[Jepped]

Is this game just (insert adjective). I now pick the word: frustrating.

Im playing with the toffees in the first season, oh boy is that fun. I have been a fan since... (read below*)

But I have problems playing smaller teams on the road. They usually play in a traditional 4-4-2, very narrow slow playing and the defensive line is deep. Resulting that my team cant get the ball because its getting passed around among there 5 defensive players.
This is my tactic:

• Striker role complete attacker (Att)
  
• AML inverted winger (Att)
  
• AMR advanced playmaker (Att)
  
• Ball winning midfield (Def)
  
• Defensive/advanced Playmaker (Supp)
  
• Central Midfield (Supp)

They are all on pretty much default setting

Tweaks i've tried:

• Push up defensive line - Resulting that they just starts pumping the ball up and my slow defenders suddenly needs to make something.
  
• Hasle opponents - I dont have enough players on there side of the pitch to make it effective
  
• Closing down (specific players) - same problem like as the one above (hasle)
  
• Change the strategy between: Counter, Controlling and Attacking - But I guess this mostly have effect when you are in possesion.

This is what im aware of:

• Dont have offensive players that can perform like defensive wingers or attackers. Looks like Saha gives up running after the ball in the center of the field. I do understand him though.
  
• My 3 center midfield opperates only on my own pitch when opponent has the ball even when default setting is closing down on whole pitch. Leaving the 3 attacking players alone chasing the ball.

All help is welcome

* Watching what I thought was a random football match against a team in red and a team in blue. But my dad told me that that it was the final in the oldest competition in the world. My dad thought this was the ultimate cliffhanger but i was like "Yeah, whatever dad. Can you leave me alone. I want to catch tadpoles" (age 7). He somehow persuaded (Candy^^) me to watch the FA cup final (1985) ManUtd v Evrton. I picked the blue team because of the Kit Sponsor (Hafnia) meaning Copenhagen. Then I had something to relate to. I was later told that United had had a danish capped player on the team . I have never regret that choice. COYB

[vasilli07]

How has Cahill perform for you?

[Jepped]

First I have to say that my teams never get the great ratings. I rotate very often. I always makes 3 subs during a game and finally goes conservative when leading with a couple of goals. (Thats the way i like to play, really dont know way) (hence Franco Baresi not a AC Milan fan but like his alpha male attitude)


When it comes to mr Cahill he has been stable but not a freak. I've now been playing 1 1/2 season. And I must say that it has been frustrating that I cant figure out why. Until around boxingday and forward in the new season. He has been the lucky toffee omen!
Last one and a half season i've played


This is the stats from Xmas and forward


I couldnt use him against united and I got wiped. The team was one big failure: fulltime score 4-1.
What has changed? I told him to use the right boot on the right foot He does take penalty sometimes and been hitting some long shots. But he has difficulties finding the net when he is in the box???
Back to his rating: And im just realizing there isnt enough work for 3 dogs of war on the midfield center. They simply get the rating around 7 unles they score!















Ive tried to give him a box to box role. No effect except he need to get subbed after 60 min. Ive tried forward runs and attacking role instead of support role. But then he moves and act like a Emile Heskey duplicate.
The only things that seem to suit him is the midfield supporter role where he can tackle those attacking backs on the side line when they are closed down.
Ive used him as deep laying playmaker many times which he has done great. despite lack of flair and creativity.

[Xulu]

In my opinion, your base tactic should be just fine for playing a small team on the road. You will however, need to be mindful of the players you select to play. Other than if I manage Bilbao or do a career, I usually manage a "big side" from one of the major leagues when I play FM (Arsenal, Real Madrid, FC Bayern, AS Roma) or pick one of the major national teams (Spain, England, USA, Brazil). I find that while each club and league has their differences, there are principles that apply to all. One of the main similarities is how to approach relegation candidates.

Against most relegation fodder who park the bus, I tend to select my most creative/flair-based XI. Who are the most creative XI that you can squeeze onto the pitch in something close to your base formation? I actually do not look for a lot of defensive ability or even a high current ability in this selection. Instead, I focus on getting the players capable of moments of magic on the pitch and allowing them to do their thing. Of course, it helps if they are a determined bunch with a high work rate in addition to their creativity and flair, but you often cannot have it all - even with Real Madrid. Picking more of those players will allow you better access to break through the opposition lines when they park the bus.

I am actually surprised that against a relegation side that you are having issues regaining the ball. Most "English relegation" sides I play against are very direct and concede a lot of possession both home and away. If they play 4-4-2, then your midfield should absolutely dominate possession. One thing that I noticed was the duties of the midfield. Assuming you do not edit many of the roles, your defensive midfielder with the lowest mentality should play in the middle of the three. That would give you player to screen for your slow defenders and allow your side MCs to pressure the opposition. The alternative is to play a double pivot (2 MCs) paired with an AMC in-between the lines. That AMC could then be given the task of pressuring the opposition players on the ball. Blackpool used their primary creative player (Adam) last year in the pivot with a passing/running AMC in front (Vaughan/Grandin). On a related note, here's a quote from Mourinho to provide an example:

Quote

‘Look, if I have a triangle in midfield – Claude Makelele behind and two others just in front – I will always have an advantage against a pure 4-4-2 where the central midfielders are side by side. That’s because I will always have an extra man. It starts with Makelele, who is between the lines. If nobody comes to him he can see the whole pitch and has time. If he gets closed down it means one of the two other central midfielders is open. If they are closed down and the other team’s wingers come inside to help, it means there is space now for us on the flank, either for our own wingers or for our full-backs. There is nothing a pure 4-4-2 can do to stop things’.

[vasilli07]

Some of my suggestions.

1) Put Cahill up to AMC position and give him a att mid role(att) with run with ball on mixed
2) Passing style on mixed, everything else on default except marking on zonal.
3) Focus passing also on mixed.
4) DLP and DMC both on support.

Just my suggestions, you may try it out and see if your Everton team plays better.

[contexx]

I used to a have a lot of trouble with this with my Tottenham team in the first season, particularly because they have relatively slow defenders, and when playing the likes of Wolves or Stoke, I found the opposition would do just that - ass it around, then launch a long ball to a winger for a quick counter.

One thing you may think about it tweaking your closing down, especially in the opposition instructions. Closing down too many opposition players inevitably makes you "chase" the ball and results in an unwelcome game of "pig in the middle". Check on the stats which of their players is the focal point of possession, and usually in case of the smaller teams, it would be a CB or DMC - tight mark him, and combine that with heavy closing down for one of the other ball players. This would usually result in them having to get rid of the ball quickly. Also, sometimes dropping your own DL would require them to push further up if they want to get the ball from you, forcing the opposition to be too far up the pitch to actually feel safe to play.