retired_bopeeps

I'm Torquay United, in my 2nd season.

First season, I played a 4-2-3-1 and it worked until about January when I went on a terrible run and ended up 16th. Second season, I started with the same formation but unfortunately in the same form as I ended the previous season. So I changed to a 3-5-2 which allowed 2 strikers (as I felt my 4231 was isolating the ST at times) and suited my players better, since I have 3 quality CB's.

Now I'm scoring plenty of goals, and keeping the odd clean sheet, which I'm trying to work on as the basis of my team in both formations is the 2 DM's who sit in front of the CB's and have very defensive mentalities so as not to go wandering off.

However, I can not hold a lead! If I go in at half time 1-0 up, you can guarantee the other team will score within 5 mins of the 2nd half, or if I take the lead elsewhere the other team invariably score within 2 or 3 mins. I realise that it's realistic for teams to be more vulnerable when they've just scored, but this is getting ridiculous! My players have decent concentration (for League 2 anyway) and the defenders all have defensive mentalities, but watching the highlights it's almost like they are asking the other team to attack them.

Has anyone else suffered from this, and does anyone have any suggestions about how I can stop conceding silly goals straight after scoring? I'm currently 8th in League 2, and in with a real chance of the play-offs if I can just stop this frustrating habit!

retired_amy66new

Do you change anything tactics wise, like trying to hold on to them and going more defensive?

I usually just keep the same tactic rather than meddle around with things but if I'm a goal ahead with a few minutes left I'll sit deep, and go about 3/4s defensive with counter attack on, long or very direct passing using a target man (target man supply reflective of who the forward is - big FW use "to head" with hold up ball, quick forward use "run onto ball" in an attempt to sneak another goal).

Also, look at what the opposition formation is and have your formation changed (at the back) so you have a man on each of their attacking players then put each of your players man marking their player. Closing down can be whatever really, but I find they will shoot from further out as they get desperate and my keeper isn't very good so I close down often, tight marking, EASY tackling so as not to give stupid freekicks away.

retired_pennyyoung

it depends for me really on when i in fact take the lead and how long i have held it for the match.

say i have been leading for the majority of the game, for the last 25 i usually pull everyone back , literally by setting mids to def mids and strikers to amcs. my target man is then set to my paciest striker to run onto any long balls (seems to work). sometimes i use unsymmetrical formations to facilitate my quickest wingers. really it depends on your side.

however, if i have indeed taken the lead early, and the opposition show signs of breaking my defences, i usually leave my team's mentality on attacking, and tweak other settings (width, creative freedom etc), or increase the team's mentality to commit more men on the counter. i almost always keep, especially for my lancaster side, all players defaulted to the team's mentality as ultra defensive individual instructions seem to make DC's always find a way to slot a backpass past my keeper.

setting individual opposition instructions can sway the odds in your favour as well, for instance telling your players to show opposing strikers and wingers onto their weaker foot (i found it impossible to find a player in lower divs who can use either feet) etc.

i managed to take my lancaster side to league 2 within 2 seasons, so i guess i can share your feelings on keeping a lead.