Sussex Hammer

Playing as the Hammers and staggeringly managed to grab Van Der Vaart at start of first season for 10 M.

Only had a couple of frindlies so far but despite some fine touches he hasn't performed better than a 6.

Early days obviously but what is the best way to get the best out of him?

I'm tinkering about with a 4-4-2 that worked in the Beta Patch. I have Van Der Vaart as the right sided more aadventurous of the two central midfielders.

I started him off as my old tactic with normal attacking, normal CF, mixed FR and mixed RWB with little luck.

I then opted to make him more attacking with a higher CF, often FR and often RWB along with adopting him as a playmaker. He got a 5!!!

He seems to shoot on sight despite listing him as Mixed Long Shots.

Now he is a creative midfielder with good passing, creativity and dribbling stats but would you have him with high creativity AND as a playmaker? Or would you have high creativity with playmaker unticked or even have him as a playmaker with normal creativity?

I guess I am trying to work out whether it is too much having a playmaker with high creativity etc as he will be in the wrong place to do damage etc?

How would you utilise him in a 4-4-2?

The only other player I have with higher than normal creativity is Ashton in a Target Man role.

markopolo911

I dont have the answer to your question sussex, but you are not alone in trying to find a away to get the best out of him.

I am also my beloved Irons. I signed him in my first season, and played him behind Ashton in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He played 36 games scored 4 goals 8 assists and an ave rating of 6.83.

I'll follow this thread with interest as I'm sure he is capable of more???

def

Could you post a screenshot of his attributes?

BigBadBri

I cant get him to perform with the latest patch?.

Like you say he "shoots on sight", but one of his preffered moves is "places shots", so he just passes it back to the keeper 9 times out of 10.

I cant get him to take a decent corner or free kick either, which with his stats is somewhat unbelievable?.

I bought Mattias Fernandez instead, just a little more expensive, but he plays fantastically at AML, AMC and even MC.

flipfold27

i bought van der vaart for my fcbayern during the

first season.i used 4-1-3-2 tactic where i put

van der vaart as mid centre.i din set him as

playmaker or set free role.instead i set him as

mid centre.so far so good as during the 1st season

with my team scored more than 10 goals and

around 15 assists.also won the footballer of

the year and runner's up during my 2nd season

dooter7th

you have to put VDV as the play maker and on a fre role , put his long shots as mixed but put his creative freedom quite low , other wise he will ping them from miles away

you have to play him as the AM behind the stikers

knap

I've never found VDV to play that well in midfield in a Std 442 formation, and tends to get booked and sent often on a regular basis.

sean_oc16

I have him on as AMC in a diamond midfield, high attacking mentality, set as playmaker, mixed long shots and direct passing and he's the best player in my squad.

Apps 17(2)
Goals 12 (helps that he is penalty taker)
Asts 8 (would be more if my strikers could finish )
MoM 5
Avg 7.58 (was much higher but he just got a 5 )

sean_oc16

I also give him the 'free role' option too :thup:

Works as he just netted another 2 against Hartlepool and Dalla Valle (who he is tutoring) got another 2.

adamj11

Playing him behind loan striker(carew) for aston villa, just reached jan transfer window and he leads league in assists and player rating and 3rd on goals(15), he is single handedly making villa title contenders.