Central Defender Tips

[thedefender23]

What information/tips could you guys give me on developing into a good central defender? I understand that good CBs have to have good positioning, be pretty good in the air and good tacklers but what other attributes should i have and howshould i go about developing these qualities?

[PurpleMenace]

you would wanna be pretty confident with your volleys, you definitely dont wanna have a ball coming toward you in the air, only to strike it off the top of your foot and have it spin backwards into the goal.

and have good communication, have to be able to tell your defenders who to mark and where to slide into if you attack a player

[Middle Of The Shed]

Try not to go to ground unless absolutely neccessary.
Keep good communication with your back line.
Be comfortable on the ball and under pressure.
Your decision making needs to be second to none and the general rule is when in doubt kick it out and always play the way you're facing (Although that's never usually strictly true)
You need a good range of passing.
Commanding presence and be able to deal with aerial threats without much problem.

Pretty much what has been said.
The only way to develop these skills is practice, practice, practice, old saying but true.

[Joep]

Do you want the beautiful game version or the none beautiful?

positioning is critical. You have to be able to anticipate the pass. I always try to give the midfielder the idea he can pass, hide behinde the striker a bit but keep close. Use your strike as bate, and keep your eyes on the midfielder. You know when he's gonna pass into your strikers feet and then you can move in front.

Non beautiful? Be a bastard. Strikers are a mean bunch generally, and you'll pick up tricks as you go. Try to get him out of his game.