Become a better midfield player

Focussing on the following aspects of your game can improve your abilities as a midfield player. Tick off the ones that you are perfect at!

The ability to pass accurately, both long and short is essential.
Stamina. Midfielders must be able to run from box to box for 90 minutes.
Midfielders must have excellent vision and awareness
Work rate. Midfielders must work hard to press the ball when not in possession. Offensively, midfielders must drop in to spaces in order to maintain possession and make penetrating runs beyond the forwards.

Receiving and turning under pressure.
Communication is essential in tight midfield areas.
Midfielders must keep their touches down, so a good first touch is essential if they are to maintain possession.
Midfielders must influence the game. This position is of paramount importance to the team. Every team has a “GO TO” man, for example, Paul Scholes of Manchester United. The goalkeepers and defenders job is to find the GO TO man, he will then conduct and link play. Going through the midfield player will be the best chance of the team creating a goal scoring opportunity.
When in advanced positions midfielders will have the opportunity to shoot, from distance and when beyond the strikers, from close range.
Heading, attacking and defensive.
Tackling.
Midfielders must be creative.
In wide areas, crossing from varying angles and positions always creates goal scoring opportunities.

When defending as a unit:

Pressing the ball. When an opponent is closed down quickly they will either have to play backwards to keep possession or send a speculative ball forwards.
Decision making. When to tackle, when to try and pinch the ball, when to intercept, when to sit, when to cover.
Tackling. Controlled aggression, stay on your feet, don’t sell yourself.
To win your 1 v 1 battle.
Triggers. If one player presses, all players must press or the opposition will play around you. When you see the first player press, he is the trigger.
Recovery runs to get behind the ball.
Linking Play. Transition from defence to attack.
Communication with fellow midfielders, defenders and forwards.

Midfielders as a group - Attacking

Offer support, both behind and in advance of the ball.
Transition from defence to attack quickly.
Midfielders often make positive forward runs beyond the forwards; this disrupts the opposition’s defensive pattern and creates spaces for other players.
Defenders often overlap or venture up the pitch for set plays; midfielders usually maintain the teams balance and shape by filling in and covering.
By linking the play quickly from the defensive 3rd to the attacking 3rd teams can utilise the fast break attack which often results in goals.
Depending on the individual role and tactic given to the midfielder they could play defensively, wide or in more advanced positions in the hole behind the forwards.
The tempo of the game is controlled in the midfield, depending on the score or the time left on the clock the midfielder can either keep possession in deeper areas or move the ball quickly to more advanced positions.
When in advanced positions midfielders will have the opportunity to shoot, from distance and when beyond the strikers, from close range.

Playing in Midefield