retired_jully

can anyone help me with the defence instructions?
i play a 442 with the wingers in aml/r position.so far its been good to me,all be it losing sometimes due to silly mistakes by my defence.dont want to change the attacking side as im getting around 80% passes completed and around 55-60% possesion.
any feedback would be great.

retired_elpata

If you need help then list as much as possible about the current set up you use.

retired_xojessbabee

What Tempo and Passing styles do you play?

Try putting the wingbacks to direct passing
and the DC's to mixed/Direct, and both positions with Quick Tempo so they get rid of the ball upfield and quickly, but they don't resort to just hoofing it up field(longball)

retired_jully

i'm playing quick tempo with short passing and narrow pitch.

retired_xojessbabee

do width as wide as possible

retired_jully

i will try that,thanks paul3rowne.
do i need to keep the defence on the same instructions as the rest of the team or give them "special" instructions as a defensive unit?

JohnSWA

Quick tempo and narrow width combined with short passing for defenders, means that your defenders will play "5a-side" through the opponents attacking line and midfield line for you to get the ball up the field.

This needs high class defenders to do, whilst you will be very vulnerable to opponents playing a high closing down game. Good advice from Paul3rowne, change your passing to direct.

Theory: Short passing is less demanding of your players with slow tempo. As they will use longer time to make the right decision and precision the pass.

retired_jully

so lets say i have the defence play direct passing and the rest of the team on short,does that mean that when the defence have the ball and decide to pass they will by-pass the midfield and probably give the ball away too often?

JohnSWA

As a general rule direct/long will lead to your team loosing the ball more often. There are different settings for direct passing also, if I remember it correctly they range from notch 13-19. Whereas notch 13 will be a little shorter than notch 19(Close to long ball). Setting passing to the first notch of direct will not lead to your team loosing possession as much as notch 19. Setting passing for defenders on direct close to long ball will more often lead to your team by-passing your midfielders.

The main reason for setting passing to direct/long for your defenders are: Defensively- you clear the ball from your own half of the pitch, this involves less risk of the opponents regaining the ball in your own half. Offensively- you get the ball fast up the field and can counter attack your opponents whilst they are out of position. Also if your opponents are pushed up the field it will be more space availabe to your team.

Also if you want to play with direct for defenders you should have players to receive their passes. This can be done with players making runs into available space (farrows, sarrows, forward runs, target man with run to ball instructions and attacking mentality), or a strong target man to receive the ball and hold it up/flick on for other players.

It all comes down to how you want your team to play and their ability.

retired_Flashpoint

You shouldn't need to alter your tactics so much by switching to direct passing for your defenders and potentially seriously disrupting your passing game.

It sounds as though you might be playing a very deep defensive line and/or very defensive instructions for the defence; when they get the ball, they may be too cautious to pass straight to midfield, or too deep and give the opposition chance to intercept. What are your d-line/mentality settings?