A big reason for the 10 dying out is the shift in focus from "zone 14" to the half spaces. Now it's less important to target space b/w the CBs & DM/CMs, & more important to target the space b/w the CBs & FBs which has proven to be the weakest point in the DEF line.

1/3 https://twitter.com/Margot_Dumont/status/1315260355942195207

I do disagree that football only wants fast 1v1 players. There's still a demand for technical players who excel in tight spaces, just with different functions: less positional freedom, more space/channel occupation (positional fluidity is allowed only within that scope)

2/3

The issue with positional fluidity being allowed only if certain spaces are occupied is that most players aren't capable of that fluidity, so the ones that are need have more fixed roles unless the team specifically caters to allow them that freedom (ie. Barça with Messi)

3/3