MLO - Defending against superstars

[iamcanadianeh]

My current beef with MLO is that when I come up against some teams with players like Messi, Aguero, Hulk, Arshavin, etc, that I find it very difficult for my defense to steal the ball. I often get scored on because someone is using Hulk and dribbling - not with much skill mind you - through the heart of my defense and nobody can knock him off the ball even though they are surrounding him like flies.

Any strategies people are using to help combat this, or do I simply need to improve the quality fo the defenders in my squad? That's my current plan, which is to make sure my defenders all have body balance around 85 or above.

Here's my current CBs:

Sikov and Simao

 

[Montanaro]

I never have much of a problem. I have my player stand off more though, and I invite them on me then I pounce for the ball.

I've been making sure to let go of the pressure button when I'm in position to steal the ball, it makes your player lunge for the ball

 

[lyc10]

i believe that response and body balance are key when it comes to dispossessing the opponent, also i recommend using more slide tackles

 

[Montanaro]

I almost never slide tackle, only when the opponent takes a long touch, or they are about to shoot (to block shot)

 

[iamcanadianeh]

I never have much of a problem. I have my player stand off more though, and I invite them on me then I pounce for the ball.

I've been making sure to let go of the pressure button when I'm in position to steal the ball, it makes your player lunge for the ball

That sounds about right. I use a lot of pressure - and that's probably my problem. Still, I find it ridculous sometimes that I have three or four defenders surrounding the dribbler and they are all unable to steal when in close controlled proximity.

Anyway, I'll try that.

 

[Montanaro]

I also usually use the double team pressure, when my ai gets close I release X for him to put leg out for ball and I'll trail close by to provide a passing target or to nab the ball.

To be honest, most players choke when you stand off. They simply dont know how to finish unless they are one on one with the keeper (which is easy)

 

[iamcanadianeh]

So you let the AI (second pressing play) make the challenge usually and you shadow?

 

[Montanaro]

essentially yes. Most of the time they expect you to challenge, so they shy away from you and move closer to the AI.

One downside of this is if anyone ever had the brains, they would give a shoulder fake, which is quite effective at throwing off the AI. Luckily people never do any tricks outside rainbow flicks.

 

[Ultimate777]

It depends on where the players are positioned in the formation. If say they have ronaldo and arshavin inside the box positioned out wide with a main stiker in the centre in front then set your defensive compactness setting slider to wide. If the players are positioned further outside the box then set it to narrow.

Make sure your defensive line slider is set to defend deep and then you're players will be better positioned to deal with the threat. What often happens if that is not set they're likely to be left standing shoulder to shoulder with a ronaldo, messi who can just simply side step the marker and have acres of space behind to exploit

 

[iamcanadianeh]

essentially yes. Most of the time they expect you to challenge, so they shy away from you and move closer to the AI.

One downside of this is if anyone ever had the brains, they would give a shoulder fake, which is quite effective at throwing off the AI. Luckily people never do any tricks outside rainbow flicks.

Well, I've been practicing with this new way of defending, and I can see how it's effective. So different from what I'm used to though!

So to clarify, I agree that it seems like you need to let off the double pressure button in order to cue your AI defenders to tackle, but what about the single pressure button? Do you even use that? Do you ever use the run button either when defending?

 

[Montanaro]

I use it sometimes to mix it up, and letting off triggers a tackle, however I find it a little more difficult, probably because being on the analog stick probably effects the tackle somewhat.

and to 777, I never really thought about changing my slider based on opponent. I play wide and deep now, which works, but never considered changing it to defend certain formations. But most people run with the 3 strikers anyway, so I usually don't need to change.

 

[iamcanadianeh]

Montanaro - Well, this really hasn't worked for me. I think the solution (for me) lies elsewhere. When I tried this it led to the AI giving up a pen (slide in the box that I never would have done) and also the first time I tried standing off a bit more than usual with this method (and not too far off mind you) the opposition player chipped my keeper from about the edge of the 18. Just not for me, but thanks for the advice anyway...

 

[Makavelian]

My strategy is mainly to back of and cut out any space available in your defence or just predict where your opponents focusing his attacks,especially when people run into the wings all the time i just make sure i have control of a cb and position to cut out the cross , stopping the supply by dragging players back and doubling up on the star players , but i don't always play the same defensively you just need to pick and choose on the type of guy your playing,there no perfect way because sometimes you just cant get near arshavin etc .
Heres a little example of how i defend.
I recorded this because i knew he was a cheat,Its not my best defensive game but you get the point of my defensive style.
[YOUTUBE]ost49g25xEc[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]rYXnI4cGqJI[/YOUTUBE]

 

[iamcanadianeh]

My strategy is mainly to back of and cut out any space available in your defence or just predict where your opponents focusing his attacks,especially when people run into the wings all the time i just make sure i have control of a cb and position to cut out the cross , stopping the supply by dragging players back and doubling up on the star players , but i don't always play the same defensively you just need to pick and choose on the type of guy your playing,there no perfect way because sometimes you just cant get near arshavin etc .
Heres a little example of how i defend.
I recorded this because i knew he was a cheat,Its not my best defensive game but you get the point of my defensive style.

Thanks!

To clarify, my problem isn't so much down the wings, but in the middle, and it's not like I'm in really poor positions. I just find some players really difficult to knock off the ball, like they are superhuman or something. Simple solution I think is to get stronger defenders...

 

[alexsw]

I almost never slide tackle, only when the opponent takes a long touch, or they are about to shoot (to block shot)

Yeah that's what I do too. But I usually time and place my slide tackle to block the opponent's path so they run the ball into my legs and trip.