Team reports keep identifying Dagur Thorhallsson as a midfielder. But the lineup has him as a defender. So what gives?
On the roster as a midfielder, Dagur Thorhallsson serves Orlando City SC in a hybrid role recently reported in the Premier League. That’s why he’s in the lineup of each match as a defender.+
Midfielders have doubled efforts with defenders for a long time. Soccer teams first tried three-defender formations in the mid-1920s, or back three, It necessitated wingers dropping back with defenders when needed.
6/6 - John Stones completed all six of his attempted dribbles against Internazionale (100%); the last player to complete more than that in a UEFA Champions League final was Lionel Messi in 2015 (10 v Juventus). Total. #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/BYXf2kHZEQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2023
The contemporary system of hybrid midfielder-defender roles is attributed to Josep Pep Guardiola Sala, manager of Manchester City. He picked John Stones to move up from center back to midfield when the team was in possession. The hybrid player completed all six of his attempted dribbles against Internazionale in their UEFA Champions League final last year.
A guiding principle of soccer coaching is to fit formations to personnel. The full roster of Orlando City SC has the personnel to fit back three formations. These schemes require extra stamina from the wingers who will move into skilled defender positions when match situations call for it.
One of those wingers, Wilder Cartagena, is now on international duty. So the best formation for Orlando City now is the basic 4-4-2. With the lineup calling for four dedicated defenders, Thorhallson focuses on that assignment.
When the match situation changes, Thorhallson moves forward and uses his midfielder skills. The skills served the team well in their June match with Chicago Fire FC.
In that game, he combined with midfielder Facundo Torres on two goals for his fourth and fifth assists of the year across all competitions – sixth and seventh all-time.
Orlando acquired Thorhallsson in Jan. 2023 from Breiðablik UBK in Iceland’s top division. The club has optons through 2026.
Dagur Thorhallsson has proved his aptitude for the hybrid role. His performance is essential and needed while key players are out on international duty.
It’s good that Orlando City SC has those options.