Crazy_T

Now, i know that many people close down progressively from front to back, but does anyone/ would it work to use 'team' closing down?

Someone who understands this, what settings would you use in say, a 4-4-2?

Also another thing, i know what counter attack means but what exactly does ticking the counter attack box do in FM?

Crazy_T

Thanks, some good ideas so far mates.

Any more?

Googen

I had a lot of problems with closing down initially but I seem to have nailed it with my current tactics. Check out my current thread if you're curious. I use individual closing down, I would guess that it's a lot more effective than team.

I don't know how to describe the effects of counter-attacking on a teams play. Players do seem to try to attack quicker than building up a play patiently as soon as they have one the ball back. It's very effective away in deeper lying formations when the opposition is pushed high up the pitch. I'm beginning to question it's effectiveness at home.

Assenuma

I guess it makes more sense to set it individually, as you can get in detail.

You usually want to concentrate your defensive efforts in the centre in front of your penalty area. So it makes sense to have slightly lower CD to your MCs so that they concentrate covering this zone.

I like to give more CD to strikers and wingers as they can afford to get dragged out of position. Moreover, they will often move to the centre and help MCs...

Then, your DCs really need not to leave their zone so it makes sense to lower their CD...

So, I do not really thing it is best to set it the same to everybody...

About the counter-attack: it makes sense to me combined with defensive mentality. In that case it is an instruction to the team to send the ball to open spaces quickly, overriding the defensive mentality instruction.

I have tried to play defensive with and without CA. With CA the team takes the ball in your half and passes it quickly forward to benefit from a possible number advantage. This is how you can score despite possession disadvantage.

Without CA the defensive setting makes your players to knock the ball around without really threatening to score. It is useful to do that to keep possession and to build your attacks slowly, without sacrificing security at the back...

mitjabarbic

my team mentality is like 15(3/4).
it works great as i have very fast players (almost all have pace, acceleration over 15)