retired_v_meenucancer

Having struggled in a game in the french league as St Etienne, I decided to save and reload a game to test out tactics, as an experiment (as opposed to replaying until I win - I'll probably resign as manager once I'm done testing). After using several of the more popular tactics in the tactics forum, I noticed that no matter what I did, the opposition were still able to score a lot of goals via playing passes through and over my defence, leading to one on ones against my keeper.

Thus I decided to test out the following tactic:

I set all four of my defenders to actually play as sweepers, like so

I turned off the offside trap, counter attacking and tight marking, and set every player to zonal marking

I turned each defender's mentality, creative freedom and closing down to the lowest possible setting

I set run with ball and make forward runs to rarely for all four defenders

I altered the set piece instructions so that each defender was told to stay back for every corner, free kick and attacking throw in.

In short, I set the back four to play as far back as the game's tactical engine would let me, and gave them explicit instructions to never come forward.

The game I tested this tactic on was a tough away league match against rivals Paris Saint Germain, the same side I had been testing other tactics out again (they beat me pretty much every time). By half time I was 2-0 up, and convinced that I'd found some kind of super tactic. By full time I had lost 5-2, and was convinced that the match engine was well and truly buggered.

For a start, it has to be said that the defence did follow my instructions at certain times. When the ball was in my half, they did follow the instructions they'd been given, by defending insanely deep

However, it quickly became clear that the defensive instructions only applied to when the ball was in my half. for instance, when at the end of the first half i had a chance to extent my lead to 2-0 via a penalty, the defence chose to do this

They weren't paying any attention to my set piece instructions either. Late in the game, despite having all four defenders set to stay back at corners, they decided to do the following - my centre back number 4 making matters worse by wandering forward yet not even going into the box, instead skulking around outside it for no apparent reason

It could just be seen as the game automatically forcing my defenders to go forward when i'm in need of a goal, but when the score was level in the first half and I was on the attack, they kept surging up to play exactly the same defensive line they would have if I hadn't touched the tactics at all - if i lose the ball here the opposition will just play yet another ball over my defense

Despite trying to get my defence to play as deep as possible, they refused to stop wandering up towards the halfway line when the ball was in the other half. Despite setting them to zonal marking, the centre backs still hung around near the opposition strikers, although not always goalside (a massive flaw in the match engine).

Despite every intruction they were given, my defence chose to adopt the following defensive line - my right back, number 21, wanders forward and the ball gets played over him to the winger. The winger then passes inside to their number 76, who's nearer the goal than my centre back, who isn't defending deep. His shot is saved and the rebound is put in by their number 9, who's nearer the goal than my other centre back, who also isn't defending as instructed. They're onside because my left back, pogatetz, runs back into position, thus playing them onside whilst not actually contributing to the defensive effort whatsoever.

And I'd be grateful if anyone could tell me exactly what my fullbacks think they're doing?

I obviously didn't expect the tactic to work as an effective defensive system, because it was deliberately and stupidly defensive, with no structure to it. I did, however, expect the defenders to at least do what I'd told them to.

I can't remember a version of the game that's been so unresponsive. If the game isn't going to pay attention to the set piece instructions that you set, how can I assume that any of the other tactical changes I make are going to be interpreted properly, if at all?

retired_bigsean999

tl;dr

retired_el_chanclas

it's your tactics. stop blaming Si for your inability to do anything right.

retired_rosejoey01

very interesting

maybe they tend to do this if a tactic is so weird :p

retired_linton_justin

i blame the manager tbh.

retired_msk5151

Interesting experiment - well laid out too. I do think you're on to the issue, the game is not as responsive to managerial tweaks and changes as it should be.

Just wanted to add that some of the errors your defensemen make can be due to positioning, concentration and other issues (like straying forward out of position - your nr 21) Just a thought

retired_jetefe

I have to say, this is supposed to be a very realistic game. I know the tactic used is quite unrealistic, but if players were instructed by their manager irl to stay back at all times, no excuses, they would do it. Especially with the penalty.

Free will amongst players is all well and good but that is a lil' bit ridiculous.

retired_v_meenucancer

creative freedom was set to its lowest, which should remove as much free will from the players as the game will let me.

and a player having poor positioning or concentration might explain defensive lapses, but not a player spending the entire 90 minutes ignoring the instructions he was given.

retired_sarah002

Could you please do the same test by setting (using Miniscout, as an example) your defs key attributes to 20 ?

retired_rcv103

my fullbacks seem to by particularly attack minded when am 1-0 up with about 10 minutes to go.