retired_topaziumsunrise

hello

in scout reports I sometimes get 'we should concentrate on stopping their strikers receiving the ball to their feet as they should not pose an aerial threat'

what train of thought in specific should I be looking at here, and how does that differ to when the strikers do pose an aerial threat?

cjeers

retired_topaziumsunrise

good morning

retired_tspear

i've always wondered the same and never come to an exact solution. but i guess it means look to use the faster and more nimble defenders rather than the bigger and stronger.

ddong78

Use quick defenders with good tackling instead of defenders with high jumping.

But I always take a look at the opponent strikers myself before I make my decision.

retired_topaziumsunrise

thanks guys, good call

retired_rudyhall1

Maybe coupled with tight marking and/or closing down so that your defenders is up his backside (if you'll pardon the expression!) the moment he recieves the ball not allowing him to turn and run?

leftfoot

This is generally what I do when I play against strikers who have limited jumping ability and one/both of them are acting as a link man.

1. Use the show onto foot instructions to try to force their wingers down the outside when in possession so they cross the ball. Also set your full backs to hard tackling and a decent level of closing down so they don't back off the winger too much and allow him to cross from deep early. You need to watch the match in full detail to get the closing down setting at a level that gets the full back to behave how you want in that scenario.

2. Depending on which striker is dropping off using show onto foot for their central midfielders makes the defending player (when possible) position himself so as to give a player a 'better option' that you want him to take.

So if the left side striker is dropping off to act as a link man then set the left central midfielder to 'show onto left foot' and the right central midfielder to 'show onto right foot' so that you are giving them a more or less clear passing lane down the wings whenever possible. This will make the player see a pass that has a higher probability of success and increase the likelihood of him taking it. The opposite would apply if the right sided striker is dropping off.

3. Use a DM to fill the gap and prevent through balls reaching any strikers dropping off.
Either a specific DM or a CM with a back arrow to the DM position or a normal CM with defensive minded instructions (defensive mentality, no forward runs).

4. Set your CB to specifically tight mark the strikers and if they have the attributes for it set their tackling to hard. This way if the pass does make it to the striker's feet your CBs will be snapping at their heels.

The thing with the show onto foot instructions is that they depend on where the defending player is closing the attacking player down from. If the angle is there do do it they will, if not they won't. It just depends on where they are positioned relative to each other.

Sometimes this works, sometimes not. I'm not claiming this will set you on a record breaking winning streak so try not to come back and flame me if the first match you try this in turns into a drubbing