Best Tactic When Losing Midfield?

[bmalek]

If you know you are going to lose the midfield, what is the best tactic to play? I am facing a pretty tough cup opponent, though I don't know which team he is actually going to play (he played his scrubs last cup match), if he plays his better team, I have no chance at winning midfield... I was thinking of pressing, but do I have any other options?

[nickfox45]

if you know youre going to lose midfield you could also choose to counter-attack, which is based on the passing rating of your defenders. i think pressing and counter-attacks are pretty much your only options. if you put wingers towards middle that would also hlep your midfield, but if you're sure his good team will crush you it wont be enough to matter.

[bmalek]

Also, if midfield is lost, is there any reason to PIC? Or should I play normal?

If he plays normal squad, even with MOTS and everyone playing for midfield (TM and OCD) I am still below his midfield, so I may just try defense as much as possible, hope for a tie again.

[saintjo]

If you just barely are loosing the midfield and have a few defenders with at least weak or better passing you could CA. I wouldnt pic if you think you have a shot at winning.

But if you are going to get destroyed in the midfield, there is my patented strategy of PPP (pic/press/pray)

[portnoise]

But if you are going to get destroyed in the midfield, there is my patented strategy of PPP (pic/press/pray)

Has that worked for you?

[The_herd]

Has that worked for you?

I had it used against me last season and they pulled out a 0-0 tie.

[nickfox45]

if youre still below his midfield even with MOTS, a WTM, and OCD, then you should definitely either do the press/pic/pray or counterattack. however, if he can beat your midfield that easily, he'll obviously know that and then he may possibly PIC you. what did he do in his last cup game?

[blackout]

my league opponent is nasty. his midfield is among the best in IV...

i was going to CA, but it didnt get me a single attempt last game... now I am thinking press. can i press in the 4-3-3 (or 3-4-3?)? or CA? I have disasterous experience but i dont really care, I am gonna lose anyways i might as well experiment right?

[daedalus]

If you have a lot of set piece skill and you think your defense can stop whatever shot they manage to get, I like pressing as a tactic. If not, I'd just go ahead and PIC for the benefit, counter-attack and hope.

[saintjo]

Has that worked for you?
I guess it depends on how religious you are and your point of view :)
PPP is really meant as a last ditch effort where you dont expect to win.
You pick to at least get something out of the match even if you loose.
You press to either keep the goal differential close or to hope for a tie or to go to a pentalty kick off.
You pray because the chances of winning with this method are very very slim. And to keep you distracted from looking at the ht-live match reports as you get destroyed 10-0 ;)

[bmalek]

if youre still below his midfield even with MOTS, a WTM, and OCD, then you should definitely either do the press/pic/pray or counterattack. however, if he can beat your midfield that easily, he'll obviously know that and then he may possibly PIC you. what did he do in his last cup game?

Well in his last two cup matches he had a bot teams, so he played a scrub team/trainer team. His regular team gets around 52 stars, the team he played for both cup matches gets around 25. He also made it to the cup round 7 last year, so I am pretty sure he isn't going to play his scrub team against me. He trains defense, and I can get my defense above his offense, but I have no hope of getting my offense above his defense, or my midfield above his midfield, even if he plays a combination of good players and trainers.