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Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!!
Firstly apologies if this is the wrong forum....
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!!
11-27-2007, 01:31 PM
Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!! Post #2
I think so! With games with Wigan, in two seasons I've won at Anfield and Old Trafford with a 4-5-1 formation with a defensive mentality. Each time it's been 0-1 and they've had double the chances as me. I love the parking the bus style away from home. Some games I've been thumped but as mentioned above, I've got wins at Anfield and Old Trafford and a 0-0 at a high flying Spurs. Of course it can be done!!
11-27-2007, 01:36 PM
Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!! Post #3
I think its pointless. Especially in LLM.
My theory is if your gonna go out might as well try and beat them and play good football.
I have never used a Targetman or long ball ever in my way up the ladder, however i have played defensivly in my 1st few years of squad building.
11-27-2007, 04:31 PM
Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!! Post #6
Originally posted by Bonzo:
I think its pointless. Especially in LLM.
My theory is if your gonna go out might as well try and beat them and play good football.
I have never used a Targetman or long ball ever in my way up the ladder, however i have played defensivly in my 1st few years of squad building.
What's the weather like up there on your morale high ground ?
Football is primarily a results buisness, any possible entertainment and enjoyment comes 2nd.
If a ugly long ball 4-5-1 formation gets me the draw or win i crave then so be it, rather do that than play fancy football and get beat 2-1.
11-27-2007, 04:35 PM
Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!! Post #7
Originally posted by buzzing_hornet:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Bonzo:
I think its pointless. Especially in LLM.
My theory is if your gonna go out might as well try and beat them and play good football.
I have never used a Targetman or long ball ever in my way up the ladder, however i have played defensivly in my 1st few years of squad building.
Its a game.
What's the weather like up there on your morale high ground ?
Football is primarily a results buisness, any possible entertainment and enjoyment comes 2nd.
If a ugly long ball 4-5-1 formation gets me the draw or win i crave then so be it, rather do that than play fancy football and get beat 2-1. </BLOCKQUOTE>
11-27-2007, 06:09 PM
Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!! Post #10
Wingers with no arrows going forward, one cm with small arrow back with setting on rarely go forward and don't run with the ball, one cm with small arrow forward.
Defense dropping off, team playing counter attack and try for higher closing down.
I have done this on all my saves so far in th prem with derby and middlesbrough and in the championship with Leicester and Ipswich.
With derby
Man U 3-0 derby - played okay but was undone
Arsenal 0-0 derby - two sent off but just subbed strikers each time and was quite omfortable
Liverpool 0-1derby - played well and scored on break
with middlesbrough
Man U 0-2 middlesbrough - soaked pressure and got early and late goal
Arsenal 0-1Middlesbrough - same as above
I also tell team no pressure at start, if level or winning at half time do it for supporters
Playing defensively away at the big venues,,,, pointless??!! 
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