prioritize role ten and the creativity they offer to the football fans.
