Pressure and Countering

[Damojag]

I was having a go at some of Jmz's formations there (found in the Advanced Formations Thread) and I noticed something that struck me as quite pleasing. In his Team Strategy for all his formations there it seems he has Zone Press and Counter Attack (x and o respectively). I decided to mess around with this and as it's something I rarely do, I was amazed by the results. As soon as the game kicks off I hit the Strategy x and o as well as Orange attacking (not full throttle just yet). My players press the opposition and attack in such a way so as to catch the opposing team off-guard. This works amazing when you're a goal or two up and your opponents are pushing for the goal...you let them come at you and rob the ball, playing it down the field where you most likely have a 2 on 1 situation. I cannot stop scoring with this! My regular formation is a flat back four with the fullbacks pushing up, an anchor DM at the bottom of the centre circle and an attacking Midfielder at the top of said circle, two wingers, one player "in the hole" just behind and to the right of the my Centre Forward.

--------------------------GK----------------------------------------

-----------------CB----------------CB-------------------------------

-----RB-----------------------------------------LB------------------

--------------------------DM----------------------------------------



--------------------------AM----------------------------------------

RM-----------------------------------------------LM----------------


----------------SS--------------------------------------------------



-----------------------------CF-------------------------------------

 

[futbol724]

I will give it a try, I had mastered pes6 but still having trouble with pes 2008 at top level. I have been switching between some formations, usually the best is 4-4-2 with one DM for me

 

[tinytino]

Re:

I was having a go at some of Jmz's formations there (found in the Advanced Formations Thread) and I noticed something that struck me as quite pleasing. In his Team Strategy for all his formations there it seems he has Zone Press and Counter Attack (x and o respectively). I decided to mess around with this and as it's something I rarely do, I was amazed by the results. As soon as the game kicks off I hit the Strategy x and o as well as Orange attacking (not full throttle just yet). My players press the opposition and attack in such a way so as to catch the opposing team off-guard. This works amazing when you're a goal or two up and your opponents are pushing for the goal...you let them come at you and rob the ball, playing it down the field where you most likely have a 2 on 1 situation. I cannot stop scoring with this! My regular formation is a flat back four with the fullbacks pushing up, an anchor DM at the bottom of the centre circle and an attacking Midfielder at the top of said circle, two wingers, one player "in the hole" just behind and to the right of the my Centre Forward.

--------------------------GK----------------------------------------

-----------------CB----------------CB-------------------------------

-----RB-----------------------------------------LB------------------

--------------------------DM----------------------------------------



--------------------------AM----------------------------------------

RM-----------------------------------------------LM----------------


----------------SS--------------------------------------------------



-----------------------------CF-------------------------------------

How do you apply the Team strategy while in play? I have never used this option. Alway just play the game as it is and make subs or change formation to change the way my team plays.

 

[Hunter]

How do you apply the Team strategy while in play? I have never used this option. Alway just play the game as it is and make subs or change formation to change the way my team plays.

Hold "L2" or "LT" (depending on the console) and press whatever button you want, for example here, "O".

Thanks for the advice too, may give it a try in the Master League since I'm constantly getting pissed on and losing, usually through the Computer cheating mind. But heh, that's PES 2008. :mellow:

 

[Damojag]

Yeah the only strategy I ever used was attacking...but since PES 08 is "harder" due to obvious scripting I have to employ actual tactics ha! This new PES calls for a slow, patient build-up, a bit like United. Don't be afraid to pass around the back and use the keeper, Mr. Champion says that this is a "useful tactic" haha! Long passes and through balls help a lot too. Also don't rush in to tackles, jockey the opposition by holding the R2 or L2 button (your player runs backwards) as it slows down their attack.

 

[KingShorty]

Yeah the only strategy I ever used was attacking...but since PES 08 is "harder" due to obvious scripting I have to employ actual tactics ha! This new PES calls for a slow, patient build-up, a bit like United. Don't be afraid to pass around the back and use the keeper, Mr. Champion says that this is a "useful tactic" haha! Long passes and through balls help a lot too. Also don't rush in to tackles, jockey the opposition by holding the R2 or L2 button (your player runs backwards) as it slows down their attack.

yeah, im usually going full throttle in almost every play... i've got to start conserving stamina for late game bursts...

i do however play a lot of over the top through balls from my RB to my RW (either Brown or Neville to Ronaldo)...

from there, the defense is broken down via the flank and a good cross or low pass to an on coming attacker/striker results in either a great goal or a breath-taking save from the goal keeper...

i love that they've made the game based more on patience than arcade... i've noticed that when i patiently build up my play from the midfield, the goals are very satisfying... but if i try to rush the passes, i get countered on very easily.

 

[seanw250]

Have a pretty similar formation to Damo's that i came up with last night Was using this with the England side and was having some excellent results. This really hits teams on the counter and with pace on the wings, you can really shatter a side. Defending is also a little more forgiving if you have good DM's to place in front of your defence. I'll give you a run-down -

2 CB's - sitting a tad deeper than normal
2 WB's - wide and high, roughly in between ur CB's and DM's
2 DM's - I usually place them a little deeper and about as wide apart as the circle
1 AM - On edge of circle
2 WF's - Just inside penalty area, width of the box
1 CF - Pushing all the way and dead centre

Back line- A
Off side trap - B

Immediately use the tactics "pressure" and "counter" at the start of the match. I usually use manual attack/defence settings, but auto attack seems to work pretty well too.

When defending, try to push the attacker wide by using ur DM when they enter your half. Try to restrict the square ball and the opponent will usually try to cross it from a poor area or play a shitty long ball that your WB as a good chance of pouncing onto. Also restrict sprinting when doing this and use your Cb's as little as possible to not pull them out of their position.

When you steal the ball (particularly in your own half) glance at your radar and there is a pretty good chance of somebody being in a promosing attacking position. When you notice the gap/overlap you have created with your winger or whatever, either play a direct long ball to him or play along the ground via ur AM. If you bang it up to him, use a change of pace then try and slot a through ball to one of your WF's to cross it or cut back in and shoot. Scored many goals like this with Stevie playing the attacking role with the likes of Lennon and Wright-Phillips on the wings.

Anyway, this is just a start, but its been promising so far. Over the next few weeks ill tweak it a bit more to see what i can come up with.

Let me know if anyone else has any success using this system. Also, i have been searching for it.. are the Individual settings (Attack/Defence levels) etc in there somewhere, cant seem to find the option anywhere!

 

[Damojag]

They're in there Sean! I'll find them in the morning and post it up...it's tricky figuring out where everything is tactically but you're spot on with the high backline and offsides

 

[seanw250]

Sweet, that'd be good mate. Was beginning to think we'd been screwed on yet another feature!

 

[stuandpolar]

i go super attacking most of the time with

-----------------------------GK--------------------------------
-----------------------------CB---------------------------------

--------------------CB----------------CB-------------------------


------------------------------CM----------------------------------


----------------AM-----------------------AM-----------------------

----LW---------------SS-----------------------------RW
---------------------------------CF------------------------------
It works well, i have strategy A slightly different which drops on AM back to RB and one CB slides into LB and the SS drops to AM, then soak up some pressure, then as soon as i get posession, i boost it back to super attack. I also have strategy B saved as even more attacking with one of the AM's going to CF in case i need a goal at all costs. done well for me so far, but i do regularly concede, mainly from corners and free kicks to be honest. but its rare that i don't score in a game

 

[Damojag]

.....

Let me know if anyone else has any success using this system. Also, i have been searching for it.. are the Individual settings (Attack/Defence levels) etc in there somewhere, cant seem to find the option anywhere!

For Attack/ Defence settings there are two options. Firstly the overall team option is found by going to Formation --> Manual --> Team --> Attack/Defence. I usually set this to Manual and then when the game starts up it to orange (L2 and R1 usually). For weaker sides I'd go all out on red. Just remember to set it to blue DIRECTLY after scoring as the computer is attacking with force then. When you retain possession you can go attacking again.

For Individual Attack/Defence settings you need to go to Formation --> Manual --> Individual and select either/or. Usually your defence and defensive midfielders will have High defence, wingers and Attacking Mids will have normal and your Forwards will have low.

The small attacking arrows are very important. I've noticed when the opposition attack down the wing, my full back is AWOL. Reason being his arrows are pointing toward his Goalie. For Full backs set their arrows to the left and right only. Def Mid should have ONE arrow pointing to his GK. If you're going for wing play, have your Wingers with arrows pointing both ways or if you want to cut inside, have them pointing to the opposition goal and then to the corner flag.

The reason for these arrows are simple and fairly self-explanatory: let's say you're playing for your local team and your manager is roaring at you (as a right midfielder) to "friggin track back" but he also wants you down the line to cross the ball in, these are your arrows pointing to the left and to the right respectively! Naturally you may experience some problems with wingers not running forward when you (as the full back) have the ball and are pressing down the wing. I'm not sure why some wingers do this and some don't, maybe it's a hidden footballing brain but for those wingers that do run back when they obviously should be sprinting down the wing, set their arrows to forward play only, just the one arrow will do.

Hope that clears up any confusion. Remember Konami want this game to be more realistic and much more depending on tactics rather than pass-pass-score-goal!

 

[seanw250]

Awesome, thanks for the reply Damo. Added some rep for you I'll be having some more fun trying to perfect my formation. Cheers

 

[Bushwacker]

damo, guess you're playing ps2 version? I both played the ps2 and pc versions and the ps2 version menus are the same with the previous pes. however, there are some changes in pc(and possibly in ps3 and xbox) version. for instance, you can set up to 3 players to go forward in attacking free-kicks and corners.

i assume that sean couldn't find the arrows because it's in a different place in the pc(and possibly in ps3 and xbox) version.

go to formation -> edit then press l1 & r1(lb & rb) or l2+r2(lt & rt). can't remember which one right now, but one of those sets gives you the attack and defense arrows.

the attack arrows apply when you have the ball. i think when the winger tracks back even though you tell them to go forward stems from their "attack" and "mentality" stats, but I'm not sure exactly. I mean, that "mentality" stat has to have some function, hasn't it? : )

 

[Damojag]

damo, guess you're playing ps2 version? I both played the ps2 and pc versions and the ps2 version menus are the same with the previous pes. however, there are some changes in pc(and possibly in ps3 and xbox) version. for instance, you can set up to 3 players to go forward in attacking free-kicks and corners.

i assume that sean couldn't find the arrows because it's in a different place in the pc(and possibly in ps3 and xbox) version.

go to formation -> edit then press l1 & r1(lb & rb) or l2+r2(lt & rt). can't remember which one right now, but one of those sets gives you the attack and defense arrows.

the attack arrows apply when you have the ball. i think when the winger tracks back even though you tell them to go forward stems from their "attack" and "mentality" stats, but I'm not sure exactly. I mean, that "mentality" stat has to have some function, hasn't it? : )

Yeah Mentality has a lot to do with composure I'd reckon...how he copes under pressure from an onrushing keeper and so forth.
That feature of players going forward for corners and free-kicks is very good. It does work for the PS2 as well: When taking a corner hit L2 and R1 up to red. Eventually your CB's will come forward, if you want to rush them just change the kicker and they magically appear in the box. Then to reach them, use an inswinger corner (i.e. left footer taking corner from the right and so on), hold up directional arrow and R2 to about half power. Make sure you're aiming towards them of course!

 

[Bushwacker]

my master league formation:

gk, 2 cb, lb, rb, dmf, cmf, rmf, amf, ss, cf

my regular chelsea formation:

gk, 2 cb, lb, rb, dmf, 2 cmf, amf, ss, cf


i make use of both slow build up and countering. i also apply counter attack and pressure tactics, defensive line set to c(slow cb's), offside trap set to b

i know that you can call one cb (when playing 4-4-2) in the penalty box if you set your attacking mentality to red when taking the spot kick, however that way your midfielders get into the area too, which means you have less players to lurk outside area, resulting in a counter attack against your team. when you set players to go forward in spot kicks in this new version, i set my attacking mentality to green and i have my tallest players (ballack, terry and carvalho, a good chance of scoring) in the area and still essien, makalele and lampard are lurking outside area, which means i can cut any counters easily.

 

[Bushwacker]

Yeah Mentality has a lot to do with composure I'd reckon...how he copes under pressure from an onrushing keeper and so forth.
That feature of players going forward for corners and free-kicks is very good. It does work for the PS2 as well: When taking a corner hit L2 and R1 up to red. Eventually your CB's will come forward, if you want to rush them just change the kicker and they magically appear in the box. Then to reach them, use an inswinger corner (i.e. left footer taking corner from the right and so on), hold up directional arrow and R2 to about half power. Make sure you're aiming towards them of course!

mentality and composure might be related but i think that composure thing is directly related with 1vs1 scoring and scoring ability. I don't know, but i'd like to : )

 

[j-we]

i might try this. i get my ass whopped on regular setting rofl

 

[seanw250]

i assume that sean couldn't find the arrows because it's in a different place in the pc(and possibly in ps3 and xbox) version.

go to formation -> edit then press l1 & r1(lb & rb) or l2+r2(lt & rt). can't remember which one right now, but one of those sets gives you the attack and defense arrows.

Yeah, cheers for that. Havent had a chance to get on and check but this is most likely where it is on 360. Geez, they made it easy for us didnt they

 

[PeSpRo mkII]

sounds like a good formation. trying it against italy. as england. what can go wrong?

 

[Damojag]

sounds like a good formation. trying it against italy. as england. what can go wrong?

I'll tell ya what can go wrong pespro...you can lose! Aren't England grossly over-rated though, in the game?