retired_nutsrme

Tight? Closing down? Man or zonal?

Yes, it doesn't matter because your defence will run about, be out of position, and generally be so blind they can't spot the person they should be marking who they've let go about 5 yards away.

Can someone please explain why defending is nigh on impossible?

On older versions, the sliders tended to work and you could iron out things that didn't work. On this that's not the case. Every combo of options leads to the same thing - the opposition gets in behind every time with easy balls, the centre backs lose their man and get turned with ease, as well as closing down completely the wrong players.

Anyone want to suggest otherwise?

retired_caseelig

I had the same problem and instead of trying to fix my tactics by randomly setting the instructions I started to watch computer matches, i.e. I would watch how Mourinho or some other manager play - from what I've concluded, it seems that Mourihno sets up CB to use a lot of closing down and to defend zonal, full backs have closing down somewhere around mixed and also defend zonal.

He often plays 442 normal and sets up one MC to be slightly above the midfield line, and other MC slightly below the midfield line, and they both have closing down mixed or high.

And the most interesting part of his defensive approach is that he uses low closing down on ML and MR so when the defense or the MC intercept the attack, the wingers are already on their position and are ready to launch a counter attack or to keep the ball to allow that all of the other players to restore their original positions.

I applied similar instructions to my tactics and my team did start to show signs of improvement - now the rest is up to me - setting up the tactics to individual strengths and experimenting with mentality and creative freedom.