The Midfield Puzzle

Defining a benchmark for "good" in the key midfield competencies and assessing the current crop against them.

The midfield is concerning us all and I highlighted what we mean by Stress Testing the performance against better-quality opposition and/or better-organised opponents in this piece.

A simple example of pass packing score highlighted how the levels of performance can be tested in terms of a key tactical requirement and how it stands up to those stress conditions. Not well.

Earlier in the week, regular reader David Reilly asked what the benchmark for players should be in terms of the midfield. I pointed him to this piece which focussed on consistency not quality of performance. Important but not the whole picture.

For now then let us lay out the key performance metrics across defending, creating, and goal threat of the central midfielder skill set.

The more advanced data goes back to 2018-19.

I am going to start from the front and work my way back. Mainly for creative narrative purposes!