I'll disagree also. My definition of an Anchor man is different. I see an anchorman is a player that not only stays back but whose first job it agressively defend and win the ball back, their second job is to give the ball quickly to more creative players and retain posession. But that is just arguing semantics. Mascherano, Mikel, Javi Martinez, Makelele, Deschamps: the water carrier. That is a anchorman. I'm not saying the anchoramn can't be creative but having creativity is a very low priority. Alonso and Pirlo's job isn't to protect the back four at all. It's to start attacks from deep. Pirlo in particular plays like Xavi, he even said so himself in his bio. He said he likes to look for space move, receive the ball, find space, pass and continue this pattern. This is what I see Pirlo doing, very average as a defender. Amazing technical and creative ability. I wouldn't rely on either Xabi or Pirlo to protect a defensive line. Xabi had Khedira at Real (they still leaked goals regardless) and Pirlo has Pogba, Vidal and Marchisio doing a lot of the dirty work for him. Pirlo had Gattuso and Ambrosini at Milan, Alonso had Steevee and Mascherano at Liverpool. What you explained Bastian to be is the exact definition of a B2B midfielder, thanks for proving that point for me.