So here is my problem:
I was playing with SJ Ver in Portugal's 3rd level division. Mid-season I got this issue where I was getting ties non-stop. After the seventh tie in a match I was clear favorite to win, I tried the save/reload approach. It was useless. I always lost or tied the same game. Mind you, the goals I suffered where incredible bizarre situations like the GK stopping in front of the ball waiting for the opposite team's player to cross the entire field (under pursuit by my defender) and eventually scoring on a 1-on-1 situation. I tried different tactic, different instructions, different line-up, but it was always a tie/loss.
After installing the 14.3 patch, some of the bizarre situations stopped happening, but the results were the same. After trying to use no instructions at all, I got a 3-0 win. But the next matches, I kept loosing. After reading this forum, I learned a bit more about team instructions and got a couple of instruction presets to use. Using those presets I got an almost impossible promotion to Portugal's 2nd level. Won every game of that season after getting the presets.
On my 2nd season, things weren't that easy (as expected). It was clear I was gonna fight relegation. But still, I managed to get a few ties. Weird thing is, it was only ties. Again, seven or eight in a row against vastly superior teams (no wins, but also no losses). It was disturbingly familiar. Team moral was OK, so when I got drawn against a 3rd level team on the Cup, I expected a nice win. It didn't happen. After having 2 penalties scored against me, I only got through by scoring on the dying moments of E.T. (3-3) and then coming through on penalties. Back on the league, the ties resumed. I tried messing with the instructions and tactics but only got defeated. Until I got to play the other promoted team, Freamunde. They were below me on the league, with low morale and I was a clear favorite to win the match. My team's morale wasn't great, but it was OK. Again a tie.
So I went back to the old save/reload routine, thinking something wasn't right. No matter what tactics, line-ups or instructions I used I always lost/tied. Sometimes I scored first (most times I didn't), but I always tied/lost. When I thought I'd get a win, the GK suddenly stopped grabbing the ball every time or I'd start suffering unbelievable goals from out of the box never before seen on Portugal's 2nd Division (one or two) or the occasional penalty. I reloaded the save well over ten times, maybe twenty.
There's no point keeping playing the game like this, having stuff like this happen every season. If the game isn't scripted (which I refuse to believe it is), it seems the match engine isn't exactly working well. What gives?