I honestly found Top Player much more difficult than Superstar. My record on SS was 1-3-2, but I was always competitive. I never lost by more than 1 goal. I created chances, had possession and would usually be disappointed in not taking 3 points. On Top Player, I got dominated. The AI strikers danced around my defense. All my attacks broke down and led to counter attacks.
I started my ML on Top Player and lost my first 3 in the league and my one match in Europe. I lost 2-0 to Brighton FFS. Professional wa basically the same as SS, for me.
Same here, Top Player is complete
robbery, the fucking game gets the ball like magic, and scores the shittiest goals.
Super Star is the best difficulty level. Just like Pro it is fair, but more challenging. It gets a bit unrealistic in SS because even the worst teams play well, which isn't possible IRL, but no sweaty goals, own goals, that fucking backline possesion Top Player has, and specially no more frustration. It is a rewarding game, and lots of fun when you start to understand it.
Regarding playing against the AI when...
- Attacking: Possession, possession, and more possession. Keep the ball circulating until you find a breach. There's no hurry, so don't rush things. Sooner or later the opposition will screw up. Of course this method requires good passers, so good midfielders and wingers with good pass stats are required. The tatics are a bit more complex, if anybody wants I'll post here my experience.
- Defending: Calm and concentration are the main words. Never, under no circumstances, attack the player with the ball with your CB (on a three man backline) or start the play by running with a CB (even if you have two). The defense will get completely ruined, and if you lose the ball be prepared to take one in. When the opposition is attacking give them space. Man marking is extremely tiring for your players, and they always have somebody to pass. The only exception is if you play with a very attacking tatic, like my 3-2-2-3, and you can use 2 AMFs, 2 WFs and a CF to pressure the opposition right on their area (the CF and the AMFs pressure directly, the WF go back and protect the sides. Even if I can't get the ball they are forced to go to the sides, and then the WF provide extra help). But with more balanced tatics you can't get enough players upfront to get the ball early on. So my advice it to let them reach you. The closer they get to your area the more crowded it is, and more difficult it is for them to pass the ball around. Destroy the available pass lines, siege the player with the ball. If you can, force them to the sides, this way they lose almost 50% of the available places to pass. In summary, keep calm, pressure them only when they get to your area, try to force them to the sideline, and remember:
this is a difficult game, if you want something easy go play F!FA. Practice and experience make perfect, but as always, it takes time. Don't panic