retired_jwinz556

i'm definetly not an expert in this game or football (have been playing the game for a few months, have been watchning football for about 2 years).

i'm playing with an Enlish League 2 team (want to make it more difficult for myself)- i seem to be able to beat teams that dont play a possession game (the style that the "next opponent" scout tells me they're playing) fairly consistenly, however i seem to always lose to those that play a possession game.

i usually play them with a 4-4-2 attacking mentality, with my defenders deep. i have my DCs set to defensive mentallity, while my strikers are set to "attacking." my biggest issue seems to be scoring in the games against this type of opposition.

any advice?

what is a possession game?

thanks in advance!

retired_bigtomson

First of all a possession game is one which they like to keep the ball and dictate play.

Those that play a possession game i usually play defensive (if it does not state they play defensive, then i would play attacking) with closing down set to often to reduce the space they have to play the ball. i then counter their slow game by playing fast and direct and moving the ball out wide.

zyx345

Main things against possession teams:

d-line of 12 (maybe 10 if you're defenders are slow): your MC's closing down should match the d-line setting, and against possession teams you want to CD quite a lot, so a d-line of 12 allows you to do this.

Tempo, passing, width should be about the same. I use tempo of 8 and passing and width of 9 or 10 IIRR.

FWRs:
All defenders and GK - rarely
MCd - rarely
MR/L and MCa - mixed
TM (STd) - mixed
Quick ST (STa) - often
(Some people use rarely/mixed FWRs combo for the STs however)

Mentalities: To allow the d-line to be 12, mentalities must centre around that, so I use:
GK - 12
DCs - 8
DR/L - 9
MCd - 10
MCa and MR/L - 11
TM (STd) - 12
Quick ST (STa) - 13

12 doesn't centre around those, but it's still within the frameworks :thup:

retired_kristileigh12

MAN MARK! (and frequently close down)

But man marking does more than anything that has been said above, in my experience.

retired_FaultyFate

By playing them with attacking mentality and deep defence line you give them exactly what they want - space. Your midfielders attack, your lose ball and there it goes - gap in the middle.

I agree with riothegreat about man marking. Also, since you are in League 2, it makes sense to follow common idea of countering the opposition - they play possession, you go direct, they play slow - you go fast, etc. It depends on your players, of course.