retired_janellewood86

I've just started the new season, and I thought I'd analyse my games so far, in terms of shots, shots on target and result. So, here goes...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Hum CPUOpposition Pos Sho Sot Sho Sot Score^League:Guigliano (A) 11* 7 3 10 2 3-0Paganese (H) 8* 13 5 4 2 1-1V d Sangro (A) 14* 9 5 8 4 3-1Celano (A) 3* 8 2 7 4 1-2Rietl (H) 9* 9 3 4 2 1-1Pro Vasto (H) 7* 15 10 3 2 3-0CupsTeramo (H) 9 3 4 3 3-1Grossetto (A) 10 3 7 2 0-1Juventus (H) 5 3 10 5 0-2Samben. (H) 17 5 6 1 0-0Sangio. (H) 15 4 6 2 1-0^ - human score first* - as of last game (current season)</pre>

As you can see, the games where I have most shots, I seem to score fewest.

But I can tell you exactly why this is. Every time I'm on top I cannot break into the opposition area. I'm on top because the opposition make no attempt to come beyond the half way line. So, my quick tempo, long passing game results in a lot of shots outside the area, poorly timed headers and crap strikers.

Take a look at the stats again. Super keepers? Hardly. As an average of shots on target to goals, everything's pretty much average. No matter how many shots I get, I very rarely get over 5 shots on target. In these circumstances I have failed to score on only ONE occasion.

As for the super strikers of the opposition, how many times do you reckon they hit me on the break and outnumbered me? Lots. I have (excepting Juventus, a Serie A side) conceded at most 4 shots on target. On these occasions, the AI scored.

The amount of games where a team had more shots on target but lost: ONCE, in a cup game where I was unlucky.

The amount of games where a team had more shots on target but didn't win: FIVE (or as I like to look at it, less than half), though in all instances the gap between the teams in terms of SoTs was marginal.

Conclusion: stop whining. When you analyse the final stats, you can usually see a pattern. I lose and draw too many games because my strikers can't/won't hit a barn door. I need to create more quality chances rather than more shots on goal.

I can update this table as I go along, but I see little point. I'm expected to finish 4th this season, and playing like this I should get it, providing I improve my shot conversion.

If anyone else wants to do a similar study, please post it up. It would be very interesting to see what you come up with.

retired_elpata

A good post Millie, something that should make a lot of sense when people take a look at their own stats.

retired_jjokisch

Oh my God, thank you, that is exactly what happens to me, except I don't think I use very long passing or quick tempo...
I'm going to change my tactics a bit and see what happens. You might have just put an end to my misery.

retired_janellewood86

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Hum CPU Opposition Sho Sot Sho Sot Score1) Gubbio (H) 8 5 6 3 2-12) Manfred. (A) 11 5 8 4 1-13) Ponfedera (H) 9 4 5 3 1-04) Grossetto (A) 6 1 8 2 0-15) Lanciano (H) 17 9 4 3 3-06) Fano (A) 6 2 10 5 0-57) Real Mac. (A) 8 1 7 3 1-2</pre>

The stats seem to still hold up, though if I were in a conspiracy mood I would obviously say the AI cheated in the Fano (6) match. But having said that, I scored all of my shots on target in the very next game (7). Pity I only had one...

So far (18 games in) I can deduce a few things:

1) Against teams I should beat or who don't attack me I have a major problem getting shots on target. My 4-3-3 is getting chances, but not converting them. Therefore I need a new approach to such games.

2) My away form is dire. My goalkeepers seem to have no confidence, and dito the strikers. Even more worrying (especially after the Fano game) is that I'm not creating anything, shots on target or otherwise.

3) The team that should win usually does. In the Manfredonia (2) match I let in a sloppy goal just into injury time. My full backs were running forward and got caught. Since then I've upped timewasting to high after 88 minutes and stopped them running forward and it seems to work in tighter games (3).

4) Superkeepers are officially dead for me. They weren't really "alive" before, but I feel comforted in the stats. If anything, I suffer from the Superbadkeeper (4, 6, 7), especially on the road!

A more detailed analysis would take into account where the shots were from, who took them, what time they were scored, etc., but I think these basic stats on their own tell a tale.

I've already learned one tactical trick from this (see point 3), and I think others will too.

retired_pennyyoung

i'm not ranting as i'm especially enjoying fm2007 thus far, however here's my opinion:

yea super keepers are not an issue in fm2007 (wouldn't take an in depth study to show this) what seems to be the problem with most complaints on this forum is that the ai "cracks" user's tactics with such accuracy that:

a) user's strikers are most times unable to get a good shot off, despite the number of tries
b) ai's seem to know exactly where to be at the right time (not all the time though), usually on the occasions that the user loses.
c) user defenders makes mistakes as opposed to impeccable ai

while these are not a problem realistically speaking, the user is left wanting in setting counter measures for these ploys. with the ai constantly switching formation and (apparently player instructions), how can we compete in order to win every game, especially the ones we WANT to win (cup games etc).

theoretically and realistically, there would exist a change of tactic for any situation that would result in a goal/win, but sometimes the best managers of the world cannot do it (but can we?)

unless we can find a way to tell our strikers to position themselves for opportunistic goals, or proper runs into space similar to the ai we'll just have to face each loss with a smile.

rant..ehm...opinion concludes

retired_hienataberdeen

Yes Millie well that's all well and good...and I'm not losing mind you...but I would honestly prefer someone of the likes of Luca Toni to have more than 2 goals out of 20 some odd appearances in the league.

This is my main gripe. My strikers are absolute rubbish and seemingly are about as accurate as some drunk trying to put the key in his front door....

I've only lost 3 games for the season but honestly....2 goals from Toni, quite pathetic

retired_Rusty021

Only occasionally seen this to be a problem, when the AI has succeeded in shutting down my team. In all cases, the front line has either been on a bad day, or my tactics failed to break down the opponents defense. In the latter case, I could clearly see what was happening, but failed to find a solution to the problem.

I had a season that was completely the opposite - lots of matches where I got behind 1 and even sometimes 2 goals, but where I would end up winning the game 2-1 or 3-2. Lots - and I mean LOTS of times where my team would pull off 1 or 2 goals in the last 10 minutes of the games.

The key? Of 11 players on the pitch, more than half had determination &gt; 14, and none had low determination. Determined players fight harder - and keep fighting the entire game. Even when I lost in the semifinals of the Cup (which I had got to with a team 2 levels below the top division), that team wasn't played off the pitch.

Never seen this to be a problem. My strikers have capitalized on many AI defender mistakes.

Much easier in this game than in previous ones; keep a watch on the formations view in between highlights.

If anything, FM2007 is probably still too dependent on the users tactics for the success of its players (but then it probably has to be this way - its a game after all). Hate to put it this way 8so clicheed), but if your strikers are not finding themselves with good opportunities, its probably your tactics that are not suited to those strikers.

retired_erik86

there are super keepers! peter cech saved like all 10 of my shots on target and then i lost to a freekick &gt;.&lt;

retired_Rusty021

retired_elpata

Id put that down to your set up tbh, its more your tactic than anything else.