Football_Crazy

I love FM 2007 but there are some things that get me so frustrated. For instance I am Aston Villa and 2nd game of the season I lose 4-1 to Middlesbrough You may be thinking that is a hammering but I had 11 shots on target and they had 4. I would not mind as much if the 11 shots were all hopeful 30 yarders, but players are missing chances from 2 and 3 yards out. How can you put a header from 2 yards out over the bar!!!! I was just wondering if anyone else has these problems and if so how do you sort them out.
I cant imagine it being to much to do with my tactics as players are missing guilt edge chances and the keepers are making some amazing saves. Could anyone suggest a tactic where I could score. At the minute I am playing 4-2-1-2-1 and it seems pretty solid defensively but scoring goals is my real problem.Here is my team at the moment:

Gk: Tommy Sorensen
RB: Aaron Hughes
CB: Gary Cahill
CB: Martin Laursen
LB: Gareth Barry
DMC: Gavin McCann
DMC: L Perez (cant remember first name)
MC/AMC: Stillian Petrov
AMR: V Hleb
AML: Patrik Berger
FC: Eddie Johnson
Subs: Angel, Agbonlahor, Whittingham, Ridgewell, Davis

The team mentality is normal, but I play slighty more attacking against weaker teams and more defensive against the bigger teams. I also like my team to play a fairly slow passing game as I like to keep possession and frustrate the other team. The team are told to focus their passing down both flanks so I can counter attack quicker and get plenty of crosses in.
I also use a target man, which is Eddie Johnson and the supply is mixed to make the most of his pace and physical presence. My full backs are fairly defensive as I have barrows on them and also their forward runs are set to rarely.
The whole of the back 4's mentalities are set at 6 so they can work as a unit. My DMC's have mentalities of 8 and 9 and one of them closes down often while the other is set at mixed. My MC/AMC has a mentality of 12 and has quite a bit of creative freedom and is forward runs and through balls are set to often. My AML/R have mentalities of 12 as well and they are pretty much set up like my AMC. My FC has a mentality of 11 so he is not too far ahead of the play and he has little Creative freedom and also holds the ball up. Any suggestions on how to improve my goalscoring record would be greatly appreciated as I feel if my attackers dont start scoring easy chances my computer may go through the window. :eek:

Football_Crazy

Please, is there someone out there who can help me. Thinking of buying LMA manager 2007 :o just so I know what winning feels like :eek:



Only joking!!

bflaff

Your problem may be that your attacks are happening too slowly, making it too easy for the defense to anticipate and prepare for your shots. A slow tempo, low CF main striker, and a main striker who also holds up the ball sounds like a recipe for a plodding, predictable attack. Lots of possession is pointless if it doesn't lead to good chances, so don't fetishize the possession stats. Since I play a quicker, more direct, more creative style, you can probably already see where this is going: try getting EJ off 'hold up ball', try giving him more CF, and, if neither of those helps, try a quicker, more direct style.

PS. It is almost always unnecessary to tell us who's on your roster. Your players are probably not so unique that we have to keep them in mind while we offer suggestions. A good tactical set-up works with all kinds of players. And leaving them out saves you time when you're composing a post.

Football_Crazy

Thanks for the advice bflaff, I will try out the tactics you have mentioned and I hope I will see some improved results, although it still dosent explain why my players miss chances from 2 yards out. I guess not everything can be perfect.