ML tips for a noob.

[Lucius]

Long post, but I'd appreciate it if you all could give me some tips or advice. Didn't see anything on the first page about this.

So WEPES2007 is the first game in the series I've ever played. Had it for a little over a week now. Just finished up my first season in ML on regular. 2 losses, 2 draws, and the rest wins, with a few blowouts for a goal differential of like +17 or something.

Regular feels too difficult, so for two of my off season friendlies I bumped the difficulty up to pro. I tied Barcelona 1-1 and lost to Juventes 3-0, and it could have easily been much worse.

I don't feel like the computer "plays better" in pro, I just think the players are much better than mine all of a sudden. Everyone is faster and stronger. My players constantly get knocked both on offense and defense. I rarely win headers in any area of the field, and most of the goals against come on corners. The computer's defense is always in my passing lanes and mark my men like glue. Meanwhile, my team's defense hangs back as far as possible, is rarely able to intercept a pass not close to my own box, and can't contain their offense at all. It's rare that I'll win the ball not in my own third, and even rarer to even get it into the opponent's third. Scoring chances, let alone quality ones, are almost non-existent for me.

Just to make sure it wasn't all my fault, I played two 10 minute exhibitions. First was me as classic England vs. Slovenia. I won 2-1. Second was me as Slovenia vs. France. I won 1-0.

My question is, do you vets even play ML at the professional level or higher, at least to begin with? It seems almost impossible to win and even getting a draw seems very difficult. If so, what type of tactics do you use? Passing constantly? You can't dribble past anyone with the default players at that skill level. Do feints work? I haven't used them much, but haven't found them to do anything.

Any suggestions you guys could give would be great. Thanks.

 

[Top Gun]

When I started playing I tried at the hardest level but it was much too hard so I went to Regular and did a season on that to get used to things. After this I went to Top Player, I found it difficult but you have got to stick with it and eventually you will get there.

As for tactics, I normally play a flatback four with a defensive midfielder just infront of the defence. I then put two centre midfielders in front of him, one more attacking than the other. The more attacking one should have an attacking arrow, the other one should have an attacking arrow and a defensive one. Then I have two SS and a CF which create a triangle up front. This is good is you have good pace in the SS as they will create a lot of space for your frontman.

Also you want to try and keep hold of the ball and work it into good wide positions, usually if you play it across the back from one side to the other you can create a 3 on 2 situation out wide which, if played right, can result in your player having a run at goal. If that fails I try to play it into the feet of one of the SS and getting them to turn and run at the defenders. If timed properly your CF should be in space and with a good through ball can be found with consomate ease.

Hope this helps.

 

[Capt.Caveman]

Lucius, I'd agreed with you that when you play on a harder difficulty level rather than the computer playing better he does seem to get the run of the pitch. 50-50 balls seem to pop out in his favor, his players recover from tackles a lot quicker but with a bit of practice you should be able to start competing.

If you get frustrated with your defence hanging back you can change the team settings so they play a higher line. You can even set man markers (though I don't find this amazingly effective) if you like.

Couple of thing I will question? Which team are you? The default ML team or a match mode team? Coz this will make a hell of a difference into how easily you can play the comp.

And also, after having the game a week in your first season you won all but 4 of your games, with a goal difference of +17? That doesn't sound like it's too difficult to me.

 

[Lucius]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I was playing with a 3-4-3 previously, but I'll try playing a more defensive formation. I do have it set so the defense is (supposedly) very aggressive in pushing up the back line, but is semi-aggressive with the offsides trap (I believe it's called trap when appropriate). Should I maybe try a more aggressive offsides trap as well?

I don't know what the team I'm using is called. I'm assuming it's the default ML team with Ximelez, Ordaz, Castalo, Dodo, etc. The one with all the crappy made up players. I did acquire Dos Santos in a trade and have one or two weeks of negotiations left before the previous season. I'm worried about paying possible new additions though if I stick with professional level and can't win.

Capt. CAAAAAAAAAAAVEMAN, that differential was after playing the whole season at regular difficulty. After the season I bumped the difficulty up to professional for a few exhibition matches. I also originally started a ML at professional difficulty originally, but scrapped it after I couldn't win 9 weeks in.

 

[fick]

Personally on a new ML with default team i line up flat back 4 with two deep MF's, one with attacking arrow & one with back towards own goal when attacking if you see what i mean. It makes one of your MF's cover if you push a SB up so you get left with fewer holes for the COM to find. Goodto allow you to work the overlap...

Up front i play Two wider AM's & 2 strikers.

In the beginning playing for a draw is a good way of building cash, but with this formation i've found it possible to nick a few important goals.

Hope you get some good tips & work something out!

 

[toffee]

Lucius, if this is your first ever Pro Evo game and you've only had it for a week, then it's best to train and familiarise yourself with it. Get used to it first and get used to looking at the radar. If you don't learn the basics you can play the game for years and still have problems! Do this and you'll get more experienced and more technical.



Toffee

 

[Lucius]

Lucius, if this is your first ever Pro Evo game and you've only had it for a week, then it's best to train and familiarise yourself with it. Get used to it first and get used to looking at the radar. If you don't learn the basics you can play the game for years and still have problems! Do this and you'll get more experienced and more technical.

I appreciate the suggestion, but I feel like if I'm beating the computer relatively easily on regular difficulty I'm not learning anything. Like I said, I can play professional with real teams, but was struggling with the really bad ML players.

Anyway, I managed to pick up some really good midfielders in the offseason and that seemed to make all the difference. I tied my first match of the new season, 1-1, but controlled the ball most of the time. It seemed like I could keep control of it, but they had 8 men playing defense the whole time, and it was hard to push it up around the box without losing it.

Also, question about Option Files, as I haven't dealt with them yet, but plan on receiving my max drive in the next day or two. When you use the downloaded option files, what happens to your wen points? Do you lose them or can you carry them over somehow, or are they not even part of your option save? I just don't want to lose everything I've unlocked so far.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

 

[Stormrider]

I've never tried Regular as I always go straight to 5* or Top Player when I first buy any WE game but one thing I always do is test out a variety of settings to find out which is the most realistic and enjoyable. After 2 weeks of tinkering I'd have to say Top Player 15min is as real as it gets so give it a try.

Professional is easier to attack and harder to defend cuz all the defenders are complete idiots, especially your own. They're much better on Top Player including your own but on 10min that would lead to many low scoring games which is y u should change to 15min.

With the default ML team I find it best to use the long ball and play tight defence. Just keep sending it upfield. You might get a lucky bounce. Most of your goals should come from set pieces so practise those FKs and corners. Hopefully you'll be in the top 1/2 of the table by 1st transfer window. This is when you buy 2-5 players. Don't worry if your salary is in the minus, keep spending cuz those players will really help you win. At the end play all the friendlies and you should break even. If not, just sell a player or 2 and you'll be fine.

 

[L . F . C]

simple 4-4-2 works on top player. I play it and I've won 7 drawn 1 so far. Just go straight for it(top player) and you will eventually get to grips with the game.

 

[toffee]

I tied my first match of the new season, 1-1, but controlled the ball most of the time. It seemed like I could keep control of it, but they had 8 men playing defense the whole time, and it was hard to push it up around the box without losing it.

If you are keeping control of it that's the main thing. As you increase the difficulty, not only is it harder to defend the attacks of high quality teams, but also the more defense minded teams become harder to break down. Sometimes I find it is actually harder to beat poorer defensive teams than the attacking high quality teams, at least with the attacking teams you can try to hit them on the break, which is better than being up against 8 defensive players.


Toffee

 

[Stormrider]

To beat defensive teams in your formation screen go to team then attack/defense and choose auto attack. This will prevent your team from playing too deep. You'll notice much more breaks and more passing options in their half. Keep this on until you have a 2 goal lead then you can switch back to semi auto if you like or keep attacking if you want more goals.

 

[Lucius]

I'm having the majority of the goals scored on me coming off of crosses and corners. My defenders are constantly standing there while the opponent jumps over them and heads it into the net. I also have trouble winning any headers cleanly on offense.

Is there anything I might be doing wrong or is it all a function of a players height and header skill?

 

[Stormrider]

Height, attack, defense, balance, response, jump, and positioning ability are advantages of course. If you lack these then you can win some with good timing (when the ball is close to your head). If you have a team full of shorties, try to cross to their feet for volleys or just take short corners and cross along the ground more often circle: x3)

The reason why your defenders can't jump is either 1 of 2 things, lack of response or lack of balance. If it's response just press :square: many times and hope it works. If it's balance you're simply being overpowered. What defenders do you have?

Btw, I take back what I said about 15min matches. They're not more realistic than 10min, just a lot more goals so stick with 10min :happy:

 

[Lucius]

Height, attack, defense, balance, response, jump, and positioning ability are advantages of course. If you lack these then you can win some with good timing (when the ball is close to your head). If you have a team full of shorties, try to cross to their feet for volleys or just take short corners and cross along the ground more often circle: x3)

The reason why your defenders can't jump is either 1 of 2 things, lack of response or lack of balance. If it's response just press :square: many times and hope it works. If it's balance you're simply being overpowered. What defenders do you have?

Btw, I take back what I said about 15min matches. They're not more realistic than 10min, just a lot more goals so stick with 10min :happy:

Right now I just have the default defenders, but if I can pick up some more cash I'm going to try to acquire one. I think I use Stremer, Liebermen, and Jaric as my defenders. I'm using a 3-6-1 right now. It seems to be working well defensively, as they are only scoring on crosses and corners. I'm able to control the ball decently as well, I just can't win any corners or crosses cleanly and rarely get a decent look at goal to take a shot with.

 

[Stormrider]

That explains everything

That's how it is with a 3-6-1 formation. Don't expect many quality chances with that squad. You'd have to shoot from distance with that formation but you don't have the players to do that with. You'll also lose just about every aerial battle.

I had great success with the default 3-5-2 formation except I change the WB to SMF. Take Jaric out of defense he's a decent DMF. Put Ceciu in for him. Have Stein partner Jaric in midfield. Minanda of course conducting play and Hamsun up front partnered by Huylens or Ordaz. Cross it often with Ximelez (don't overlook the early cross). Jaric has a good FK so hone your FK skills and score some winners with him.

Now you have the height but of course you still lack the power and jump so you'll still lose lots of aerial battles but once in a while you can get lucky.

It's best to send a long ball upfield every chance you get and hope it reaches Hamsun to knock it down for Huylens to score. Sometimes the defense can't deal with it so you might get a lucky bounce or they might knock it out for a throw or corner.

Like I said, all you should expect are a few 0-0 draws b4 the 1st transfer window. The goals will come after depending on the players you purchase :happy:

And FYI Jaric and Ordaz develop well so you might want to keep them

 

[Lucius]

Thanks. I just hit midseason. My goal differential is like -13 but I've managed to draw or win the last few, so I've moved up in the standings. Still in the bottom third, but not a threat to move back down right now. I managed to pick up some defenders and midfielders. I have a pretty decent squad with the players I picked up, I just need to find a good formation to get some goals now. Last game was a 1-0 win against Juventes after an own goal (after transfers).

I decided to let Ruskin go. It hurt, he was my boy. The offer was just too good to turn away though. Something ridiculous like a 6900 transfer fee or something like that.

Edit: Playing 15 minute games, no more than 3 goals a side. That's pretty rare too. 1-1 and 2-0 are pretty common scores for me right now.

 

[Stormrider]

Edit: Playing 15 minute games, no more than 3 goals a side. That's pretty rare too. 1-1 and 2-0 are pretty common scores for me right now.

Glad it works for you :happy: . It's cool unless you're controlling a team like ManU and decide to play a high tempo game. Lots of 6-0 scores.

Gotta love those offers for your crap players eh :laugh:
I don't think I've ever received that much though.