retired_BAG

Been playing for 3 years consistantly. Currently with Hayes ECS, have affiliated to Crystal Palace - swiped all they're awesome youngsters and are flying high in 2nd place.


My team has serious strikers, wingers, etc. I have netted 4, 6, 7 goals in last 3 games. Completely outclass all opposition in most areas and come away with 55% posession/15+ shots most games.

But then...

Come against team with 2 giant strikers. (6'4'' tall JUMPING 16).

I set my DC's tight marking OFF, zone, and 2 (DEF MENTALITY), as I knew they would long ball all day to these guys and I wanted to sit back from them to allow the flick on but pick it up as they do so. Also closing down/tight marking heavily on their creative MC's/AMC's to cut supply.

1. Sure enough - the tall fellas got 3 goals from aforementioned long balls. Despite 2 MENTALITY - they were constantly beaten by this giant - and left behind as he raced to goal (he had 4 ACC and 2 SPEED!!!) How do I deal with huge players ...? (i have read posts on this and tried tweaking mid game - it got worse).

2. Is this crap showing down to something I said/didn't say? Having warned my team of complacency many times after these huge wins - what should I be saying before matches to press? Or in dressing room? I want to talk to the local press but I have the most talented and yet, fickle bunch of whining jessies ever! 3 of them including keeper are constantly 'worried about next match' no matter what I say. No comment then? That just seems stupid. And its only HAYES! These guys are on £110/week!!

3. Is it a bug? But how come my strikers were beaten to ball 60% of time? I check stats - my players in question average SPEED 12-15/ACC 10-12/DETERM 9-13, opposition all had VERY low single figures. How can I stop that?

4. Why when I have time wasting on 0, speed tempo on 15 and everyones MEN on 16+ does my FB dawdle with ball in his own corner and at the SLIGHTEST threat turn and put it out for a CORNER! He has good decision and passing stats! WTF!! Similarly, 2 players passed back to the keeper, from the opposition's corner flag!! How do I stop this or is it a bug?

The game finished 4-1 to them and then only an own goal gave me that. My demon striker missed 6 close range shots. He has been averaging 2.5 per match and rarely misses. He isn't jaded and is always superb morale and loves the club. What went wrong??

To sum up a rather long winded post.

1. How do I deal with VERY tall strikers and long balls to them?
2. Do i simply NO COMMENT before each game to satisfy my fragile egos in the dressing room? Seems a little silly in the ECS.
3. Why oh why were my players (defenders too) being beaten to ball by 35 yr old lumbering giants with CRAP stats?
4. How do I stop BIZZARRE passing - end to end to keeper, knocking it back for corners when no real threat? My players are good...
5. What are the main causes of one total extreme to the other?? Why were my SERIOUSLY good team of championship starlets beaten by a bunch of tall but VERY slow and extremely unskilled old men... (I know thats a banal question...)

Thanks.

retired_sdilts

1. High D-Line, Maybe Offside trap, sitting deep is begging them to win headers in or near the penalty area.

2. I always ignore all media questions before matches.

3. Because the match engine does that sometimes, watch out for players with slow stats running like lightening aswell.

4. Low time wasting, and low creative freedom. Again the match engine is not perfect and sometimes players do some stupid things.

5. Read the above.