twattyatkins

Does anyone else change the dimensions of their pitch? I've set mine to maximum but I'm not sure how that will affect the game

Emmenaar

I did change them in my 2nd season.

Did decent in the 1st season, after the resizing I got sacked.

Taz & The Devil

I leave them to start with and then change them for the second season if i think changing the pitch size will help with the tactics i employ.

em999

depends if u play narrow or wide with wingers...thats the whole idea of pitch dimensions

Amaroq

Lots more space. The attacking team will thrive.

Basically, if you expect to be a relegation-battler, you want the minimum pitch size. That way, when the big boys come to play, you can clog the small pitch, defend defend defend, and escape with a nil-nil draw.

If you expect to be a title contender, you want the maximum pitch size. That way, when those ****ant relegation-battlers come to visit, and try to park the bus in front of goal, your attacking players have plenty of space to work with.

Of course, they both have their downsides - the small pitch may result in you getting draws from "winnable" home games, while the large pitch may leave your defense vulnerable when other "big clubs" come to play.

bullet tooth tony

Not really true about the small pitch size a relegation battlers.

If you are plyaing against a team who are very good at short passing and do it quickly then they can move through you just as easy. Alternatively if they have a big target man then they can play direct/long and play off the knock downs.

In short in my opinion it doesnt help to have a small pitch if your a poor team. It will help however to have a big pitch if you are an excellent attacking team

T-IceMan

Being Ajax, i cannot change pitch dimensions.... probably because they do not own their stadium .

dean66683

there is great scope to chnage your pitch dimensions as i look at other teams, however i can only adjust mine so much. im guessing this is beacause you can only expand it only as much as your stadium allows. southamptons old ground the dell and highbury were small so i guess some ground you can only adjust so much. looks like i need a new stadium!! does anyone know if you get anew stadium built wether you can specify pitch size?

Amaroq

I disagree with both of your points. Unsurprisingly, I'm sure.

First, the case of the team who are very good at short passing, and do it quickly: on a smaller pitch, there is less space between your defenders, so there is less room for the off-the-ball runs which get people open. Consequently, any ball into "space" is more likely to be challenged for by a defender, and there's more chance that another of your defenders is in close proximity to the new ballcarrier.

Yes, a succession of one-touch passes can still generate a chance - but its not "just as easy" as it would be on a larger pitch.

Similarly with the big target man approach - the same problems apply for the attacking team whether they're playing one-touch or knock ons. Plus, if nothing else, there is less space between your back line and your goalkeeper, so flick-ons into that space have a better chance of getting picked up by an outrushing keeper.

. .

One other thing I thought of while reading your reply, however - it would probably be of benefit to be on a smaller pitch if your players are below the average Stamina for the league that you're in. If you've got fitness problems.. smaller pitch dimensions should mean less running which should mean a higher Condition at the end of each game - and therefore higher Condition at the start of the next game.

This might also be an argument for a smaller pitch if you have a small squad: as an Arsenal, you can always afford to rotate, but not every manager has that luxury.

amplifierworship

I'm managing Burnley. I set the pitch to a smallish size, and play down the middle. My team get a lot of possession, and the opposition struggle to create chances. I've got a great home record going.

The best strugglers were Ipswich, who got hammered 5-0, and they were all over the place.