retired_Markpdoody

Think most peoples problem come from AI teams which play 8 men behind the ball and look to make a quick pass to thier strikers. This is not a strong way of playing (conservative) the game but it does cause a lot of problem with medium to high defensive lines especially if they have quick strikers. This is what makes big, confident clubs look bad. Only two attacking players who are design to run into spaces left by your defenders. I suspect the AI play these two (or just one) with high attacking mentality because they seem to force themself into the defensive line waiting for a sprint. This causes problems because thier two fast strikers would create situation where they can bring thier players forward (create an attacking stance)in the easiest and safest way and that is through getting fouls, balls going out and winning corners while also testing the keeper. They could play very defensive but maintain annoying possesion through this method or trick. Just check out the gaps between thier strikers and midfield. Imagine trying to break an 8 men defence while they have two pest scratching your while you are at it.

Tune the defensive line and tight mark these players would stop one problem. Also, tune to the type of style the opposition are playing, high for short passing (or if they have lost interest to counter-attack, check striker position) and low for long or direct passing. What is also interesting is to try and play our midfielders behind thiers (thier midfielders closer to thier goal than ours to thier goal) but in close proximity to your main attackers. So if they are very defensive, you must go very attacking (to some this coule be wrong). Use your midfilders to get a high midfielder line and it would have the same effect as a high defensive line while your defenders would be low to tackle the plan they had for thier quick strikers. I think it is also important to make sure our midfielders , especially central, are not too high ABOVE thiers only until going into the penalty box. Having attacking them while being below but close can make for really deadly short-ball-through-ball-passes to maintain threat. Don't you can break an 8 men defensive that has already regrouped with 3 or four attacking players (especially if your team is not world class), it is not as easy as that. This is where a targetman is required.

I found that this version of FM is number against number and hawking the 2D screen, hard tactical analysis. Viewing extended highlighs is not enough IF the problem is not solved (or you can't escape from thier attacks). So we go to numbers against numbers. I feels we can't play too offensive, having 5 men back when the AI counters us with 6 is trouble let alone if it was a major club (it becomes a major headache). So no more super tactics. Just think if the attack number is 6, and you have 7 behind while you have 3 ready to counter thier 4 defenders. Play wide too and push your midfield against thier, like I mensioned earlier, but keep a reasonable gap so that your passes would create loads of problem for thier defensive system. get an AMC'ish player to get close to the box or, make him play along the lines of where the ball is.

Another way to break a defensive system is to play qith quick tempo. Eventhough they have 5 or 6 players behind, a sudden quick burst of an attack would outnumber thier players is certain sections of the field while it would rumble thier feathers making thier defendence untidy and leaving it with gaps. This is why the 4-2-4 would always be effective in one way or the other. It quickly challengers thier defend numbers, 4 against 4. If they choose not to attack at all (notice Middlesbrough playing away?) Slow tempo to work yourself around them or targetman style (Houllier's Heskey & Owen = speed).

This analysis is actually based on how football is viewed and not totally FM.

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