retired_slayerbing

Hi all. Ever played a game and felt like you were getting played of the park? Your boys couldn't get a hold of the ball of love or money and you are screaming abuse into the screen or punching a wall or rolling a stress ball?

Well here are just a few tips on how to regain control against a side you feel you should be beating.

The best thing you can do is to watch the whole game to get feel for what is happening and how is it progressing. However most people prefer highlights or extended coverage. Whatever your preference you should know within ten to fifteen minutes of playing the game of how the tide is going...

If you are struggling to get possession or perhaps the last 3-5 shots on target was against you then you need to take steps to remedy it. If you don't the likeihood is that you will soon concede a goal(s).

Depending on whether you are at home or away there are a few thing small things that can make all the difference in the world and turn a game.

The first is Closing down...

If you are playing at home and things are not going well try putting your forwards and midfielders on high closing down. This means the opposition will have less time with the ball before they have to move it and they are more likely to make mistakes and turn over possession.

If you have a central midfielder with good passing, creativity and decisions give him less closing down and make him your playmaker. He will create more space for himself and as a result chances will come.

Giving your fullbacks high closing down is an option too. This will put pressure on the oppositon wingers and many dangerrous crosses will be blocked or intercepted.

It is a good idea not to give your centrebacks high closing down although this is my personal opinion and others may disagree. If they have high closing down or are man marking they will likely be dragged out of position on occasion and the opposition will exploit the gaps. Aside from the goalkeeper the defence are your wall and should act as such. Let the midfielder close down hard and wrestle the ball and let your defence block any shots.

Your strikers closing down the oppostion defence and keeper also creates chances. From time to time the keeper will make a sloppy pass or a defender will show too much of the ball and if your forwards are there to capitilize on there slip ups they can gift themselves with easy goals.

Timewasting - If you are playing with low timewasting this means you are trying to makes things happen with a certain degree of urgency. This can be all well and good but if a team is having more of the ball than you try raising the timwasting a little and see what happens.

What CAN happen is your team hold onto the ball longer and will look for better chances before risking throwing it away. This translates into more opportunities you and less for the opposition.

Distribution - If you are playing a certain way ie/ distributing down the wing and you are losing the ball often try going through the middle or mixing it up more. When playiing away you are often faced with a side that will look to play wide - as you likely would yourself at home - so therefore if you started playing the ball through the middle you are forcing them to come back in or gaps will be exploited.

If you using a DMC who is reasonably strong and tehnically adept make him hold up the ball so your team can get forward into attacking positions. If he is good at passing give him through balls often and if he has good decision making attributes and hopefully creativity then he can kick start an attack.

If you are playing away make your fullbacks stay back and don't give them forward runs - if they are good at crossing only let them cross from deep and not the byline. This will keep a more stable back line which as you know in away games is usually under more strain.

Try giving your wingers tight marking with high closing down. Since they are not the last line of defence it isn't a disaster if they are beaten but they can add pressure to the other player and they have the luxury of your defence behind them if they ARE beaten.

Thats about all I can think off at the moment. There are heaps more and I bet as soon as I finish this I will think of some.

The basic point I am making is that if things are not going well and you can see that try making changes earlier rather than later. Try giving yourself 10-15 minute periods and see if you are controlling that period... if not change something about and reanalyse for another period...

Thanks for reading and I hope I can help someone... Anyone with more ideas please feel free to include them here and help the Sigames community.

retired_elpata

Another useful thread

retired_jassu

Very nice insight there mate.

retired_slayerbing

thanks for the feedback guys.

retired_kalodaimion

Extremely useful. As for the timewasting info, you're absolutely right: I always set timewasting to maximum and I'm proud to be on a 49-match unbeaten run ...

retired_slayerbing

Do you set it that high for the entire game?

retired_irl08

really thx alot man... is really useful for me... hehe...