Paulo1975

Does anyone know what attributes are needed to be classed as a holding midfielder? e.g owen hargreaves.

also does a holding midfield player only apply to a 4-4-2 diamond or can it also be used in a normal 4-4-2 formation? Thanks

waterwolf

tackling, positioning and marking are the essentials. then theres quite important ones like work rate, stamina, decisions, anticipation etc. having good jumping and heading is usually needed but its not totally important (eg Makelele)

positional-wise, you would say a DM in a diamond is a holding man, as he sits in front of the back line. but you can say that in a flat 4-4-2 too. i guess its the way the team plays, as sometimes both midfielders will attack and defend. wouldnt really call him a holding man if play was like that

Paulo1975

thanks for the reply cereal. What indivual instructions should i give the holding midfield player?

waterwolf

my DM is purely there to win tackles and break up attacks. so i give him a defensive mentality, high closing down, low creative freedom, short passing, forward runs rarely, through balls rarely and run with ball rarely

so basically this makes him stay back and get tackles in, nothing else