Tactical question

[Kaladon]

(Background story) Last week before the match i was seeded 3rd... I played the 2nd seeded team, and blew them away 7-0!
The 1st seeded team fell to 2nd seed, because they tied a team I beat the week before... now im ranked 1st!

(the question) So Im playing the 2nd seeded team this week, and he's the only team im really worried about this season. He always uses a counter attack scheme. Given the fact were pretty much even, except i beat that one team and he tied them. What can i do to combat the counter attack tactic.. My team gets quite a few scoring chances a game. The more chances I get to score, the more chances he gets to counter!

So should i keep my current stratagy of my 4-4-2 with my wings offensive and my wingbacks defensive. (which he saw and is using too). or Is there something i should try, to exploit a weakness from his counter tactic?

[NAIWF]

The only way to negate a counter attack that I've seen is to get less of a midfield than the team countering. Personally, I think CA is a stupid strategy because you almost have to be built to use it, which is a risky proposition imho. If you're better than he is in the midfield just stick to your usual strategy and hope for the best.

[Kaladon]

Alright thanks alot. I should have a better midfield... mostly do every game, except we matched this last game.

But i got him beat on experience... so hopefully his team will run for the hills, if i get the lead early!

[Vince]

Maybe try a 3-5-2? If you think you'll have a better midfield with a 4-4-2, the midfield edge you get with a 3-5-2 would be quite a bit more, and might kill his hopes of counterattacking...

[Matt2You]

Look at his prior matches. Look and see if he has scored on counter attacking before. After looking at that, make a judgement on rather or not you need to plan for it even. He may have such an utterly weak counter attacking scheme it isn't even a threat.

I would however, consider doing a 'Pressing' tactic. Unless your stamina sucks, it might just be the thing because it will reduce shots from both teams, weakening his CA. If you do pressing, make sure you have a superior midfield, if you don't... that would be bad. I think. You need to score a few times at least. If your IM is weaker, CA isn't supposed to work anyways.

[Kaladon]

Well i checked his CA ability and its passable. I thought about playing a 3-5-2 rather then a 4-4-2 but my team would be reduced to a weak formation, rather then an excellent formation with 4-4-2.

But if you think i wont loose much by switching from an excellent formation to a weak formation, then ill do it... but if it would greatly reduce my teams performance then ill stick with 4-4-2 and hope for the best.

(so im torn) use a 3-5-2 and hope the difference of one guy will over come the lose of switching to a weak (my rating since i dont use it much) formation...Or keep my excellent rating, and have one less guy in the midfield?

hmm!

[NAIWF]

Don't EVER switch to a formation that you are not experienced in during a game that matters. The risk simply isn't worth it.

[FrogMan]

What NAIwf says is very true, if you don't have the experience, don't do it now...

However, you should try to get some experience in one other formation than the 4-4-2, playing it in your friendlies for example, that way, you'd have an alternative if you need to mix it up to win an important match...

FM

[Kaladon]

alright... thanks again guys!

[Mr. Wednesday]

The real key to beating a CA, I think, is balance. If your midfield is a lot better than your offense or defense, your weak offense will give away CA chances that are then scored against your weak defense. If you're better balanced, then you'll convert more chances, reducing CA opportunities, and your defense will be better-equipped to stop the CA chances that they do get.

[Raven Hawk]

Mr. Wednesday is right. When playing against a CA, you need to make sure that the opportunities that you have to score, you do score. And if you don't score, you're defense needs to be good enough to stop the opposition's CA.

If your midfield/offense is better than your defense/offense, I would recommend the pressing tactic. This will limit the number of opportunities you have and your opponent has.

The key to beating the CA, however, is make sure you put the ball in the goal when you get the chance.

[Kaladon]

well it seems to me, that CA has no disadvantages... they get a chance to score after everyone of your chances...

it seems to me that the game should lessen thier defense. But it seems not...

unless im missing something! why does it seem that this tactic has no disadvantages?

please forgive me.. im new(ish)

[FrogMan]

Straight from the rules...


The disadvantage of this tactic is that you lose 10% of your midfield capacity.

So if you already have a low midfield, this may put so low that you'll have to stop every one of his 8 or 9 scoring chances and then have a successfull counter attack, then convert it...

I know I'm exaggerating a little, but this is how I see it. Also, even though it doesn't seem to have disadvantages, you have to have the right personnel in place in order to take advantage of it. It will be no good if your attack ratings are weak-weak-poor because even though you may generate a counter attack, you need to convert it to score...

as Mr. Wednesday, I think the key to counter attack is balance...

FM

[Kaladon]

hmm no wonder why his midfield is mostly wretched.

thanks Frog!