retired_appoint

I have just started a new game as West Ham with the new patch and I thought I would conduct an experiment by playing a defensive formation away at Old Trafford in my second game aiming purely at a 0-0 draw or a shock 1-0 win. Yes, I would cheat by reloading the game if I didn't find the answer to playing a defensive minded set up that mirrors the way smaller teams make life harder for the bigger teams by "parking the team bus in front of the goal"!

I tinkered about with a formation which had a keeper, 4 defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, 2 wide men, 1 central midfielder and one striker.

I tried everything, counter attack, barrows on all players, farrows on all players, ultra defensive mentalities, short passing, direct passing, long passing, target man holding ball up, slow tempo, quick tempo,normal tempo, one creative player, no creative players, moving defensive line back to the 6 yard box..... Every single defensive instruction was tried. Did any work??? Er no!!

Results were 3-0, 5-0, 2-0, 4-0 and 5-1 (that was an own goal!!

I even tried a farrow on my keeper with the intention of clearing up behind my defence. Only one to the edge of the six yard box I hasten to add but before I knew it he was passing the ball between my centre backs on the half way line!! NO idea why he or they were there as both they and the team had an ultra defensive mentality!! Before I knew what was happening Rooney had blasted 2 50 yard efforts into an empty goal!!

Even in games when I kept it tight for the first 20 mins, the Al would either score from a corner or be given a penalty to undo my cunning plan, or even more embarrassing Tevez would out jump my centre backs to head in a goal or two...

Hopes destroyed of making any type of defensive (nick a goal) formation I reloaded and just went for it with my 4-4-2 attacking playmaker formation. I won 5-3!!! Attack really is the best form of defence!!

Is it possible to play a defence minded set up in this game? I think not!!

retired_barbiej

I play a sort of a counter attacking style and a 4231 formation and it does the job but there is other factors to consider. Like did you make a media comment before a game and whats morale like.

Tactics alone wont will you the game

purejunie

Just out of interest I used CB set to instruction for all outfield players, played Man U at OT and won 2-1 both teams had 5 chances and Robbo scored the winner.

Using a defensive 4141 had a few 0-0 games and in full hightlights they just pass in a triangle (paint dry).

Chelsea after going a goal up changed to these tactics and no instructions would get my players to chase them down ie full attacking close down push up. I need to try 424 to see if this puts pressure on man with ball.

retired_junvan

I find with Bayern that I get better results playing defensive with counter attack than I do with an attacking formation.

What would make you think that simply playing a defensive formation would give you any chance of winning against ManU? If their squad is much better than yours you can change tactics to death but it doesn't mean you should win or draw.

retired_mary43

The deeper you play, the more pressure you invite via long shots. And if you are playing against a good team, one or more are bound to go in.

If you want to park the bus in the goal, play 5-4-1 or something with a flat 5, with AML/AMR. I deployed a 4-5-1 (DMC-DMC-MC-AML-AMR) with Manchester United with extremely low width, tempo and passing length - net result is no 4-0 wins like Manchester United, but plenty of clean sheets. If you have a good striker, you should bag a goal a game easily. Which is possibly about as defensive as you can get.