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Well, I'm only a season in, but I've seen how much of a big role the opposition instructions seem to make. Every game where I've forgotten to change these instructions from 'no specific', I've seemed to have to defend more, or there are more chances for the opposition to score. In other words, this seems to be the main difference between letting in a goals, and not.
I think I'm using the instructions effectively (I'm 4th in the league with Villa), but I just want to clarify a few things.
Who needs to be tight marked? Player with pace, or players who like to dribble?
When using closing down, is it advisable to only close down the midfielders with decent long shots, or should opposition strikers be closed down too? Is there any effect of closing down defenders who are a bit edgy on the ball (e.g. Titus Bramble)? Does it have any effect on GKs?
Showing onto foot - it seems silly that anyone would chose anything other than 'show onto weaker foot', but is it forwards, mids or defenders who need to be shown onto specific feet?
I'm guessing if an opposition striker has great aerial ability but little pace, then the best option would be tight marking. That way the defenders are less likely to leave him in space for headers on set pieces.
But if the same player has pace, but no aerial ability, then I reckon tight marking wouldn't be any good unless one or both of the centre backs are fast.
I use hard tackling on opposing players with high aggression, or if they're gritty midfielders, then hard tackling might equal their challenges.
Hard Tackling seems to work well against wingers in situations where you are being told to 'stop distrbution' to a potential threat, generally speaking i seem to get a lot more of the ball in wide areas whenever i do this. Seems like the fullbacks try to get the challenge in as fast as possible rather than showing the player infield or to the touchline.
Ive always used tight marking on the fast strikers too because otherwise they (the good ones anyway) seem to get a tonne of space and run in behind your defenders a lot, tight marking and closing down seems limit their chances to run with the ball (though my Defenders are pretty quick, so that might be why this works for me).
Other than that i always try to show important players onto their weaker feet and stick them on hard tackling.
Perhaps hard tackling / tight marking / always closing down would work against an aggressive player if you're trying to wind them up and get them sent off?
Individual opposition instructions 
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