Three at the back

[Ghents]

Just wondering if there's an optimal setup for 3 CBs in the back formations with CWB's.

Typically I used CD(x) / BPD(c) / CD(x) but I often find that the middle gets exposed with the BPD drifting upwards at times.

Would something like BPD(x) / LD (c) / BPD(x) be more efficient?

I train all my CBs as BPD anyway, but curious how to set the roles up optimally to not expose that one deep through ball to the forward on a counter.

 

[Crane]

The change between the roles will only effect how they play on the ball. A limited defender on defend won't close down anymore than a ball playing defender on defend.

I use though CD (D) / BPD (C) / CD (D)

Here's a heat map of my team.

 

[Ghents]

Well, that helps. I thought it actually effected how they play. Basically the issue is the two outside CB's get pulled to wide and the central CB sucked upwards too high, and those deep through balls get through to the forward.

I wonder if making the central CB man-cover the forward would help at all, or just pull him further out of position

 

[dave256]

CD's naturally close down to some extent on this version, despite what instructions you give. Even if you have a CD on cover he will close down instead of hang back..it can be very frustrating. It's like the FB's/WB's naturally pull in very narrow and leave wide players in acres of space or un-marked in the box. There seems to be a lot of pre-programmed instructions on this version and most feel it's taking the control away from the gamer, and the fun. Saying that, do you have the team to play aggressive or close down on team instructions? Any OI's that say to close down/mark any attacking players? Any marking instructions in player instructions? These will all have an effect

 

[Ghents]

I have get stuck in and hassle more, but also play more disciplined. No marking instructions on any players.

Here's what I'm rolling right now:

View attachment 370579

It's not crucial to the point of where I'm losing games because of it, but it's forcing some draws where I completely dominate the game. Just frustrating, as it's my first made from scratch tactic I finally got rolling along fairly well.

 

[Crane]

Don't have much cover in your DM area. Hence why one of the DC has to rush out to stop anyone in the AMC area.

 

[dave256]

I have get stuck in and hassle more, but also play more disciplined. No marking instructions on any players.

Here's what I'm rolling right now:

View attachment 610856

It's not crucial to the point of where I'm losing games because of it, but it's forcing some draws where I completely dominate the game. Just frustrating, as it's my first made from scratch tactic I finally got rolling along fairly well.

Take off get stuck in and hassle more and just see how your CD's react with that removed. Just save the game, play a few games and see if you notice any difference. Personally, I think it's a pre-programmed thing. Also, in partnership with what Crane said above, you have push higher up on team instructions. The whole reason for having a higher d-line is to pressure the opp higher up the pitch and so your defenders will close down strikers more often because they're closer to them and trying to squeeze the space. I still think it's pre-programmed as I have the same issue (as well as the WB's/FB's issue) but there's a few things to play around with there and experiment with. Just experiment with a lower d-line, taking away the hassle and get stuck in and see if you see a difference

 

[Ghents]

This suggestion helped tremendously. I wasn't trying to make a perfect win-all tactic, but that shored up a lot of the defensive issues I had.

 

[Igneos79]

what you want to do is deepen your defensive line...covering defender doesn't work well with a high line...whether you have a limited or bp defender, doesnt matter, ld will keep things simple, while bp will complicate things...

 

[rocheyb]

I'm currently using a 3-5-2 with a Ball-Playing Defender_Cover (Diego Reyes of Porto, whose primary position is Defensive Midfielder but operates as a CD for Mexico - in FM, at least) in the middle of two Central Defenders_Defend.

I originally had Reyes pushing forward more, but he would constantly step-up at the wrong time and leave the other two exposed to through balls and runners from deep. I generally have the team pushing up - relying on my five-man midfield to create enough opportunities going forward to massively outweigh the few (inevitable!) occasions that we get caught out in the defensive channels. Reyes, in particular, is excellent at interceptions around the halfway line and he's also very good in the air.

My flat midfield five is made-up of: WM_Support; DLP_Support; AP_Attack; BWM_Defend; WM_Support.
The front two are: AF_Attack; False9_Support

Always play the Advanced Forward on his preferred side; right-footers on the right, left-footers on the left. This is important in relation to him making runs into the channel and the relative position of him - and his preferred foot - in relation to the goal and the closest covering centre-back...

...If the AF is on his preferred side, then the player himself is between the centre-back and the ball and can shoot into the top or bottom corner of the near side of the goal, or across the keeper into the far side; if he is on his weaker side, there is nothing between the defender and the ball and shooting into the far corner is very difficult whilst on-the-run, so easier for the goalkeeper to guess the right way and make the save.

Similarly, a left-footed False9 with good long-range shooting ability who operates on the right of the front two, can open his body up from the edge of the area to aim at the whole goal. Again, more difficult if he is trying to do the same thing from the same position on his right foot - where it is also more difficult for him to shield the ball from any defenders in his wake.

For this reason, the four forwards in my squad are in rotation pairs; the two left-footers play together or the two right-footers play together, and I switch the AF and F-9 positions to suit, match-to-match. When I do have to couple a lefty and a righty, the Advanced Forward plays on his preferred side and False9 just has to make do.

Not exactly what you were talking about, I know, but while I was sharing (and in honour of how hot it is outside)... (H)