Lots of possession but hard to win

Hi,

I started with my team in a 4-4-2 which was the best formation at that time and is still now. Although I'm at the top of the table (in level 1) there is something I can't figure out. Every match I have a lot of possession (sometimes above 70%) but the amount of chances I create are mostly equal to the amount of chances of the opposition. Which often result in a tie.

For example last game: I played at home and won with 2-1. (The opposition played 3-4-3)
At the 8 minute the opposition lost a striker due to injury and he was not replaced. (So in fact he played almost whole match 3-4-2)

Final stats:
- 71% possession for my team
- 19 chances for my team vs 16 chances for the opposition.
- 4 on goal for my team vs 6 on goal for the opposition.
End result 2-1.

What you need to know is that my team has an average of 15,9 while the opposition has one of 12,9.
This kind of matches happen all the time. I've the better squad (all my players have good morale and are in good condition, and everybody plays at his natural position) but somehow the opposition gets a lot of chances with minimum possession. And I can't figure out why, I should win those matches with 5-0 if you compare the teams.

My tactics are: Normal mentality, passing: mixed, pressure: own half, passing style: short, coverage: zone.

I wanted to try another formation but my whole team is built on the 4-4-2. So if I change it now I need to sell and buy a lot of players.

You're not the one who have noticed this.. i felt it on my skin.

Is something normal, but other reasons can be "win bonus" & team mentality, play "attacking" :P

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Originally Posted by PricopGeorgeCătălin

Is something normal, but other reasons can be "win bonus" & team mentality, play "attacking" :P

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Already did, but nothing happened.

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Originally Posted by joentjen

Hi,

I started with my team in a 4-4-2 which was the best formation at that time and is still now. Although I'm at the top of the table (in level 1) there is something I can't figure out. Every match I have a lot of possession (sometimes above 70%) but the amount of chances I create are mostly equal to the amount of chances of the opposition. Which often result in a tie.

For example last game: I played at home and won with 2-1. (The opposition played 3-4-3)
At the 8 minute the opposition lost a striker due to injury and he was not replaced. (So in fact he played almost whole match 3-4-2)

Final stats:
- 71% possession for my team
- 19 chances for my team vs 16 chances for the opposition.
- 4 on goal for my team vs 6 on goal for the opposition.
End result 2-1.

What you need to know is that my team has an average of 15,9 while the opposition has one of 12,9.
This kind of matches happen all the time. I've the better squad (all my players have good morale and are in good condition, and everybody plays at his natural position) but somehow the opposition gets a lot of chances with minimum possession. And I can't figure out why, I should win those matches with 5-0 if you compare the teams.

My tactics are: Normal mentality, passing: mixed, pressure: own half, passing style: short, coverage: zone.

I wanted to try another formation but my whole team is built on the 4-4-2. So if I change it now I need to sell and buy a lot of players.

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The game engine balancing out the quality levels, 3-4-3 is not a bad formation against 4-4-2 unless you motivate your MR/ML.
You could also try a more attacking mode with down arrows on you DC's and up arrows on the DR/DL& MR/ML with MR/ML would then act as AM players when you gain possession, the down arrows should stop your DC's wandering to far up field, leaving you exposed to counter attacks.

If you have a AMC try 4-4-1-1, I realise you say you built a 4-4-2 side but you may have one hanging around.
The major problem with generic formation like 4-4-2/4-3-3/4-5-1 Etc, in general they cancel each other out as the lines are flat, now would be a good time to start planning a more flexible (AM&DM players) squad for the next couple of seasons.

do you change your tactics often? how about players? there are some player combos that will get you scoring no matter what, and some that will net little chances. you need to find the right combination of players on the pitch to maximise the shot output, and it might take some risks and experimenting

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Originally Posted by Rapyer

do you change your tactics often? how about players? there are some player combos that will get you scoring no matter what, and some that will net little chances. you need to find the right combination of players on the pitch to maximise the shot output, and it might take some risks and experimenting

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Can you tell me more about these combination of players?

rotate your combination of players,until you find the ones that "click"

its basically, rotating until u find which players seem to work better with each other.

e.g I have 6 defenders, but a particular defence lineup from 4 particular players bring about better form from all 4 than if I picked any other players combination. It was a pain in the ass when I bought a new 18yr old with good training speed and tried to slot him in and "break" the quartet tandem. the defenders' forms all dropped and I squeezed a 1-0 win over a team in league that I had beaten 4-0 in previous match (my goalkeeper got his first MOM saving 5 goals lol, and GK form was 8). took 5 matches before the other 3 were back to form 7-8-7-8 and "got used" to the newbie.

I have 2 AML/ML, and 2 AMR/MR, the main team pair AML/AMR likes and assists each other more often.

last season, I had 2 strikers that performed when put up front together, and the form took a dip when I play lone striker up front like 4-5-1, they like playing in formations like 3-5-2, 4-2-2-2 etc.

for players that can play in more then 1 position, they have their favourite spots, like my AMR/MR playing better at AMR position.

all these little quirks aren't one-off things that happens in 1 or 2 matches, but there's a somewhat consistent pattern in some of these players. play them for about half a season and these little things start to emerge.

I don't think there's a formation that 'clicks'. I have rotated the squad but none clicks. Haha.

I noticed that too... could dominate possession (playing with AMR and AML btw) but still do not score much.
Also gave full bonuses but still draw and lose. So.... no explanation...

maybe your squad all hate each other :( I know how that feels, I have some sucker stories myself.

I have a few players that didn't fit no matter how I tried, and I sold them in the end. a default player in season 1 was a 19yr old, 950k value, defender with defensive wall skill. quality 17, great training speed. but his performance sucked all season so I sold him. he also had "glass legs" syndrome, getting 5 days injuries 3 times in 1 season.

After selling him, I used the money to get 18yr old with better quality but no special skill. yep the same 18yr old that I broke the quartet tandem.

a 2nd guy was a 20yr old quality 20 MC, he consistently pulled 4-5-6-4-5 even with 99% morale from boosters. it didn't matter who I put in the midfield with him, he never got anything higher than 6. I thought it was a bad streak but after 8 matches (because I had 2 injured midfielders), I gave up on him.

I'd put it down to "sucker personality" lol. Sold him, and peeped at his stats from the new buyer, 6-6-5. yep, still sucks. don't think he'll ever *click* with anyone ever.

I don't have an explanation for those little quirks myself, stuff just...happens, and I spot the patterns.

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Originally Posted by Accyrover

The game engine balancing out the quality levels, 3-4-3 is not a bad formation against 4-4-2 unless you motivate your MR/ML.
You could also try a more attacking mode with down arrows on you DC's and up arrows on the DR/DL& MR/ML with MR/ML would then act as AM players when you gain possession, the down arrows should stop your DC's wandering to far up field, leaving you exposed to counter attacks.

If you have a AMC try 4-4-1-1, I realise you say you built a 4-4-2 side but you may have one hanging around.
The major problem with generic formation like 4-4-2/4-3-3/4-5-1 Etc, in general they cancel each other out as the lines are flat, now would be a good time to start planning a more flexible (AM&DM players) squad for the next couple of seasons.

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What do you mean with "the game engine balancing out the quality levels"?
Maybe 3-4-3 is a good formation against 4-4-2, but he played 82 minutes with a 3-4-2 due to injury.

Meanwhile I tried 4-4-1-1, but it's even worse then. Now I'm searching for more flexible players so I can easily change my formation. In fact it's ideal to try somethings because I'm already sure of my first place thanks to a lot of 2-1 victories :). Again something strange, I have the best defense but every single match I concede at least one goal. And I'm playing with 4 defenders. I see teams who play with 3 or 2 defenders and concede less goals.


Either way thanks for the advice.