Has anyone else experimented with using long balls from the back toward your strikers? You have to use the radar, but once you get used to it, it's a really fun method to add to your playing arsenal. One of your forwards should preferably be a large-type player, like Adriano, Luca Toni, or Henry. But, this isn't necessary.
Basically, I just move the ball around the back and I pay attention to the radar. Once you're good enough at it, you really just play normally, and you just notice that the longball is open...you don't really want to just pass the ball around the back all-day waiting for the longball...keep your play varied so it's not as predictable.
Then, when you see (via radar) that the players defending your forwards are sort of laying off of them, this is the time to send the long ball (you'll see approx. an inch or so between your striker and his defender). Also, if you use R2 (don't know xbox equivalent) it'll loft the ball more and it definitely helps.
This part is important. When your forward is receiving the ball, use R2 to help him move and meet the ball while it's in the air. Also, if you press R2 when chesting the ball, the player will control the ball better in whatever direction you chest the ball. If you press R1 while chesting, the player will allow the ball to bounce more aggresively.
Instead of chesting the ball down, the other option is to flick the ball to another player (usually the partner striker). This is good to do when the defenders commit to the ball while it's in the air, leaving the partner striker free. You can also just head the ball back into a midfielder.
This method takes practice, because many don't use the long air pass often, unless they are reversing field. The passing gauge will not need to go that far above halfway (most of the time, of course). But, if you practice for a little while, then it's definitely worth learning. It's especially good to use against human opponents. This is because if you pass the ball when your frontline players don't have a defender right on their back, you are giving yourself a high chance of completing a succesful air pass to the front. Given the aggressive nature of human opponents, their first reaction to the pass will be to scramble their defender toward the ball. This means that they make their defenders over-commit a lot, leaving a flick on to another player a great option. Also, practicing this method makes you more adept at watching the radar, which I think really increases the quality of a player.
Sorry for the length...feel free to throw questions at me.
Basically, I just move the ball around the back and I pay attention to the radar. Once you're good enough at it, you really just play normally, and you just notice that the longball is open...you don't really want to just pass the ball around the back all-day waiting for the longball...keep your play varied so it's not as predictable.
Then, when you see (via radar) that the players defending your forwards are sort of laying off of them, this is the time to send the long ball (you'll see approx. an inch or so between your striker and his defender). Also, if you use R2 (don't know xbox equivalent) it'll loft the ball more and it definitely helps.
This part is important. When your forward is receiving the ball, use R2 to help him move and meet the ball while it's in the air. Also, if you press R2 when chesting the ball, the player will control the ball better in whatever direction you chest the ball. If you press R1 while chesting, the player will allow the ball to bounce more aggresively.
Instead of chesting the ball down, the other option is to flick the ball to another player (usually the partner striker). This is good to do when the defenders commit to the ball while it's in the air, leaving the partner striker free. You can also just head the ball back into a midfielder.
This method takes practice, because many don't use the long air pass often, unless they are reversing field. The passing gauge will not need to go that far above halfway (most of the time, of course). But, if you practice for a little while, then it's definitely worth learning. It's especially good to use against human opponents. This is because if you pass the ball when your frontline players don't have a defender right on their back, you are giving yourself a high chance of completing a succesful air pass to the front. Given the aggressive nature of human opponents, their first reaction to the pass will be to scramble their defender toward the ball. This means that they make their defenders over-commit a lot, leaving a flick on to another player a great option. Also, practicing this method makes you more adept at watching the radar, which I think really increases the quality of a player.
Sorry for the length...feel free to throw questions at me.
