awhec

I'm trying to come up with that approach but its been patchy lately and I'm confused how mentality + Closing down affects a team unit.

I have my midfield area on a normal mentality and defense on the same defensive mentality but I don't quite know how to set closing down as a unit?

awhec

Hello again, I've just played a few games with Arsenal and have a couple of problems.

Whatever I do I can't overwhelm the opponent even if they're Portsmouth, I've tried narrow/short/slow/attacking and wide/mixed/quick/attacking but I still create few chances.

Both Adebayour and Henry are set on 3 notches normal mentality when individual instructions set. Also, I gave Henry 14 creative freedom.

I'm playing a 442 system with farrows for wingers and barrows for fullbacks after reading about it here.

I still don't understand the exact meaning of closing down and its pros/cons? The manual doesnt really explain it. Thanks.

awhec

Also, I'm conceding goals where most pacy strikers managed to get behind my back 4 or opponents wideman getting space. I'm also vulnerable in the middle and even setting 15 closing down for my midfield area didnt help. I have my defensive line set at 6-7 and defenders mentality set at 5.

broken.thoughts

If fast strikers are getting behind your back four, move your defensive line deeper. Similarly if wingers are getting past your full-backs, make sure your full-backs get back fast enough to defend - they might also need support from your wide-midfielders.

broken.thoughts

It basically how often or when your player will close down the opposition. If it's very high, he'll run way out of position to close the opponent down. It obviously puts pressure on the opposition, but can leave holes in your team with players out of position. You need to find a balance between putting enough pressure on opponents and keeping your formation.

I usually have closing down quite high for most players except my centre-backs and playmaker. This way I find my midfield will pressure the opposing players, but my centre-backs remain in their position ready to make tackles or headers.

If you put your centre-backs on high closing down, you'll find they will move far out of position leaving gaps, so it's generally not a good idea.

Warrenwwr

if closing down as a unit is not working for your defensive line, why not try having one of your DC's (preferably the one with higher tackling attribute) be at a higher closing down mentality than the other/s.

i've noticed (on occasion) both terry and ferdinand react this way for their clubs, with the other DC essentially sweeping up whatever danger is left.

awhec

Thanks guys for that, I understand it more now.