CENTRE-BACKS
Technical Attributes
Tackling: The basic job of a defender is to keep the opposition from scoring, to defend your goal. To do this, you need the ability to take the ball away from a striker. Tackling is necessary to be a good defender. Last ditch tackles often depend on Acceleration, Pace and Strength, perhaps even Determination.
Marking: The opponent must be watched every step of the way in set pieces, and in many cases in the game. Marking them out of the game is one way to ensure that they don't score. Marking works with a good Positioning sense in many cases as well.
Heading: Attacking teams will continually test defences with crosses into the box, and long balls. Lifting your foot that high up takes some effort and time, and you can't handle the ball obviously. Heading the ball correctly is a skill, one that is neeeded for defenders to stay a step ahead of strikers. It gives an edge on set-pieces as well, especially if Jumping is good.
Passing: Someone who can start off a move from the back is a brilliant member to have on a team. Picking out a player or simply playing quick, precise, short passes is an effective way to build up an attack.
Mental attributes
Positioning/Anticipation: Being in the wrong place is a mistake defenders hate to make. The striker is no where near you and has nothing to stop him from scoring. Knowing where to be, when to be is a requirement for any defender. Otherwise, it's best to have a defender with Pace, Acceleration and Determination.
Composure/Concentration: There's a quick striker whose causing you trouble. You have to be focussed the whole way to ensure that it's not your fault that he gets behind the defence. Concentrate on the ball, concentrate on the player you're marking. A player can't panic when he is faced by a testing striker. Working well together as a unit is vital. A lapse in concentration has lost big teams big games.
Bravery: If a defender isn't ready to throw himself into tackles or put himself into a header, then he's useless. Terry Butcher played with a shirt soaked with blood. It's only fair to ask a defence to take a risk or two, without being silly. Tackling or Heading with high Bravery is even more effective.
Determination: When a striker gets clean through behind the defence, for whatever reason, it may need a last ditch attempt to get the ball to safety. It's not going to help giving up and giving the striker even more time. Good Bravery, Aggression and Acceleration is a bonus.
Agression: A towering centre-back instils fear into the opposition. A defender bullying a forward out of the game, physically, and fairly works wonders for a reputation as a hard team. After all, you wouldn't want to cross the path of Nemanja Vidic.
Decisions: A centre-half might come to a point where the wrong decision could cost him. Should he clear away or try to play it out of trouble? Sometimes a preferred move dictates this, but a continual mistakes is not something that brings confidence. Experience brings better Decisions.
Influence/Teamwork: You often hear of the "back four" as a 'unit'. The offside rule ensures that defenders are always on their toes, and having a good communication between your defenders is important to make sure all bases are covered. A commanding presence at the back usually boosts the confidence of the entire squad.
Physical attributes
Jumping: To head the ball, Jumping is often necessary. You can't head it if you can't reach it. It can give you a tremendous advantage during set-pieces and wards off forwards from a boot upfield. Good Heading and Anticipation are a bonus.
Strength: Muscling off forwards is something managers like to see from a defender. A strong defender wins headers and tackles and pleases fans.
Stamina: Managers don't like to change around their defence. A consistent back four keeping clean sheets is ideal. For that they need to last 90 minutes without getting too tired. Going up for corners and all the way back now and again takes its toll sometimes. It's worth keeping an eye on Natural Fitness as well.
Balance: Stay on your feet. A sentence managers do repeat often. Last ditch slide tackles are only the final option. A slip here or there lets the striker in.
Pace/Acceleration: To be able to make up for a mistake and catch up to a forward and make the last-ditch tackle, a quick surge towards the penalty area is needed. With a good Positioning sense and Anticipation, this is usually not of paramount importance.
Technical Attributes
Tackling: The basic job of a defender is to keep the opposition from scoring, to defend your goal. To do this, you need the ability to take the ball away from a striker. Tackling is necessary to be a good defender. Last ditch tackles often depend on Acceleration, Pace and Strength, perhaps even Determination.
Marking: The opponent must be watched every step of the way in set pieces, and in many cases in the game. Marking them out of the game is one way to ensure that they don't score. Marking works with a good Positioning sense in many cases as well.
Heading: Attacking teams will continually test defences with crosses into the box, and long balls. Lifting your foot that high up takes some effort and time, and you can't handle the ball obviously. Heading the ball correctly is a skill, one that is neeeded for defenders to stay a step ahead of strikers. It gives an edge on set-pieces as well, especially if Jumping is good.
Passing: Someone who can start off a move from the back is a brilliant member to have on a team. Picking out a player or simply playing quick, precise, short passes is an effective way to build up an attack.
Mental attributes
Positioning/Anticipation: Being in the wrong place is a mistake defenders hate to make. The striker is no where near you and has nothing to stop him from scoring. Knowing where to be, when to be is a requirement for any defender. Otherwise, it's best to have a defender with Pace, Acceleration and Determination.
Composure/Concentration: There's a quick striker whose causing you trouble. You have to be focussed the whole way to ensure that it's not your fault that he gets behind the defence. Concentrate on the ball, concentrate on the player you're marking. A player can't panic when he is faced by a testing striker. Working well together as a unit is vital. A lapse in concentration has lost big teams big games.
Bravery: If a defender isn't ready to throw himself into tackles or put himself into a header, then he's useless. Terry Butcher played with a shirt soaked with blood. It's only fair to ask a defence to take a risk or two, without being silly. Tackling or Heading with high Bravery is even more effective.
Determination: When a striker gets clean through behind the defence, for whatever reason, it may need a last ditch attempt to get the ball to safety. It's not going to help giving up and giving the striker even more time. Good Bravery, Aggression and Acceleration is a bonus.
Agression: A towering centre-back instils fear into the opposition. A defender bullying a forward out of the game, physically, and fairly works wonders for a reputation as a hard team. After all, you wouldn't want to cross the path of Nemanja Vidic.
Decisions: A centre-half might come to a point where the wrong decision could cost him. Should he clear away or try to play it out of trouble? Sometimes a preferred move dictates this, but a continual mistakes is not something that brings confidence. Experience brings better Decisions.
Influence/Teamwork: You often hear of the "back four" as a 'unit'. The offside rule ensures that defenders are always on their toes, and having a good communication between your defenders is important to make sure all bases are covered. A commanding presence at the back usually boosts the confidence of the entire squad.
Physical attributes
Jumping: To head the ball, Jumping is often necessary. You can't head it if you can't reach it. It can give you a tremendous advantage during set-pieces and wards off forwards from a boot upfield. Good Heading and Anticipation are a bonus.
Strength: Muscling off forwards is something managers like to see from a defender. A strong defender wins headers and tackles and pleases fans.
Stamina: Managers don't like to change around their defence. A consistent back four keeping clean sheets is ideal. For that they need to last 90 minutes without getting too tired. Going up for corners and all the way back now and again takes its toll sometimes. It's worth keeping an eye on Natural Fitness as well.
Balance: Stay on your feet. A sentence managers do repeat often. Last ditch slide tackles are only the final option. A slip here or there lets the striker in.
Pace/Acceleration: To be able to make up for a mistake and catch up to a forward and make the last-ditch tackle, a quick surge towards the penalty area is needed. With a good Positioning sense and Anticipation, this is usually not of paramount importance.
