Problems in the creation department

[SantiPe]

I am strugling to create situations for my striker. He got 1 or 2 shoots per game and he is not a goalscorer freak. I take a simple approach and read and re-read Lines and Diamonds and Pairs and Combinations but I really can't get the game. So, this is what I can tell you about my team. I see the first 15-20 minutes of the match and my players do what I want them to do.

The playmaker is the ENG, helped by the BBM and the WMs. My right FB go forward to overlap and send crosses. My left WM is my other late runner and "goal threat" with the WBs staying wide and offering an easy pass. The CMd stays back supporting the play and recycling posession and the AF stays up being the reference of the attack.

I love the 4-4-2, I love the Premier League (I am from Argentina, sorry for the bad english) and recently soaked me with the Cleon and Herne's posts about the 442 and stole some ideas

We play a flat 4-4-2 and sometimes we drop our DLP to ENG or TEQ

My simple approach is this, with only 3 team instructions for having the ball and press a little, who works but don't really well:

Those are my BBM, ENG/TEQ, and AF respectively:

Here I see my system is not working, because few of my assists are made where the support players are. (right side)

Here, you can see that except the last two matches we do not concede a lot, we play well in defense. But the definition and creation department are poor.

So, what can I do?

• Change to control?

• Ask to play with a higher tempo?

• Delete the shorter passing instruction?

• Rage quit?

I really need help because I really love this game but sometimes I feel like I could cry.

[summatsupeer]

1. You've managed to cut out what mentality and team shape your using?

2. If it looks like they're doing what you want and you had some decent scores early on maybe the problem is just the quality of the players?

3. The other thing I notice is the morale is pretty low, are your players just lacking confidence? What is there body language like in matches?

[SantiPe]

1. You've managed to cut out what mentality and team shape your using?

2. If it looks like they're doing what you want and you had some decent scores early on maybe the problem is just the quality of the players?

3. The other thing I notice is the morale is pretty low, are your players just lacking confidence? What is there body language like in matches?

1) I am using standard - flexible

2) I don't know. I think they are good players compared with the rest of the league.

3) We are in a bad form, so I think thats why the morale is low.

[Overmars]

I don't think short passing suits your formation and player roles. Although a few of your players are playing a supporting role, none of them are really designated to be your creative playmaking type of genius. And in most matches, your opponents will probably outnumber you in central midfield, so you are going to have a tough time playing a possession game. I think you either have to create chances by playing uptempo and direct passing and/or use crosses and men in the box. If you want to do the short passing thing then I think a change of shape (another central midfielder would help) and roles (include a playmaker) would work better.

[xantheose]

^ Just a question. Basically support = short passing, attack = direct passing?

What about roles, winger = direct, IF = short or anything like that?

[summatsupeer]

1) I am using standard - flexible

2) I don't know. I think they are good players compared with the rest of the league.

3) We are in a bad form, so I think thats why the morale is low.

There's only one way to find out, try it. As long as you can see the effect of the changes in your play your learning and it should help with future decision on what instructions to use.

1. Moving from Standard to Control would make your defenders pass shorter to recycle possession and your attackers be a bit more direct to create something. If you try this your passing patterns might change so re-assess after a few games if you need to change any other instructions.

2. If you feel your strong enough then Control sounds like what you want to do.

3. Form != Morale. I can have players with good morale but are having a dip in form. Try to remember there is more than just Morale, you need the right balance of Confidence, Pressure and Motivation. Body language in game can tell you if players let pressure get to them, aren't motivated or lack confidence. Its up to you then to pick the right times to shout at them or put an arm around them.

[RTHerringbone]

^ Just a question. Basically support = short passing, attack = direct passing?

What about roles, winger = direct, IF = short or anything like that?

No. Passing defaults are set more by Mentality and Role rather than Duty. Overmars was likely referring to the Team Instructions in the opening post.

[herne79]

Hi SantiPe. As you know I also like the 4-4-2 and thank you for the interest in my write up about it.

In trying to take some of the ideas from there and implement them into your system, there are perhaps some things for you to consider:

- Player quality. My system relies on good passing ability, along with the individual flair and brilliance of two players that you will know all about - Carlos Tevez and Angel Di Maria. On my right flank, I place a large emphasis on crossing ability (my right "winger" has 18 for his crossing attribute). You need to consider if the players at your club have the right quality and attributes for this type of system.

- Team development. You must remember that I did not take a club and develop the tactic and team over a number of seasons as I would normally do. I created my own club with very specific players brought in to fill each position. I doubt my system would have worked so well as it does if I had started at a real club that didn't have the right players. Have a look at your players and see if they have the right attributes for each role. If they don't, you may need to make small adjustments until you are able to bring in better players that are more suited to this quite technical system.

- Space and Possession. As you know, in the 4-4-2 there can be perhaps too much space between some players (for example between midfield and defence). When I use the Structured Team Shape, that increases the space between players. I then aim to reduce that space by using Team Instructions: Slightly Higher Def Line, Retain Possession and Shorter Passing. Those latter two obviously have a knock-on effect to passing which is where my player quality comes in. You on the other hand are using a Flexible Team Shape, which does not increase the space between players quite so much as Structured does. Therefore, you probably don't need to use both Retain Possession and Shorter Passing. Removing one of those TIs would also help your team play with a slightly higher tempo and more directness, which may benefit your attacking play. It may also help your players play with the additional creative freedom that Flexible gives you over my Structured Team Shape.

- Adjusting during matches. I watch the first 10-15 minutes of each match, and make small adjustments to my system if I see something that I don't like. Most of the time I don't need to make adjustments, but I do in perhaps a quarter of the matches I play. How do you play matches? I notice your form has dipped over the last few games - what happened in the matches you lost? How did you concede? What changes (if any) did you make in those matches to try to solve the problem?

[SantiPe]

Thanks for the replys. I will try first deleting the "shorter" passing. If that don't work I will change the mentality to Control and see what happens.

Adjusting during matches. I watch the first 10-15 minutes of each match, and make small adjustments to my system if I see something that I don't like. Most of the time I don't need to make adjustments, but I do in perhaps a quarter of the matches I play. How do you play matches? I notice your form has dipped over the last few games - what happened in the matches you lost? How did you concede? What changes (if any) did you make in those matches to try to solve the problem?

After reading your way of play, the 15 minutes thread of Cleon and the debate in both threads I started watching the first 15-20 minutes. I struggle to see the issues. But the most I see is:

• My players smashing against the opposite defensive wall and not passing down the flanks where are the outlet passing options.

• My AF receiving the ball head on and not with through balls or breaking the def line.

• Players taking too much time with the ball and making wrong decisions.

In the match I lost against Watford the goals was:

1) A cross from the left with the striker in offside.

2) A clear ball to the right full back who crosses the ball to the box and a striker wins the duel agains three defenders.

3) A header from a free kick.

4) A free kick.

Match against Brentford:

1) A counter attack through the middle with one touch passing combinations. The two backs and the CMd pushing forward and getting caught instead of try to delay the counter.

2) An offensive throw-in with 4-5 passing combinations, every one lost their man.

3) A long throw from their GK. We lost the aerial duel, the CMd and DFL press bad the second ball leaving a free man in the middle, my DFR stay deep enabling a deep ball to the free man in the left who shoots and score.

4) Defenders recycle posession, a midfielder receive the ball being marked and send a deep pass to a striker being marked who lost his man and shoot and score.

I don't know how to stop those goals or what to change, almost all was bad decisions from my players or lack of concentration.

I lack lecture of game I think.