FM Frustration

Hi Guys,

I am reasonably new to FM and decided to start off with Villa. Currently in my 4th Season and my team just doesn't seem to ever want to finish higher that 7th. I have won the league cup in the last two seasons, currently one foot in the final.

My Team is:
ter Stegen Sweeper Keeper
Sime Vrsaljko - Full Back Defend
Ciaran Clark/Stefan Bell - Central Ball Playing Defender, Cover
Chris Samba/Prestia - CD, Defend
Luca Antonelli/M Ostrolzek - full Back Defend

A. Jali/J. Makoun - BWM, Support
Ytergard Jenssen - DLP, Support
Shaqiri - Winger, Attack (this guy constantly disappoints me in this game!)
C. Eriksen - AM, Attack
A. Johnson - Winger Attack

L. Nangis/L De Jong/Balotelli - Poacher (although this changes sometimes)

Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation
Fluid/Control
Short/Expressive/Press More/Zonal Marking/More Roaming and all else default.

I also have some other youth players and midfielders floating around the team ( I recommend Greg Cunningham as a good free transfer as back up!)

My Frustration is that we seem to be able to go To Arsenal and get a point of Beat United, or even beat Chelsea convincingly (5-0!) and then in the next game, just not show up. Balotelli gets a hat-trick one game and then goes missing the next. Could go on a 5 game winning streak, then play at home to Peterborough and lose 3-1? IT just seems to make no sense! There is no problem with the gel of the team, they have all been playing together for 3/4 seasons - the only ter Stegen and Balotelli haven't been there since my second season.

What am I doing wrong? Any tips would be extremely helpful!

Oh yea and one other thing - we rarely keep a clean sheet - even when we are 4 or 5 nil up!

Losing 3 nil to Liverpool at home within 11 minutes! Christ this game is so much more frustrating than Fm2009!

1)Rather than make three posts use the EDIT button.

2) Your problem to an extent is faced by most real life teams.

3) Try the following: use different tactics depending on your opponents - eg I use a 424 overload tactic but against better teams I drop deeper and/or play counter.

4) I dont like the fact you use full backs and/or that you have them defending. Try them as wbacks and/or (perhaps more importantly) automatic.

5) Press more does not go with zonal marking. Have pressing on default and use shouts according to match needs.

6) It usually pays to have one of your dms sit in front of the back four as an anchor man.

well thats balotelli for you - unpredictable!

anyway for the defence problem i would try setting your BWM to defend as it gives more cover for your back four.

ter stegen as a sweeper keeper? the report may tell you that, but dont follow that strictly. a normal keeper and the cb defend, and there you go. tell us if this works

anyway for the defence problem i would try setting your BWM to defend as it gives more cover for your back four.

Indeed. Though as I say its even better to pull him back in front of your centre backs and make him anchorman (especially if the opposition tactics feature an amc)

Cheers guys, the anchor man worked a treat as did the full backs on attack. Ter Stegen is an animal also, moved him to GK. Finished the season on a 13 game winning streak, won the league cup again (3 seasons on the trot) and won the Euro Cup, finished 5th - just offered the Arsenal Job....unsure whether it is time to move on!

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#46040 villandave : Cheers guys, the anchor man worked a treat as did the full backs on attack. Ter Stegen is an animal also, moved him to GK. Finished the season on a 13 game winning streak, won the league cup again (3 seasons on the trot) and won the Euro Cup, finished 5th - just offered the Arsenal Job....unsure whether it is time to move on!

I like both fullbacks attacking but it may be dangerous. I find a good compromise being wing backs on automatic.