FM23: Dominate The Midfield With These Top Roles

Nov 8, 2025 by Admin 49 views

Hey football fanatics! Ready to take your Football Manager 2023 game to the next level? One of the most critical areas to master is the midfield. Choosing the right midfield roles can be the difference between a trophy-winning season and a frustrating slog. This guide will break down the best midfield roles in FM23, equipping you with the knowledge to build a midfield that controls the tempo, wins the ball, and creates chances. We'll explore various roles, their tactical applications, and how to best utilize your players. So, buckle up, because we're about to dive deep into the heart of the pitch and discover the secrets to midfield dominance! Let's get started, guys!

The Engine Room: Key Midfield Roles Explained

Understanding the various midfield roles is the first step toward creating a winning team. Each role has specific duties, and the roles you choose will dictate your team's overall tactics and style of play. Getting the right mix is crucial! Let's examine some of the most effective and popular roles in FM23 and how they function. Remember, the best combination will depend on your squad's strengths and the tactics you wish to employ.

Defensive Midfielders: Anchorman, Ball-Winning Midfielder, and Defensive Midfielder

The defensive midfielders are the guardians of your backline, providing protection and winning back possession.

Anchorman: This role is all about staying put and shielding the defense. The Anchorman doesn't venture forward much; instead, he focuses on winning the ball, making simple passes, and disrupting opposition attacks. Ideal for teams that want to sit deep and absorb pressure, the Anchorman provides a solid base for your defense. The key attributes to look for are positioning, tackling, and strength. If you need a player who will be the defensive rock of your team, then the anchorman is an ideal role. They will sit deep and recycle possession.
Ball-Winning Midfielder: This is a more aggressive role than the Anchorman. The Ball-Winning Midfielder is tasked with winning the ball back and launching quick counter-attacks. They will press opponents, make tackles, and intercept passes. They are often the engine of a team's pressing game. High work rate, tackling, aggression, and stamina are essential attributes for this role. If you want a midfielder who will go around winning the ball and then will feed it to your attacking midfielders, then this role is ideal for your team.
Defensive Midfielder (Defend): This is a more versatile role than the Anchorman, and can be set to defend, support or attack. They will offer defensive cover, but also look to move the ball up the pitch. They will support the defense, break up play, and distribute the ball to the more creative players. Good passing, vision, and decisions are crucial. If you need your defensive midfielder to do a bit of everything, then this is the role for you!

Considerations: When choosing a defensive midfielder, consider their technical, mental, and physical attributes. Players with good tackling, positioning, and work rate will excel in these roles. The Defensive Midfield role can be set to different mentalities – defend, support and attack – which can have a massive impact on the player's behavior and the team's shape.

Central Midfielders: Central Midfielder, Deep-Lying Playmaker, and Box-to-Box Midfielder

Central midfielders are the heart of the team, linking defense and attack, dictating the tempo, and controlling possession.

Central Midfielder (Defend/Support/Attack): This is your standard, all-around midfielder. Depending on the duty you assign (Defend, Support, or Attack), this role can be adapted to fit your tactical needs. The defend duty focuses on shielding the defense and winning the ball back, support offers a balanced approach, while attack encourages forward runs and involvement in the final third. The Central Midfielder role provides great flexibility to a team. This role can provide both defensive solidity and attacking prowess, making it a good fit for any team. The attributes to look for will depend on their assigned duty, but passing, tackling, work rate, and teamwork are generally important.
Deep-Lying Playmaker: This role is all about dictating play from deep. The Deep-Lying Playmaker sits in front of the defense, receives the ball from the back, and distributes it to the more attacking players. They need excellent passing, vision, and composure. Think of them as the team's metronome, controlling the tempo of the game. They will usually sit deep and spray the ball around. If you are a fan of controlling possession and playing a passing game, then this is the ideal role for your team.
Box-to-Box Midfielder: This role is a workhorse, covering the entire pitch and contributing in both attack and defense. They are always on the move, winning the ball, making tackles, making forward runs, and getting into the box. High work rate, stamina, tackling, and passing are essential. If you like a tireless player who can do it all, then the Box-to-Box Midfielder is the way to go. This role is a great asset to a team, as they will do a bit of everything in a game. They will get into the box and defend when necessary. They will look to contribute in both attack and defense.

Considerations: When selecting central midfielders, look for players with good passing, vision, tackling, work rate, and decision-making skills. The choice between these roles depends on your preferred style of play and the strengths of your squad.

Attacking Midfielders: Advanced Playmaker, Attacking Midfielder, and Mezzala

Attacking midfielders are the creative force of your team, providing assists, scoring goals, and linking the midfield and attack.

Advanced Playmaker: This role is similar to the Deep-Lying Playmaker, but further up the pitch. The Advanced Playmaker sits in the space between the midfield and the attack, looking to create chances for teammates through clever passes and through balls. They need great vision, passing, technique, and flair. If you want a player who can unlock defenses with a killer pass, then this is a great role to select.
Attacking Midfielder (Attack): This role is all about getting into the box and scoring goals. The Attacking Midfielder is tasked with making late runs into the box, getting on the end of crosses, and scoring goals. Good finishing, off-the-ball movement, and anticipation are important attributes. A great attacking midfielder can add a lot of goals to a team. If you need goals, then this is the role for you!
Mezzala: This role offers a unique blend of creativity and dynamism. The Mezzala starts in a central midfield position but makes wide runs into the half-spaces, linking up with wingers and creating overloads in attack. They need good dribbling, passing, and off-the-ball movement. The Mezzala can be a great asset for teams that play with wingers. The Mezzala is a very versatile role. The Mezzala will often make wide runs into the half-spaces to support the wingers and create overloads.

Considerations: When choosing attacking midfielders, focus on players with good vision, passing, finishing, technique, and off-the-ball movement. The right combination of roles can create a devastating attack. This role can bring a lot of goals and assists to the team.

Tactical Strategies: Building Your Midfield Partnership

Now that you understand the different midfield roles, how do you combine them effectively? The best midfield partnership will depend on your chosen formation, the players you have available, and your desired style of play. Here are a few examples to get you started.

The Balanced Approach

This is a versatile approach suitable for most teams. A common setup involves a Defensive Midfielder (Defend) or Anchorman sitting in front of the defense, providing cover. Alongside them, you might have a Box-to-Box Midfielder to provide energy and dynamism, and a Central Midfielder (Support) or Advanced Playmaker to dictate the tempo and create chances. This balance of defense, work rate, and creativity allows you to control the game and adapt your tactics as needed.

The Attacking Trio

If you want a more attacking approach, you could use a Ball-Winning Midfielder to win the ball back, alongside two Advanced Playmakers or a Mezzala and an Advanced Playmaker. This setup focuses on attacking creativity and goalscoring. The Ball-Winning Midfielder provides defensive cover, while the other two can create chances. This combination is ideal if you have quick players in your team.

The Possession-Based System

For a possession-based approach, you could use a Deep-Lying Playmaker in front of the defense, alongside a Box-to-Box Midfielder and a Central Midfielder (Support) or Advanced Playmaker. This combination allows you to control the ball, dictate the tempo, and create chances through intricate passing. This is a very common tactic used by teams who want to control the game.

Key Considerations: Experimentation is key! Try different combinations of roles and see which ones work best with your team. Pay attention to the attributes of your players and how they fit into each role. Consider the overall balance of your team and the tactical instructions you give to your players. Good teamwork will make a huge difference in the outcome of the game.

Player Attributes: What to Look For

The attributes of your midfielders are crucial in determining which roles they are best suited for. Here's a breakdown of the key attributes to consider:

Technical Attributes

Passing: Essential for all roles, but especially important for playmakers and deep-lying midfielders. The players will have to be good at passing if you want to control the game, otherwise, you may risk giving the ball away unnecessarily.
Tackling: Important for defensive midfielders and ball-winners. They will have to win the ball back, and a good tackling attribute will certainly help.
Technique: Crucial for players who need to control the ball in tight spaces and execute difficult passes. Technique is the ability to control the ball. A good technique attribute is important to possess.
Dribbling: Useful for players who need to carry the ball and beat opponents. This will help them advance with the ball at their feet.
First Touch: Helps with ball control and receiving passes. The first touch will help a player receive the ball and control it properly.

Mental Attributes

Vision: Enables players to spot passing opportunities and make intelligent decisions. The players will be able to see the plays and make the correct decisions.
Decisions: Impacts the player's ability to make the right choices in different situations. A good decision attribute helps to make the correct play.
Work Rate: Important for players who need to cover a lot of ground and contribute defensively. Work rate is a crucial attribute in your team.
Teamwork: Contributes to the player's ability to work effectively with teammates. Teamwork is an essential component of a good team.
Anticipation: Helps players predict the movement of the ball and opponents. The players will be able to predict the moves of the other players.
Composure: Important for players who need to remain calm under pressure. Composure is important to stay calm under pressure.

Physical Attributes

Stamina: Crucial for players who need to maintain their performance throughout the match. Stamina is important because it lets the players play for the entire duration of the match.
Pace: Useful for players who need to cover ground quickly and close down opponents. A great physical attribute in your team will help immensely.
Acceleration: Impacts the player's ability to reach top speed quickly. Acceleration is a key part of the player's performance.
Strength: Important for players who need to win physical challenges and hold off opponents. If you want a player who can win physical challenges, then this is the way to go.

Player Instructions: Beyond attributes, also consider using player instructions to further refine your players' roles. You can instruct players to take more risks, make more direct passes, or hold their position.

Conclusion: Mastering the Midfield in FM23

Choosing the best midfield roles in FM23 is a complex but rewarding process. By understanding the different roles, the attributes required, and the tactical combinations, you can build a midfield that dominates possession, wins the ball, and creates chances. Experiment with different formations and roles to find what works best for your squad. Remember, the key is to understand your players' strengths and how they fit into your overall tactical plan. Now go out there and build a midfield that will lead your team to glory! Good luck, and happy managing, guys!