I never trust or relay on the statistics barometer or possesion (ex, how many friends are supporting you etc) since it's obvious that it doesn't make any sense. You can dominate, keep pressure or ran them over like a bulldozer, but still not be able to score. The best way to "tell" is that you keep counting and tracking it by yourself on a piece of paper and then compare the "sheet" to each other.
This season I've started to keep "tracking" all of my games on 2 computers/iphone and let's be honest, the game script isn't the best and sometimes it doesn't make sense. I can tell and guarantee you that. If the script on the PC tells you that he scored on a FK, the game script on the IOS tells you that it was on a CK or something else.
The same goes for the "special abilities" (SA). No matter if my DF are all defence wall or aerial defenders, I still keep conceding goals on FK + CK. The same goes for the GK, even if he has a 1v1 or PK: he will still keep letting balls in or fail to save them.
And even if I manage to win: I get penalized, either a player gets a injury or a suspension (yesterday it was Nastastić, today it was Jovetić and Januzaj). So far, I've got either a injury or suspension in every game I manage to win.
The same goes for the "win-bonus", I don't really think it motivate/simulate the players at all. For 2 season I didn't give them a damn coin: they managed fine. Then when I was going to play quarter-semi or finals, I've decided to give them a threat, but they didn't perform better for that matter (sometimes even worse then before). It's just a waste of money, that's whats it is.
And if we are talking about Quality or stars, then it's obvious that sometimes it doesn't "make up". You're 7-8* striker will still have issues getting past his 3-4* defender. Believe it or not.
But after all, it's just a game and shouldn't take it way too seriously. Enjoy it for what it is, not for what you want it too be.
PROUD MANAGER OF...
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I'm facing a 4-3W-3. I'm thinking of going for a 4-3w-2N-1 christmas tree with attack through the middle. What do you guys think?