Hey guys back with another article for you competitive players out there in the field.
How did everyones Weekend League go? I finished 32-8 which I’m not too happy about. I don’t like blaming the game too much but damn there was a lot of delay this weekend. Anyhow, today we’re gonna talk about player instructions since a few people requested it. From now on we will also delve a little deeper into actual game-mechanics.
Player Instructions (PI) are essential to your game since it will influence the way your players move (or stay in position) on the field.
Let’s take a look at every position on the field and their possible PI.
For the example we will use a standard 4-1-2-1-2 (2) formation.
4-3-2-1 for chem purposes
4-1-2-1-2 (2) in game
Let’s start with the backs.
Leftback and Rightback
Backs have 2 options:
-Attacking Runs
-Interceptions
Always leave Attacking runs on Stay back while attacking. If you don’t your backs will make runs more often which will leave gaps in your defence. Even when instructed to stay back they will sometimes bomb the wing. Alaba for instance plays like a winger when not instructed to stay back and even then he sometimes just goes yolo.
Leave interceptions as it is since you don’t want them to be too passsive nor aggresive
Centrebacks
For centrebacks it’s the same as your wingbacks except easier since you don’t have to change anything! Always leave them on Stay back while attacking since you never want any gaps in your central defence. If you prefer to have at least defender that plays a little more forward, use a defender with High attacking workrates. They will sometimes make rushes forward enabling you to pressure earlier in your half of the pitch. Again, never use more than 1 defender with high attacking workrates!
Defending Midfielder
Defending Midfielders have 3 options:
-Defensive Behaviour
-Attacking Support
-Interceptions
It’s best to leave Defensive Behaviour on Balanced Defence or Man Mark. Man Mark makes the player cover more. You want to set Attacking Support to Stay Back While Attacking since you actually want to use him before you use your defenders (IE when your opponent has the ball on your half of the pitch, you can use your CDM to cover passing-lines/ intercept whilst pressuring with your other midfielders).
Interceptions is again best left untouched.
Central Midfielders
Central Midfielders have 4 options:
-Attacking Support
-Support on Crosses
-Interceptions
-Positioning Freedom
I recommend leaving these on default as it will result in a nice balance of the first three options and it will keep your CMs in position, which will allow for easier passing.
Central Attacking Midfielder
Attacking Midfielders have 4 options:
-Defensive Support
-Support on Crosses
-Positioning Freedom
-Interceptions
Instructions for Attacking Midfielders are pretty flexible, one thing I do recommend is to always keep Defensive Support on Stay Forward since you don’t want your CAM to fall too far back. Positioning Freedom can be set to default or Free Roam. Free Roam can be useful but it can also result in your CAM playing more as a CM. This will limit your options when attacking so make sure to test them both out.
Strikers
Strikers have 4 options:
-Support Runs
-Attacking Runs
-Interceptions
-Defensive Pressing
Attacking Runs is the most important, I highly recommend setting this on Get in Behind. This will result in your players making runs past your opponents defenders more often, giving you some great openings that can result in a goal. (IE one of your CMs intercepts around the circle, you pass it to your CAM, who passes it through to 1 striker. The other striker will than often make a run behind the last line of defence so you can play a (driven) throughball which will have you 1 on 1 with the keeper. To add to this you can use L1 when passing so both your CM and CAM will make runs forward allowing for easier triangle passing)
Defensive Pressing can be set to Press Back Line. This will keep your strikers up the field and pressure the opponents defence. The other ones are best left on default.
So let’s look at a quick example. Player Instructions are not very diverse (as opposed to custom tactics) so most top 100/Elite players tend to use the same.
Fullbacks:
Stay back while attacking
Leave the rest on default
Centrebacks:
Leave on default
Central Defensive Midfielder:
Stay back while attacking
Man Mark/Default
Leave the rest on default
Central Midfielders
Leave on default
Central Attacking Midfielders
Stay Forward
Free Roam/ Stay in position
Leave the rest on default
Strikers
Get in behind
Press Back Line
Leave the rest on default
That’s it for this part of the series, make sure to let me know what you want to see covered in the coming parts, you can always hit me up on Twitter!
Site Title 