21 replies to this topic

[Natagora]

Title explains it all really. I'm consistantly dominating games with high possession but not getting enough chances.

Here's the perfect example:

What do I change? I was playing Standard mentality but switched to Attacking, to no avail. I play a 4-2-3-1 (DM's pushed to MC).

[Yamo]

Well are you willing to lose more possesion in attempts to getting the ball forward more and creating more chances? If so get it to long ball, and counter

[Validicus]

There are two very different approaches you could take depending on the circumstances. When you have a lot of possession, an increase in tempo / passing length and through balls can be a very simple and effective solution providing your opposition isn't parking the bus. Alternatively, if the other team is sitting back and playing defensive, a control strategy with an increase in width can be a very good way to knock it about and probe until enough space opens up in the final third.

[Startinez]

Validicus, on 21 November 2010 - 11:22 PM, said:

There are two very different approaches you could take depending on the circumstances. When you have a lot of possession, an increase in tempo / passing length and through balls can be a very simple and effective solution providing your opposition isn't parking the bus. Alternatively, if the other team is sitting back and playing defensive, a control strategy with an increase in width can be a very good way to knock it about and probe until enough space opens up in the final third.

The man speaks a lot of sense.

[TheIrishMourinho]

Reduce long shots & encourage through balls.

[Natagora]

Mourinho, Validicus.. perfect.

[Game]

If you look at the feedback after the match, you'll see exactly where you're going wrong during the game. Check out the Analysis, Statistics and the <Assistant Manager>'s Feedback

[Natagora]

Game, I've always wondered about Assisstant Feedback in particular, because in my eyes, other than opposition instructions and player 'preference' it says nothing to me. What am I doing wrong?

The following (I lost 2 - 1 with 52% possession and 12 shots to their 8, at home) speaks nothing to me.

Edited by Natagora, 03 December 2010 - 02:40 PM.

[Yamo]

For me it seems like although you have more shots and more possesion, you are finding it hard to break teams down and instead are just shooting from distance in an attempt to score. Maybe lower long range shots for some players and it will focus them to get the ball in more. Either that or get the ball wide and stick a bigger man up top, possibly?

[Natagora]

I've definitely noticed that and it's so frustrating, I've lowered all my Players long shots to Rarely and they still do it, whilst playing Control with a Slow Tempo. Grr.

[Startinez]

What creative freedom do you play with? What passing style do you play with? What roles do you play your strikers / wingers in?

[Natagora]

Creative Freedom is More Expressive, dropped down to Default when Away from home. I play with traditional Wingers with an Advanced Attacking Forward alongside a Supporting Deep Lying Forward. Direct passing style, though I tend to change on differing scenarios.

Edited by Natagora, 03 December 2010 - 08:41 PM.

[Ajax]

Isn't creative freedom a pass to do what you like? Doesn't that mean that they are more likely to ignore your instructions?

[LOFC13]

Try playing with a quicker tempo to try to get the OTHER team moving more often, thus creating space

[Natagora]

We're back, Portsmouth this time. I can't get my head around it. It happened on my Villa and United games too. All 3 of the following games are from HT (i think). Not only do I want to win, but I want my statistics to reflect the wins. I'm Portsmouth in the Chumpsionship and whilst I admit my squad hasn't gelled entirely yet, it has to be one of the best in the league.

Here's my tactic too. Although it changes depending on pitch size and opposition preference of play.

4 - 4 - 2

Goalkeeper [D]

Full Back [D] - Defender [D] - Defender [D] - Fullback [D]

Winger [A] - Central Midfielder [S] - Ball Winning Midfielder [D] - Wide Midfielder [S]

Deep-Lying Forward [S] - Advanced Forward [A]

[Trequartista]

Perhaps you can try pushing up your defensive line in such situations. I find that a high line helps recycle possession and maintains pressure on the opposing defense.

[Game]

Your finishing seems to be a problem.

First game: 6 shots, 1 on target.
Second game: 2 shots, 1 on target.
Third game: 7 shots, 3 on target.

After the first game, you've not had long shots, which seems to have improved the accuracy, but you're still getting more off target than on target.

You've not posted the scores, so it's not clear to see how badly you're doing, but from the looks of it (based on 2/3 games), you've got possession on your side and you're getting chances –– so to me, it's definitely an issue with your forwards.

What I'd say is this: you can set your team up based on positions (i.e. pick a formation and put the players into that shape), but you can NOT assign players to roles or duties, you must assign roles and duties to players.

Check your forwards and make sure their roles/duties are suited to their attributes. There's no success to be had in playing specific roles if the players aren't suited to them.


Also, check your crosses –– are they working out for you? Floated crosses head to the back post, whilst Drilled crossed go to the front post, maybe you'd have more success playing them to the front post if the back post isn't reaping rewards.

[Natagora]

David Nugent, Benjani and Eidur Gudjohnson make up my strike force at the moment, i'll take a look at tweaking their specific roles/instructions and see how it goes. In all fairness I've been playing around with the crosses to no real effect, but i'm glad you mentioned that as with my attackers now it's much better to put drill crosses on due to their lack of aerial prowess.

The results finished 1-3, 0-0, and 3-3 in order of the screenshots. Hands up, i've made a mistake, as 2 of those screenshots came from HT - although those statistics are a fair reflection of how my team has been playing for the past 15 months in-game.

Whilst I agree the finishing is an issue, will it help with the creating chances as a whole if my players do put the few chances we make away?

Edited by Natagora, 12 January 2011 - 09:37 PM.

[Game]

Now that we have the scores we can calculate the shots on target to goals ratio.

GAME ONE (3-1 loss)
Shots: 6 (opposition: 4)
On target: 1 (opposition: 3)
Goals: 1 (opposition: 3)

GAME TWO (0-0 draw)

Shots: 2 (opposition: 9)
On target: 1 (opposition: 3)
Goals: 0 (opposition: 0)


GAME THREE (3-3 draw)

Shots: 7 (opposition: 12)
On target: 3 (opposition: 5)
Goals: 3 (opposition: 3)


From that you can see that the opposition are getting more chances than you and they're getting more of their chances on target. However, you are taking more of the chances presented to you. So, whilst the initial problem of your forwards not getting enough shots on target remains (although it's not as severe in the 2nd and 3rd match because you're taking less long shots), your main problem would appear to be control over the opposition.

In all the games you've had better possession, but you've allowed them to create more chances than you. Your shooting accuracy isn't as good as the opposition, but your 'shots on target' to goals ratio is better –– so if you can stop the opposition creating as many chances you might actually see a turn around.



Clearly you're doing well with regards to keeping the ball, but when you don't have it you're either being punished or you're not using it as well as you can be, so there is definitely something wrong with your approach.

The first thing to do is check your Assistant Manager's feedback and start setting up Opposition Instructions. Secondly, you should definitely review all the roles/duties in the squad and try to see if there are assignments which aren't suited to players. Thirdly, consider setting up an Anchor Man (he should help stop the opposition getting as many chances).

I see you're also altering your tactics per pitch size; are you changing the formation or are you tweaking the settings heavily? I'd suggest you setup the formation in the manner you want to play it and then use the Touchline Shouts to adjust width and tempo –– that way you're not upsetting the balance of your tactic or making changes which makes the tactic unfamiliar to your players. You don't want to be changing shape or moving players out of positions/roles; you need to keep things fairly static.



There could be a number of issues really; the only way to find out is to keep checking the analysis after the game.

[Natagora]

I do use Opposition Instructions but usually I just get the Ass Man to sort them automatically, so i'll take a better look at them in future. With regards to the Analysis and Assisstant Managers Feedback, and you'll have to excuse me here, but I'm useless at analysing them. This sounds completely retarded but I don't know how to use the information there and make changes to my set up. Any tips?

No, I keep the same formation and the only real change I make is the Passing Style. Some times i'll use pitch-side shouts to exploit the middle/flanks if the scout report deems it worthy.

Anchor Man sounds good.

One more thing, my Match Preperation is greyed out, so I can't get onto it, and has been since the start of the game, any reason why? Cheers.