Defensive Midfielder or Holding Midfield Player

Most successful teams in recent history have comprised of a World Class DMF or Defensive Midfielder . His role in the course of any game is enormous . He plays the pivotal role in connecting the Defense with the forward line . Operating in front of the back two , they help in shielding the defense and reflecting opposition attacks . There main task is to break up attacks, to retain possession of the ball, and to feed it to the strikers, and perhaps, to score as well . They have to be physically strong and imposing . Intercepting passes , winning tackles and headers are all in the days work .


My Nominees are :





1.Michael Essien : The costliest African player at £24.4 million before the transfer of Aderbayor to Manchester City this season . Hes worth every penny spent by chelsea for him . Hes one of the best Box to box player right now in world football . He personifies the term " Utility Player " as he can be playe d almost anywhere on the pitch . Essien is also referred to as "the Bison" for his tough tackling style, boundless energy and physical presence on the pitch . He has been nominated many a times for some of the most prestigious footballing awards including the Fifa World Player of the Year 2007 which was third time in a row .








2.Darren Fletcher : For many a seasons Fletchers contribution on the pitch had been overlooked but all that has changed in the recent seasons . His absence was most felt during the Champions League Final loss to Barcelona .Though hes not the most physically imposing player on the pitch , hes able to make up for it with his tenacity and hard work to win the ball . With surplus amount of energy hes able to cover every single blade of grass and pressurize players in possession to commit mistakes . Now a regular in the United starting Lineup fletcher has certainly matured into a fine player.






3.Danny Murphy : He has been putting up some stalwart performances for Fulham this season Now entering the twilight of his career Murphy has just a few more seasons of football left before hanging up his boot . The ex Hotspurs man seems to recovering the form that made him a fan favorite during his Liverpool days . He has always had a knack of finding the right passes at the right time . This season particularly he has been in good form and shown some real quality on the ball .









4.Wilson Roberto Palacios Suazo : Ever since his highly speculated move from Wigan to Tottenham Hotspur Palacios has been flying . Hes not your usual Defensive Midfielder and the main reason for that is the fact that hes very good on the ball . Having a great technique he always some how manages to emerge with the ball from very sticky situations . He also likes to match his prowess on the ball with some hard tackling making him a more complete player .








My Verdict :

Michael Essien