Defending Tendencies
When coaches are looking for a balance between a high block and a low block, teams will look at implementing a medium block allowing the initial passes to be played either side of the center backs. Once the pass has been made the striker can force the direction of the game by forcing play to continue down that side by putting pressure on the center back and cutting out the pass back to the goalkeeper.
With the midfielders dropping off it prevents the opposition playing a pass into the midfield, forcing the center backs to kick long.
Reasons for a medium block can include; the opposition are not strong at playing out from the back and we want to force them into playing out from the back, the opposition are very creative in the midfield and we want to restrict the ball going into the midfielders or our strengths might be winning aerial balls and want the opposition to play long balls.
With the defenders dropping deep it becomes very difficult for the opposition to play balls behind the back line and puts the defenders in a position to win aerial balls. If the opposition have fast players that react to the striker flicking the ball on, the back line are positioned to keep play in front of them and reduce the space behind them and their goalkeeper.