Emm

Thanks for the responses guys :thup:.

I suppose I would call it a mixed bag of results. More peope than I had expected seem to be finding that this works ok, but only 1 of you found that it worked where a full back was defending a winger, (and it only worked in that instance where the tactics were specifically designed to aid it's working).

Like a lot of new features that are added into the game, it seems a good idea that has been poorly implemented.

The crux of the problem is that I don't want my full backs to show the opposition wingers the outside at any cost. I don't care if the winger comes inside and smashes the ball into the corner past the hapless keeper. I want some evidence that I am controlling what is happening on the pitch. I'm not seeing it at the moment. I have watched full games with various defensive lines and various width options and have seen very little evidence of this happening more than sporadically. I thought that closing down would impact on this, but the closing down issues themselves, (or a mixture of the closing down and positional issues, (whatever they are)) seem to make any real evidence null and void.

Obviously as others have mentioned, playing with a deep defensive line, (and width) encourages this to happen on a more regular basis, but still nowhere as often as I would like.

I am trying to create an environment where my full backs will position themselves goal side of the attacking winger, not give him the option to go outside, and force him inside to where I have a packed midfield. The way i look at it, if I set closing down to high then I risk the defender getting to close to the winger and having him "done". In real terms I would ask the defender to "stand him up", not committ himself and either let the winger cross from deep or come inside. I am prepared to deal with the consequences of either of these as at least it will mean that 2 players on the pitch are attempting to follow my instructions. What I am finding is that it is impossible to replicate this on a regular basis.

The main crux of the problem apperas to me that my full backs seem to think that the best position to be in when about to pressure a wide attacker is "inside" him rather than "goal-side" of him.

No amount of tinkering with width/closing down/show onto foot seems to affect this when faced with a wide attacker .

leftfoot

Can I ask what team you are playing as Jimbokav1971? I'm curious to know if this is a player quality issue. Also what formation are you using?

My overinflated ego wants to try out the 'get fullbacks to behave Jimbokav style' challenge

retired_jon2508

Not necessarily sure on what effect my instructions have, but I'm absolutely convinced the AI shows my lone striker onto his weaker foot. He hardly ever gets a chance with his stronger right foot.

koolkid

So why are you playing at all? </BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm playing because it used to be fun. Now I pretend it's still fun and what I do makes a difference. For example I believe my "show onto foot" instructions work. Maybe they don't and I'm imagining it. Though isuckatfm's tests seem to confirm they do(or rather can).

Jimbokav: The thing is, generally any defender would defend inside. It's the logical thing to do. I understand that you want the players to do what you tell them to, that's normal but I don't think any defender would stop to think "The manager told me to stay goalside so I'll do that even if it's completely ridiculous and will cost us a goal.". I'm a defender and I would always lead wingers out wide myself unless I was %100 sure somebody was covering the inside behind me.

Obviously I'm trying to rationalize the player behaviour. If the players are programmed to outright ignore instructions, then I guess you're right. If you haven't already would you mind trying a very wide formation, with low closing down, non-tight man marking fullbacks set on show wingers onto their "inside" foot? If that doesn't/didn't work even once the function is certainly broken.(since those instructions are perfect for showing a winger inside)

Emm

So why are you playing at all? </BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm playing because it used to be fun. Now I pretend it's still fun and what I do makes a difference. For example I believe my "show onto foot" instructions work. Maybe they don't and I'm imagining it. Though isuckatfm's tests seem to confirm they do(or rather can).

Jimbokav: The thing is, generally any defender would defend inside. It's the logical thing to do. I understand that you want the players to do what you tell them to, that's normal but I don't think any defender would stop to think "The manager told me to stay goalside so I'll do that even if it's completely ridiculous and will cost us a goal.". I'm a defender and I would always lead wingers out wide myself unless I was %100 sure somebody was covering the inside behind me.

Obviously I'm trying to rationalize the player behaviour. If the players are programmed to outright ignore instructions, then I guess you're right. If you haven't already would you mind trying a very wide formation, with low closing down, non-tight man marking fullbacks set on show wingers onto their "inside" foot? If that doesn't/didn't work even once the function is certainly broken.(since those instructions are perfect for showing a winger inside) </BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't think you really understand what I'm getting at.

As a defender, your job is to defend the goal. In my experience with FM08 so far, full backs appear to be defending a line that runs down the middle of the pitch from the centre of one goal to the other, rather than the goal in the middle of the goal-line. In an effort to try and stop this from happening I am asking the defender to "show his man inside". It is still not working. It seems irrelevant what instructions you give them, if they are attempting to carry these instructions out from a position "inside" that attacker, rather than "goal-side" as you would normally expect.

I'll try to take some pics when I next play to explain it better.