How do I beat this team...?

[mccollio09]

Hi all, I'm at my wits end trying to beat Man United in my game (screenshot of their team posted below).

Basically, if you go through my signature, you'll see my career and all that has happened recently. The league is the only thing I can't win, once I lost it on goal difference and last season not even 91 points was enough. I can even manage to beat United in cups but as far as the league goes, it's a whole different kettle of fish.

What I am asking for, is advice on creating a particular tactic using players at my disposal, and created SOLELY for the purpose of playing United for 2 games a year. Arsenal/Tottenham/ Man City/Liverpool are the teams that finish behind me every season and I can regularly hammer all of them (often scoring 4), so I know that for the majority of the games my current tactics work, but United never drop points so it really is just them that is the obstacle. I think you'll understand why when you see their team.

Also, opposition instructions vs their first 11 would be great. Screenshot posted below + 1 of Garrido their regen. The usually have Tremoulinas at left back and Bale on the wing instead.

Help is greatly appreciated, particularly from some of the older members. No smartass comments like "what you need to do is score more than them".

Screenshot of most recent squad plus regens coming in post below. Once again really appreciate any advice you can give me

 

[mccollio09]

I think that should give you all the info you need on my team, don't hesitate to ask if you need anymore though. Formation roles are as follows

Gk - Defend
Rb and LB have same settings as shown in screenshot
LCB - Ball playing defender - cover
RCB - Central defender - cover
Anchorman - defend
RCM - deep lying playmaker - defend
CM - advanced playmaker - attack
LCM - box to box midfielder
LF- Poacher (high creativity, high attack, cross ball rarely)
RF - targetman - support

 

[mccollio09]

I'm not looking for an A-Z theory on how to beat United on my save, but maybe just a few tips on combatting some of their players and their formation could be handy. Bale and Sanchez on the wings are their best players I'd say.

 

[dannyrefc]

deep D-Line, Counter, Wide, Get Ball To Flanks....

 

[mccollio09]

Thanks man, would you advise making a separate formation completely or just changing the intructions to that?

 

[computerholic14]

play two defensive midfielders to try and help the defence stop their 3 man attacking midfield?

 

[th3737]

Hello - this is defintely not an A-Z "How-To- Guide" - but I'd thought I'd offer you a different tactic to try, then a couple of quick points on your current tactic (which is very solid based on your personnel) based on my gameplay observations.

I've had luck with the following tactic, especially as a lower team playing in the FA cup, Euro Cup, etc.

Start out with a 4-5-1, with 2 DM, CM, ML, and MR. Use your striker as a defensive forward, wingers can be set to Defensive Forward and have them man-mark Bale and Sanchez (speed, positioning, and marking are good traits to have for this role), and you may get a turnover leading to a cheap goal that way, or get a goal off a set piece.

Hopefully after about 75 minutes you're tied or maybe down 1 at the most - then switch to a traditional 4-4-1-1, and bring on your two fastest players to play AMC or ST (or 4-4-2 if you have 2 fast ST). You may be able to launch a counterattack and have your fresh attackers go past a tiring defense to get a goal or 2.


A couple of notes about your current formation - both based on my gameplay observations, which I acknowledge may be diffent than what you've seen....

I never seem to have good luck with the Target Man Role - I use the combination of Deep Lying Forward/Support as Left Striker with Poacher/Attack as the Right Striker. I'll then swap them a couple of times per game to mix things up.

I've also had luck with my wingers (though you don't have any in your tactic, a CM might work in this case) having a preferred move of "Get Forward as much as possible". I've noticed with both of my speedy wingers having this trait (I have Robbie Brady and Aaron Doran as wingers; they are solid players, but not world-beaters by any means) - I give them wide-play instructions to move into channels....my strikers will tend to float wide (even without giving them specific wide-play instructions) and set up my wingers coming up to joing the attack. Works like magic if you can catch a team on a counterattack.

This is just a matter of personal preference, but I do occassionally play with 3 CM like your tactic shows, but I only like having one playmaker. Have you tried having both your LCM and RCM be box to box, and have your CM be either advanced or deep-lying playmaker (your choice)? A Box-to Box with PPM of "Get Forward as Much as Possible" could be a deadly mix...

Also, don't underestimate the importance of Flair, I can definitely notice it with the quality of passing of players with higher flair ratings. Better players tend to have higher flair ratings, but I do understand this is not always the case, especially with Defenders.

A final note - I noticed you have Alex Smithies on your roster - I can't stand him!!!(LOL). He's moved to Burnley on my save game, and always plays like a world-beater against me!!!!

Good luck with everything - you've definitely built a very dangerous squad!!

 

[coolguyrko]

Try the Il devasto tactic.Works really well in my first season as Chelsea have beaten them 5-2 in the league and 5-3 in the community shield,

 

[mccollio09]

Thanks for all the help guys, particularly th637 for a very detailed response, I'll certainly have a look into your ideas. Re Alex Smithies, used to be my number one, I also got him in the england team, then got guilerme and he was number two... Then got Neuer and well, now hes my number 3 lol.