[FM06] Sweepers

[Andreas]

I've recently started a game with AS Roma, and for the first time in my FM career I decided to play with a sweeper. In the first friendlies I played with Mexes as a sweeper with Chivu and Cufre in front of him. I dominated the games (against First Division sides from Germany and Turkey), but i often won 5-3 or 5-2 since they scored on every opportunity they had. It seemed as if it was a bit "thin" in defence.

So after that, I decided to use another central defender in addition to the sweeper, so now I play like this:

-----------------------Mexes--------------------------
------------Panucci----Chivu---Cufre------------------

And that works pretty good, but my defence often does mistakes and I'm not sure how to set the player instructions for my sweeper and the other defenders. Should the sweeper be attacking, run forward (with/without ball), try through balls etc.? And what attributes are important for a sweeper?

EDIT: I also use two defensive midfielders (Dacourt and De Rossi, Perrotta and Tommasi are subs) who closes down all over and runs forward.

 

[ngyc]

good to see this thread. i also have some defensive problems now. i played 4-4-2 with

heinze....silvestre....ferdinand....g.neville

at the back. i don't know why (or may be my instruction are too lame), my defenders keep making silly mistakes.

-hold up the ball too long and end up being tackle by opponent
-poor pass back
-sometimes have poor marking as well

i really don't know how to set instruction on them, need some help here

 

[PSVFOREVER]

I find defending harder then before, my 4-3-3 with PSV even conceded quite some goals in the league, now Im playing 4-1-3-2, which doesnt let me concede much, and I won 5-2 to Arsenal, 3-1 to Fenerbahce away (decisive group match) and 4-1 to Feyenoord away. So for me a flat 4 back+good DMC works wonders (Simons is very good for me on DMC, my best player so far, together with Cocu)

 

[ngyc]

so, can someone show their instruction for full back and center back?

 

[Socrates]

Yea i notice that noone posted in here to help others out, i need some help also. If anyone has a pretty good defence going, care to share what you are doing so it can help the rest of us out??

 

[rpvankasteren]

I just use the standard central defender/full back settings, but move the full backs' mentality 3 ticks up towards attacking. And I use forward arrows on them.

Worked great on FM 05, and seems ok for 06. Not tested properly though. I've still only played 6 competitive matches, 6W-0D-0L, but all poor teams I've beaten.

 

[Lean]

I put them on the default instructions for defenders, put passing to long, no tight marking, no closing down (i find they get caught out of position a lot when you turn that thing on), tell them to go forward on corners/set-pieces (i leave the DMC and the full-backs behind), and put them on man-marking when playing against 2 strikers. Yes, man-marking, i hate zonal. I have 2 guys going into one man and this one man passing the ball to the other guy and then they get a one on one. Since i play a DMC i have someone to help the DC's and i have my full-backs set on defensive (i used to play 4-1-2-2-1).

Now that i'm playing 4-4-2 with a flat midfield i'll probably have them on normal. Still, i hate zonal marking. :chew:

 

[Rob]

I play a 4-3-3 with a flat back 4. I put everyone of them on man marking.

I have found that I put my FBs on with short passing to bring them into the midfield game a tad more, while my CBs are on direct.

I put them on push-up to force the opponents to use the ball or lose it, and they set to closing down.

The key to FM is, you have to be moderate, if you want to close down, dont put it all the way, same with pushing up or sitting back.

Also one last note, try and change your teams mindset at Half Time, expect a comeback so negate anything for 15minutes and then go back into a more attacking mindset.

 

[Fernandez]

I adjusted my FM05 tactics to suit FM06. Apparently, it didn't work and I conceded 9 goals in two games at one stage. I would love to work on my tactics but I can't concentrate fully on FM until 22 Nov.

 

[Lennon]

I play with a line of 4 defenders. I set my two DC to man marking and ultra defensive mentality. Then I set zonal marking for my DR and DL.
It worked fine for my first season but right now Im conceding too many goals so I guess it's time to change my tactics.