They are essential in modern football, they’ve been the key of success and they established themselves in the central midfield: The deep lying playmaker, also known as ‘regista’.
Deep lying playmakers weren’t always as vital as they are today, more than 5-10 years ago only used by very few teams because of their slow pace and slight of stature. A deep lying playmaker is neither a box-to-box midfielder nor a classic holding midfielder nor a traditional playmaker. However, a modern deep lying playmaker originated from the traditional playmaker and it combines work on both sides of the field (box-to-box). It’s not that deep lying playmakers didn’t exist in the past, but they are absolute crucial for nowadays game.
The main duties of a deep lying playmaker are to dictate, structure and organise the build up, open spaces and support other players from a deep lying withdrawn position. A deep lying playmaker has to have a great vision and long passing skills to pick out strikers/wingers from the own half. Strong short pass and dribbling abilities are also required as a mistake can easily end in a counterattack from the opponent. The ‘regista’ is often protected by a hard tackling midfielder in a double pivot.
Depended on the system, a deep lying playmaker can be more defensive, taking the ball from the central-defence and distribute the ball from there. Important here is that the player has to possess a good first touch when receiving a ball from the defenders and a good vision to also play a long ball. Examples are, the genius himself, Andrea Pirlo, Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid or Michael Carrick at Manchester United.
There are also ‘free’ deep lying playmakers, who orientate themselves towards the ball and not to their actual position. They are always near the ball and very versatile. It’s mostly a central midfielder or even attacking midfielder who plays this type of deep lying playmaker. A great stamina and strong tackling are very important here. Typical examples are Xavi Hernandez, Ilkay Gündogan, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luka Modric, Joao Moutinho or Yohan Cabaye.
The double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 is crucial to win the battle in the midfield and to have a structured game. We have often seen this season that the defence was outplayed too easy at counters (e.g. the games versus Athletico in the UEFA Supercup), while in the attack, our reliability on Mata and Hazard too big. A strong deep lying playmaker can take off pressure of our attackers, help to regain possession quicker and hold the ball longer in our game.
A deep lying playmaker might also help Torres to score more often. At Liverpool, key passes mostly were made from a very deep position (by Alonso or Gerrard) and Torres used his pace to beat the defenders and end in a 1-vs-1 situation with the goalkeeper. He also had better support from wingers back then, but that’s is a different topic.
The missing deep lying role in our holding midfield
Lampard: Our Frankie is turning 35 this summer. Consequently, he doesn’t have the dynamism, nor the fitness for the intensity for such a pivot role anymore.
Ramires: A running monster and a decent tackler. But his (long) passing, vision and creativity are quite poor for a central midfielder.
Mikel: Defensive specialist with important physical presence. However, Mikel’s build-up is too slow and his abilities to play key passes limited. Mikel is obviously more suited as the other half of the pivot.
David Luiz: Luiz has a good vision and a powerful shot, but he is far too casual sometimes. He has a lack of composure, can be caught out of position and he often gives away the ball in dangerous situations from his unnecessary dribbling.
Oscar: At the moment too inexperienced for a pivot role, but he showed good approach to play as a deep lying playmaker someday. It’s the job of the new manager to decide whether to try and risk Oscar in a more deeper role.
Oriol Romeu: Romeu is a classic holding midfielder, but he has good attributes to play as a deep lying playmaker. However, his performances here at Chelsea were not high above average. Don’t get me wrong, I like Romeu a lot, but he isn’t more than a squad player.
Essien: Returning from his injury in early 2012, Essien could never reach his form from the good old times. Essien is also more the box-to-box midfielder, similar to Lampard or Ramires . He also can’t provide the creativity and vision of a deep lying playmaker.
Nearly every European top club has their ‘regista’ in the pivot and it’s time that we get our own conductor. To continue having success, especially in the Champions League, a new central-midfielder is desperately needed, in my opinion more needed than a new striker. We need a player, who can dictate the rhythm of the game, bring in stability to the defence and create more space and freedom for our three amigos up front. It won’t be cheap and there aren’t a lot options available, but can a option probably be Luka Modric?
(Note: An article about Modric in connection to deep lying playmaker to follow soon)
What do you think about a deep lying playmaker? Who’s your favourite ‘regista’? Leave your thoughts in the comments! Jonny (@jonny9fan)
12 thoughts on “The missing deep lying playmaker”
Comments are closed.
Cud De Bruyne be a deep-lying playmaker, his defending isnt so great from wat ive heard but then we’ve played the season with lampard in the pivot many times and he’s not exactly an amazing defender either.
It’s true that his defending isn’t that well, but it’s definitely worth trying to play him as a deep lying playmaker. But apparently we want to loan him out to Leverkusen for next season. Very good thought.
If Lampard couldn’t defend, and KDB too, what’s the point of play KDB there? KDB is more attacking mid or winger.
The thing about KDB is that he’s strong in playing long balls and he’s got a great vision to pick out players. It’s worth trying to play him as a CM. But the missing deep lying playmaker is exactly the point why we should sign one.
Yes De Bruyne but obviously Chelsea does not see it the way some of us the fans do.
When you compare his body to Oscar’s,he is the obvious choice. He is still young and naturally his built will get broader. Some say he is a better winger. He could be now but in my opinion,not in the long run. Schweinsteiger was a winger too and look at him now. I see the Belgian in the same mould as the German.
De Bruyne has top class vision,an excellent long pass and since he plays as a winger too,he can definitely dribble. Defensively he isn’t that good but it doesn’t mean he can’t learn. Even if he doesn’t up his defensive game,he can still do the required job. Chelsea is a top club so we will control games,meaning more possession and pinning the opposition back but with a solid last line of defense. Unlike Barca who rely on their possession,thinking the opposition won’t do much.
I really wish I was the coach of Chelsea lol like most of you!
Oscar is shit as winger, he is a CM or CAM. and if we play Oscar with poor strength, balance and defense ability as pivot, we’re going to be fucked soon
Thank God you’re not Chelsea manager
Read again girl. I don’t like the idea of Oscar in the pivot.
HERNANES from Lazio Roma. would be a great deal for sure. if we don’t get Modric
+1 Hernanes
I’d prefer to get some younger mainly Gundogan he’d be perfect and has been quoted recently saying he’d like to play in England or Spain in the future. The double pivot needs sorting out for the system to properly work in the champion league final both teams demonstrated how it should work.
IMHO, I don’t see the need to sign anybody here. But if we must sign, then Modric is it. my problem with Modric is his age. He’ll cost alot and for his age, is not necessary. Oscar has the best features to play deep lying playmaker, he only needs to work on his decision making and maybe his positioning and off course his defending (not that its too important for this role, ask the master, Mr Andrea Pirlo). Oscar has already shown he can tackle and mark (v. Juventus 1st leg, totally neutralized Pirlo and still managed to get 2 goals), so he won’t have too much problems slotting in here. Oscar plays best as an AMC, he will never remove Mata who continues to be awesome from this position, that’s why he has been wasted out wide. Luiz was gambled in the DMC role because he was deemed to be too much of a ball player to play CB and the gambled is paying off. Same gamble should be made for Oscar as he has the features to be a deep lying playmaker, hell, he even has the potential to be better at DMC than Luiz will ever be.
Your 100% right in everything u said here bcos I have been saying this since last season,and the only player who can solve this problem for us is Luka Modric!