 Carlisle 's predominant playing position is as a centre @-@ back and he has been described as a " defensive lynchpin " . He has stated that as a youngster , he modelled his style of play on defenders such as Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister . However , he says that their style was too " ruthless " for modern football , and he now attempts to read the opponents ' attacking plays . He is not known for his pace , and this has caused him some disciplinary problems as he has received eight red cards during his career . Former Leeds United teammate Michael Duberry described Carlisle as a " strong " defender . Carlisle is recognised as being a highly intelligent footballer , and is often seen as an imposing figure in the centre of the defence thanks to his 6 ft 3 in ( 1 @.@ 91 m ) stature . He also looks to use his size to cause an attacking threat from set pieces such as free kicks and corners , and scored 39 goals in his career . 
