Struggling in ML - Advice would be appreciated

[johe]

Hi, I'm currently in my 1st season in Division 1, (5 stars) and I just can't score enough goals!

Result-wise I'm getting along well, but so far I've won my first 6 games 1-0! The problem is, I can only average about 3-5 shots on goal, all from hopeless angles or distances. The goals I do score are either great long-shots, or corners.

Defending for me isn't a problem, the opposition rarely gets more than 2-3 shots per game.

The formation I'm playing is the 4-4-2 diamond. I've been able to aquire some good players due to the fact that I won both the Div. 2, and the Cup in my first season.

My players:

Gk: Buffon, Ivarov, Zamenhof, Goya (promising player)

Df: Valgaeren, Bermutez, Curro Torres, Silvinho, Hübschman, Valeny, Eliot(promising)

Mf: Pirlo, Edu, Hadje, Vogel, Celnili, Xavi, Petipa (finished growth player, about as good as or better than Rui Costa

Fw: Raùl, Di Vaio, Pauleta, Fernando Torres.


I use this as my starting line-up when no one is injured or out of shape:

Gk: Buffon
Rb: Curro Torres
Lb: Silvinho
Cb: Bermutez
Cb: Valgaeren/Hübschman
Rm: Hadje
Lm: Edu
Dm: Pirlo
Om: Petipa
Fw: Raùl
Fw: Di Vaio

I can't seem to hold on to the ball enough, as there are rarely any passing options.

Any suggestions on formation, player choice, strategies etc?

 

[Lost seraphim]

always look for the open man on your map, and be relaxed, don't quickly turn into an opposing player after receiving a pass and thus lose the ball
you have to counter quickly, get those through balls down the wings to set up a cross, or my favourite, when you have the ball at your end of your field, and you see that your two strikers are against their two CB's at the other end, throw a chipped through pass down one side and have one striker run down one side, when you reach the top of the box, slow it down and eventually the other CB will come mark you as well making it a 2 on 1, then it's about making a move and passing it to the open striker for a one-timer or one on one with a goalie
there will be many times where you can catch the two opposing cb's marking only one striker so it's about getting that marked striker to make a good pass to the open striker
learn how to look for the open man quickly on your map and improving your passing and receiving skills is usually most key for me in winning on 5 star

 

[HTFC.]

You can't hold on to the ball if there's no-one there to hold onto it. The diamond formation just leaves a big whole in your play.

What I'd do is play this formation.

________________________
-------------GK------------
---------------------------
---------------------------
--SB----CBT----CBT----SB-
---------------------------
--------DMF----DMF-------
________________________
---------------------------
---------------------------
--SMF---------------SMF--
------------FWD-----------
---------------------------
------------FWD-----------
________________________

With runs on the full-backs going forward. Runs on the DMF forward and diagonal forward runs out to the wings. Runs on the SMF infield and then diagonally infield as well. Then finally on the second forward have diagonal forward runs out to both wings.

Then finally have high defense on your SMF and second forward. Which sounds strange not to put it on the DMF players as well or even instead of the other players but if you do this then they don't link up into the play. Also the players that do have it on sit back a little and break well when in posession.

 

[johe]

Ok, thanks for the help guys! I have another question as well, should I use strategies like counter-attack on Semi-Auto? Is it better than to do it manually?

Also, by second forward, I assume you mean the deep lying one? Just to make that clear?

 

[Original?]

How did you get all those players in your first season? or have you just finished your first season.

On a side note, what's wrong with a 1-0 win? It's a win ain't it

 

[Tenacious D]

I agree with HTFC thats the best formation for meh in the entire game either that or 2 OF mid's instead also dont rush into the tackle ,so that when u do recieve possesion off the ball u wount be running into trouble agen and as my coach says if u cant play forward play ur way back and start agen!!!!

 

[robbieisgod]

Formation

Ok, thanks for the help guys! I have another question as well, should I use strategies like counter-attack on Semi-Auto? Is it better than to do it manually?

Also, by second forward, I assume you mean the deep lying one? Just to make that clear?

I try a different formation when I need to score goals. I play a 4-3-3 with four at the back, way back. I use my position edit to move them all the way into the box. I play a center midfielder slightly behind the kickoff circle with a right and left midfielder advanced out on the wings. I play with three strikers, the center striker lines up in between the edge of the box and the outside of the half circle right in the center of the box slightly behind the other strikers, the left and right strikers line up slightly forward of this all IMPORTANT center striker but not outside of the box. On offence you have the L and R midfielders to swing in crosses and the L and R strikers and cut the ball in to the center striker. Make sure the center striker is your most accurate kicker.
If you have a quick midfielder, have him play in the center midfield, he can chase back on D, but can also join the attack. Have been playing PES and WE for years and years and this formation works wonders!! Takes a little time to get used to where your players will be but I'm sure you'll increase your tally!

 

[johe]

How did you get all those players in your first season? or have you just finished your first season.

On a side note, what's wrong with a 1-0 win? It's a win ain't it

I've finished my first season, and I got those players in the pre-season transfer window.

And I tried the 4-4-2 with 2 DM's as suggested, and what happens? I find it even harder to keep possesion, not because I don't have any passing options, but because the opposition just push me off the ball every time they get the chance and now I get 0-0 instead of 1-0, lol. When I played at my friend's house, I tried his ML save, and although the quality of his players are about the same as mine, it was waaay easier to play.. He plays a diamond, just like I did earlier.. He also played on 5 stars, which makes me even more confused, why would it be harder to play on my game?? It doesn't make sense. Especially as I rocked the Division 2 with default players, winning by scores like 3-0.

Oh, well, I'm sure it'll sort itself out. Thanks for all the helpful advice though guys.

 

[johe]

I now tried the same formation as suggested by HTFC, only with OMF's instead of SMF's, and it's bloody brilliant! I won my first game 3-0, and created many more chances as well.

Although it has to be said, that game was against West Ham, but for me it's a revelation.

And I'm no longer rushing into tackles, and turning into players. I still get pushed off the ball and never get a free-kick, but I've heard many people have the same problem.

I've also aquired Freddie Ljungberg and he's scoring at will

Conclusion: This forum is so much more helpful than Pesfan.com.

 

[MattShez]

Im actually about to start over in the ML as i have completed the last one to a full standard, with 460,000 to spare! One tip is to buy players when ther contract expires, wether you need them or not, thewn you can trade them for players you would like.

For example i bought Schevchenco on a free and traded him for Ronaldo meaning i earned more getting a better player

 

[7RONALDO7]

Gk: Buffon
Rb: Curro Torres
Lb: Silvinho
Cb: Bermutez
Cb: Valgaeren/Hübschman
Rm: Hadje
Lm: Edu
Dm: Pirlo
Om: Petipa
Fw: Raùl
Fw: Di Vaio


It seems that you have a good enough team to win everything, also my hint is to change our starts down to 4 or even 3!

 

[AmericanBaller]

Set the counterattack strategy up on manual and when the offense stagnates (or the whole game), enable it and leave your forwards up top. Also, I would set up the CB Overlap strategy as well, that way whoever your middle defender is will run up and jump in the fray. You may be a little more volatile defensively, but you should have all the players moving forward at the right time.

At times I struggle with most of my goals being from boring crosses. Occasionally I'll play games where I will not take a cross unless it is passed into the corner (meaning I won't make runs with the ball into the corner). This forces me to play back inside and try to find an opening in the defense. Doesn't always work and you swear that the games you lose you could have won if you kept hurling crosses, but it makes you be a little more patient and try to play The Beautiful Game more. I agree that headers from crosses are the worst kinds of goals in the game.

-DS

 

[MattShez]

Buy a promising player called Van Gouh (spelling?)

If you play him every game then you will have a WORLD CLASS midfielder like Paul Scholes but twice as good and he can also play striker, but only do this when you have settled into a comfortable position in the leauge!

 

[johe]

... If you play him every game then you will have a WORLD CLASS midfielder like Paul Scholes but twice as good and he can also ...

Ok thanks for the tip, except Paul Scholes ain't world-class.

Robert Pires on the other hand..

Set the counterattack strategy up on manual and when the offense stagnates (or the whole game), enable it and leave your forwards up top. Also, I would set up the CB Overlap strategy as well, that way whoever your middle defender is will run up and jump in the fray. You may be a little more volatile defensively, but you should have all the players moving forward at the right time.

At times I struggle with most of my goals being from boring crosses. Occasionally I'll play games where I will not take a cross unless it is passed into the corner (meaning I won't make runs with the ball into the corner). This forces me to play back inside and try to find an opening in the defense. Doesn't always work and you swear that the games you lose you could have won if you kept hurling crosses, but it makes you be a little more patient and try to play The Beautiful Game more. I agree that headers from crosses are the worst kinds of goals in the game.

-DS

Problem is I'm not very patient . I always look for the quick break, and usually I would use Henry's pace, but as this team aren't as quick, they are more of a passing team, so I suppose I should be more patient like you say and employ a bit possession-focused game.