Questions I have regarding the game

[overtheroad]

I read wwfan's 12 tips and am trying to apply them. I disocvered a set up a like on a different site. I like it because it accomodates my players and players I like to sign. Here is the home version : -

__________________________GK defend

__________________CD Defend____CD Defend________LB Support

RWB Attack________DMC Support____________________________

______________________________ DLP Support________________

__________________Inside Forward Support_______Left Wing Attack

__________________Advanced Forward_____DLP Support____________

I play control, balanced, and don't interfere with settings. I use DLP as playmaker.

For away games, I change to counter balanced. I change the DMC to defend, the RWB to support. I'm not doing as well as I should, given the players I have.

Following wwfan's 12 points advices, can any one offer some constructive criticism.

Also, with any constructie criticism, the followingn is my basis : -

1. I have 4 defenders, LB on support and RWB on attack. If I play rigid, will this have a bad effect on the RWB as he is a defender set to attack?

2. Am I doing enough to get goals? I would like to change the DLF Support to Target Man attack but then I would have my 2 strikers on attack. Is that bad?

3.Is a DLF Support effectively the same as a Trequartista attack in the striker position?

4.IF I set te DLP to defend, will it hinder me going forward or give the DLP more necessary room to operate?

5.Is a poacher a waste of time if playing at home against a team who are sitting back. Is the advanced forward a better option to move to the space on the right where the RWB will attack.

6.If all the shots are from outside the box (despite instructions), does this mean I don't have enough width/crosses or creativity?

7.What is the most effective way to have less shots with most of them inside the box?

8.If my goalkeeper is bad at throwing, should I keep his distribution to kick or defender collect?

9.My RWB is tiny - very short! is this bad? He seems to be beaten at the far post a fair bit in headers. Should I avoid smaller players in the lower leagues?

10.I beleive I will suffer losses while my team adopts and new signings gel - is this a myth or real? I want to persist with consistent approaches to allow gelling etc. Will it improve over time? Is patience the key or is it just a bad tactic and idea that I should bin?

Any help is great. No matter how brief or obvious! My formation is perfect for the players I have/want to sign - it is not my idea but one I came accross somewhere else but can't get to click. thank you.

[lemeures]

1 - a rigid rwb will be more likely to go where you say. for instance, if you tell him to hug line he will be less likely to cut in. he will be more likely to stay in position instead of drifting inside etc

3 - a dlf will drop back to support midfield and help more in defending high up. a treq will just drift around waiting for the ball

4 - dlp with defend meens he will obviously stay back more. he will play deeper usually, and not be as high up the pitch to support moves

5 - i play a poacher against teams that sit back, but with your formation you need a advanced forward to help chase on your right else your rwb is screwed

6 - the shots are outside either because of a lack of options or too much creative freedom in my experience

7 - have you tried the play thtrough middle and work ball into box shouts?

8 - defender collect is effected by throws, the defender should be free to collect a simple pass. As your players look like they will all be deep a long kick will give away possession needlessly

9 - i think your main problem is the amount of crosses your formation invites on him! an attacking rwb AND supporting dmc is asking for trouble, you either need the rwb supporting or dmc defending. if you had more structure on the right he wouldnt be getting punished so easily!

10 - if you want the formation to work try little tweaks and watch what they do. maybe save and replay a match a few times to see your options. I would move the inside forward support form the center to right of the central midfield so you arent relying as heavily on rwb. will allow the dlp to have more options than a direct pass to players in front or left wing.

just my opinions, but would definitely go for the save and replay just so you can see for yourself and understand the game better. good luck with it

[overtheroad]

1 - a rigid rwb will be more likely to go where you say. for instance, if you tell him to hug line he will be less likely to cut in. he will be more likely to stay in position instead of drifting inside etc

3 - a dlf will drop back to support midfield and help more in defending high up. a treq will just drift around waiting for the ball

4 - dlp with defend meens he will obviously stay back more. he will play deeper usually, and not be as high up the pitch to support moves

5 - i play a poacher against teams that sit back, but with your formation you need a advanced forward to help chase on your right else your rwb is screwed

6 - the shots are outside either because of a lack of options or too much creative freedom in my experience

7 - have you tried the play thtrough middle and work ball into box shouts?

8 - defender collect is effected by throws, the defender should be free to collect a simple pass. As your players look like they will all be deep a long kick will give away possession needlessly

9 - i think your main problem is the amount of crosses your formation invites on him! an attacking rwb AND supporting dmc is asking for trouble, you either need the rwb supporting or dmc defending. if you had more structure on the right he wouldnt be getting punished so easily!

10 - if you want the formation to work try little tweaks and watch what they do. maybe save and replay a match a few times to see your options. I would move the inside forward support form the center to right of the central midfield so you arent relying as heavily on rwb. will allow the dlp to have more options than a direct pass to players in front or left wing.

just my opinions, but would definitely go for the save and replay just so you can see for yourself and understand the game better. good luck with it

Thanks.

So does "rigid" mean the player will comply with individual instruction as opposed to playing to team instruction?

When wwfan says we should have one mid on attack and one on defend, does that include AML and wingers?

Will give due thought to your comments. Thanks.

[lemeures]

rigid is for a formation that you want to keep its shape. it effects your whole team. your rwb because he is on attack will attack, but generally only on the right side and will not cut in unless you have told him to or it is a prefered move

you will probably find with so many of your midfield on support with a rigid philosophy they wont be getting into the box regularly, and thus explaining your long shots i would assume. your inside forward will do what it says on his player description, if you havent tinkered with it that is. i find for unbalanced formatons like your fluid is better personally, but again load a game and change to balanced or fluid and see how your players react

for me personally the wingers both attack, as i have a defence and support midfield with supporting fullbacks behind. i dont want either fullback attacking flat out, and have inside forwards both on attack cutting in. its all a matter of opinion and depends on your team. if you had messi on one wing and ronaldo on the other which would you try to tell couldnt go forward because your fullback wanted too...

[overtheroad]

Thanks again. So you think it might be more profitable to put the DMC on defend, play fluid?

I was thinking of going counter as well as wwfan seems to think counter, control etc are more cosmetic.

What would you think if I changed the AMC to Advanced Playmaker attack or even Trequartista? Or the AML to support? Or the DLF Support to Target Man Attack? Or a combination of all?

Thanks.

[lemeures]

think you need the dmc on defend to try and cut out the passes that are punishing the left back

fluid will allow more more movement for players to get forward, though that might not be as much a problem with an attacking advanced playmaker. i personally avoid treqs, but thats just me

if you are controlling then there isnt much point of a target man imo, but if you go for the counter aproach could be effective.

if you stick to controlling the game a poacher will offer more threats in the box than a target man for your players to utilise, hopefully helping to decrease long shots. you have to imagine how many options are in front of the midfield or strikers to use. if your dlf is coming back to get the ball and your adv for is marked they wont have much else to try than to have a pop at goal

let me know what you go for and if it works, you seem to have a lot of options with that formation which is always good for facing different types of teams

[overtheroad]

think you need the dmc on defend to try and cut out the passes that are punishing the left back

fluid will allow more more movement for players to get forward, though that might not be as much a problem with an attacking advanced playmaker. i personally avoid treqs, but thats just me

if you are controlling then there isnt much point of a target man imo, but if you go for the counter aproach could be effective.

if you stick to controlling the game a poacher will offer more threats in the box than a target man for your players to utilise, hopefully helping to decrease long shots. you have to imagine how many options are in front of the midfield or strikers to use. if your dlf is coming back to get the ball and your adv for is marked they wont have much else to try than to have a pop at goal

let me know what you go for and if it works, you seem to have a lot of options with that formation which is always good for facing different types of teams

I will. Thanks for your suggestions. I'm hoping to start a game tomorrow night or Tuesday and will probably go with the GK and the CDs and LB as in OP. Will leave the right wing back on attack and will put the DMC on defend. Will put the MCR as DLP Support. The stiker on the right will be advanced forward to support the RWB and offer options. Which leaves me the AMC and the other striker. It will either be AMC Inside Forward support and target man or Advanced Playmaker Attack and poacher, probably the latter, depending on other suggestions and more thought about it from me! If I go poacher route, I'll drill crosses, will go fluid control - is that a reasonable start? Should I be more cautious in away games?

Thanks again for replying and all your help.

[lemeures]

i would leave it the same for away games to start and see how it goes. depends a lot on the team youre up against, but it helps to know what weaknesses to expect.

something else to consider is how physical the opposition is when playing with a wing back. i just played a turkish team in europe and Glenn Johnson just got battered, he has good stats going forward but they were all over him and took him out of the game pretty easily. i had to move gerrard back, and change to a flat back 4 to back off of there midfield. once i was deeper they couldnt brake through and i exploited with a very direct long ball system. i hate watching my forwards chase long balls, but i managed to catch them twice and picked up a point.

if i had taken more time before the match, i would of started Johnson deeper from the start. my main wingers were out, so looked a good idea at the time... if your wingback cant play at fb either teach him or get a back up for the bench, just for the physical or direct opposition. theres an answer when you take a new job about variables in the game so needing different aproaches for a reason lol

[overtheroad]

Thanks and good luck with your own game. Having read a bit more and thought about it, I'm thinking of a fluid counter as follows :-

Gk (Defend)

2xDC (defend), LB (support);

RWB (attack), DMC (defend)

MC = DLP Support

AMC = inside forward support, Aml = winger attack;

Advanced Forward and DLF Support.

Think I might steer clear of Target Men and Poachers in case I need to go for control philosophy for some games and counter for others. Might offer better flexibility with DLF. Limited funds!

Your comments have been very helpful. Thanks again