|The central defender|
|Around the Academy:
Being at the centre of defence puts you up against the opposition's centre forwards.
It's a wonderful challenge though.
You'll have to be a good tackler and strong in the air.
But the ability to read the game by spotting where the likely danger will come from is the biggest asset.
Central defenders need to be very committed and focused on their role.
If you let the opposition striker get in front of you then it can easily result in a goal against your side.
And if that happens too often then your name may not be appearing on the teamsheet the following week!
You cannot relax for one second - there's danger on that football field from every possible angle.
Where are the strikers going? Which midfielders are bursting through?
And when your keeper's got the ball, should you make yourself available for the easy pass?