retired_josediaz

Hi there, I am liverpool, mid way through second season and am having major trouble getting my defense to stop the opposition strikers just walking through the lot of them. I made the descision to build my squad from the defense forward so my current back line includes:

Riise, Auralio, Agger, Anton Ferdinand, Kompany, Carragher, Vanden Borre and Finnan. I have Reina in goal.

See, in my opinion that should sum up to a pretty awsome defense. However i regularly see my opposition getting about 5-6 shots on target per game as my defense (especially the central defenders) just stand and watch and get beaten by even slow atttackers. Luckily Reina seems to be able to deal with most of the shots but still, it would be nice to cut it out a bit.

My tactics are are based around a classic attacking 4-4-2.

^ ST ST ^
| |
ML MC MC MR

DL DC DC DR

On a scale of 1(left)---------->10(right)
Mentality 7
Creative Freedom 4
Passing Style 7
Tempo 9
Width 8
Closing Down 6
Time Wasting 3
Defensive Line 3
Tackling 5

Also have counter attacking on, and (obviously) focussing passing down the wings with my mc's rushing forwards. In previous games i've always played around with my attack and so am ok at adjusting that but my defense tends to just get left as a deep (i figured if they keep running through me i must be pushing up too far and leaving lots of space for running in to) 4 across the back. I quite like playing this formation but any suggestions will be listened to with an open mind.

Cheers

Moley

retired_josediaz

However i regularly see my opposition getting about 5-6 shots on target per game[/QUOTE]

I meant to say 'extra' shots on target

JeffRogers

raise your closing down for all defenders to around 15 ish!

JeffRogers

also if you play a high width?! lower it! to just under 'wide'!

retired_josediaz

you know, after thinking about what you just said i'm wondering how i could be that stupid that i didnt notice it myself thanks for pointing it out for me...i really should have noticed it myself....


*goes off embarrassed*

retired_infinite_dreams

Well raising the closing down to 15 shoulnt be so wise imo. This way the defenders will go much higher up the pitch and the risk for them to get caught out of position is much higher. Try to close down hard at the flanks. About (10-15) for the fullbacks and about (15) for the wingers. I have my central defenders at closing down (5) and the other on (7), and the mentalities about the same. This is getting one of the defenders to play a little higher up the pitch and the other to act like security if the first one get caught out of position.

Another tip that makes it harder for the opposition to break down is to use a DMC, as Liverpool you have two great players to use here, Sissoko and Xabi Alonso is just great in this position.

retired_infinite_dreams

If you want a suggestion of a formation i can give you the one im currently playing with and working on improving. It seem to be very solid and concede few goals.

If you like to know more about it you can check out the thread for it.

4-3-3 Formation