retired_pacman/allan

... do any of you use the default set-up for defending free-kicks?

Im just wondering, because I just realized something in my game.

I had forgotten to set up my defense to defend properly against FK - and was annoyed by the amount of goals the AI got from them. It seemed that they scored at least one goal per match from free-kicks.
And I couldnt understand why - how on earth could the ball get past the eight men in the wall? And why on earth didnt the goalie try to catch them??

Well, I had to start thinking about how it was for me when I used to be a goalie. And suddenly I realized what was wrong.
The goalie could not see the direction of the shot, because of all the men in the wall - and had no chance whatsoever to reach for the ball when it flied in like a rocket.

So I changed the default settings to be: 4 men man-marking(my defenders), three men in the wall(three midfielders), one midfielder going back, and the two strikers staying up front.

Result? I rarely concede goals from free-kicks anymore. Shots now either go outside the goal, or are saved by the goalie - even those going for the top corner.

So if you are letting in a lot of goals from free-kicks AND use the default setup, try changing it to see if it helps you the way it helped me

retired_kellyk

Another thing...bout defending set pieces...the near post flickon..you can defend against it by setting down a striker to close down the corner

retired_pacman/allan

havent actually thought of that, but it makes sense - harder for the player to get an accurate cross in. Another thing with this is that with the right passing instruction, you can also open for counter-attacks :thup:

retired_kellyk

yup