retired_Sophie335

I started off trying this thinking it was working, but then it went crazy and lost 9 goals in 3 games (or something like that)

I dont think this specific tactics work unless you are aware of other factors such as...

Defensive Line
Closing Down
Mentality

I have found success in periods adjusting these depending on who I am playing. I think changing the Full Backs closing down and mentality according to who they are up against makes a big impact. But there is no hard and fast rule about it...it just depends who is in your defense and who you are playing against which makes it impossible to come up with a dead cert tactic that works accross the board.

A point I touched on earlier was set-pieces, well I am experimenting by having all my defensive players man marking and if you think it necessary then two players on the post, and maybe one or two players in a wall...its worked quite well so far...you need to set individual instructions for Defensive FK's and Defensive Corners for your players to man-mark rather than on the team instructions.

retired_Sophie335

a tip i am trying just now is to have mentality and defensive line matching. or have them as opposites when I have closing down low as well.

Example
Mentality 15
Defensive Line 15
Closing Down 5 or 7

Mentality 6-8
Defensive Line 6
Closing Down 14-18

Mentality 15
Defensive Line 5
Closing Down 5

Of course this may all turn out to be a load of nonsense!!! So dont hunt me down if it doesnt work out.

Sky King

alibog, I go on holidays with tactics and tweaks on.

retired_hope

Have you found a way to set Opposition Instructions for each game whilst on holiday?

retired_ggrose

Have you found a way to set Opposition Instructions for each game whilst on holiday? </BLOCKQUOTE>

My point exactly, how the hell can he proclaim that what you advised does not work when he couldnt even be bothered to try it. :thup:

retired_hope

I set it up before each game and then when the AI swaps a player around I change it. I also change it when he makes a sub.

Bloody annoying, but the idea was to try and see if I could defend like the AI defends.

My assumption is that the game is fair and that we have the same tactical options that the AI have.

retired_FaultyFate

Personally, I am not sure that tight marking and closing down often would work together very well, as these are 2 conceptually different approaches to defense (at least irl). They may work ok at lower league teams, but against much better STs... I doubt it.

Usualy I use tight marking and show onto weaker foot against STs, and Closing Down always, show onto weaker foot and sometimes hard tackling against wingers. Of course, I apply show onto weaker foot only if an opposition player has one

Should also say that my DCs are always on man marking, whilst all other players on zonal marking.

retired_rayrhi

I would argue that tactics are irrelevant after my recent findings. If you have a happy and settled squad, you can win most games. All of these fine tunings and intricacies do little to improve your performance. After all, you could have one of the best teams in the land, but if your squad is not happy or settled, then you are going to lose regardless of any marking settings or how much attention you pay to detail. Your keeper will see to that every time he takes a goal kick, or your defender will gift the striker with the ball in front of goal. After these events occur, your players are in no position to apply your settings anyway. So my question is this: what's the point? If all outside factors completely override your tactical set-up, which is what is happening to me currently, then really, WHAT IS THE POINT? I know I am nay saying, but I'm bitter about the game again at the minute. For this I apologise, but I stand by what I am saying. Let me re-iterate: IF OUTSIDE FACTORS PLAY MORE OF A PART THAN YOUR TACTICS, THEN WHY TWEAK AT ALL? YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE ANYWAY SINCE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED.

retired_pt22

I've been trying this in a few games, or if I see that my defense is leaking. It helps a little, but I don't need to use it lately (mostly due to the weaker teams on my schedule).

Also, theoretically that king of playing can widen your defenders. For instance your FB attacks a winger, winger passes it to MC, which passes it to opposition ST. Now if the striker manages to receive the ball, it appears that my CB always ends up eating his dust, and there is no FB to help because he went to close down the winger.

retired_hope

I know you are having trouble with the game at the moment, but the reason for this original post was because I had had success from tweaking with these settings over two seasons with two different teams.

Outside factors do have an effect, but they are just one piece of the puzzle, they are not more important than tactics in the same way that tactics are no more important than the players.

Success in this game is achieved by getting the majority of aspect right and minimising how bad your are at the rest.

The biggest difference between us it that you believe that the result can be predetermined.

I fundamentally do not believe this to be true.

I an achieveing success and having fun.

I do not apologise for this.

I will try and help you in anyway as I indicated your 2ndChance thread.