[Asmodeus]

I've been trying to put together a decent template or starting point for my beloved back four. As my FM2007 experiences have been fairly limited so far, I've only got my Arsenal and Exeter City observations to share. After much deliberation with the former, I went with the following set-up:

Defensive Line: 10

Central Defenders

Mentality: 6 (normal- following the RoT here)
Creative freedom: 5 (little)
Closing Down: team (12)

All individual instructions to "rarely," aside from "try through balls" set to "mixed" if my players have high decision, passing and creativity (none of the Exeter players sadly!).

Full-Backs

Mentality: 10 (normal)
CF: 5 (little)
Closing Down: 15 (often)

Forward runs/cross ball set to "often," run with ball set to "mixed."

This system has worked fine with Arsenal, as most will. With Exeter it's been less succesful (as expected!), although most of my goals conceded seem to come from set pieces.

I've tried to rectify this by implementing a tight marking system, and a man-marking system for set piece defending, which has slightly decreased my goals against. I play two MCs as well, not a DMC/AMC diamond style.

What are your experiences, how succesful has your back four been, and what settings do you find the most effective and why?

[andre_costa]

I'm using the settings you described on your "Quick Setup Experiment" on my Milan game and found that having a Defensive Line of 5 has helped alot in keeping a good defensive record. I also have CounterAttack allways ticked so that might have something to do with it.

[adonis]

I am having great success with the following setup, concede very rarely:

Home games
Def line - 5
Closing down - 15 for the whole back four

Away games
Def line - 15
Closing down - 5 for the whole back four

I also use short passing for the whole team and play at a slow tempo.
Surprisingly despite playing a def line of 15 in away games, I don't seem to get caught out with the long ball over the defence despite playing two CD's with a pace of 10-12. I think the def line setting and closing down of rarely compliment eachother really well. And with my backline pushed up really high it gives the oppposition midfield very little time and space to create anything against me.

[adonis]

forgot to add i'm also using the RoT theory for creative freedom and mentality settings.

[Asmodeus]

Andre- I think those settings are similar to the ones in my first post aren't they? So a deep defensive line works for you too.

Adonis- the old Supersaint theory working well then?

Good stuff. :thup:

What's your goals conceded per game ratio like? Are you playing with a DMC?

[adonis]

yeh its working really well, so far in my secong season in about 15 games only conceded 2 goals, both from set pieces. I'm playing a 433 but I have my centre MC on the same closing down as the back four. But I am playing with barcelona, so might need to test this further down the leagues.

[andre_costa]

Yes, i think they are the same, i was going to mention that but i wasn't sure they were because i'm not at home right now.

[Toi]

Hi,

I’ve been using a back four with an anchorman in front of them as known in the diamond formation.
All these defenders including the defensive midfielder have no creative freedom and rarely close down.
They mark zonal but not tight, the fullbacks gave run with ball and forward runs set to mixed.
The defensive midfielder has none of these settings seeming how I want him to stay put.
The biggest advantage I have noticed is that the AI is forced into long shots and hasty decisions.
As a matter a fact 70% of the goals I concede are from corners and free kicks.
The other ones come from shots outside of the area.
The AI isn’t able to combine inside my penalty area anymore.
Give it a go, you’ll like it.

[Cleon]

I always play with the defensive line on 6. I play so deep due to my defenders being really slow, plus I play counter attacking football. So it makes sense to want the oposition to come onto me, so I can soak the pressure up and break away quickly. I very rarely conceed goals, if I do it tends to be set pieces.

Mentality 5 for all the defence and everything set on rarely. I do't need my fullbacks rushing forward, even on breaks, It leaves you too vulnerably no matter how good your team is imo.

Creative freedom 1, I just need them to pass and no nothing else.

Closing down, I have the 2 full backs on 13 and one defender on 6 and the other 10. I do this, as I like 1 defender to stay a little deeper when pressing, incase of a through ball or over the top ball.

I don't seem to get any problems at all with this set up no matter what team I am. I even use this with East Stirling and still kept clean sheets, I think I kept 25 which isnt bad considering the quality of the players they have.

[fg]

cleon

what tempo do you use? 8?