retired_marvinr

I'm currently playing as Tottenham, testing out some tactical stuff and it seems as if I have run into a problem.

I have man marking with my DC and FB's with closing down in my DC's being 7 and 6 and My FBs a bit higher (around 10 or so) ... My FB's have no trouble stopping play and breaking up wing play with my current settings.

My problem lies in my two DC's, I man mark (not tight or anything) and i have them at the above mentioned closing downs. I'm constantly getting tormented by pacey strikers..and it seems like the goals are coming from right down the middle as I've managed to keep my flanks very well covered.

Now My question is whats the relationship if any between Man Marking and closing down. Should I man mark and close down less.. or man mark and close down higher?

retired_mminor

With Pacey strikers you need to defend deep but if you are man marking pacey strikers you'll need a pacey DC

retired_amy66new

The pace thing could be the problem but as regards closing down and man marking, if I'm man marking I always have tight marking and my team closing down is full anyway.

Personally I'd man mark and have high closing down as this means your players will always be breathing down the necks of the opposition.

retired_mminor

Personally you should study the oppositions strikers to see what type of striker they are

retired_dinalb

If the opp has one striker, then bothe CBs will man makr him. Yous should have one specify man mark and the other on zonal and closing down.

retired_pennyyoung

When playing fulbacks i usually let them have massive closing down with zonal marking, especially if they're the attacking type, as they'd be mid pitch most times.

DC's as usual rare closing down (lower than 6?)and man/tight marking. If you play a DMC/ def MC, I'd advise that you set him to man mark a striker (the best one), meaning that when he's off the ball and opposition wingers are pushing, he'd always be marked out. this leaves your DC's the luxary of checking other targets.

With man marking i think you should want you man to stay on his man, meaning that closing down should be conservative. I guess with high closing down, he would be tempted to leave his man for other pursuits.