Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

[Gnemi]

Quick question for anybody: how do you make a hard cut in this game when dribbling? Has that simply been removed from the game?

In FIFA '14, thus far from what I've experienced, you are punished for trying to sprint away from a pressing defender. Not always, but most the time you'll push the ball in front of you too far and another defender will come nick it.

So if you don't sprint and you hold your space, even when you're using the L1 (LT), you're still likely to get the ball toe-poked away by the CPU. Instead, you just kinda walk the ball around without pace or even agility for that matter.

E.g. When you have a holding midfielder or a competent dribbler in midfield and a defender gets aggressive pressing, you are more or less forced to pray that you don't get dispossessed. In FIFA '13, there was the overpowered (in the opinions of some) Precision Dribbling thing where you could hold both the L2/R2, then sprint laterally. Yes, it was overpowered but at least it made sense hypothetically. Even centre halves have the ability to protect the ball and avert an oncoming defender.

I just don't feel like that's all that practical to do in FIFA '14. Am I missing something? What are you guys doing to keep away from zealous CPU defenders? Please don't say skill moves.

If sprint doesn't work, surely WALKING the ball away from a defender isn't the only option. Can we not do anything to cut quickly with the ball that doesn't require some form of 3+ button combination?

[Gnemi]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

Maybe it's using the right stick that I need to try? Does that produce results? The more specific any examples are the better.

Thanks guys...I realize this is probably 75% my own weakness in the game. I just need a couple ideas of how to avoid defenders when there isn't a pass available and I'm tired of dribbling backward!

[SaylaB]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

I know that RT is a hard stop and that LB is a hard stop that faces goal. You could try and use those to then cut. With some combination of RT/LB then using LT to shield the ball for a moment, then exploding in a direction with RT, I'll get past my man. It doesn't happen very often. The ball is usually poked away.

I think the closest thing you're looking for is what you've found for yourself. Maybe try using some change of pace though? Glide along slowly, just using the left stick, then explode inside with RT? I feel like I've done this a lot and end up getting dispossessed, but that should happen.

That's probably the closest answer I could give for your question. My entire answer is a bit longer and off point, but has some relation...

If you get stymied on the attack, your best chances are to either fire a cross into the box, or simply, pass back. Find the man with some open space. Once the defenders get numbers behind you, it's tough to create 1v1 because you're right, another defender will come over and will likely dispossess you.

To my knowledge, there is no sure fire way to get by a man in a 1v1 situation. Especially not in the midfield. If you try skill moves in the midfield half-heartedly or without any direction or purpose, in all likelihood the ball will be taken from you.

If I do attempt a skill move, I usually just do stepovers or feints to the left or right with my wingers. Occasionally I'll use LT+RT to strafe while looking forward, but sometimes my player will turn his back to the goal, kind of defeating the whole purpose of the move. But I generally only use LT+RT when I have some open space to observe the field and weigh my options.

The move where you move the right stick 180° from right to left and vice versa, can create some space as well. It might serve as a 'soft' hard cut to the inside.

Maybe go into the arena and practice some skill moves? To see for yourself exactly what you can do on the ball and when. You can build some situational awareness by spending time in the arena.

[Gnemi]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

Thanks dude. I'm not looking for a sure-fire way of getting around a defender, just something I can do when the defenders are getting a little carried away and pressing a dangerous attacker.

I just had a EUREKA moment. You can still use the sprint button to dart around players. If you hold down L1 on PS3 (LB on 360), then use the sprint button to release your holding player, you can definitely create an instant bit of space without losing control of your dribble.

Phew. So it's still in the game, it's just not compatible (as far as I can tell) with holding L2+R2 at the same time.

[BL8001]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

Gnemi. Good find.

The thing that bothers me in Fifa is how often the toe poke dispossessions occur. Any real match I watch you may see it 4-5 times tops. And when it does happen it is much more likely to go to space then right to the foot of the defender.

The vast majority of changes of possession in real soccer is based off errant passes. And second place would fall to 50-50 balls that are created off the defender and receiver of the pass trying to occupy the same space as the ball arrives.

I find you can still use the rt + lt method, particularly to do moving drawbacks but yes the knock on that occurs after letting go of lt is basically asking to be dispossessed.

I wrote in another thread that there needs to be a moving drag back on the r stick. Just make it hold it reverse of the way you are heading. And additionally there should be a lift/scoop move when you hold or flick the r stick the way you are heading. If you could elevate the ball slightly CPU toe pokes would not be so dominant.

It's stupid there are no moves with a simple "up" or "down" on the r stick.

[Aruthless]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

Have you tried using the fake shot/cross? It works really well to cut inside. And if you angle your L stick at a 45 degree angle you'll perform a scoop turn

[SaylaB]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

Have you tried using the fake shot/cross? It works really well to cut inside. And if you angle your L stick at a 45 degree angle you'll perform a scoop turn

Pretty sure you have to be holding LT (L2) while doing a fake shot/pass to initiate a scoop turn/heel chop

[jesmith29]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

I concur. My retain possession stats in CPM is terrible.

[Und Lahm]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

I use the L1 hard stop then L2+R2 to move sideways, then R2 the sprint all in one fluid motion. It works now and then.

Or I will get toe poked.

FWIW, I find that Matt's sliders allow more dribbling. I can use Robben or Ribery more like they play in real life, since sprint speed seems to be truer to their actual ratings.

[NightmareBooster]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

I've said this in at least 3 different places on the forum but the Body Feint is probably the single most effective skill move in the game and all it requires is a flick of RT, followed by a flick of LT the opposite direction. It's best used when moving at an angle to the goal with the defender slightly ahead of you. It's a quick change of direction that will allow you to cut hard behind the defender. Even with the AI flouting the laws of physics he won't be able to recover from it too quickly. I use it all of the time to set up my shots with great success.

[Gnemi]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

I know fake shot / pass is a commonly used tactic in real life, but I hate the mechanic in the game. You have to HOLD down the shoot or pass button, then hit another button to effectively cancel it? Half the time, I don't fake shoot and instead my player just kicks the $%#@ out of the football at full power.

[Und Lahm]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

I used to have the same @#$%! problem with the fake shot.
I find that quickly swiping your thumb over x and then o works better.

[crissyronaldo92]

Re: Hard Cuts / Dribbling vs. Press

Hi, personally I use L1/LB to quickly turn the ball away from the defender. It takes a little bit of practice but its a good way to dodge those mad bullrushers.
If you're planning to do it on the run, the new way is to let go of RT/R2 when you're sprinting, then hold RT/R2 and push ur player in the direction you want (depends very much on ur player's dribble rating)

Just remember, the good thing about this game is that you can't do everything at sprint speed anymore. Make sure to keep an eye out on the space you have while deciding which move to use and which direction to go. Cheers