It is a good idea, but the most important thing is the execution of the idea. The most positive thing about it, is that it shows a clear intention to progress past completely automatic off the ball movement.
Though personally, I think the right analog stick is not needed at all, because I think the gamer could design preset scripts via the team settings, and then press and release the L2 button in order to trigger each sequence of the script, and that's it.
It's more comfortable in my opinion, if the center forward moves automatically one second or ten seconds after the gamer pressed and released the L2 button. You then alternate between scripts.
Script A: the center forward automatically moves from Point A to Point B, four seconds after the gamer pressed and released the L2 button.
Script B: the center forward automatically moves from Point A to Point B, ten seconds after the gamer pressed and released the L2 button.
It would do the same exact thing that the right analog stick can do, but it would be impossible to exploit, and it would be much more comfortable to use because you do not need to be directing the right analog stick in order to determine the movement of the 2nd player, and at the same time direct the left analog stick in order to dribble with the ball carrier.
Bottom line. I think it's a great albeit obvious idea, and above all, I'm just glad that Konami has finally made the first decisive action to distance themselves from completely automatic off the ball movement.
However, I do not like the idea of moving the right analog stick in order to determine off the ball movement, because I think the execution could be simpler and better.
For example. With a preset script that cannot be affected when in possession of the ball. This would mean that on the defensive end, the computer would know how to automatically cursor change, which means that the split second that was required in order to manually cursor change would not be necessary anymore, which means that the computer could easily contain the team in possession of the ball via simple execution that revolves around TIMING.
In other words. You would replace the manual cursor change button, with a new system that would force you into making mistakes and yet would be easier to use.
On the other hand. With the right analog stick system, the team in possession of the ball has manual control over two players, the 1st player can do anything at any given time, and the 2nd player can do anything at any given time. On the defensive end, how does the computer contain such a system if the computer does not know what the team in possession will do?
The right analog stick is good for giving directions, but it isn't exactly a responsive button. What factor would determine the TIMING of the off the ball run? What factor would determine if the center forward reacted a little too late or a little too early? What factor would determine if the center back anticipated the play or if the center back did not anticipated the play?
I'm guessing that this is where the right analog stick becomes redundant, because this is the area of the game where the "Active AI" takes over the game and decides if the "center forward reacted just in time" or if the "center forward reacted too quickly and was caught offside" or if the "center forward reacted too late and the chance was lost" or if, etc, etc.
Above all, I see it as something positive because it serves as a starting point on which they can build on. However, I can see a lot of flaws with the right analog stick system. Because although it adds something new into the game, it also does not fix any of the core flaws -- "center back reacted too late and was caught off guard" or "center forward reacted too quickly and was caught offside" -- of PES.
With a preset script system, where the gamer determines the exact TIMING of the run, the core flaw of PES would no longer spoil the game.
