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A player who stays calm when opponents close them down and finds a way out. They don't panic, don't give the ball away under pressure, and often draw fouls or find passes others would miss. Busquets was the gold standard for years - teams pressed him and he'd just spin away or thread a pass through a tiny gap. Modern midfielders get rated heavily on this quality.

The cue that tells a team to start pressing. Common triggers: a back pass, a pass to their weakest player on the ball, the ball going into a certain zone, or a poor touch. Everyone recognizes the trigger and presses together instead of one player chasing alone. Without clear triggers, pressing falls apart and teams just pass around you.

Dribbles that move the ball at least 10 yards toward the opponent's goal or into the penalty area. It separates players who carry with purpose from those who just run sideways. Wingers and ball-carrying midfielders stack up numbers here. A high progressive carry count means you're beating players and advancing the ball, not just keeping possession.

Passes that move the ball meaningfully towards the opponent's goal - usually defined as 10+ yards forward or any pass into the box. It separates useful possession from sideways passing. Players who rank high in progressive passes are the ones who actually move the ball into dangerous areas. Useful for spotting midfielders who drive play forward even if they don't score or assist much.

Profit and Sustainability Rules. The Premier League's financial regulations that limit how much clubs can lose over a rolling three-year period - currently £105 million. Clubs that break the rules face points deductions, as Everton and Nottingham Forest found out in 2023-24. The rules are meant to stop clubs spending recklessly on transfers and wages, but critics point out they punish promoted clubs and favor established big six sides who generate more commercial revenue.