What if European Soccer Is Wrong About Defensive Midfielders?

I wrote about Europe’s hottest new club, No. 6: it has ball-winning, financial speculation, efficient passing, conservative tendencies, 30-something Brazilians, Portuguese teenagers, and incredibly ambiguous on-field value:

This is all within the environment where defensive-midfield costs are massively inflated. If you can avoid overpaying in that area, you'll have more resources to strengthen other parts of the field where the fees haven't risen so much. Per Twenty First Group's projections, regular central midfielders have been undervalued by about 5% in recent windows.

The tactical history of team sports is a history of decision-makers being way too conservative and only slowly realizing that and then adjusting. But I think the current tactical environment at the top of European soccer has become more conservative recently.

Teams are no longer having both of their fullbacks push high -- instead at least one will pinch next to the center-backs to form a lopsided back three in possession. To me, this would seem to lessen the need for a do-everything defensive midfielder.

Also, I recorded a video with Gab Marcotti and Mark Ogden, where we broke down the Champions League draw:

Goodbye!