Any tips on becoming a better CB? It's a position that I'm really trying to master. Any tips? One of my dilemmas is figuring, if an attacking mid is leading the ball towards my box, and my midfielders aren't there to close him down, should I close him down and leave my forward?
If you're marking a forward, then absolutely no. But you've got to think where you are at the pitch. At one point someone has got to take him out or take a shotblock in order to stop him from shooting (or such). Like if he is able to stand alone at less than 20M from the goal and infront of it, then there are good chances he will put your keeper in trouble. Anyways, you should have the midfielders at the right place so they can assist you in taking the AMF out.
it's a common problem. sometimes, you can't help where the middies are, but i would want to know where your other cb and outside backs are. you and the other defenders need to communicate: 1. the other cb could pick up the attacking mid. 2. the other cb could pick up your forward so that you can take on the attacking mid. 3. your outside backs could pinch in to cover the forward while you take on the attacking mid. this might mean they leave the flank(s) exposed, but i tend to prefer that over leaving the middle exposed (unmarked on the outside = cross, but unmarked on the inside = shot). otherwise, if you're the last defender, you could leave the forward and put him offside, taking him out of the play.
A great CB can communicate extremely well, organize effectively, distribute great balls, is physical, and good in the air. In regards to your attacking mid question, there are a lot of different factors you have to consider. However, as he gets 20-25 meters out, it would be in your best interest to engage him. You have to ask yourself who is in a more dangerous scoring position? More than likely it will be the person with the ball.
1. If the attacker with the ball is in scoring position, the nearest defender has to mark him. Unless the keeper has come off his line, that may be a CB. It is pointless to mark someone off the ball in that situation. 2. Anytime you are defending 1v2 or more in front of the keeper, you have to keep in mind the off side rule. Anyone behind you is out of the play. So if the attacker with the ball is furthest from the goal, you can step up to the ball and turn the situation effectively into a 1v1.