4-3-3: Struggeling with ball-possession

[Acsadac]

Hey dudes,

I've got a really irritation problem, which I hope you can help with..

I'm playing a 4-3-3 with Southampton, and I personally think, that I have got quite a good team.. But my ball-possession sucks.. I get the points I expect, but really not in the way I want.. Often the possession is 40/60 (or worse) and I allow the opponents to get +30 shots on goal. And my two playmakers have maximum 30-40 passes each per game.

I have attached a picture of my tactics - What am I doing wrong???

Both of my to central midfielders have the following check marks: Close more down, Mark tighter and pass it shorter.. I use Honda as DPL(2) and Ramirez as AP(S)

View attachment 456040 View attachment 456039View attachment 456038

I really really hope that you can help me.. It irritates me a lot..

 

[HasonJenderson]

I would suggest maybe changing the limited defender to just a central defender, limited defenders are more likely to hoof the ball clear rather than pass it out from the back so it kind of contradicts the 'play out of defence' instruction. Maybe having one full back on support and one of your inside forwards on support as well i.e. left inside forward on support and left full back on attack, and right insider forward attack and right full back on support etc. Play around with Lambert's role as well, DLF attack, false nine, target man on support etc. With both CM's on closing down more/tighter marking they might push forward a bit too much and leave the CDM a bit isolated and leave him with limited passing options? I normally don't mess with the centre mid's player instructions too much, normally just have 'shoot less often' and then 'pass it shorter' on just one of them. It's all about trial and error in all honesty, hope this helps mate.