I’ve read that the defending in this years version is supposed to be better. I didn’t get into FM22, so stuck to FM21. But for me the defending is terrible. I have been experimenting with defensive tactics using a mid-block and different defensive lines, but still haven’t found a way of defending properly. I’m managing Spurs and have Dier (slow) in the middle of my 3 man defence. I keep seeing my defenders moving out of position to close down players when they don’t need to. I now have all 3 defenders on close down less, but it still keeps happening. I’ve now decided to put Dier on cover to see if that helps. The other problem is the amount of balls played over the top of my defence, even by the oppositions CBs who have poor passing and vision, or CMs when one of my players is right on top of them. I wouldn’t mind so much, but I have rapid forwards/wingers and good passers in the team, but I can very rarely get them to play balls over the top.
This is going to take some more experimenting, but I’m getting pretty fed up with it.