retired_curly123

Ok this thread is for discussing the new preset instructions on FM.

Firstly, big well done to SI for improving these for this version, some good improvements have been made to the already existing preset instructions as well as a few new presets being added for this version to cover the sweeper, wingback and central midfield positions. A nice welcome addition to '08. Cheers SI. :thup:

Secondly, I though we might discuss what could be the best combination of preset instructions in central midfield in a 4-4-2.

Assume a 4-4-2 formation with the standard 2 MC's and assume the 'midfield' preset instruction is for a box to box player. What combination of preset instructions would you use in central midfield, remembering you can choose from 'defensive midfield', 'midfield' and 'attacking midfield'.

Personally I would go for a combination of 'defensive midfield' as my holding MC and 'midfield' for my box to box MC. They are similar players in that both have FR, RWB, LS and TTB on mixed as well as CB on rarely. I think this reflects how a typical holder-box to box combination works in real life.

Typically players like Hargreaves, Barton, Keane, Vieira or the 'holding group' play a similar style to Gerrard, Lampard, Reo-Coker, Nolan or the 'box to box group'. The main difference simply being that the 'box to box group' plays higher up the pitch because their attacking abilities are better than the 'holding group'. Its not that their attacking abilities are completely different, I'm sure Barton and Hargreaves can shoot from distance and create chances too, just that they aren't as good at the attacking side of things.

Also the 'holding group' tends to close down a bit more in midfield, if a player needs to be closed down in the middle then typically the first player to move forward slightly the close him down is the player from the 'holding group'.

So for me the perfect combination of preset instructions for the 2 MC's in a 4-4-2 would be 1 MC preset to 'defensive midfielder' and 1 preset to 'midfielder. The 'defensive midfielder' will sit a bit deeper in attack with less attacking freedom but will close down earlier in midfield when in defence. Conversely, the 'midfielder' will play higher up the pitch with more freedom in attack while closing down a little less in defence.

So that's my take on the preset instructions for the central midfield area of the pitch.

Feel free to discuss any of the preset instructions for any positions here.

retired_kellyg198

think your spot on mate

look at man city this year - hamman sits and johnson is all action