Tim Howard

Manchester United keeper

Goalkeeper's a tough position - it's all about reaction and instinct.

But you need plenty of other skills too.

At times you have to let defenders know what they need to do. I'm not one to go overboard and start screaming at everyone.

But that's the role of a goalkeeper, to organise the backline to make sure we're all on the same page.

Tim's never been bowled over

Any defender will tell you they need to know what's going on and where to go, so they need the goalkeeper to talk back there.

I can certainly take criticism as well as I can give it, at least I think so anyway.

Defenders are willing to give it to me and I'm willing to give it back too. But there's also a lot of praise to give if I do well or they do well.

So the communication part of keeping is very important.

Obviously you have to be a shot-stopper - that's the essence of being a goalkeeper.

But you also need to be able to play with your feet, to be able to take the ball off defenders and give it back to them.

I've never been a goalkeeper who's blamed anyone else for a goal I've conceded. I don't look at it that way.

I try and look at myself first to see where I went wrong because I ask a lot of myself.

There have been times where I know I've failed, but that's what keeps me motivated - to be the best goalkeeper around.

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