Poor Form of the LB in 4-3-2-1 formation.

[supersjay]

Firstly, this is the first post i have made so bear with me if its not set out as the norm...

As usual with FM, I always like to start in the lower leagues and make my way through the footballing world. This year I have started in the Vanarama National, and over two saves have taken over Grimsby Town and Eastleigh, playing around 3.5 seasons

I like to play with tactics and generally like the 4-3-1-2. Over the three seasons with the aforementioned clubs I generally found the tactic to be there or thereabouts and am generally getting want I want. However, there is one continual issue that I cannot workout the cause, nor the solution.

The problem is the continual poor form of my Left Back. Other players are generally ok, but the LB is always poor. It doesn't seem to make any difference, whether i change the player, the LB role, the LB instructions or the CM (Left sided) in front of him.

The following should hopefully show the formation, and my typical roles and team instructions:

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As you can see, I have a reasonably flat back four, with a robust midfield. I prefer short passing, through the middle, which allows me to have more control of the game. As such I am finding that i get more possession and better shots on target percentages. With this formation, I am finding most players coming away with an average to good rating level (over a number of games). This includes the RB, who is by no means suffering in the same vein as the LB.

Generally, I am facing teams with a 442/4321 type formation with wingers, so initially thought it was due to the lack of width. However, I brought my (previous) DM into the middle three to provide a wider midfield. I also put the left sided midfielder more defensive to assist the LB. Again, this shows no improvement. I have even switched the LB and RB roles and found the same issue occurs.

The following gives a run down of the tactic review:

I appreciate this doesn't show a great deal of games, but the principle is the same over a number matches (can provide if needed). This only reaffirms that most of the goals conceded are from the wings. However, the key thing I see from this is that a even number goals are coming from both flanks - where the RB is not suffering as much form-wise.

To give an example of my concern. The following a review of the last match against Barrow. It shows the ratings and stats for each player:

This shows my LB (Rob Hunt) achieving a 6.3, which was quite a good rating for him. However, comparing him against the RB (Kassim Alameda), other than passes complete the LB appeared to have a better game statisticly so i am slightly confused as to the ratings. The LB was not directly at fault for any of the goals. This is the same story on most of the other match, but I'm not going to upload all of those.

I have looked at the positioning and the action zones of the LB and nothing flags up to be an issue.

I don't claim to be a tactical mastermind so think it is sorting I am (or not doing) tactically, so would appreciate is anyone could answer the question as to the possible reasons for the Lb's continual poor form. Is it my tactics or is something else aloof? Any assitance would be great.

If you need anything further, let me know.

Ta

S

[GR Choke]

could be because he's a limited FB so he won't be involved in the attacking set ups? I think he will just stay back at all times and defend. Or he's just a bad player

[DavidPengilley]

Looking at the assist locations it doesn't look like your left FB is doing that poorly really, compared to the right side. You have an even split over assist locations which is probably a good thing. No lopsided weakness.

Now, if you compare the statistics of what the two did during the match above you have this:

Right Back

Completed 76% passes

Made 1 key pass

Won 1 tackle

Won 2 key headers

Made 8 interceptions

Made 3 dribbles

Made 1 mistake

Average Rating: 6.7

Left Back

Completed 60% passes

Made 0 key pass

Won 4 tackles

Won 0 key headers

Made 12 interceptions

Made 0 dribbles

Made 2 mistakes

Average Rating: 6.4

You can see that the two were reasonably similar. Your left back made an extra mistake (costing AvR) but 4 extra interceptions over your right back. While your right back was more accurate with the pass, dribbled more, made a key pass and 2 key headers. There's not too much difference in this game as well in their average rating, 0.3, which I think looks about right. Neither got too involved in the match with the right back doing a little bit more than the guy on the left.

[DCman]

What u want him to contribute into your team play ? there are many options u can choose. if u want him act like winger, use WB(A).....

Generally i seldom use that role coz he almost contribute nothing in attack. If u want ur LB to recycle possession, at least use WB (D).

[johnnyyakuza78]

You are trying to play a high tempo short passing game ( which btw is quite difficult to achieve , especially with limited players) and your left back is a limited fullback, so instead of joining in he will just hoof it at the first opportunity.

Also, a lot of your team instructions seem contradictory, or not especially coherent. Why play exploit the middle if your are going to set up wide, in a narrow formation, especially when your wide players ( fullbacks) aren't especially set up to contribute .

Why is your closing down set up so low, how are you going to win the ball back if your defensive line is so high ( as it would be on control), and its not really a good pick for a possession game.

Plus you have two advanced playmakers and a deep lying playmaker! That seems slightly crazy to me.

Then having a BWM as your defensive protection is a very risky move as he moves about a lot, leaving your defenders exposed.

If I were you I'd go back to the stickys on the board and read them through and start from the beginning with your tactic, it doesn't make a lot of sense right now.

[baddragon62]

The limited defenders by design will tend to be more of a get the ball away player - thus not getting the better numbers as far as passes and assists. Defensively he stands up ok as DavidPengilley showed above. I am less interested in the rating numbers and more looking at what he does on the pitch. Is he defensively solid and not at fault for goals? If he is doing what you want on defence, and your team is still able to score goals and win matches, then the rating number doesn't matter.

[Cyderman]

You are trying to play a high tempo short passing game ( which btw is quite difficult to achieve , especially with limited players) and your left back is a limited fullback, so instead of joining in he will just hoof it at the first opportunity.

Also, a lot of your team instructions seem contradictory, or not especially coherent. Why play exploit the middle if your are going to set up wide, in a narrow formation, especially when your wide players ( fullbacks) aren't especially set up to contribute .

Why is your closing down set up so low, how are you going to win the ball back if your defensive line is so high ( as it would be on control), and its not really a good pick for a possession game.

Plus you have two advanced playmakers and a deep lying playmaker! That seems slightly crazy to me.

Then having a BWM as your defensive protection is a very risky move as he moves about a lot, leaving your defenders exposed.

If I were you I'd go back to the stickys on the board and read them through and start from the beginning with your tactic, it doesn't make a lot of sense right now.

I agree with all of this, and I would add - your DCs are only achieving circa 50% pass completion (40/78) - despite you giving them fairly simple tactics - short passing through the middle. I would worry that many of your moves break down in dangerous territory - 3 of your back 4 are giving the ball away too often. I would also worry that you are denying space for your players in the middle. As noted, lots of play makers - not much space. The space creation for your team is down the flanks but your passing and running instructions don't allow your team to exploit this. It may sound a bit weird, but if your left side centre half is right footed, if he is of limited quality - he may just find it really difficult to pass to the left back - I personally hate playing right footed players in that position. At the very least you could switch the LB to FB(Auto). He completed 3 out of 8 crosses (straw poll of one) - which is great. He will naturally move into the space in front of him. I would also check out why your DCs dribbled 6 times between them - lack of pass options, PPMs or something else.