retired_Turkishdelight

Ok, regarding tactics, i need help both offensively and defensively, though more so defense. I'm using Man City, in a 4-3-1-2, with my 3 midfielders flat across the midfield line, with a Barrow on my CM, and Farrows on my LM & RM respectively. My starting back 4 is usually Eduardo/Guilherme, Coloccini/Breno, Richards, Corluka.

Here's my problem. Was playing Chelsea in the community shield, and they were killing me with the short passes. back and forth, constantly, until one of their strikers slipped behind one of my DC's, shoots, he scores, GoalARA!!!, which , unfortunately, was not what i wanted. So, is there some tips on how to avoid that. Now, my 3 DC's all have positioning and concentration at 17 i think, and are all top flight DC's, but what do i do to stop that quick short passing. Should I have my LM/RM close down always? I'd prefer not to have my DL/DR get out of position (They're on Zone), as then one of my opp's wingers slips behind. On the match screen, you'll see my CM running back and forth across the lenght of the pitch trying to close down the ball carrier. It's a bit frustrating to be honest.

Any advice or tips regarding the slider settings?

Oh, and btw, this is Scousers 4-3-1-2 from FM2006, but with a bunch of changes i made to suit my team and players.

W

retired_pamjoseph

What kind of defende are you using? 3 DCs in a line of 4? Try to close down with forward players, and take in mind that it's quite an offensive tactic against Chelsea...

retired_bertiebott5000

I personally have succes with using "tight marking" with my 4 defenders + DMC. My SB's + DMC on Zonal marking, my 2 CD's on man marking.

In front a MC with BArrow with defensive mentality and rarely FR.

This way it's not the problem with short passing, but if you're defenders are good markers / in a duel if they get the pass.

My DMC and AMC are on close down rarely (3 ticks from left). My Wingers / strikers are on CD often (4 ticks from right). So preventing a build up on front is helping me. If they do get through i don't rush into things with my low CD on CM's so they don't run out of position too fast.

My SB use normal CD. My Defenders same as MC's.
CD's have defensive menatlity (all the way left). My SB's just when it turns normal. Same with DMC. The rest is team setting = offensive.

Also you might consider (especially against Chelsea) to use a narrow formation and tick counter attack. So you don't give them room to pass around.

I'm using 4-4-2 / 4-4-1-1 though. Working very well. It's a modified Fiora2 tactic.

Just my 2 cents ... Good luck.

retired_Turkishdelight

K, just checked. All of my my defenders ( it's a flat 4 btw Xouman, the Eduardo/Guilherme Colo/Breno thing meant that they were rotating, and my DL/DR do act like WB's) are on no closing down. Now, here's my thoughts about it. You know when the game is processing, and it gives you that message, something like "Beware when having it set to always close down as good players will find a way to get thru" or some such line, when facing a team that has similar tactics to Chelski (constant movement, short passes, etc), if my Line was closing down more often, wouldn't that then mean that they'd be more vulnerable? What i mean by that is this, and work with me here, lol , say you're a DC, and the AMC is passing back and forth, you're ticked to close down always in your area, so you move forward to close him down, viola, the ST gets behind u, and easy goal. Whereas since my DL is all on no closing, tight marking, Zone, at least they're not caught out of position, right? Again, this is just the way i'm viewing it, possibly i'm 100% wrong. Also, keep in mind that my CM is running back and forth across the pitch, and FYI, i mean that literally, during the games, you'll see the CM running back and forth harrying whoever has the ball, (which, to digress a bit, sucks, as my 3 CM/DM's are Ever Banega, Gelson, & Johnson, all of whom have 11-13 stamina, lmao).

So now, lets get that mental picture back. All 4 defenders, playing flat, moving to mark whoever enters the zone, the CM/DM running around harrying the ball carrier, which is basically exactly what happens. My worry again is having one of the Defenders close down more often, which would lead them to be out of position more often. Thats kind of why i was asking if i should set my ML/MR to close down more often, as that would give support to the D-Line.

Maybe keep the 2 DC's on Tight marking/Zone, DL/DR on tight marking zone, CM on Allways close, Tight, and my MR/ML on lets say 3 ticks over the half on Closing down?

Lol, why am i asking you, maybe i should just try it myself, lol....
Though, seriously, thoughts and comments much much appreciated.

W

retired_bertiebott5000

Hm, it's a view. But that's the great things about tactics, it's all about your own view on football.

I personally am a realist. So i do love great football, but also am aware that with a side as Man. City you can't expect Barca like plays. You just don't have the players/quality for it (yet ).

So i'd alway start from a defensive point of view and build up from there.

Set you defense line to normal. If you have fast defenders push the up a little. If you've slow / strong defenders, a little deeper.

Use low CD - but a little higher then none, so they do at least something. Waiting to long isn't very effective either. Use defensive mentalities.

Sidebacks can have some more CD / attacking mentality, as they are also suppliers to the front / crossings.

No preventing an attack up front is a very low risk. So CD high up front can't harm. The only thing it they are out of position if you get the ball and want to counter quickly. So this depends on pace / stamina / off the ball etc as well.

Another way is to use a Target man. Use lower CD so he's always up front to receive and hold the ball so the rest of your team have time to reorganise an attack.

Using somewhat lower CD on you Midfield gives your forwards / Wingers, who are running their asses of to get the ball, time to rejoin the defense after a failed CD. So they can retry getting the ball again on the midfield.

Also time wasting might help if you're players have lower stamina attributes. So they have some air left as soon the ball is lost again.
But if you player counter attack, using time wasting doesn't help the quickness ofcourse.

So if you do use counter attacks then it's better to have some lower CD setup - letting some pressure come over you, and once they approach more towards your goal try to get the ball. If so your forwards will be ready for a quick and fast counter because they saved some stamina by not CD too often.

It's just how you like to play it and especially where you want to conquer the ball. As soon as possible? On the midfield? On the defense? If you like to play possesion football, pressure up front most of the time is better, so use slower passing to keep possession and saves stamina compared to quick, because it will increase ball loss and then you have to keep running around. Having all players out of position again. If it happens once in a while it won't matter to much as you tire them down having most of the possession, letting them run their asses off. So when they get possession they will be more tired.

Anyway. It's all up on how you would like to play, but also what type of players you have and try to get the best out of them.

retired_bertiebott5000

Using lower CD does make it harder for a side as Chelsea to pass around up front. They have to make the play and use creativity. They might succeed after all, because they are just very good

Using higher CD might help to get the ball. But if not (most of the times against chelsea since they are very skilled) they have the room suddenly to launch a striker into, so there goes your good will of beating Chelsea.

On the other side, doing nothing won't give you any points either. So it's all about balance.

Personally i'd use a little below CD on midfield. Higher on strikers en wingers and low on defense. All depending on how strong your defense is. If your defense is the weakest part of your team you might consider just taking the risk and conquer the ball as soon as possible. Even if it'll risk total humiliation after a 6 - 0 loss because chelsea outplays every CD you try, but also could result in the small win you're hoping for.

Again - depending on your players