I was watching a Messi and Zidane interview on YouTube. Zidane said the number 10 is not as important as it used to to be. The place and position of the number 10 are gone. He used 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 as an example, which are perhaps the two most used formations in football. Messi then agreed by saying there aren’t many 10 left and the position that shows such player is the leader, the midfielder, and the link player is gone.
It seems like the number is being handed to the superstars and to promote and advertise such players. Ansu Fati had no business wearing 10 for Barcelona. While Mabappe wears 10 for France, Griezmann is actually their 10. Rashford in Man United is not a 10. I could go on.
When Messi and Neymar retires from national team duty, Jude Bellingham seems to be the only young player to fill that void.
What do you guys think?
I agree. Mostly back then the “10” is a free role that doesnt do much defending. It is a position where the guy free roles and mostly attack, in addition to linking play and other roles.
Ozil is one of this, as well as Coutinho, Hazard to a certain extend. Alexander Helb. And you know what Pogba too. I dont agree with KdB because he is more well rounded, can play deep as well as ST during that one season.
Reason being tactics nowadays on top of demanding all players to attack and defend (which 10 can no longer free role and chill), it has changed. All players are expected to be in certain position in all phases of play. All players “attack” or fill in the space now so the burden of playmaking is no longer on the 10 to like “beat his man” or so on. Football has evolved sadly.
But still, as much as that bald fraud love to tinker and chop and change, his team still defend using a good old 442. Perhaps the old days are coming back one of these days eh.