Why must strikers have to have the defending stat and why does a defender have it too

[Ahmmed Nahid]

Why must a striker defend and a defender have to attack..? It shouldn't even contribute to that specific position...

[Cat Harrison]

You can have up to a 20 point gap.

Go ahead and try that and see how well your guys do.

Here's a breakdown of the attributes:

Defence

Defence determines the player's defensive attributes.

• Tackling – Determines how well a player is capable of executing a successful tackle on an opponent without committing a foul or injury.
• Marking – Determines how well a player can mark an opponent and how well he can use zonal marking.
• Positioning – Determines how well a player positions himself to deal with attacking threats.
• Heading – Determines how well a player is capable of heading the ball towards his target.
• Handling – Determines how well a player is able to keep the ball when tackled.

Attack

Attack determines the player's offensive attributes.

• Passing – Determines how accurately a player can pass the ball.
• Dribbling – Determines how well a player can control the ball when running with it.
• Crossing – Determines how well a player is capable of placing a well-aimed cross at the right time.
• Shooting - Determines how well a player is capable of placing a strong, good shot.
• Finishing – Determines how well a player is capable of reacting quickly and adapting to any offensive situation.

Physical & Mental

Physical & Mental determine your player's supplemental attributes.

• Fitness – Determines how hard your player can exert himself on the pitch.
• Strength – Determines how well a player is able to exert his physical force onto an opponent in order to hold them off, win tackles and aerial balls, etc.
• Aggression – Determines how much a player asserts himself on the pitch. Does not necessarily raise the chance of fouls or injuries.
• Speed - Determines the player's speed on the pitch. A player moves faster without a ball than with it.
• Creativity – Determines how many opportunities a player will find to use his other abilities.

[talisman]

With Heading being a defensive attribute I like to keep the 'Defence' up near the 'Attack' rating - Strikers don't always score with their feet...

[Joe Smith]

It depends if you want a Drogba type player who can head the ball and a battering ram this would work best using long ball tactics, Or a poacher type player like Raul for Real Madrid in this heyday who was a goal poacher.

[mmunger]

Make sure your players' skills are as balanced as possible. That makes a team as strong as possible on both ends of the pitch.

A striker can help the defence and win the ball back for the counter. A central defender can feed the ball to the attack and provide assists.

At the other end of the spectrum, a defender whose attacking skills are not up to par may be unable to build from the back. A striker with low defensive skills may make bad tackles and concede free kicks. You don't want that.

[KoronaChelsea]

the 20 point gap would now explain why I can't inc my def abilities (I haven't been able since I won at auction)

Def: 41.4
Att: 21.4
Phy & Men: 25.8

For level 3 his Defense is outstanding... but the other attributes are keeping him at 4 stars although he'd training hard!

[Adam T. Brown]

You can have up to a 20 point gap.

Go ahead and try that and see how well your guys do.

Here's a breakdown of the attributes:

Defence

Defence determines the player's defensive attributes.

• Tackling – Determines how well a player is capable of executing a successful tackle on an opponent without committing a foul or injury.
• Marking – Determines how well a player can mark an opponent and how well he can use zonal marking.
• Positioning – Determines how well a player positions himself to deal with attacking threats.
• Heading – Determines how well a player is capable of heading the ball towards his target.
• Handling – Determines how well a player is able to keep the ball when tackled.

Attack

Attack determines the player's offensive attributes.

• Passing – Determines how accurately a player can pass the ball.
• Dribbling – Determines how well a player can control the ball when running with it.
• Crossing – Determines how well a player is capable of placing a well-aimed cross at the right time.
• Shooting - Determines how well a player is capable of placing a strong, good shot.
• Finishing – Determines how well a player is capable of reacting quickly and adapting to any offensive situation.

Physical & Mental

Physical & Mental determine your player's supplemental attributes.

• Fitness – Determines how hard your player can exert himself on the pitch.
• Strength – Determines how well a player is able to exert his physical force onto an opponent in order to hold them off, win tackles and aerial balls, etc.
• Aggression – Determines how much a player asserts himself on the pitch. Does not necessarily raise the chance of fouls or injuries.
• Speed - Determines the player's speed on the pitch. A player moves faster without a ball than with it.
• Creativity – Determines how many opportunities a player will find to use his other abilities.

Could an experienced player talk about a Goalkeeper - I've seen players focus on defense and physical skills for goalkeepers. Is this the best strategy? I'm finally training my first fast trainer goalkeeper and looking for guidance. Thank you!

[Cat Harrison]

Pretty much, yep D is most then Phys. That's how I normally aim, but I have also had one with even stats that did FK/PK successfully.

[Adam T. Brown]

Thank you!