retired_ranjanabhat

Aye, I should be walking things, but in reality I'm not, nor is it my intention to do so. I just want my team to be able to string 2 results together, and believe me, that would be an improvement on how things currently stand.

Having gone with the 'smaller' clubs from lesser league for the most part, I've decided to try my hand with one of the biggies and for some strange reason, this club is a lot more difficult to get results with than some wee skanky Scottish club

Anyhoo, the problem I'm having is a) I'm either scoring - but conceding heaps if I go with a somewhat adventurous formation or b) when utilising the strengths of my team (which happen to be my DM's) I seem to be keeping clean sheets but can't score for sh/t, thus I remain in a similar position either way. No matter what I do I can't seem to find a happy medium with this club. It's as if my midfield and strikers refuse to link up with one another as soon as I go cautious, or my defenders go awol when I play an attacking formation.

I'm currently midway through the first season and the only player I have bought in is a pacey defender, so basically the squad remains exactly how it is from the start.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, cheers.

retired_slayerbing

With your back four - zonal marking, rare forward runs, and closing down on mixed or lower should keep them as a solid unit. If you are playing an attacking formation then D-line could be at 10-14 though if you are playinng with DMC's then about 10 would be enough.

retired_ranjanabhat

Cheers, Dale.

The problem with my back four, and taking injuries into account, seems to be lack of pace with the likes of Maldini et al. More often than not I'm forced to play 2 DM's in front as to compensate for my older defenders. As soon as I have too that's when I run into major problems, as it seems to have a major impact on my attacking players. Whereas when I make those DM's more attack minded it seems to expose my defenders especially when playing against teams like Inter & Roma. At the momment I feel I have no choce but to go for a 0-0 when playing these teams.

retired_slayerbing

ok well I guess it goes without saying you need to buy at least one fast centreback.

For home games try giving your fullbacks instructions to hold the ball up - I have started doing this and it will give you much more possession. Also give all four defenders mix for try through balls. If any of them are good at passing you can raise that to often.

Closing down can be about 15 for the full backs - that will reduce crosses in. If you are using DMC's let them do the closing down and not the DC's. The DC's are the wall and need to be firm and not open up. So zonal marking - tight. I'll have a think about it some more.

retired_ranjanabhat

Thanks for taking the time out to help me, mate.

I'll apply the instructions that you've given me and I'll see how things pan out

retired_jeremyyu

Eleanor, this is very realistic. Look at the place in Serie A right now for AC milan. They have quite the same problems you have in the game )

retired_jfarleymeade1

I play with my DCs on barrows, this helps to keep from getting beaten on counter attacks. I also set DCs closing down to rare/mixed (either high rare, or low mixed). Tackling normal. This has them play positionally...I would think this might make a bigger difference with slower DCs (mine actually have good pace).
If you play your DCs this way you MUST use a DMC who can close down and tackle. Gattuso would be better then Pirlo.

I have played with Milan and found it difficult. The players did not fit my style of play. I had most success with a 4-3-3 with two AM wingers and a lone striker. I used Kaka on the right and Jankulovski or Seedorf on the left.
I definatly needed to bring in new players. I bought Brazaglia, Toni, Cicinho (Real practically gave him away), Figo and several inexpensive, younger players for depth.

I never did get the most out of Pirlo...or Kaka for that matter.

retired_fitnessguru

I managed to win Serie A in the first season with Milan by one point on the last day of the season.

I used the normal Milan 4-1-2-1-2 with Pirlo as the DMC. I had Pirlo on mixed passing, a little extra creative freedom, sometimes selected as playmaker. He got a load of assists and scored a lot of free kicks.
Kaka I had on similar instructions but with run with ball often. Scored about 15 goals I think.

I bought Klose and Barzagli as well

retired_ranjanabhat

I ended up finishing 8th in the league, however, I did win the Italian cup and got to the semi's of the CL. It was the latter two achievements that probably stopped the board from firing me.


5 friendlies, a UEFA cup game and 2 league games into the 2nd season and things have picked up compared to last season. Having said that, though, I've yet to come up against the likes of Inter & Roma.

Took some advice and brought in 2 quick defenders and a striker and the defenders have definitively transformed the team.

Dominic, like you, Kaka hasn't been that great for me either. Might punt him to Chelsea for £30m in the January.

retired_sampson01

pirlo has been great up until now. i'm at the end of february and hes got 20 assists. kaka has been real average, playing him as mr with an arrow to amr. set pirlo as play makr an he'll sort the rest out. gilardino and inzaghi will do well upfront