Need help playing defensive football.

[LiamMurray]

How can i play more defensively i am conceding alot but scoring alot with this formation and set up i dunno why because it isn't even attacking at all.

 

[iNickStuff]

Leaving out most of your TI's is clearly one of the reasons why you're conceding. You're trying to control, rather than keep a strong defence.

I would suggest a rigid philosophy, with Counter. You can then use the wingers on the 4-5-1 to supply the width and get the crosses and through passes into the striker. Shorten the passing, don't try to press, and stand off. Play aggressive tackling, coincided zonal marking and sticking to their positions.

Also, tick on counter-attacking.

 

[LiamMurray]

got Everton, Chelsea and Man Utd first 3 games after some friendlys so will come back with verdict

 

[The Icelander]

I have had great success at countering using control, high tempo and direct passing, think of your team as a bow string, just waiting for the release.

 

[vlad-the-impaling-gunner]

I have had great success at countering using control, high tempo and direct passing, think of your team as a bow string, just waiting for the release.

In a way, that's contradictory. Control football equals a slow, narrow, take your time-sort of game not a high tempo, direct passing game. But good for you if you managed to make it work.
OT: Like iNickStuff said, I would probably try to switch to rigid and counter attacking with less creativity and less freedom to roam.

 

[GodCubed]

Basically all of what iNickstuff said. Listen to him, he's very good at this.

What kind of role is Dembele playing? Likewise, your wingers are presumably just Winger - Support, right? If you make Dembele play as a Deep-lying Forward - Support and make one of your wingers an Inside Forward - Attack, you can retain a similar level of attacking threat whilst also flooding the midfield. Dembele will drop deep and wide into space when your team is in possession, making your team more compact and making your transitions from defence to attack easier as he is closer to where the ball has been won. On top of that, when out of possession he will pressure the opposition defensive mids, allowing them no time on the ball.

I find that if I want to play defensively and I have energetic, stamina-high (terrible term, but we'll run with it) players, if I set the attacking band of three (wingers and the forward) or two (two forwards) to close down often through their PI, the opposition is forced into playing the ball forward quickly. This means that they get into the situation where they have to either create or lose the ball. As the rest of your team is sitting deep and keeping the lines tight, their composure and decisions attributes are severely tested due to them having a lot of time but not too many options.

In a way, that's contradictory. Control football equals a slow, narrow, take your time-sort of game not a high tempo, direct passing game.

Not necessarily. I play control setting with my Napoli side, coupled with high pressing and short, high-tempo passing. The word "Control" when used by SI describes one way of playing, but in the game it is used simply to provide the next step-up attacking wise. With Control, Attacking and Overload, you're just getting a bit more attack-minded each time. It's up to you to define what kind of attacking that is, be it patient build up or always looking for the incisive killer ball.

 

[vlad-the-impaling-gunner]

Not necessarily. I play control setting with my Napoli side, coupled with high pressing and short, high-tempo passing. The word "Control" when used by SI describes one way of playing, but in the game it is used simply to provide the next step-up attacking wise. With Control, Attacking and Overload, you're just getting a bit more attack-minded each time. It's up to you to define what kind of attacking that is, be it patient build up or always looking for the incisive killer ball.

Agreed, you're right. The thing I was trying to emphasize was the short passing and not direct passing.

 

[The Icelander]

Yeah I agree with GodCubed as the opposition loses the ball and because of my direct passing the ball goes between players very quickly and before you know it my striker has an open space to finish the attack.

 

[LiamMurray]

Well here is how my first game ended and this is how i set my team up.

 

[GodCubed]

Alright, bad game. But take some things into account: One, your players won't be completely used to the formation yet. Two, you're away from home against a team much better than you. Three, and most crucially, they only had one clear cut chance. To lose 3-0 when you only gave away one clear cut chance is unfortunate to say the least.

 

[vlad-the-impaling-gunner]

Well here is how my first game ended and this is how i set my team up.

Unfortunately, one game later is not a good measure since you're team won't even be familiar with the new tactics you set up. Give them time and the results should come.

 

[LiamMurray]

Alright, bad game. But take some things into account: One, your players won't be completely used to the formation yet. Two, you're away from home against a team much better than you. Three, and most crucially, they only had one clear cut chance. To lose 3-0 when you only gave away one clear cut chance is unfortunate to say the least.

Yeah it defo was a bad game hope we don't give away too many penalties and red cards though!

Will just need to put the players giving them away down to medium tackling or something.

Edit : Wasn't expecting anything but thought i would post it anyway

 

[Athe~]

It was Chelsea after all. When I play small-ish teams I tend to look through my fixtures and get a quick mental list of what matches I can win, which ones I expect to draw, and which ones I'll just lose horribly. Chelsea would fit the latter criteria.

You had quite a lot of possession in spite of the score - where they mostly backpasses between defender and keeper? Could you post a screenie of passing in general?

 

[LiamMurray]

It was Chelsea after all. When I play small-ish teams I tend to look through my fixtures and get a quick mental list of what matches I can win, which ones I expect to draw, and which ones I'll just lose horribly. Chelsea would fit the latter criteria.

You had quite a lot of possession in spite of the score - where they mostly backpasses between defender and keeper? Could you post a screenie of passing in general?

Here you go


Got Man utd next..............What a rubbish start.

Edit : if you want anything else just ask

 

[Athe~]

Also, just checked... Soukouna isn't that great of a winger, I don't know if he developed better in your game than in mine, but his corssing is pretty awful, and so is his dribbling. Can you loan a better winger from any of the big teams? It'd certainly play if you're counter-attacking to have a quick, skillfull crosser ready to feed your striker.

There seem to be a lot of passes from your defenders, mostly short. Try to set your passing game to something more direct and see if you can get a good through ball to Dembele on a quick counter. I think the short passing may be giving them time to "regroup" at the back.

 

[LiamMurray]

Also, just checked... Soukouna isn't that great of a winger, I don't know if he developed better in your game than in mine, but his corssing is pretty awful, and so is his dribbling. Can you loan a better winger from any of the big teams? It'd certainly play if you're counter-attacking to have a quick, skillfull crosser ready to feed your striker.

There seem to be a lot of passes from your defenders, mostly short. Try to set your passing game to something more direct and see if you can get a good through ball to Dembele on a quick counter. I think the short passing may be giving them time to "regroup" at the back.

It would be Chamberlain but he is away with England atm...

Will try More Direct next game can't hurt its only against man utd.

 

[Lol_101]

think of going to a 5 defender system. untill ur team has a good win streak

i tried it when i was managing ireland, playing against france. ended the match with a draw 2-2, in which robbie keane, riche dunne, stevie hunt, aiden mc was happy

 

[LiamMurray]

Yes!

 

[Athe~]

Congratz, although the only effect of my suggestion seems to have been a reduced amount of possession, although that may have been translated as having the ball as far away from your goal as possible, which is good. In particular when you play United.

 

[GodCubed]

0 Clear cut chances. Looks like you nullifed them completely, well done.