LiMiT

Not so short question: While reading the Tactics "Bible" I have found two guides with conflicting opinions on this matter(Closing Down):Rashidi's and WWFan's. One states that I should mirror CD with creative freedom(say CF is 15 CD has to be ~5) and while the other advices for low CD on CB, high on FB, average for mid and high for attackers.
What do you guys think is the better option for a team such as Lazio(season 06/07) hoping for a european qualification? My goal is to play possesion football, defensive or balanced, depending on my opponent in my home matches. On away fixtures i intend to adopt a defensive/counterattacking style against most teams in Serie A so my CD will probably be ~5 for the whole team.

MattUK

I think cbs should have very low closing down and it should be left to full backs and midfield.

Creative freedom should be used rarely. you wouldnt go wrong having every player in your team with none, definately the players that form the base for your formation. Wingers and one forward or an amc is fine.

Evil Man

my take on this (after watching countless games) is that if your players close down they are pulled so far out of position, if you do win possession back no one is where they should be..


Example.


Tottenham.

Have chimbonda playing at RB - closing down set to high - as soon as anyone gets near him he rushes off and leaves a massive space for their winger/FB to run into.....conceded so many goals that way!!

Same applies to your CB - they rush out of position and leave gaps for the fwds..

Also applies if you are playing a dmc - if he rushes off you leave a gap between your 2 cb's

I have found that a tight defense is built along the lines of having ALL DEFENDERS and DMC set to...

Creative freedom - 5 (the last notch of little)
Closing down - 5 (the last notch of rarely

Also - if your wingers close down then, if you are playing "focus passing down the flanks" your wingers wont be on the flanks and they have tracked inside following their man.


If I ever close down its at home - where i can be more attacking.

Away - my team is a well drilled, organised, tight unit - no creative freedom, no closing down - 4 defs and a dmc.

Teams struggle scoring against me, and having Berbatov and Defoe upfront is a great outlet for the counter...