retired_supreme523

When I encounter this, I start putting my attackers on Hold Up Ball one by one. I let it go for 5 minutes then add another and another until the opp has to come out of their box to get the ball. If you're still having problems, have the FB's hold up ball as well. It works pretty well. Also, to avoid being hit on the counter, try setting your backline to deep to minimise the effect of their counter.

retired_wh0isj3ss3

So, the teams are playin defensive as in defensive MENTALITY or as in narrow against you?

You know, that the biggest problem in this forum, is that there is so much B/S talk about how Mentality works that it makes me sick.

The worst thing you do, is fiddling with the Mentality. If you look away from that, there is plenty of ways to beat the "defensive" ways of the AI, which mostly is a Narrow formation.

retired_whippet

Smithy- They played possesion play in a 4-5-1 with fast strikers. I played my normal formation and matched them playing slow and short with a deep line. I then wen direct and fast and thats when they got their 2nd.

I then reloaded the game, this time beat celtic 8-0, i then put a fast striker on target man(run onto ball) playing direct/fast and counter attack, i beat everton 4-1.

I watch games in key, sometimes in extended. I played in full for a while then went back to key. I do look at march stats, they are helpful.

OZFC - Why do you put full backs on hold up ball??? seems strange

Chriseldiablo - Their usual tacticts are defensive 4-1-4-1 using counter attack or possession play. Obviously, if they are playing narrow i.e. 4-1-3-2, ill play wide and usually get a good result. AI playing narrow isnt usually the problem however.

retired_wh0isj3ss3

Because he wants to opposition to be dragged out of position, creating room for his players, so they can come to chances. narrow play = Defensive. The Ai rarely, if ever, touches the Mentality; AI usually plays a "Normal" global Team Mentality.

retired_bigtomson

Good results there

I think that the use of a target man is the key to the way i play it. The supply to him changes depending on the defence i am up against.

I watch the matches in full if i drop behind to see where my weaknesses are.

Hope I have helped

retired_whippet

Yeah Smithybulls, youve helped me a lot, ive followed up with wins over charlton and chelsea. My tactics are usually destructive and they just needed freshiing up a bit. cheers.

retired_wh0isj3ss3

It has turned out that way in quite a number of my matches. Cleon is right imo as i always play by this rule but if it isn't working during a match i change to match the opposition and have been the stronger team. </BLOCKQUOTE>


So if going opposite isnt working, you will get a result by going the same as opposition....?

I sure get confused how you approach the game. How do you go "opposite" of the AI, when it plays 99% of the time with Team (Global) Mentality on 11 (middle)?

Seems luck is a big factor here....

retired_whippet

Chriseldiablo- Opposite in the terms of tempo and passing, if your scout says the opposition play possesion football, according to cleons sheffield proiject you go direct and quick!

retired_wh0isj3ss3

Is there any guaranteee that the opposition will use same tempo & passing in game vs you as it did in previous....?

retired_bigtomson

It has turned out that way in quite a number of my matches. Cleon is right imo as i always play by this rule but if it isn't working during a match i change to match the opposition and have been the stronger team. </BLOCKQUOTE>


So if going opposite isnt working, you will get a result by going the same as opposition....?

I sure get confused how you approach the game. How do you go "opposite" of the AI, when it plays 99% of the time with Team (Global) Mentality on 11 (middle)?

Seems luck is a big factor here.... </BLOCKQUOTE>

By looking at the scout report. It tells you everything you need to know. It says whether a team plays attacking or defensive. If it does not say a particular mentality then you look at the odds and whether you are home or away. At home and i am favourites i will play slightly attacking and short passing.

Away i will nearly always play defensive with counter attack.

If a scout report says the team plays attacking then how can they be playing a normal mentality?

Also FM is a simulation game so there is always something you can change to turn the result round and can't be based on luck. You don't even have to spend hours studying the game or anything its just simple changes based on looking at the match stats and the highlights.

By playing this way i went through the serie A unbeaten with AC Milan so if it was down to luck surely i would of lost at least one game and not gone unbeaten all season?