retired_vanessa1211

No, still in friendlies, I've arranged them frequently.

Things have now somewhat improved.

Im not exactly sure why but 4 games ago I altered a few more things and since then, nearly 60% possession in all four games, both home and away...and against reasonable opposition.

One thing I realised I'd done which must have not been helping was allowing Ronaldinho, Mess, Xavi, Deco (or whoever was playing in those positions) free reign.
I've tried a far more diciplined approach, hoping that as these players are so creative and skillful, the discipline side wouldn't cost me loads of chances.
It hasn't...

I now have Ronny and Messi on 'rarely' for runs forward.
Same for the midfield.
I've also reduced mentality to normal on Xavi, Deco etc and the results, so far are amazing.

I think I'm begining to understand FM tactics better now, though it is very difficult in many ways. I think what I expected Frank Rijkaard to be doing is different by a fair distance to what you have to do tactically in FM.
Then again, it's more than likely just me!

Thanks Cleon for the helpful advice btw.

retired_elpata

GLad you find your feet now

If you need anything else just lemme know :thup:

retired_lmccray

I'm also having a go with Barca and so far I'm enjoying my success using 4-3-3. I've won the first 8 league games in style (GD 22-4), as well as two CL group games vs. Schalke 3-1(home) and Fenerbahche 4-2(away).
My team mentality is 12, same with team CF. Passing is short, tempo slow, sometimes I up it to middle of normal.Closing down is often, Normal width of 12. D-Line is middle of normal and time wasting is rarely. Focus passing is on both flanks. As formation I start working from the defualt 4-3-3attacking. Then I change the team instructions as stated above. After that I tweak the individuals, where I try to recreate Barca's real life style. Possession is usually between 49% and 58% - not quet as the real Barca but on the extended highlights I see the real Barcelona style :-). I also use tight zonal marking for everyone except the front three. High closing down of 15 except for the 2 DC's, they have 10.
I'm using Zambrotta and Abidal as attacking fullbacks with normal mentality (10),CF-6, FR-often, RWB,LS,TTB-mixed, Crosses-often, from:-mixed, to:-mixed. Rafa is my DMC (Yaya is back-up due to the researchers poor evaluation of his tackling and positioning stats) and he's set with mentality of 8, CF-6,FR, RWB-rarely, LS,TTB-mixed and hard tackling.Puyol and Millito anchor the defense with mentality of 6 and CF of 4 - the rest is the usual defenders instructions. Xavi, Iniesta and Deco take turns at the two MC spots. One of them always has only TTB on often, the rest is on mixed. The other one has same plus FR is on often.
For the front three is where I switch the individual instruction during the match alot.Mentality stays as team, CF is 15 for AML/AMR (Ronni/Messi). Ronni has FR,RWB,LS, Cross on mixed, while TTB is on often half of the time. Messi has FR,LS,TTB and Cross on mixed and RWB is always on often. Eto'o and Henry switch every two games upfront and each of them starts with FR,RWB,LS,etc. on mixed. However, Eto'o during the match would be changed to FR on often. And Henry would be changed to RWB on often.
God, that became a long post, but hopefully you can understand most of it. Have fun!

retired_kumarc

Yonko, that looks really good, I can see how ti would replicate how they play IRL especially with the individual instructions. Have you played any big teams yet? And how did the defense fair against them?

retired_lmccray

Yes, I've played Valencia and Sevilla away - won 4-3 vs. Valencia and won 1-0 vs. Sevilla. I crushed Atletico Madrid at home 3-0 and the front three (Ronni,Messi and Eto'o) were just briliant. The defense is doing ok, against Valencia and Sevilla Puyol was still out so I used Thuram to partner Milito. Rafa Marquez is just amazing in DMC for me - wins and distributes alot, allowing Xavi and Iniesta/Deco to do their job.
I don't change during the match most of the instructions. I only work with some individual instructions for the front three, as stated above. I'm just having fun really, but I need to try this tactic with another team. Maybe Arsenal? I do fancy trying it in Italy though....