The modern midfield player cannot rest on his laurels. Not only does he now have to score goals, track back and run all day, he also has to do other less glamorous tasks. Germany's Torsten Frings says "You've just got to have faith. If your alice band comes off in the middle of the game you can't be crying to the ref, you've just got to get on with it."
If done properly, this procedure can also act as a blocking movement to an oncoming opponent.