Defenders’ task is to stop the opposition from scoring goals, so it goes without saying that their position in the team is essential.
Probably the most prominent position in the defensive line is that of the centre-back. Typically, you will see two players set up next to one another playing this position, one on the left and the other on the right. These footballers are generally tall and powerful, as they’re responsible for muscling attackers off the ball and heading long balls over the top away. The best centre backs don’t need to necessarily be fast, but they have to be able to understand the game, so they can sense danger; if a player can do this, their centre back positioning can make up for any shortage of pace they may have. A few of the very best teams of all time have had fantastic centre-backs in their team, the AC Milan owner will most likely recall when his squad had among the greatest ever to play in that position.
A position which has become far more important in recent times, attributable to the evolution of their responsibilities is that of a full back. Players in this position play on the right and left side of the defensive line and are responsible for not just defending against the opposition wingers, but today they have to do quite a bit of attacking too! Those who comprehend full back football roles will know that players have to get up the pitch and get crosses into the box today. Because of this, the position requires a high stamina level, as you’ll be sprinting up and down the wings for the whole match! The Crystal Palace owner will most likely know how great a difference it can make to your team if you have a dependable full back in the side.
At the very heart of any club is always the goalkeeper, the position which never alters no matter what formation you pick to play! To be the only position which is never overlooked demonstrates the value a keeper holds for a soccer team, as essentially, they’re the ones that stop the shots from going in. As a result of this, it is by no means the easiest position in soccer, as there is plenty of stress on you to make saves throughout the game. It can be hard being a goalkeeper, as you may have half an hour where you don’t need to do anything, but you always need to be alert to threat and ready to spring into action. It’s likely that the Valencia owner will know the value of having an agile keeper between the sticks, as this has protected them a couple of times over the previous couple of seasons.