It's not preference. it's common sense. A no10 is a player who creates chances, makes the team ticking. link up play, not waste his energy chasing full backs and center backs.. like you said he's an all round player who can tackle, so it's no rocket science he should be playing in CM along with Rami while the more technically gifted player to play as a no10 (Mata) Or even Eden filling in as a 10 as he is doing more these days in practice while Oscar drops more and Willian goes wide more while adding movement. It equates, balances. But I do think a creative force needs to come from the attacking third central ....