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Anyone have any tips on stopping defenders/wingbacks just hoofing the ball up the field without even seeking a safe passing option? Just watching a full match and my defenders keep hoofing the ball up the field, even when they aren't under pressure, they just blast it up the field like they are some little kid.
I play with 3 DCs and wingbacks, DCs were originally on defensive mentalities (3-6) but tried them on normal, still same deal. Through Balls is on Rarely and I've set Creative Freedom to 3 but they still act like they know nothing about keeping possession.
I do have them on direct passing (15) but the players should be smart enough to know that passing means passing it to your own player, not blasting it up the field for the opposition defenders to collect without even seeking out one of their own team members.
I'm just experimentating now with dropping their passing down to short but I had issues previously with them getting poor passing completions.
I have my back 4 all on short passing for exactly that reason, as I want to keep hold of the ball. That works OK, but means they will never try balls over the top for my pacy striker.
You could try Mixed passing, maybe a setting of 8 or 9, see what that does.
Set your defenders to very short passing ( i have mine set on 2 ) but they will somethimes just hoof the ball. They are trying to pass the ball but they are no good at it,so it looks like hoofing.
When I first saw this title, I thought I would be advising you on mentality, CF, TTB etc. but it seems you have got that part right!
To prevent hoofinhg make sure your defenders are on a normal mentality, low creative freedom, TTB to rarely, short/low mixed passing. And don't forget that your defenders need an outlet, so condider playing a DMC or an MC with a low mentality so that the defenders can move the ball forward easily without any risks.
Originally posted by gio:
When I first saw this title, I thought I would be advising you on mentality, CF, TTB etc. but it seems you have got that part right!
To prevent hoofinhg make sure your defenders are on a normal mentality, low creative freedom, TTB to rarely, short/low mixed passing. And don't forget that your defenders need an outlet, so condider playing a DMC or an MC with a low mentality so that the defenders can move the ball forward easily without any risks.
I actually use a DMC too, so all three DCs always have a passing option to either the DC next to them, one of the wingbacks or the DMC in front and about 9/10 times they always have at least two safe passing options but refuse to use them.
Alot of the time when they hoof the ball up the field, it doesn't even look like a passing attempt or a risky through ball to the striker. I'm also using the Target Man and Playmaker options but the hoofs dont seem to be attempts at getting the ball to either of these players.
I've now got all back DCs on Short Passing (1) but they are still trying to hoof the ball without reason. It's frustrating me seeing them still making very stupid passing moves.
Originally posted by DontCallItSoccer:
Also, if you do play a DMC and he is good enough, you can make him your playmaker, so the defenders will seek him out rather than hoofing the ball.
Hmm I hadn't thought of that, I'll give that a try. Cheers for the suggestion
Obviously this is only one of the factors but I always see everyone playing such a low creative freedom, I had this problem at one time on FM05 and found it to be much less of a problem after I simply left the creative freedom alone (dead centre or 3 or 4 notches below that).
I figured it was overriding some other instructions because they were basically being told to stick to keeping it simple every time, and if you have not got the rest of the setup right (i.e mentalities) this could lead to problems.
Solutions to defenders hoofing the ball? 
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