Ridiculous inconsistency in performance

Ok, explain this:

I'm playing as Sc.unthorpe and have reached the Champions League in the 2009/2010 season. My team is pretty red-hot. I beat Benfica in a friendly, then Sparta Prague in my CL qualification group, then Arsenal in the Premiership, all very comfortable scorelines (by 2 goals or more). I then play some crappy team like Brighton, and suddenly I'm struggling to create a single chance, and often scrape a draw with a last-minute equaliser.

It's utterly ridiculous, it's getting to the stage where if I'm playing Real Madrid, I'll actually rest my best players for the huge Hartlepool FA cup game next week because the best teams in the world can't cope with the mighty Sc.unthorpe second-string team, but Hartlepool completely destroy their finest line-up.

It's the same with Norwich. I hate them so much because they ended my 6-match winning streak by wiping the floor with me 3-0, right after I beat Chelsea, Man United and Tottenham.

Am I doing something wrong? Or do other people find that the harder the opponent, the easier the game is?

i just go all-out-attack when playing lower teams. then you create so many chances you're bound to score at least a couple of goals.

this may have something to do with that your players underestimate your opponent, I have these kinds of problems myself, pisses me off all the time! But everytime I play a crappy team in the cup or in a friendly, I actually trouble with getting the ball into the net!

When I play against a weaker team, it happens what i expect. I send the team to play total-attack football. Then I see the opponents with 11 behind the ball, me with more than 60% possession, lots of shots, and shots, and the opponent's GK just seems to...defend everything. My last game was like that...won 2-0, with Sporting vs. Estrela da Amadora, 5th season...I have a hell of a team...Porcellis, Brighi, Chiquinho, among others...they just got owned, the GK defended everything. I did 26 shots, 10 of which the GK defended. And only 2-0...

And the game before I won 3-1 Benfica away, with a very poor performance...it just happens.

Damn, I wish there was a "tell players not to underestimate their opponents" pre-match button.

This game has some funny little quirks in it. One of my strikers, Steven Maclean, who I signed from Sheffield Wednesday while I was still in League One just won the European Golden Boot with 26 goals in the premiership last season. 3rd place went to Ipswich's Dean Bowditch (now playing for Chelsea in my game). Whoever would have thought a Scot would win the Golden Boot, even in a game let alone real life :funny:

Yeah, I think this basically comes down to the game having half time and full time talks, but not pre-match talks...

Against worse opposition I often find it a draw (or even me trailing) at HT, but by FT when I get the boys in and tell them theyre an embarrasment etc, they get back out there and win...

This is getting absurd ! I followed the all-out attack strategy. My players took around 25 shots at goal. They scored - None ! The opposition(a lower league team) made 5 shots at goal. They scored - 3 ! My players missed 3 Penalties !!! What am I supposed to do ?

How are your players determination and work rate stats?


I always put players with pace, determination and work rate on my bench. If my attacking players aren't performing on the pitch I usually put in a 3rd forward or replace a forward, and I put in wingers as well.

I look at the stats of the players on the pitch during the game. If they aren't winning tackles or headers, and if they're not involved in "key passes", I sub them out. On comes my determination/work rate players.

hope this hepls.

It always good to have a midfield with good teamwork and work rate...

Sometimes the luck just runs out lads. Take me for example, I beat Portsmouth 0-5 away with Sunderland in my current season and in my next away match got hammered 4-0 by Villa with the exact same team.

Football is a funny game.