People! Lend me your ML advice.

[Sminky]

Friends, Fanboys and FIFA lovers lend me your PES formations ...

Yeah anyway, right I'm contemplating getting started with MLO and as a strict ML offline player I've picked up some bad habits. Namely, I use stupid formations and have lost touch with how to play human players. I'm ripe for whipping (in PES terms mind) but to make me fair sport I need some (sensible) starting advice.

I'm thinking about starting out as an Italian team, possibly Lazio - but then I'm wondering is it worth playing as a team with quite distinctive kits (i.e Villarreal, Saint Etienne and Fiorentina) to help when you play against someone with a similar kit? Or does it not really factor as an issue? Yes I am that naive I'm asking that.

Formations. I use a stupid 4-4-2 diamond formation in ML offline, which is full of giants. I score from set pieces regularly. Am I better off playing defensive or expansive to build a team of decent players?

Finally, Should I buy decent defenders first or build from the front?

Right ... I leave the floor open to you ...

 

[Avelives]

First things first, from your other posts you are better player than me and I literally never played against people since PES3 or 4 if memory serves and was surprised how few times I lost, in short you will be amazed at how crap some people are.

Formation wise honestly anything can work, including what you play now, the problem you'll have there is that big players with good stats are usually quite expensive, you can buy big players with average stats but most people play loads of speedy little guys and they will run rings round you. Early on when your still team building imo its best to stick with a balanced team in terms of strength/speed you know a few big guys a few quick wingers etc

All that said most people play bastardised stupid versions of 433 often having the SMFs pushed right up behind the WFs so they can double team your SBs with repeated massive long balls and through balls to the corners. Thats how most players in the lower divisions play and of course sometimes it works despite your best efforts.

In terms of players once you sold the most rubbish defaults to a minimum 16, most people invest in 1 or 2 uber forwards and launch long balls at them for the whole match, but if you get wise to this you can usually beat these people with a more all round team of average players. The problem with most of the defaults is terrible stamina and form stats, so if you buy a top forward and fail to score inside 60mins youll suddenly find your other 10 default players die on their arses and end up with zero stamina and get ripped apart for the final 30 odd mins, thats my experience so far anyway.

I have a team of better than default average players, its weighted in attack but still I invested in a better back line and DMF, its doesnt always pay off, sometimes I still get robbed by teams of defaults with one superstar but its rare and usually I outplay them.

Other cheesy things to watch out for in the lower divisions are as follows
1) People playing ultra high line, high pressure tactics - dont get dragged into their game, play very low support (6 or less) an equally high line and murder them on the counter.
2) The aformentioned Mick Mcarthy-esque long ball tactic - they usually emply super fast wingers and try to trap your SBs in the corners and rob you
3) If you havent already practice penalties - people are happy to give away penalties if it looks like youll score thinking no one can score them, they almost never dive with the goalie.

Im sure theres more but thats what Ive noticed, cant speak for the higher divisions (D3 and up) cause I havent played in those yet. As for team name, do yourself a favour and name your own team youll be glad you did when you see the 1000s of identical team names, no one else plays as Ramsgate FC (my team) and it adds amusement when you beat someone playing Barcelona !! Kit wise you can edit those in normal way and it reflects the changes online when you next load so it doesnt matter about that as long as you dont mind changing them in the other modes as well.

Hope thats all of some use to you.

 

[Sminky]

First things first, from your other posts you are better player than me and I literally never played against people since PES3 or 4 if memory serves and was surprised how few times I lost, in short you will be amazed at how crap some people are.

Formation wise honestly anything can work, including what you play now, the problem you'll have there is that big players with good stats are usually quite expensive, you can buy big players with average stats but most people play loads of speedy little guys and they will run rings round you. Early on when your still team building imo its best to stick with a balanced team in terms of strength/speed you know a few big guys a few quick wingers etc

All that said most people play bastardised stupid versions of 433 often having the SMFs pushed right up behind the WFs so they can double team your SBs with repeated massive long balls and through balls to the corners. Thats how most players in the lower divisions play and of course sometimes it works despite your best efforts.

In terms of players once you sold the most rubbish defaults to a minimum 16, most people invest in 1 or 2 uber forwards and launch long balls at them for the whole match, but if you get wise to this you can usually beat these people with a more all round team of average players. The problem with most of the defaults is terrible stamina and form stats, so if you buy a top forward and fail to score inside 60mins youll suddenly find your other 10 default players die on their arses and end up with zero stamina and get ripped apart for the final 30 odd mins, thats my experience so far anyway.

I have a team of better than default average players, its weighted in attack but still I invested in a better back line and DMF, its doesnt always pay off, sometimes I still get robbed by teams of defaults with one superstar but its rare and usually I outplay them.

Other cheesy things to watch out for in the lower divisions are as follows
1) People playing ultra high line, high pressure tactics - dont get dragged into their game, play very low support (6 or less) an equally high line and murder them on the counter.
2) The aformentioned Mick Mcarthy-esque long ball tactic - they usually emply super fast wingers and try to trap your SBs in the corners and rob you
3) If you havent already practice penalties - people are happy to give away penalties if it looks like youll score thinking no one can score them, they almost never dive with the goalie.

Im sure theres more but thats what Ive noticed, cant speak for the higher divisions (D3 and up) cause I havent played in those yet. As for team name, do yourself a favour and name your own team youll be glad you did when you see the 1000s of identical team names, no one else plays as Ramsgate FC (my team) and it adds amusement when you beat someone playing Barcelona !! Kit wise you can edit those in normal way and it reflects the changes online when you next load so it doesnt matter about that as long as you dont mind changing them in the other modes as well.

Hope thats all of some use to you.

First off, can’t thank you enough for your post, its more helpful than you realise - and secondly, its clear I’ll have to take a more measured and considered approach than I first thought and from what you’ve said, It looks like some players are just going for all out width.

If I use a back four then its clear I have to abandon fullbacks for two additional centrebacks and play a narrow back four.

My primary concern with playing a high line would be being open to alot of through balls from just inside my half of the pitch. It would also mean having to play two DMF as double pivots to protect my back four but that means sacrificing midfield creativity and width - unless I use one CF and one WF.

My style of football is possession football, a triangular passing game but I do dither on the ball so I may need to get into the habit of passing the ball quicker and working on using the feints more than I usually would.

I’m going to have to test drive some formations and players on Top Player AI as well as practise penalties before beginning.

When I get started my first buys would wisely seem to be

1. A winger with a bit of pace, agility, dribbling speed and good crossing
2. A striker with the one on one scoring card
3. A robust pair of central defenders

Looks like I’ll be spending hours scouting for players to start with ....

 

[Kiwin1908]

I recently started MLO myself (Yesterday) And I can share with you how I approached it.

I chose WE United as my team. Then began releasing players. I didn't want to remove anyone from my starting 11, just all the useless subs, down to 16 players left. You can find players with an overall of about 20, who cost very little. I signed 5 of those and then I removed the rest of the default players from the bench, leaving my starting eleven intact, and with a bunch of drooling morons on the bench. That gave me about 6 mill or so to spend on new players.

I knew I had to somewhat adapt my formation to the 4-3-3 guys who are mentioned in you guys posts above, so I went for a safe 4-2-3-1 formation with 2 deep defensive midfielders and my back 4 sitting deep (8 or so). My goal here from the start was to pick up 2 DMF fighters to strengthen my midfield and one CF who could give me the goals when needed. Some of the default players (Gutierrez, Castolo) Are decent attackers, but their finishing is utterly crap.

I went with Gattuso (64 overall). Only cost me about 1.7 mill or so, and he's got some really good stats for his position. And Albelda (72) Who was a bit more I think, about 1.9 mill or so. Also some good stats, these two guys have been a great addition to my team, and are really good ballwinners, with some decent passing skills aswell.

Up front, I had a really hard time deciding who I was gonna get. I wanted a CF who could hold his own, run with the ball, and have a good shot aswell. My budget was about 3 mill for this guy, But I just couldnt decide who to get. After what felt like hours or searching, I decided to go with Inzaghi. Not a type of player I would normally use, but what the heck!

After a few games, I had enough funds to pick up a second striker (Odemwingie) With some decent stats, and I am using this guy as a SS/AMF now. I think it's important to have a player with somewhat good technique in at position, to pass the ball to the wingers or through balls to your CF.

You should definately look for atleast one good player upfront to help you get some goals in. When you start out, you're gonna face alot of Division 5 players, who all seem to invest in attacking players only, so theiy will suffer from bad defenders aswell. I found putting pressure on their defenders really can help you get the ball sometimes, or atleast make them throw it away.

 

[Sminky]

I went for a safe 4-2-3-1 formation with 2 deep defensive midfielders and my back 4 sitting deep (8 or so). My goal here from the start was to pick up 2 DMF fighters to strengthen my midfield and one CF who could give me the goals when needed. Some of the default players (Gutierrez, Castolo) Are decent attackers, but their finishing is utterly crap.

I think its that most likely how I will line my team up or close to it in a 4-4-2 with one of the side midfielders pushed up a winger.

>>>>>>GK>>>>>>
CB>>CB>>>CB>>CB
>>DMF>>>DMF>>>
>>>>>>AMF>>>>>
LWF>>>CF>>>RMF

 

[Sminky]

I think its that most likely how I will line my team up or close to it in a 4-4-2 with one of the side midfielders pushed up a winger.

>>>>>>GK>>>>>>
CB>>CB>>>CB>>CB
>>DMF>>>DMF>>>
>>>>>>AMF>>>>>
LWF>>>CF>>>RMF

EDIT: Not sure how I've double posted this but I have! Sorry Mods!

 

[Kiwin1908]

Im playing with my wingers abit more defensively, they join both attack and defence. I think the 5 midfielders gives me an advantage over the guys using only 3. Especially the two dmf are doing a great job.

_____________________________
____________Inzaghi___________
__________Odenwingie__________
_Ximelez______________Castolo__
_______Gattuso__Albelda________
__Giersen_Stremer_Valeny__El M._
____________Rustu____________

W12 D6 L10

Castolo's overall increases a few points when played as SMF.
I've lost 10 so far, However 5 of those have been in coach mode, which I'm not gonna touch again until I get atleast my defenders changed.

 

[Sminky]

Im playing with my wingers abit more defensively, they join both attack and defence. I think the 5 midfielders gives me an advantage over the guys using only 3. Especially the two dmf are doing a great job.

I might have one DMF slightly more to the side of the pitch if I'm playing with one WF to cover the additional space left by my forward. That said my WF should drop back a bit though automatically.

I want to keep my AMF within reasonable distance from my DMF's to keep the middle of the pitch compact.