Please Fix the stupid freekicks

[tajj 7]

I don't know what is causing it, whether it an issue with the keeper or the defender but this type of goal happens far too often.

Deep freekick over the defence, everyone including the keeper doesn't move, at all, and the attacker heads it in from like 3 yards.

Just lost to Barca due to 3 goals from exactly this, they had no other chances in the game except these free-kicks. I can accept that occasionally there will be defensive mix ups but how can a goalkeeper not come for a ball that is literally one or two yards away from them but an attacker can run 15 yards plus to head it, and usually players that are awful in the air with very low jumping score as well. (like Thiago who has a jumping of 6). It makes no sense and looks like a blatant ME flaw to me.

It's now cost me in several big games, don't see the point of doing your tactics, nullifying a good team like that and you get undone by these sort of goals that would never happen in real life.

Rant Over.

[Guest]

Agreed, the freekick from a wide & deep position is far too effective, even more so because the collision detection doesn't work when a player is in the air.

[themadsheep2001]

Agreed, the freekick from a wide & deep position is far too effective, even more so because the collision detection doesn't work when a player is in the air.

Near Post marking is FUBAR as well, so in relation to the OP's point about players with low jumping getting away (such as Thiago), its generally because said players tend to be those quick advanced players with great off the ball and anticipation etc, so they easily escape what is already poor marking.

[Guest]

The problem for me is that the defending players do not work as a unit to close of the running lanes that eventually get exploited, the delivery of the ball is also a little to accurate for my liking & when it is shanked too many loop over the static keeper.

[tajj 7]

It seems to stem from the keeper mainly, he doesn't seem to interact with the ball when it's really near him and it makes it a lot easier for the attackers, defenders also have a similar issue, quite a few balls are drilled across inside the 6 yard box and defenders appear to do nothing an the keeper stands static in the middle of the goal.Quite a few goals from these crosses will be scored where there two or more defenders standing in the 6 yard box and they don't interact with a ball that literally goes through them, but the attacker will slide through your players to score.

Another issue I have noticed is unlike corners, you can't instruct players to 'mark tall/small players' so the game makes stupid decisions like having Ayew mark Mertesacker etc.

[themadsheep2001]

Keepers are a separate issue entirely, they are awful at dominating the box. It's just exacerbated at set pieces in their current guise.

[TheGull8559]

I have the same problem with free kicks, i cannot defend them at all. Same with the majority of corners that appear in highlights, they always result in goals.

Any tips on defending corners better? besides the obvious of having decent defenders?

[MichaelBrown]

I do find that free kicks curled in are usually scored. If you use key highlights then you might notice this. I certainly do. I've also noticed that the free kick might go to the first man which is an immediate counter-attack.

[Guest]

I have the same problem with free kicks, i cannot defend them at all. Same with the majority of corners that appear in highlights, they always result in goals.

Any tips on defending corners better? besides the obvious of having decent defenders?

I've decided to not have players marking the posts, the extra players handling player marking duties seems to help.

[themadsheep2001]

I have the same problem with free kicks, i cannot defend them at all. Same with the majority of corners that appear in highlights, they always result in goals.

Any tips on defending corners better? besides the obvious of having decent defenders?

Worked really well for me.

[Domus Clamantium]

I've decided to not have players marking the posts, the extra players handling player marking duties seems to help.

IMO this is a must. Having players mark the posts does make the goal smaller and you will see it cleared off the line occasionally - "He saved a certain goal there" - but it prevents opponents being offside. The only time being on the posts is effective is when the free kick is taken from the byline just outside the 18. The ball is played away from goal and therefore cannot enable offsides, which is why I always mark posts on corners.

But I agree, there needs to be more flexibility with positioning and marking in set pieces, both attacking and defending. For example, it would be awesome to be able to drag player number spots in the Set Piece Creator to certain positions on the pitch to enable more control over short free kicks. Very often a player can sit outside the 18 near the byline unmarked when the kick is taken from the edge of the box near the D because the defenders line up in a wall and have few people mark your attackers.

[OxfordUnitedFC]

Have seen this far too many times too. The goalkeeper and defenders just don't seem interested in attacking the ball from deep free kicks.

[scott MUFC]

played Arsenal, ridget counter attack.

win 3-2

they scored from a direct free kick and an OG as my midfielers heads in one of those stupid indetect free kicks.

[Canaries Fan]

I've noticed practicing defending set pieces helps greatly. As does playing a formation with 3 CBs.

[tajj 7]

Corners isn't really an issue for me, just these deep freekicks.

I've had the defending set piece training on all season and it doesn't seem to help much. I suppose having 3 centre-backs would help because that generally means you have an extra defender who's good in the air.

For me it's a flaw in the ME because I have looked at it from very angle and I can't see anything I can do to stop it. Essentially I'd say a good 90% of these goals can be prevented by the keeper just coming out to catch or punch the ball away, but both he and the defenders seem to have trouble reacting to the ball when it;s travelled from a decent distance (same with crosses).

[Gary_Parker]

Worked really well for me.

With the above example, does anyone know how the game allocates the man marking system at set pieces? Does it use the same as the general game play instructions so your centre half marks the opposing striker etc? If so, that would mean that their centre half in the box would be free because they're not man marked in open play.

Or does it just assign a player to mark someone and match up attributes?

[tajj 7]

With the above example, does anyone know how the game allocates the man marking system at set pieces? Does it use the same as the general game play instructions so your centre half marks the opposing striker etc? If so, that would mean that their centre half in the box would be free because they're not man marked in open play.

Or does it just assign a player to mark someone and match up attributes?

Not sure.

'Man Mark' is a bit generic, and as you say from a set piece you would want at least one of your centre-backs marking one of their centre-backs unless they had to Carroll's up front. On corners you can set it to 'mark small player' and 'mark tall player', however you don't get that option on free-kicks. From what I have seen the game makes some illogical choices so as I have mentioned I watched Mertesacker who is 6' 6" get marked by Andre Ayew who is 5' 9", but also Ayew was AML and my striker (Benteke) was instructed to be 'man marking' on set pieces but was marking a much smaller midfielder, despite Mertesacker being the one who was marking him during the game.

It's frustrating that a team would mark the tall players with other tall players on a corner but then completely abandon the same idea on a free kick.

As I've said though that's a separate issue, if the keeper actually moved from his line to attempt to catch these high balls this thread wouldn't exist. When the ball is headed in from about 2 yards whilst my keeper stands there pretty much any midget of a player can score.

[jackleel]

I don't know what is causing it, whether it an issue with the keeper or the defender but this type of goal happens far too often.

Deep freekick over the defence, everyone including the keeper doesn't move, at all, and the attacker heads it in from like 3 yards.

Just lost to Barca due to 3 goals from exactly this, they had no other chances in the game except these free-kicks. I can accept that occasionally there will be defensive mix ups but how can a goalkeeper not come for a ball that is literally one or two yards away from them but an attacker can run 15 yards plus to head it, and usually players that are awful in the air with very low jumping score as well. (like Thiago who has a jumping of 6). It makes no sense and looks like a blatant ME flaw to me.

It's now cost me in several big games, don't see the point of doing your tactics, nullifying a good team like that and you get undone by these sort of goals that would never happen in real life.

Rant Over.

Video please ???

[jackleel]

I don't know what is causing it, whether it an issue with the keeper or the defender but this type of goal happens far too often.

Deep freekick over the defence, everyone including the keeper doesn't move, at all, and the attacker heads it in from like 3 yards.

Just lost to Barca due to 3 goals from exactly this, they had no other chances in the game except these free-kicks. I can accept that occasionally there will be defensive mix ups but how can a goalkeeper not come for a ball that is literally one or two yards away from them but an attacker can run 15 yards plus to head it, and usually players that are awful in the air with very low jumping score as well. (like Thiago who has a jumping of 6). It makes no sense and looks like a blatant ME flaw to me.

It's now cost me in several big games, don't see the point of doing your tactics, nullifying a good team like that and you get undone by these sort of goals that would never happen in real life.

Rant Over.

Video please ???

[scott MUFC]

Defending set pieces doesn't work.

and you don't need a video, it happens often

[tajj 7]

If I remember I will get a video of the kind of goals I have been describing their many examples, but as Scott says I'm hardly alone in seeing this issue.

[Veg1ta]

dont need videos, anyone who has played the game has seen these freekicks in action, just past the half way line on other side left or right, in swinger results in alot of goals for and against, but remember if you remove all types of goals from the match engine what are you left with? its allrdy bad enough with variety, youll be lucky to score at all in fm14 the way its going.

[Bicycle]

defenders also have a similar issue, quite a few balls are drilled across inside the 6 yard box and defenders appear to do nothing an the keeper stands static in the middle of the goal.Quite a few goals from these crosses will be scored where there two or more defenders standing in the 6 yard box and they don't interact with a ball that literally goes through them, but the attacker will slide through your players to score.

Without exaggeration, this is how I let in the majority of my goals. It's very frustrating and there's seemingly nothing I can do to stop it.

[OxfordUnitedFC]

Video please ???

As others have said, i don't need a video posted to know these types of goals happen more often than they should.

[tajj 7]

[video=youtube;ENXDNRuVPlU]

An example of the crosses, actually ends up in an own goal but the ball pretty much travels along the touchline but at no point does the keeper move to get the ball, yet the attacker challenging has come from much further away.

[video=youtube;t1V-ustEmO8]

Example of the free kick, no defenders move and the keeper doesn't move.

[soccer.joel]

What patch was the 1st from because I found that a lot more bizarre crosses were on an earlier patch

The 2nd I've seen a lot and is annoying

[MichaelBrown]

dont need videos, anyone who has played the game has seen these freekicks in action, just past the half way line on other side left or right, in swinger results in alot of goals for and against, but remember if you remove all types of goals from the match engine what are you left with? its allrdy bad enough with variety, youll be lucky to score at all in fm14 the way its going.

What do you mean? There are loads of ways that you can score on the latest version. I do think that in/out swinging free kicks are usually scored and could need a rethink, but I disagree wholeheartedly on the last statement. Such a pessimist.

[tajj 7]

What patch was the 1st from because I found that a lot more bizarre crosses were on an earlier patch

The 2nd I've seen a lot and is annoying

The latest patch.

A lot of it stems from the goalkeepers. In both clips that just stand like a statue in the middle of the goal, the positioning is awful, if a ball is delivered from the corner of the pitch surely you would move towards the near post more and would actually react to intercept the ball?

[CityAndColour]

I posted a keeping bug in about November in the bugs forum and was told "you can expect to see a big improvement in keeping in the next update"

Unfortunately I think keeping is the worst it's ever been on any version of the game I've played. They literally do nothing, except scuff their goal kicks to the strikers every so often.

[Herbert Fandel]

. They literally do nothing, except scuff their goal kicks to the strikers every so often.

Do you mean GKs do nothing?

I'm not saying they are perfect, as they clearly aren't, but the forum has no shortage of people complaining their 15 shots on goal didn't equal 15 goals

[CityAndColour]

I mean they never seem to move properly. They are rooted to their line whenever a ball comes near them, they have no authority aerially and often give up goals by players nearly on the goal line, they don't come out when balls are hit across the six yard box and they are often still standing up when a low ball goes past them, especially in a one on one situation.

A lot of the saves I see is the ball just hitting them.

[Herbert Fandel]

That is a desceiption with which considerably less fault can be found. Although I'm not sure it is 100% true, GKs could certainly be improved in those regards.

I do absolutely agree that too many 1 v 1s end with the striker keeping the ball until the GK seemingly comes to try and kick it away from him, at which point he kicks it into the net past the standing goalie. Whilst I'm sure the 'rushing out' attribute which probably features in the ME calculation was designed to include diving at the feet of attackers, the 3d ME seemingly doesn't show this 1 bit.

[CityAndColour]

Fair enough. You're entitled to your opinion of course, mine is that the goalkeeping on FM13 is taking the p*ss.

[MichaelBrown]

Going on about corners, I've noticed that there are a few occasions, probably more often than not, where crosses hit the bar and then go out. Anybody else recognise this? Doesn't really affect my game so to speak, just a little annoying sometimes.

[tajj 7]

That is a desceiption with which considerably less fault can be found. Although I'm not sure it is 100% true, GKs could certainly be improved in those regards.

I do absolutely agree that too many 1 v 1s end with the striker keeping the ball until the GK seemingly comes to try and kick it away from him, at which point he kicks it into the net past the standing goalie. Whilst I'm sure the 'rushing out' attribute which probably features in the ME calculation was designed to include diving at the feet of attackers, the 3d ME seemingly doesn't show this 1 bit.

He has fair points, and I have to agree with them, in the case you describe I don't think the 3D engine visualises what actually happens.

The goalkeepers for me just seem to be constantly in 'penalty mode'. They stand on their line, right in the middle and attempt to save from there. They don't seem to change position to reduce angles, collect balls along the ground and high balls etc.

If you look at that OG I posted, when you slow it down Boruc is initially positioned by the near post. As Suso proceeds further down the line he has retreated to the middle of his goal. After the ball has been delivered (and it;s clearly a low cross along the ground) he has at no point moved any closer to the ball. In fact the defenders haven't either, they have just moved closer to the goal line.

A ball delivered that close to the touchline, from that distance it would make sense (and he has plenty of time to do this) to intercept the ball before it gets to the middle of the goal. He (Boruc) should be at the near post and would only start to move towards the middle of the goal IF the cross was high and likely to go over him.

[video=youtube;gJKRGaXOOkA]

Look at the 3rd goal here, with the real Boruc. Notice his position, right on the near post. The ball then has to be played back at angle into the path of the player to score, which is a more difficult pass to complete.

[Herbert Fandel]

Sorry, I meant to say that I did agree with what he was saying, except that occasionally the GKs do do a good/realistic job.

As in, I 100% agree, but only to 95% of the gameplay, rather than 95% of the points made, or something like that.

Based on his and your replies it seems I didn't do this well.

[Veg1ta]

What do you mean? There are loads of ways that you can score on the latest version. I do think that in/out swinging free kicks are usually scored and could need a rethink, but I disagree wholeheartedly on the last statement. Such a pessimist.

well....i dont see alot of variety, maybe your god like tactical knowledge that you seem so kind to reminds us of creates great variety for you, but in my game i see the same crap all the time.

[FrazT]

well....i dont see alot of variety, maybe your god like tactical knowledge that you seem so kind to reminds us of creates great variety for you, but in my game i see the same crap all the time.

Please cut out the attitude.

[tajj 7]

Sorry, I meant to say that I did agree with what he was saying, except that occasionally the GKs do do a good/realistic job.

As in, I 100% agree, but only to 95% of the gameplay, rather than 95% of the points made, or something like that.

Based on his and your replies it seems I didn't do this well.

I see what you are trying to say I think

No it doesn't happen all the time, but it happens far too often and it;s very frustrating to concede goals that are mainly outside of your control and at the same time very unrealistic.

[Guest]

I've said it before & I think it's worth saying again, SI need to bring in a couple of professional keepers to advise the ME team on how that very specialist & unique position should be simulated.

[Veg1ta]

Please cut out the attitude.

he called me a pessimist of my own subjective view, he may disagree but he doesnt need to quote it just to insult me.

[Guest]

This is a prime example of the problem, the keeper appears to be utterly unaware of the danger & even makes a move to the far post when it is clear that the scoring threat is going to be at the near post, had he charged out to try & catch/punch the ball (he's 6'10" so he should look to dominate in the air) only to be beaten to it by the attacker then I wouldn't have a problem but that doesn't happen with FM keepers, even at corners.

[video=youtube;17j_Hj0iQ_M]

[tajj 7]

^ Yep totally frustrating those sort of goals. Your keeper even has some sort of fit just after the ball goes in.

I also notice he is standing nearer the far post in the first place when the freekick is being taken from over the other side.

[Guest]

His positioning was diabolical, the moment he took up his starting position I knew we were in trouble & was praying for a poor delivery.

[tajj 7]

Out of interest what is his positioning attribute?

I'm wondering whether with newgen keepers I focus heavily on their positioning and command of area attributes to try and reduce these sorts of goals.

What other keeper attributes would apply, jumping? aerial ability?

[Guest]

He's far from the finished article but he has a good set of core attributes that indicate he has decent understanding of the position.

[Puni]

This is a prime example of the problem, the keeper appears to be utterly unaware of the danger & even makes a move to the far post when it is clear that the scoring threat is going to be at the near post, had he charged out to try & catch/punch the ball (he's 6'10" so he should look to dominate in the air) only to be beaten to it by the attacker then I wouldn't have a problem but that doesn't happen with FM keepers, even at corners.

[video=youtube;17j_Hj0iQ_M]

Just for the record, that particular situation happens an awful lot in real life as well. A good inswinging free kick is impossible to intercept as a GK, so most of them are just staying put nowadays. Apart from that, the low bravery and maybe anticipation of your GK may be an issue too, combined with his lack of rushing out although I'm not sure if that comes into play in these situations.

[Guest]

I have no issue with him making a poor decision on whether to come for the ball or not, it's his starting position & movement towards the far post when the ball is delivered to the near post that are the problem, it's as if the keeper is unaware of the outfield players & is merely tracking the flight of the ball which unhindered would end up where he stands.

Of course the accuracy of the delivery is something that I also feel needs toning down in future version, especially the 1st time whipped cross which by all accounts is a fairly easy skill in FM.

[tajj 7]

Good enough positioning not to be standing there or moving to the wrong side of the goal when the ball is delivered.

[KevMaaan]

It slightly annoys me that i cant seem to score a freekick for love nor money in any edition of FM, regardless who my takers are (siggurdson and bale atm). Honestly, i score 1 direct free kick per season if that.