retired_slayerbing

Right. Of constant frustration to me is not identifying the clues that there must be in the game which tell me how to play and beat my opponants. As a result I get thumped in games I would expect to win and have moments where I despise the game.

But this is unfair on the game. It is my own shortcomings in being unable to identify the clues which is leading to dismal 7-1 losses against teams I should be strolling past.

SO - the answer I hear you ask.

Well I had a moment of self pity in wwfans thread and made a muppet of myself and then was kindly given some advice by Arsenal71 which I already knew but was not properly implementing.

So for those of you who have been having nuclear explosions in their heads like me because they can't seem to get it right this thread will attempt to address that and point at those clues that we neglect.

Disclaimer: I don't have all the answers - but hopefully I will get most of them by opening this thread and when 08 comes out assuming this information is still pertinant then I will collate it properly in a new thread in a concise and helpful article... this is more like the information gathering pre-article!

Scout reports

What can we learn from Scout reports about the AI?

1. formation - How the Ai normally plays. If they are playing defensive, or counter attacking then you can reasonably assume that their defensive line will be deeper rather than forward. Bearing this in mind you might decide to push forward yourself. You can also learn from this that because they are counter attacking you will need to keep an eye on perhaps their wingers or strikers. (more advice on this welcome).

2. tempo - If a side plays a slow build up tempo then you can counter it by playing faster tempo and disrupting thier game. If the side are playing fast high tempo game then conversely you can slow the game down to disrupt them. (any other hints you can provide here would be great).

3. Striker ball service - Sometimes the scount report will tell us how their strikers recieve the ball, by aerial service or to feet. You can work out from this how to cut it off.
My take on this is to identify where the service is likely to come from and perhaps tight mark, hard tackle or something so the service provider has the toughest day you can give him. How to do this needs to be covered by others smarter than I. (cue elaborate answers )

4. Main threat player - The report also tells us who their main treat will be. This bit is the easiest part of the report to figure out. You try and identify a weakness of that player such as low bravery (hard tackling will turn him to jelly and take him out of the game), left or right footed only (play him to the weaker foot) and what his pace is like (put a faster CB than him ON him I think). Anymore you can think of please add here.

5. Injured and unavailable players - If you look at this and can identify good players that will not be playing on the other sides team then maybe you can exploit that by putting a strong player against their reserve player if possible. That stand to reason?

So that is the scout report - if have missed anything in the report please help me out and add your comment. I need to know too!


Odds prior to game

This will influence the style of play the AI will use against you. If you are odds on favorate to win the ai will play a very defensive tactic with players behind the ball and probably counterattacking you when you have over committed.
If you are not the favorate then the ai will play more aggressive and you will have to take this into account. It means a counter attacking ploy of your own may be best.
If the odds are fairly even then other factors will need to be taken into account such as whether you are home or away and whether you consider your team to be superior or not.

Other than that not sure what else to take from looking at odds (but again feel free to comment).

AI Formations on match day

If you are playing in England there are certain styles the AI will play which give away their mentality and strategy.

442flat - this is their defensive tactic. They will be playing conservatively and will counter attack you when you are trying to blow them over. Going by wwfans article it would pay to play a more patient game rather than all out attackin them. Playing wider slower tempo seems to be the answer. Basically being prepared to wait for the goal instead of stampeding forward.
Playing away if you encounter this then the advice is probably the same (right?) since they are still sitting back and are allowing you to dictate the games style.

442short farrows - The following is wwfan quote:

"This is the standard AI away formation unless it feels it outclasses you or is outclassed by you".

Bearing that in mind I figure you need to take into account what you know from the scout report and from the managers style. If you are playing at home I should imagine playing your normal attacking home game will overcome this. IF not then slow the tempo down and play the more patient game in wearing him down. But because this is not like the flat 442 you can reasonably assume that the gaps and chances will appear by a normal attack on him.
Playing away is more iffy. You should take into account the following: AI teams quality, scout report detailing his playing style. If you are the stronger team then you can afford to go on the front foot and attack him though I think starting patiently might be the answer and then evaluating regularly. If they are better than you then a lower d/line maybe necessary, counter attacking and waiting for chances. (anymore ideas on this feel free).

442 long arrows - the tactic that a confident attacking AI will adopt. Patient game should be employed if you are better and more defensive counter attacking game if not. (I take that from wwfans thread though it stands up to reason!)

424 - this is the tactic that the AI will use in the last 20 minutes or so if they are trailing by a goal can are trying to get back in the game. They never start with this tactic. It's best to play defensive counter attacking against this, sarrow your strikers so their fullbacks are overwhelmed by them and your wingers who are the only players I would give forward runs to. Playing down the wing would be best (in my opinion) to utilise thise attacking wingers. All other players are staying back and protecting your goal. Time wasting is high and closing down low so your side keeps its structure. Any other hints as to improve this are welcome but that is pretty much it.


Summary

Look at Scout report, Ai's starting formation and odds and consider all together when planning your approach to the match. This combined should assist you immensely in getting the right result.

Please, if there are glaringly obvious things that I have missed feel free to point them out in this thread.
When 08 comes out I will rewrite this with your added advice and it will be hopefully included in the tactics bible so we can refer to it when required. (that way there will be much less of us whinging about how hard the game is! )

Like I said this is a work in progress in early preparation for 08. I am confident that 08 will be awesome and I as much as you I'm sure want to hit the ground running when I start playing it.

Thanks: Arsenal71: who rescued me from despair when I couldn't buy a win
wwfan: for his threads which form the basis of most of this information.
Cleon: in advance really for not closing this thread!
Anyone who contributes to this thread: pooling knowledge together helps everyone.

retired_elpata

1) The better the scout the more accurate info he will give you too.

2) I basically do the same here, unless I am a top quality side and then I can ignore this and enforce my own game play on them and make them adapt to me.

3) If he likes the ball played to feet then use the opposition instructions to get everyone to close him down often and make him feel pressured each time he gets the ball. You could also tight mark this player always. But both of these are player dependant though and how good your players are.

If he likes the ball played to his head I always ensure I have 1 defender slight deeper than the other. I then get my furthest forward centreback to mark him, then if he does win the header and flicks it forward the defender who is further back can normally mop the ball up.

Or you could look for who the creative player in the team is and who is likely to supply him with the ball. More often than not this player cna easily be identified by viewing the assists. Then is you use a DMC make him hard tackle this person and put him under constant pressure.

4) I think you covered it all here.

5) What you say stands to reason, but most top sides will have capable cover. So check out properly first who the players they will be replaced by are.

Odds can be tricky because they are made up of form. I don't tend to use this as an indication of how I will play. I prefer to set up by just using the above to indicate what I need to do.

If your not a top 4 side though I prefer to always play first notch of normal mentality, with a fast tempo and counter attack on. I find this honestly to be the best style for the EPL. On the continent its a different matter but for the English leagues I found you cannot go far wrong start most games like this.

You can always untick the counter attacking option if you find your not getting forward too much.

retired_slayerbing

Thanks Cleon. All good stuff.

So you think when i do a rewrite i should just leave the odds part out?

retired_nayelita

hye cleon.

your nr1 point. when u mean a good scout do u mean judg potential value or tactics value or potential or rep value or a combination of all?

retired_slayerbing

For a scout scouting a game: a scouts tactical knowledge would be important. Plus maybe judging players ability

retired_elpata

No keep them in as someone else might find them useful so atleast you covered all the bases. Its just a preference for me really not to bother with that they say. For me it over complicates things thats all

Kennec - tactical knowledge and judging players abilty helps, as he is more likely to pick the right danger man then.

I also find it helps having a look over the oppositions squad yourself and see if you can identify other dangermen. As some squads have more than 1 match winner in the team.

retired_mgavlick

I do the opposite from Cleon. I ignore scout reports and use match odds and table position as indicators.

Different strokes.....

retired_elpata

If I'm honest though, nowdays I don't use either I just my own judgement now. I'm guessing you are same too wwfan? After a while you know the teams you struggle against from the teams you should beat.

retired_slayerbing

Well this thread is for the benefit of all us mortals Cleon who aren't at your level. We need to labor with the game more!

retired_elpata

I didn't mean it as an arrogant comment . Its just after a while I always seem to change how I play and I know others are same. I guess we all change our approaches when we feel confident with the match engine? Hmm I dunno