retired_meendee

Ive been playing FM for many years, but i am totally stuck.Im Reading at the start of the second season, and i just seem to be leaking goals everywhere!I bought Dervitte, Mei and Heleno in to bolster the defence.But any striker against them just seems to waltz past them.its almost as if my defenders just stop and just let them run through.They dont mark, and strikers are virtually all alone to shoot.Ive tried lots of things but none seem to work.I dont like man marking throughout my defence.Im not quite sure to have high closing down for each individual defender, keep their mentality on defensive, infact im totally bamboozled at the moment.If anyone could help me i would appreciate it, or if anyone has similar experiences and just wants to throw the computer out the window.thanks all.

retired_ladylimdiddy

Do you play with a high or deep defensive line?

I have my defensive line exactly half way with me fullbacks closing down and mentality on halfway also. I have my Central defensers on first notch of defensive mentality and 2 notches higher closing down.

Works quite well

retired_mrbenn1234

I use deep defensive line and a VERY defensive mentality on all four defenders.

Also minimal creative freedom

retired_meendee

i play with a deep defensive line always.otherwise strikers just get in behind and score.the defenders are on the first notch of defence mentality and are on mixed closing down.they have no creative freedom either.i really cant work out whats wrong.i have the central defence passing on long so they dont try and be tricky and so just boot it out.but they still try to be Pele!but its the fact they just let players run past them instead of attempting any kind of tackle.

retired_ambular0820

Your midfield - what are they doing? With mentality so low for your defense, there has to be acres of space between them and your defense. Either increase your the mentality of your defenders, or lower that of your midfield.

retired_mgavlick

Mentality and d-line are linked. Hence, defenders with mentality of 6 should operate on a d-line of similar settings. Keep closing down low (3-5), with at least one low CD/low mentality midfielder sitting in front of the back four to stop passes through the line. Man and tight mark with the DCs, man or zonal with the FBs but still tight mark. Also, CD heavily with wingers and at least one forward to stop opposing players being able to play uncontested long balls over the defence.

retired_infinite_dreams

Well i wouldnt put the closing down on the defensive midfielder to low. You are right that his job is to sit infront of the defensive line and stop passes through the line. But if you go to low on the closing down all he will do is to back off and sit in the knee of the defenders and that isnt his job. His job is to but pressure on the players outside the area so they cant play a short pass into the box for the striker. I play a 4-3-3 formation with a DMC infront of the defensive four, and i found that he is best of with a closing down around mixed, or perhaps 1-2 notch lower, but not anymore. This way he will put pressure on the players outside the area and dont give them time to pick out a pass to the strikers feet. I had some problem with my DMC backing off to much and him ended up in the box with the defenders when the closing down was to low. When i switched to mixed (10) for closing down the defence where much more solid and harder for the opponents to play their way through.

retired_thehpsleb

I use a 4-1-2-3 system and my 4 defender all got mentality on 4, CD 4. Global mentality is on 14, and defensive line on 14. I use offsides also.
2nd season with Ajax I scored 75 goals and 12 against. Champions league: Won 2-0 home, 1-1 away vs chealsea in semi final. 1-1 vs Barcelona in final but lost the penalty( Didnt have any good kickers since both my first team wings was injuried)
75-12

retired_monica90

What's the thinking behind the individual mentality/defensive line correlation wwfan?

retired_rjw13838

Have you tried increasing it to 15? I started with 10, but still found him to back off a little too much.