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5 definitions starting with "M"

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Each defender is assigned a specific attacker to follow wherever they go, rather than defending a zone. Old-school but still used in certain situations, especially at set pieces. The problem: if your man drags you out of position, you create gaps. Zonal marking largely replaced it, but some managers still use man-to-man systems or hybrid approaches.
Athletic Bilbao used aggressive man marking against Barcelona's playmakers. One defender was assigned to Messi and followed him everywhere, even into the toilet if necessary. It's exhausting but can disrupt creative players.
Robbie Feb 7, 2026
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A 360-degree spin - drag the ball with the sole of one foot while spinning, then take it away with the other foot. Also called the roulette or Maradona turn. Useful for escaping pressure by turning away from defenders in one motion. You need balance and confidence to turn your back on someone closing you down. Zidane did it with more elegance than anyone, though Maradona loved it too.
Zidane's Marseille turn against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final epitomized its effectiveness - surrounded by three defenders, he spun away in one motion, emerging with the ball and leaving Roberto Carlos grasping at air.
Robbie Jan 23, 2026
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Suffix attached to criticize how a player scores or performs. "Penalty merchant," "tap-in merchant," "vibes merchant." The accusation is that they depend on one thing rather than having a complete game. It's dismissive and usually unfair because if you're consistently doing something well, that's a skill. But it's everywhere in online debates.
Marcus Rashford was called a "vibes merchant" when his performances became inconsistent - critics suggested he was better at social media content and personal branding than actual football, which was both cruel and reductive.
Robbie Jan 24, 2026
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Italian term for a midfielder who drifts into the half-space between central and wide areas. Not quite a central midfielder, not quite a winger. They make runs into channels, receive between the lines, and provide width when wingers cut inside. Gündoğan under Guardiola played this way - nominally central but constantly drifting wide and arriving late in the box.
Ilkay Gündoğan exemplified the mezzala role under Guardiola at Manchester City - nominally a central midfielder, he would drift into the left half-space, arriving late in the box to score important goals while also contributing to build-up play.
Robbie Jan 18, 2026
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MSN

Barcelona attackig trio Messi, Suarez and Neymar. They were the attacking front three for the Catalan giants between 2014 and 2017.
Barcelona's best ever front three? It has to be the MSN for me.
The Gaffer
The Gaffer Feb 5, 2026
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