retired_chunky draws

hmm, it just appears that with normal mentality (tried it!) and FWR they can't support the attack as much as I want them to. Bear in mind that in 9/10 matches, Barca dominate so much that buildup play takes place on last third of opp. half which means just outside the penalty area... Even though FWR is turned on. In fact, I enjoy more solid buildup play with NO FWR for the attacking MC, as he holds his position much better as a 'playstation' for the front three AND as a longshot threat outside the area...

retired_kateois

i feel you well rash, I just can't find the right mentaleties for players if not using a already made method ( RoO at this case ) and then i play a loosey football.

assuming i want to have 4 main strategies:
Home:
- control\possession : where i hold the ball and frustrate the opposition and play a killer ball once in a while ( my assumption here is that only 1-2 players should be playing mixed\direct passing high on midfield to play the killer ball, right ? ).
- attack : looking for a goal when i fall behind, playing a higher mentality and more players given FWR with more TTB, correct?

away:
- possession\counter : trying to counter the opposition by not giving them the ball and breaking with a killer ball once in a while
- defend\counter : when leading or playing a tough away game then knocking the ball upfront and already 2-3 players waiting there to nail a goal and clinch the match.

so, ive got a gameplan i just can't find out how to set it with the sliders. (im still using 07, so take that into consideration )

mentalities should be lower on away matches as simple as it sounds, but how lower? and what mentalities players should be given by default? is there any rule here or you just lets call it 'guess' what mentality a player should play if you want him to attack ( attacking ofcourse, but how much attacking so he won't get too far from rest of the team ).
same for defence.
I know this post is a bit confusing but it's about time i figure out how to do it all alone and not relating on others, so one time I want to understand it all and go make something myself.

retired_kellyk

Yes that would be a good idea..the players should have good teamwork, passing and decisions

Any attacking formation requires plenty of forward runs, though you do want some central players acting as links these players can have mixed forward runs, so they basically play other players through, these players should be strong and be able to pass. They would be the ones you give full TTB to, others you may want to think about depending on your formation

This formation should have a mixed attack, some players on short passing like the central midfielders and the wingers and forwards on direct passing. Passing at the back should be short/tempo should be short to normal to help you hold possession, and quite a few players will have to have a normal mentality range which means they drop back to defend as much as possible. If you close down too much you will allow the AI tonnes of space in the middle, in this kind of formation you may want to soak back and allow them to move forward..formations tend to have a low-normal defensive line.

Same as above in FM2007, the holding man upfront allows you to do a fair bit so does Hold up Ball for a few players in midfield

(im still using 07, so take that into consideration )I'm trying to, but as you can understand all this will be off memory and some things may apply differently on FM2008, which I recommend you pick up as there are Attacking fullbacks who play devastatingly down the flanks

Just think of mentality like this: Attack - (they won't defend) Normal (They will attack and defend) and Defensive ( They never attack)

Based on this just apply what you think is ideal for your team, remember the higher their mentality the further away they are form the defensive line. If you are not sure...set it to middle of normal and then adjust up or down..because each player can react differently, some need to be a bit deeper because they may be slower.

retired_kateois

ok thanks for backing up my thoughts =)

I did create 4 diffrent tactics so now i have a winger and an MCa who are set to rare FWR - they are the linking players for the attacks.
MCd given mixed fwr on home, rare on away and HUB so players can join the attack ( perhaps i should give him direct passing on away? because home i play him short because he's already higher on pitch ).

strikers both given mixed FWR, 1 winger set to often FWR and cross from byline on home while the other on rare, both RWB often.
my MCa is given rare FWR so he can be the linking unit, is that a mistake? because he can score goals and rare FWR won't allow him to get into deep danger zones, although he's given a very high CF and a free role.

and again rash, thanks for the input I'll update here with how and what's going on with it =) looking forward for your answer for this one !

jmm19114

Rashidi,

firstly, really enjoy reading your threads mate, have learnt a lot about FM through them

Had a question about the personal instructions for the defenders. My team is scoring freely buy also conceding goals like there is no tomorrow.

I am playing a 4-2-3-1 (flat back 4, two MC, three AMC and one up top) with short passing and a slowish-mixed tempo, trying to dominate and win the game in midfield. I have succeeded in doign that and have possession > 55% in most games and almost always outshoot the opposition. But I am just unable to keep the opposition out. My center backs never seem to pick up their strikers. Just lost 5-0 away at Everton with Andrew Johnson (how ****in overrated is he?) getting 4 goals!!

My back four is -

Parnaby Gioda Cahais Queudrue

Center back instructions -
Mentality - 5
CF - 1
Passing - 8
Closing down - 5
Use non-specific man-marking. usually tight, except when against quick strikers I turn tight marking off

Fullbacks -
Mentality - 7-10
CF - 4-6
Passing - 10-11
Closing down - 8-10
Tight zonal marking

Also have Muamba and Leon Andreasen playing in central midfield with defensive-normal mentalities and protecting the defense.

I find that a lot of goals are conceded because my defenders just dont pick up the opposition strikers or are not tight enough on them. I dont think its a question of having crap defenders because both Gioda and Cahais have brilliant stats and I have received bids of 10 million for each. Any ideas?\

oh and my DLine is usually 10-12

retired_randitruax

Hi mate,
I know this thread wasn't for me but what exactly do u mean by 7-10? that's more of an attacking mentality right? If so this is probably why you are conceding so many.

It would probably be best to focus your whole defence strictly on defending (i.e. Ultra Defensive mentality). If anything set the forward runs from your full backs to "none" (just gonna have to rely on your midfeild to get you the goals) and finally make sure that at least one of your DMC's has both "FWR's" and RWB as "none" also.

Another more simple soultion is to do with your goalkeeper. I think you'd be very surprise at how a new, quality gk can change your defence. As well as decent GK attributes, look for one with excellent attributes for aerial ability, command of area, handling*, positioning*, and communication*. Because sometimes no matter how much you tweak your defence it simply wont work without the right keeper. Hope it helped (sorry for intruding. not trying to boast...)

retired_randitruax

It may also be useful to set all your CM marking to zonal (so they dont get dragged out of position).
set your CB's to man marking (Don't use tight marking trust me. Only use it if you have a REALLY slow defender)
Your fullbacks however can use tight marking. Though its best to mark the zone with them.

TIP: Opposition instructions.
This is a tactic i always use to great effect. Whilst the game is ongoing and you find that the opposition are coming back into the game press pause and go to the opposition's stats screen. From here, locate the player through which the majorety of the passes are going through and designate someone from your own team to specifically mark that particular player. This works best if coupled with "tight marking".
WARNING. ONCE YOU DO THIS KEEP A CONSTANT EYE ON THE OPPOSITION FORMATION. FM TENDS TO QUICKLY CHANGE THIS IN A SPLIT SECOND AND THE EFFECTS ARE INSTANTANEOUS. YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT AS SOON AS THEY CHANGE, YOU PAUSE THE GAME AND ADJUST THAT DESIGNATED PLAYERS MARKING SETTINGS, OTHERWISE HE WILL BE MARKING SOMEONE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND GETTING DRAGGED WAY OUT OF POSITION. Hope this helps, at least give it a try

retired_kellyk

Don't use numbers to describe something to me, please. Use the name on the slider. Are your fullbacks on last notch of normal? That's the position they should be in, IF you want them to go up and down to support the attack.

I don't like tightmarking so much, try taking it off on the central defenders. Do the same for the fullbacks. The closing down should be "in own area" try 6 or 7.

Do not make the mentality of the CDs ultra defensive, it will not help you keep possession. What are their passing instructions, ideally..short passing last notch for the whole group.

In midfield try and keep closing down to own area around 10-12. I can see you're trying to make an "Arrowhead" too...that's as much help as you're gonna get from me..

retired_kateois

okay Rash, I gotta say you've evulated me to the next level of playing FM.
I absoulotly created my very OWN ( really own ) tactics, and atleast the Away-possession works GREAT.

I've set things up just like we discussed, playing the team instructions like this:
http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchoa5.jpg

Diarra, given the Anchorman role to HUB and play first notch of direct passing has created a massive diffrence in my game, as he was tearing apart the opposition defence with killer balls when needed, as well as scoring 3.
I have given Diarra these instructions:
http://img526.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchcb3.jpg

I also decided to set my fullbacks and DCs on last notch of short passing, so they'll knock the ball to Diarra and from there it's all up to him to decide wether he wants to play a killer ball or keep possession.
fullbacks were given fwr mixed rwb rare ttb mixed and cross from deep often. mentality is last before normal ( +1 = normal ) and closing down is pretty low for DCs (3) and higher for FBs(10) while Diarra is doing the tough job with a high close-down.

1 winger is set to mixed fwr and cross from byline, mix ttb and cross and plays mixed passing.
the other winger is often fwr and same instructions, although he plays Direct passing, so he could play the ball forwards.
last thing is my MCa - micoud which was given these instructions:
http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchtx0.jpg

I've tested it and it worked as a magic
match stats:
http://img99.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchwd6.jpg

action zones:
http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchcw3.jpg

player stats:
http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchat1.jpg

for the very first time I can say my tactic worked flawlessly.
now a question about how to tweak it:
If I want to go on defend, then I should switch to a narrower width, slower tempo and higher Time-wasting, correct? what about passing? Diarra should play short passing to keep possession, right? and fullbacks FWR rare? also try to take 1 mentality click down from each player? and 1 closing down aswell? should I remove F-arrows from wingers?

kepners

I have to agree about keeping an eye on opponent formation. I just went 2-0 ahead at WBA and was out of trouble untill then. Suddenly they are all over me via flanks. I check their formation, and they have both MR and ML with long farrows, which naturally caused trouble. I simply set my both fullbacks to man mark them ( not tightly, because their wingers are a lot more explosive than my fullbacks) and it worked treat and I got my 'game back' so to speak and won 0-3 in the end.

Simple but effective. Simple things like these shouldn't be overlooked, especially when you're not superiour team to your opponent.