Season 89 Are you ready?

[pcmacdaniel]

I've got my most talented team ever currently, and have learned a lot during these associations tournaments. It's been a slow process, but this weekend I learned even more. The semi's wasn't the learning experience, although I picked up a pair of draws while we lost on goal difference. But in the finals I came up against the following two attacking midfielders.



I decided to play m2m defense because of the lower speed and it worked as I picked up 3-0 and 5-1 wins. So I learned m2m w/ a huge physical and mental advantage can suffocate players w/ massive attack stats but low physical and mental. It may be important to note that this manager lost 0-1 and 0-4 in the semi's as well.

I had noticed zonal defense (or m2m with 5 defenders - I never play 5 however) + parking the bus works good against teams with superior speed as well; especially if strength is low. I made that mistake against a good friend of mine in a friendly a few seasons back and saw it on display in associations before as well. I guess, with such defensive setups plus defense/normal mentality and 4 in the back (or 5 in case of former assoc teammates) the speedsters can't run through the entire defense since someone playing zone will mark him once he beats his man, forcing the wingers to settle for long range shots from outside the box. Of course, big physical strikers might be able to unlock such defensive setups (high positioning, heading, strength?)!!!