retired_rajiv89

I've had enough. This game is c**p. This is not just a problem with this FM but the last few. I'm fed up with having long runs without winning a game. If I lost a game, I can safely say I will go at least 10 more without winning.

Current go is the classic example. I was 3rd until the last 18 games of the season with Sheff Wed in Championship, then went 15 games without winning. It didn't matter who I played, I drew at home and lost away. Now at the start of season 2 after missing out on the playoffs, I am having the same problem. I won my first 5 games ata canter, then lost one. Now I have gone 10 games without a win.

Basically, If the opposition scores, i;ve lost. Its that simple. Ive only managed to come back from a goal behind twice in over a whole season. I think this is a serious problem with the game. I;ve even resorted to downloading so-called 'winning formations' from this site that people claim have enabled them to win titles by 20 points etc. When I use them its not the same.

This go, I managed to sell a player for 12 mil, bought Breno and a host of other players far too goot for this division, but still I win. I wouldn't mind so much if the game would give me a fighting chance but it never does. As i said, as soon as the opposition scores, I can guarantee I have lost the game, no matter what I do.

I've had enough and I am thinking about deleting the game. Its just not fun anymore.

retired_cr8zjoe

I sympathise with your sentiments.

Have you tried a 4 2 4 formation?

I know it wouldn't work in real life, but it goes down a treat with the latest patch. You need some fast CBs and a decent goalie.

If you can sneak a goal then go back to 442 and counter attack. I reckon if I create half a dozen real one on ones and a dozen or so corners then my Div 2 strike force should put one in the back of the net.

retired_shannonmeyer

Have you scouted the opposition in advance to see the way they prefer to play? As from my own experiences and from others on the forums it seems the teams under AI control are a lot of the time going defensive with counter attacking. So if you play an attacking formation you can get ripped to shreds and even at times matching with your own defensive formation it is a little bit of a lottery if you win or not.

retired_GodsMyWitness

In the end it'll still be down to your tactics. In my experience you can't just slap on a "winning formula" and immediately expect results. Having different players and different strength all call for different tactical tweaks.

I'd say if you go on a losing streak. Try change your formation a little. Give different sets of players a call. Be patient and encourage your players.

If you concedes alot but have no problem scoring. Maybe take a more defensive approach, less creativity, shorter passing, tighter marking and use opposition instructions and man-marking to nullify their dangerman. Play with one, or even two defensive midfields. If you have quick strikers, use counter attack. Powerful ones, use target man.

Small tweaks and patience is all you need. Also don't go changing the whole team just after one defeat. But of course use different players if the morale is really suffering.

retired_rajiv89

Thanks for the advice guys, i'll give it a go. I think the most annoying problem on this game is the misses from your strikers. I can create 20 chances and if i'm lucky, put one of them away. I've got Alex Fernandez, Danny Haynes, Darius Henderson and David Amoo, so not too bad for the league i'm in. Fernandez is quality, but still missed easy chances.

It was the same problem when I started a Liverpool go though even with 'world-class' strikers.

retired_samiam

This sounds a surefire tactical problem. If you're losing games near the end of the season, then it sounds like your players are getting tired. Perhaps they've had a long pre-season. It could be anything.

You just to freshen things up, play a few different players. Play a defensive formation a few times, try and get a few 0-0's to stop the losing streak and then slowly make it more attacking as the confidence grows.

Don't criticise your team as this will lower their confidence and morale leading to poorer performances.

Try signing 1 or 2 players in the January window - competition is a good thing, and it can freshen the team up.

If you conceded a goal, then I'd be interested to hear what your response was. If you didn't make any tactical changes, then it does stand to reason that you won't get back into the game. If your tactics resulted in you going 1-0 down in the first place, then it's going to be tough getting back into it.

If you immediately go on the attack, then watch for the AI going on the defensive/counter attack tactic, as they can easily score another few on the break.

You could try and react a little better to the AI changes, or perhaps going on the defensive after going 1-0 down to make sure you don't concede any more for a while, especially away from home, and then going attacking in the last 20 minutes.

The Tactics forum might be the best place for you discuss different ways of reacting to AI decisions.

dejasade

if your resigned to going 10 games without winning then guess what. you wont win. come on now, i've never had such a bad run of form ever. i've had dodgy runs but not 10 games without winning.
your obviously thinking that the game should mold to the way you want to play rather than the other way round.

retired_GodsMyWitness

Yeah, that's a problem I think everyone's experiencing in FM 08. It's probably a way to keep scorelines realistic since in previous version it was so easy for good strikers to bang in 50 goals a season.

AFAIK, there's no easy solution for this problem. The most you can do is take one of two approaches:

1. Get better strikers, if you strikers can't finish off chances, check their stats. Typically the stats for look for is 15+ Finishing, Composure, Flair, First Touch and Off the Ball. Personally, I also look for Pace, Determination, Work Rate and Long Shot.

You can also try and involve your midfield into the mix, if they have decent Long Shot, let them take more long shots. If they have good Creativity and Passing, then more through ball. If you have center mids that's fast and powerful, push the arrow all the way up to the top to get them barging into the box.

2. The second approach is based on the principle that if you can't score enough goals from the existing chances, create more.

This requires signing players to fit my tactics. Players you will need are Keeper with great One on One and Reflex. Defenders with a fair bit of Pace and great Tackling. Midfielders with good Pace, Determination, Work Rate and Stamina. Wingers with great Pace and Dribbling, Strikers with either great Pace or great power.

The tactics revolves around Pace, it's a little dangerous and I probably wouldn't recommend using it all the time.
Anyways, in the team instruction screen, go:

Mentality: Attacking (about 75% on the slider)
Creative Freedom: Little (20-30%)
Passing Style: Direct (60-80%)
Tempo: Quick (70-80%)
Width: Normal
Closing Down: Always (90-100%)
Time Wasting: Rarely (0-10%)
Defensive Line: Push Up (70-90%)
Tackling: Normal

Tick Play Offside and Counter Attack

If you have good players in your team, this tactics will simply pin your opponent back in their own half and create loads of loads of shooting opportunities. You're much more susceptible to your opponent's counter attack and that's why you need fast centerback with great tackling for that last ditch tackle. If implemented well, you'll going to have a massive shots on goal every game while your opponent will very virtually none.

retired_tvmerriner

The only thing i don't like in the game is the fact that a gam can have very different outcomes.

Example:

I'm with Fiorentina, i have the best Serie A team by far (not even Inter or Milan get near), i had a game against Perugia at my home.
It was an easy win, for sure...

The game starts and i immediately get nailed back to my half of the field. It seemed like i was playing Chelsea or something!
I get the first goal at about minute 2, the second almost after 10 mins and a third one at the end of the first half.
I got angry with my players and the second half i scored 1 goal but suffered yet another one!
4-1 total... What a load of bulsh*t!

So i just went back, didn't save and tried to play the same game again.
Same tactic, same individual markings, same everything!
I won 6-0 and they almost didn't get near my goal.

This is just one example of the many i could give. I think this randomness (i can't explain it otherwise) in game results is kind of sucky imo.

retired_tvmerriner

It makes you feel less motivated to play the game, because no matter if you desing a great tactic for the game in question, no matter what cares you take against the other team's best players, no matter what 11 you chose to best suit the matches demands, n the end, the game will always throw dice on the match's outcome.