dukesisking

Hi,

I'm going ok as Darlington, playing the amazingly inventive 442 counter, but i am at sea when the AI changes to the 424 or the 343.

I'm playing a direct passing, slightly narrow, fast tempo tactic with a target man. Usually I'm 2 in front and the AI changes formation.

versus the 424 what I've tried is dropping a midfielder back to dm and putting all defenders on tight marking. Also reduce width. I'm a firm believer in outnumbering in defence so I've also put a barrow on the dm.

Over a number of games that didn't work so well, they wouldn't always score goals, and it only 1 in 4 or 5 that they would win, but I really arn't in as much control as I would like.

Then I tried keeping the 442 and just changing passing to short and slow, to keep possesion and move their midfield around. That was a bit more succesful, but still not in control, and they would occasionally nip a goal or two.

After that experiment I just said bugger it and tried to pepper their goal, put on my ultra attacking 343 that was originally for at. madrid, and go down 2 or 3 goals. But it was funny watching div 2 players trying to be brazil.

Against the 343 a similar story, but when I make my midfielder a bit more attacking it seems to work. I think the 2nd div AI teams sometimes try to play above themselves so they can be picked off with the Darlington Long Ball Special.

What I want to know is if in your humble opinion a complete change of formation and tactic is better or just a slight tweaking of existing tactic?

I don't like changing everytding drastically (except for the dm experiments above), but if I had to I guess versus the 424 I'd probally play a 541 with wingers going up to support the striker and attacking mid and versus the 343 In an ideal world I'd play a 541 with a sweeper and completely lock the game up.

Anyway, whats your opinions? How do I attempt to keep a nice clean sheet every game?