retired_hope

What tends to happen to me is that the fullback closes down the winger.

Success = Win back possesion

Failure = Winger continues down the flank and crosses the ball to striker, who is being tightly marked and closed down by central defender.

If the forward wins the header then he has a chance on goal, a good handling an shot-stopping keeper is useful here.

But is the central defender win the header the ball is cleared.

Same happens if the winger cuts in, he can shoot at range or try a throughball to the strikers, if the striker loses his marker then he has a chance to score.

The central defenders stay with the strikers until someone tries to pass the ball to them, then the defenders close down the ball.

If the opposition score from a direct freekick, penalty etc. I can cope with that. But when they walk through a defence like butter then something needs to be done, because my team do not have the same luxury.

With these settings, my defence visually played much better, they denied space to the opposition forwards and played like the AI defence does against me.

I'm not saying that these setting are optimal, just that they are better than not setting them.

retired_FaultyFate

And that's why:

a) you need a hard working MC with def mentality or DM, who is set to close down often.

b)I don't think STs should be closed down by DCs. No matter what DCs will mark them tightly, but won't try to dive.

retired_gabesgrandma

Well I've read this post and I can't help but think it's not just the team tactics sliders settings that make a difference but also what personel are in place also surely?

What one persons sliders are set to for there team might not work for another persons team with different players in place.

If it works then great but if not then don't shoot the messenger.

Until you get exactly the same team as somebody else a true comparison can't be made with what works and what doesn't.

retired_FaultyFate

You are 100% correct. But Leroy did not say that this is the only right way. He stated what works for him, other people (including myself) added something else. These are general ideas that should be tuned up for a specific team/players/situations. Same is true for any tactic/setup/teamtalk pattern/etc people suggest.

retired_hope

Absolutely, the thing is I think that alot of people neglect to set opposition instruction.

There are a few reasons for this:-

1) It can be tedious to set them before every game.

2) It is unclear how they work with the rest of the tactical settings.

I would like this thread to focus on how if and how people use OI settings. As Kolobok says the goal is to build up a picture of success and look for the pattern.

My setting were just the starting point.

So what do you all do with you OI settings?

retired_rayrhi

I am all ears since I am of the belief that the settings must be there for a reason. Why don't you do an experiment in the same manner as I did? Have all settings set to a minimum (extreme left) and tinker with only the opposition instructions and post screenshots of it in action. This is the ONLY way we can truly know what they the OIs at the most basic level. I would gladly help out if you wanted to do it.

Example
Experiment 1
Man Utd V Chelsea
All settings left for both teams, except:
Didier Drogba man marked always

Experiment 2
Man Utd V Chelsea
All settings left for both teams, except:
Didier Drogba closed down always

Experiment 3
Man Utd V Chelsea
All settings left for both teams, except:
Didier Drogba man marked always and closed down always

Experiment 4
Man Utd V Chelsea
All settings left for both teams, except:
Didier Drogba never man marked...

You get the picture, but this could be a very constructive experiment and since I am sure these instructions will be available for 08, it would be a nice way to improve our tactics ever so slightly for the next incarnation.

retired_rayrhi

Excuse my awful english in the last posting.

retired_hope

Arteta that would be great. I am away this weekend and won't be back until Tuesday, so if you want to start I can pick up next week. I'm sure if we work togther than we will get at least some idea of how it's supposed to work. :thup:

retired_elpata

If you do this test, remember that a players stats will be heavily prominent and make a diffference too. Just the same as a players preffered move as well can effect the results.

retired_pt22

I found a different way to tighten my defense. while studying abramovic's thread about AI tactics. It appears that AI is actually using tight marking on back four, while the rest of the team has no tight marking. After I combined that with global mentality and global CD (by the way CD is more on often than not) my defense became more tight. Even when the opposition gets chances it's usually with one of my defenders on striker's back.

Although I am playing with Man Utd (however I sold Ferdinand), it might be that my defense is smart and good enough to pull these instructions to greatness. Received only 11 goals in 22 games, however I'm not sure it would work with 'not so good' defenders.