What changes do you make when opposing team is down to 10 men?

[cfgenesis]

It seems logical that when the opposing team gets a red card, you would raise your level to an attacking mentality and push men forward to get results. However, it seems that the opposite happens when you do that - the AI goes into ultra-defensive lock-down mode and the rest of the match rolls by without any breakthroughs. It seems easier to score against a full strength team than a reduced squad!

What tactical changes can you make in this situation?

 

[cfgenesis]

91 views and no replies? Surely someone has noticed how hard it is to break down a the AI once they pack in with 10 men and has the strategy to counteract it.

 

[Yoblackcat]

I just change my team to attacking and keep the same formation, and let my players do their thing maybe keep one fresh sub just incase this happens then chuck him on and hope they do the job

 

[Death Ball]

I don't perform well against ten (I do perform very well with ten, lol) so I can't offer any valid advice in regards to taking advantage of the situation; but there is one advice I think is valid about not turn the situation into your downfall: drop the defence deeper. What the opposition will most often do along with the closing up shop is to try to catch your defence with long balls over the top.

I have not had more than a handful of matches with significant time vs 10; but there's one thing I will be trying in the future and will let it here for you to consider, under the idea that some times the obvious is the wrong choice: go more defensive. Invite them to come to you, tempt them, then try to surge forward with speed.

 

[StoryTimeFM]

Sometimes I'll put a more attacking formation into place other times I won't change anything, depends on the situation and who your playing.

 

[ggwood]

Generally, I don't change and I can break down the opponent. If I was on the counter against a strong team, I might push up to balanced.

I think the theory is: to break down a defensive shell, you want to play wider (to create gaps), but not necessarily push up. So you can go to a more attacking mentality, which will play wider and up, but then drop deeper. This also has the benefit that they have a harder time catching you on the counter as anyone they send forward will be more isolated. Or, if possible, you could just play wider. They should try to hoof the ball up to a man between our defense and midfield - right? If they do, they will surge forward, both tiring themselves out and exposing them at the rear.

Now that I'm thinking about it: has anyone checked their formation and exploited whatever part they removed? E.g. exploit the flanks if they remove a wide player and exploit the middle if central player is removed? My gut instinct is that doing so would be the "right" thing and you'll be rewarded.

You might also want to retain possession to tire the opponent out.

 

[sammyt]

tbh I don't change anything, I just let my team do their thing as if they were playing against 11 knowing that they are setup to find and exploit gaps anyway so the opposition being a man down just makes that easier.

If I change anything then it's normally just bringing on a fresh pair of legs.

 

[WJ]

It depends, doesn't it? Generally, I keep playing the way I am. To me it depends on the formation the opposition changes to. My tactics are usually patient with width anyway, so I don't need to change in that regard. Any changes in Team Instructions will again depend on opposition formation, ie where the gaps are.

If they're still playing with 2 strikers, I don't change anything.

If they use 1 striker, I change my DM to a support duty.

If they are playing extremely defensively, I drop in mentality.

 

[MANUMAD]

I find that usually when the opposition gets a red card FM(14) sets up a trap for you to fall in: if you go (too) attacking you get beaten (on the counter). It actually happens the opposite way also (ie when I get a red card I rarely lose - provided Im not already losing when the red card is given).

I would say that the principles of playing FM14 (as discussed in my ASK UNCLE MAD thread and in other threads and articles on the net far wiser than mine) should be borne in mind when changes happen in matches including red cards. You need to WATCH MATCHES ON EXTENDED AT LEAST to see how opposition behaves up to red card, how your team behaves and react accordingly. What WJ says (who always seems pretty knowledgeable) is deffo stuff to be borne in mind.

 

[WJ]

Well, exactly. They're going to be compact. Sometimes they'll be really defensive and will be relying on you to attack too much and over-commit. Keep calm and work them to create gaps. Don't force it, because they're a man down. There will be gaps.