retired_vanessa1211

I should point out that though I've titled the thread Ronaldinho and Messi, any player or team who play or use the AMR and AML positions could help answer this be part of the discussion.
I've used those two as I'm still trying to get my Barcelona to play like Barcelona irl.
I can't make my mind up and to be honest, haven't seen much difference whether ticked or not.

What are the pro's and con's of using AML's or AMR's with 'free role' ticked?

I imagine that irl, the way Barcelona play, that both palyers are given a 'free role' to a degree, though they tend to stay on the left and right, the both come deep, or receive balls in the middle of the park too, but always remain on the flanks for the majority.

Any thoughts?

retired_nsample

IMO, free role should only be given to exceptional players and then with caution. Free role means that theye will not automatically abide by your team and player instructions, so the success of this is dependant on the players attributes for creativity, decisions etc. I have always had best reults by giving an AMC this role rather than a winger .

retired_dorothy3431

In the specific case of Messi/Ronaldinho, I would give them both a free role, yes. And with position swaps. These two don't have any defensive responsibilities, they are on the pitch to create chances, and to score, and that's it.
Whenever you give a free role to a player in a wing/att. midfield position, it increases the pressure on the more defensive minded midfielders - e.g. in Barca's 4-3-3 setup, the midfield 3 here need to be very good defensively - tackling, work rate, positioning, aggressiveness - these 3 will do ALL the closing down, and be the ball winners.
As long as you have the quality - not just on the actual players who you are giving a free role, but on the rest as well, specially the midfield - free role can work really well.

retired_jwash

I tend not to give free roles at all, I find that it disrupts my teams tactics and more often than not causes more problems than it creates. I would certainly be wary giving that instruction to more than 1 player.

Having said that I rarely use the AMR/L positions and when I do its because I want to play with attacking width, rather than because I have two world class players who I would be happy to play anywhere they choose.

I'd suggest you could get them to play that role without giving them a free role instruction. I'd try giving them attacking mentality, mixed passing, low closing down and loose marking instructions with a lot of creative freedom. I'd then expect them to find lots of space, drift inside without having the freedom to do what they like and look for attacking passes. With players like Ronaldinho and Messi I'd also leave FWR on rarely but put RWB, TTB and possibly long shots on mixed/often. Should give you two creative, attack minded players looking to play killer balls and run past defences similar to Ronaldinho and Messi.

Now to try that with my Rochdale team.....

retired_lmccray

To the OP: Yes,yes,and yes. Give Ronni and Messi free roles, full creative freedom and keep everything else on mixed. Easy tackling and high closing down. Sometimes I give Ronni TTB often and Messi gets RWB often and Eto'o/Henry FR often.I'm also using 433 with DMC.

RisingTide

Does the high closing down thing work on your wingers? Especially when I want my wingers to pick up the ball and take on the defenders by running at them, I'd say that - in theory - they'll need some space. So I wouldn't want them to close down heavily, but keeps some space between them and their defender so they can receive the ball.

retired_lmccray

Well, it seems like it works if Ronni and Messi are geting 8's every game :-) When I watch the 2D screen they don't seem to be too close to the opposition at all. Actually, it looks like in real life, they stand off the opp. fullbacks and all of a sudden they sneak in and steal the ball from them. Then they run and combine with Henry/Eto'o and sometimes with each other! It's really plessure to watch, so realistic!!!
In my latest game I played against Deportivo away and Messi scored two goals and made two assists!

retired_lanebo

I don´t think that it is a must to have good defensive skills in midfield if you give free roles. The thing is that you have to have world class players on free roles, and a team that can hold the ball and pass it around. Barcelona is succesful, not because their midfield is good defensively speaking...Iniesta, Xavi, Deco, etc, they aren´t good defenders...Barcelona has success because when they have the ball they are lethal. A team that is meant to play offensively but with lacking technique and creativity, will loss the ball all the time and it will be exposed to constant counter attacks.

retired_sweet

Does anyone know the relevance of players having a Free Role rating (as part of their Positions attributes)?