2026-01-23, 05:13 AM - Word count:
(This post was last modified: 2026-01-23, 03:17 PM by rrf_1. Edited 3 times in total.)
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Ekon Ayo is a fullback defender in the SSL academy S25 class. New to the league, Ekon wants to grow into a defensive specialist for his club, but he doesn’t yet have a good sense for how he should prioritize his development to get there. Over this series of articles, he learns the defensive behaviors that he should replicate to maximize value at his position.
Part 1 outlines the defensive stats
Part 2 analyzes the defender roles on the pitch
Part 3 considers broader team success
Part 4 dives deeper into center backs
Part 5 identifies role model fullbacks for Ekon
Part 6 focuses on wing backs
Part 7 appreciates defensive midfielders
Part 8 looks at differences in the minor league
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PART 7
PART 7
A FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING CAST
The last defensive position is the defensive midfielder. These defenders are the least specialized as defenders, but their ability to mitigate goal pressure earlier in opponent possession is very important support for the center backs. Defensive midfielders are the most fluid defenders that fill vulnerabilities and exercise a variety of skills where needed.
The radar plot of defensive midfielder plays per 90 (25 DMs) is shown below using the same axes as parts 4 through 6 of this series.
![[Image: DtLZr2C.png]](https://imgur.com/DtLZr2C.png)
Most defensive midfielders have a similar style of play to each other, with a few outliers. They tend to have a high rate of pressing while making fewer disruptive plays. Marcel Voda led the position with 12.9 attempted presses and 4.0 successful presses per 90 minutes. Pressing attackers in the midfield can force the offensive play out to the sidelines, which almost always gives leverage to the defense.
The only player categorized as a defensive midfielder here that didn’t have a high rate of presses was Schwarzwälder’s Cameron Millwall, who also played center back at times during S23 when Beermann flexed up to the DM position. Millwall was an outlier also in the blocks and shots blocked stats, falling more in line with the production of a center back. He led the defensive midfielders with 1.1 blocks and 0.9 shots blocked per 90, the second of which ranks 3rd among all defenders. Millwall’s lack of conformity with the other defensive midfielders is probably more suggestive of an error of classification rather than exceptional performance. True defensive midfielders often don’t produce many blocks.
To a lesser extent than fullbacks and wing backs, defensive midfielders are also active tacklers. Playing higher in the defensive formation, defensive midfielders have defensive backup, so they don’t need to exercise as much discretion when attempting physical challenges and don’t need to be as reliable at winning tackles. Leo Flachra of Buenos Aires led the defensive midfielders with 3.7 attempted tackles per 90 and Ashito Aoi of União led with 2.9 tackles won per 90. Most defensive midfielders fall in the lower half of tackling efficiency below 75%, but their role is accommodating to that.
While all defensive midfielders are comfortable engaging opponents with physicality, some are less confrontational than others. These defenders instead prioritize positioning to disrupt the opponent. Tenochtitlan’s Tonto Tut was the best example of this, leading all defensive midfielders with 2.9 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per 90. Every role has a set of common tendencies, but many defenders also shine with skills unique from their peers.
Continue to Part 8: Parallels Across Leagues
The last defensive position is the defensive midfielder. These defenders are the least specialized as defenders, but their ability to mitigate goal pressure earlier in opponent possession is very important support for the center backs. Defensive midfielders are the most fluid defenders that fill vulnerabilities and exercise a variety of skills where needed.
The radar plot of defensive midfielder plays per 90 (25 DMs) is shown below using the same axes as parts 4 through 6 of this series.
Most defensive midfielders have a similar style of play to each other, with a few outliers. They tend to have a high rate of pressing while making fewer disruptive plays. Marcel Voda led the position with 12.9 attempted presses and 4.0 successful presses per 90 minutes. Pressing attackers in the midfield can force the offensive play out to the sidelines, which almost always gives leverage to the defense.
The only player categorized as a defensive midfielder here that didn’t have a high rate of presses was Schwarzwälder’s Cameron Millwall, who also played center back at times during S23 when Beermann flexed up to the DM position. Millwall was an outlier also in the blocks and shots blocked stats, falling more in line with the production of a center back. He led the defensive midfielders with 1.1 blocks and 0.9 shots blocked per 90, the second of which ranks 3rd among all defenders. Millwall’s lack of conformity with the other defensive midfielders is probably more suggestive of an error of classification rather than exceptional performance. True defensive midfielders often don’t produce many blocks.
To a lesser extent than fullbacks and wing backs, defensive midfielders are also active tacklers. Playing higher in the defensive formation, defensive midfielders have defensive backup, so they don’t need to exercise as much discretion when attempting physical challenges and don’t need to be as reliable at winning tackles. Leo Flachra of Buenos Aires led the defensive midfielders with 3.7 attempted tackles per 90 and Ashito Aoi of União led with 2.9 tackles won per 90. Most defensive midfielders fall in the lower half of tackling efficiency below 75%, but their role is accommodating to that.
While all defensive midfielders are comfortable engaging opponents with physicality, some are less confrontational than others. These defenders instead prioritize positioning to disrupt the opponent. Tenochtitlan’s Tonto Tut was the best example of this, leading all defensive midfielders with 2.9 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per 90. Every role has a set of common tendencies, but many defenders also shine with skills unique from their peers.
Continue to Part 8: Parallels Across Leagues
![[Image: ihJvO77.png]](https://imgur.com/ihJvO77.png)
SSL Club Identities – Handing Out Attribute Report Cards
Analyzing Defender Value By Role
About Ekon 1
Career Tasks 1
