I am writing this post to get some opinions on footedness in the central midfield positions, particularly with a deep-lying playmaker, who I wish to deploy in my midfield.
As it stands, the tactics creator defaults to placing the more creative of the central midfield players (the central midfield 'support' player) in the left slot. I have been wondering if it is better to switch this position based on the footedness of the player and trying to theorise whether or not it might make a deep-lying playmaker more effective.
Let's take the example of a right footed player in the MCr slot. He is slightly more likely to receive the ball into his preferred foot when placed on this side, which is an immediate advantage. When passing the ball down the right flank, for example, he can open up his body and pass easily with the inside of his right foot. However, when passing to the left, which given his position may be where he is often looking to pass, any through-balls are likely to be less effective from the inside of his right foot. Coming forward to shoot at goal, he also has less chance to curl the ball from his right of centre position.
When placed in the MCl slot, the player is less likely to receive the ball into his preferred foot. He does, however, have more chance to play dangerous forward balls to the right by opening up his body and using the inside of his right foot. This is clearly an advantage over placing him in the other slot. When coming forward to shoot at goal from range, he may well have the chance now to curl a shot across the goal.
Another thought is that the AI opposition will use standard tactics creator settings, thus deploying their more creative midfielder on the left. By switching central midfield players, there is the chance that you are sending your least defensive player in the middle of the park head-to-head with their most attacking one.
The match engine does quite accurately represent footedness, especially for wide players who will act quite differently when you put them on the opposite flank to their preferred foot. Naturally, a player who is strong on both feet has an advantage here and can be placed in either position.
My observations in real life football are varied. St. Albans City, for instance, usually deploy their 'number 4' defensive-minded player on the right and their 'number 8' more creative midfielder on the left. Both of them are primarily right footed. I notice the number 8, playing MCl, tends to receive the ball and hold it, before transferring to his right and selecting the preferred pass, sometimes opening up his body to sweep the ball across to the other flank. He is the sort of player who holds on to the ball while looking for a pass anyway, so this doesn't seem to be a hindrance. Last week, when I attended the England v Egypt match, I noticed that the left-footed Barry was deployed on the left side alongside Lampard as MCr in the first-half, and Carrick as MCr in the second-half.
I realise that it is a small detail but it becomes more significant when deploying a 'deep-lying playmaker'. I want to make sure that he is as effective as possible, seeing as the team will be looking to him as the main focal point of all moves, and so I am wondering to myself how to deploy him in the centre.
Any thoughts on this appreciated. How do you tend to deploy your central midfielders? My instinct at the moment is to position players in the central midfield according to their footedness.
(As a quick P.S. to the above, it might also be worth noting that the very best deep-lying playmakers, Andrea Pirlo and Xabi Alonso, are both very strong on both feet. Meanwhile, David Beckham, who was used in the role unsuccessfully for England, has only one very strong foot, and many have hinted towards this limitation as a reason for his 'failure' in this role).
