retired_infinityprfct

Okay, so I decided to start a game managing Southend, not the greatest idea (no offence intended to the Southend fan out there) but one that I want to persevere with.

Basically what I did was create a tactic to play to how I wanted to play - it was a bit of a bizarre start - we'd always get dominated but we'd either win luckily or be in the lead and chuck it. To be fair from our first 5-6 games we could have had 0 or 25 points.

But realisation soon set in that I did not have the riches of the better teams in the league, so I decided to create a more defensive formation.

Im set up as so...

----SC-----
^----^----^
ML---MC---MR
---^----^---
--DMC--DMC--
------------
DL-DC-DC-DR


I would hope that it would be a hard formation to break down, but players could get forward on the break when needed, whilst retaining their defensive mentalities.

FB

M - 3
CF - 1
P - 15
CD - 3

DC

M - 5
CF - 1
P - 15
CD - 3
Man marking

DM

M - 8
CF - 3
P - 10
CD - 7

Wingers

M - 12
CF - 12
P - 10
CD - 20

MC

M - 15
CF - 20
P - 10
CD - 3

Striker doesnt really matter in a defensive sense.

M - 7
CF - 4
P - 6
T - 5
W - 14
CD - 7
DL - 5

To me it seems theoretically to look good defensively (although it obviously isnt). It covers most areas of your own half, everyone that should (apart from the MC as he should be adequately covered by the DMCs) has low creative freedom.

Though just from watching a game you can see it all go wrong.

I want my defence to stay as a line, but the fullbacks constantly wander off when we're defending... the winger gets in behind and thats it, conceded.

My defenders, despite a 5 defensive line always get the ball hoofed over them.
My wingers dont ever attempt to stop the crosses coming in (as its normally the fullbacks that place a ball magically on the strikers foot in the area)

Basically my whole team is passed through... I concede 2-4 goals most games, which for a team playing what I hope is a defensive formation, doesnt seem to be good enough.

This isnt so much a help me thread, just one where people can discuss how they would go about keeping a clean sheet... as it seems to me that I've ticked all the boxes, been as negative as I can, but it just doesnt work.

retired_BrownVanilla

if i was you i would get rid of the farrows on all your mids except wingers and make your striker mentality higher (11-14) and lower your attacking CM's mentality(11-13) this means that your MCa and ST will work together better. and also go slightly more attacking and up the D-line becuase by being so negative and playing so deep you are inviting pressure on to yourself which means eventually you will concede.

hope this helps:thup: