The Gameplay & Defensive Tips Thread

[FluffyTonka]

I'm loving the game and finding it the best football game ever. So realistic it hurts my brain at times. lol

I've noticed a few people having some probs, so thought I'd try and help. I've played and coached football irl and played videogame football since Commodore 64 days. haha ... I think I've owned every fifa since they were made on sega mega drive ha more lols

ok ...


You have to have a good back four. I'm playing champs football with Nottingham Forest with an average BPL back four or a really elite champs back four.

to give you an idea of my lineup here it is:

I play a 4-3-3 on 10 (min halves) like this:

..................ST
....LW......................RW
............CM.......CM
.................CDM
..LB.........CB....CB.........RB

ST -- Samaras
LW--Patterson/ RW-- Burke or Antonio
CM -- Cohen & Ward-Prowse
CDM -- Halford and my back four:
Fox -- Rojo -- Manciennie -- R.Taylor
with Matty Ryan from Australia in goal (rated 73).

Rojo from united is a must for me. Any pacey defender who will anchor your back four is a must, imo. They need to have a high aggression, be good in the air (heading, jump & strength) and obviously anything 80 or above for 'Stand Tackle' is pretty much compulsory. ie the only defender you want to attempt to tackle the CPU with in your own box with (so you don't give up a penalty) needs to be an 80 or above.

I'm having nil-all battles, 1-0 scores and then 3-2, 4-3 shootouts on WC level with (my) some slider adjustments. I just played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the league cup and beat them 1-nil when I managed a cross into the box where Samaras headed home in 1st half injury time.

The final 20-30 minutes Chelsea threw everything at me. Hit the woodwork 3 times, had 8 corners and Ryan ended up with 7 saves ... it was so epically hectic. lol

anyway here's my advice if you're struggling.


Defensively; at kick off, tap your d-pad back a click to "defensive" ... always good to start out a game not giving up an early goal. The CPU, if they score early they can be tough to peg back, they'll usually free up (especially if they're at home) and they can easily put 2 or 3 on you before you've even cleared your mind from the kick off.

You have to be active with your dpad throughout the whole game. The CPU will go more defensive if they're playing you on your home pitch as the game wears on, so you have to increasingly be more attacking if the game is tied and you have to really chase the win ... careful not to get burnt on a counter though. I usually go high pressure and Attacking as my tactic when I'm chasing. Only use all out attack and throw your CB forward if you're chasing a tying goal in the last 15, because you will give up a goal without too much drama when you're playing like that.

Just like IRL, you need to be more attacking at home, and more defensive on the road (to counter the CPU AI) I usually play a counter attack & 'Defensive' on the road and absorb pressure and look to break out quickly with my quick wingers who are good on the ball and can beat a man off the dribble. At home I play my own custom tactics ... shorter passing (55), possession based football and try and run them ragged chasing me.

When you haven't got the ball you have to keep formation. at all costs! You can't sprint around with a mid chasing the ballcarrier, because the AI will exploit it and just pass back into the hole you just left behind and open you up.

I like to use my CDM where ever possible and backtrack the ball carrier into my back four (using plenty of L2 (PS4) -- contain). You have to be patient and not tackle but rather corral the attackers into your defenders or wait for a bad pass and a turnover. at worst push the attackers into bad positions so they're taking low probability shots on goal. If you're controlling a defender, don't stress ... use your L2 and stay in front of the attacker, call for help (with R1), but if it's the defender beside you, release the R1 so you keep your defensive formation.

Dive and tackle if your desperate. Be try and block and stay in front of your man if they're in your box ... you breath on the AI and they'll go down for a penalty -- and get it.

If you're under the pump when you get the ball back, be patient and hoof out of bounds (circle button -- clear ball). If you can pass you're way into space, do it. Then slow it down and let your defenders get their breath back and then make the AI work.

Fatigue works so well in this game. At home I just poke it about, get the AI chasing me, and it really tells in the last 20 minutes. At a guess I reckon I've won 75% of my games at home in the last 20 minutes.

Be aware of the game situation. If you have a lead, expect the CPU to throw men forward, use more longballs into the box and press high up the pitch. That's when you want to change tactics to ultra defensive or park the bus and switch into "Counter Attack" and try and burn them on the break.

You have to be equally as patient with the ball. Trying to breakdown the AI is incredibly rewarding when you do score. If you get it out to your wings and you know you have some pace or a winger good on the ball, only try and beat the AI in parts of the ground where you're not too bent out of shape, so you can launch straight into some pressure defense if you do lose the ball.

A really good tactic Barcelona uses in real life is:

When you turn over the ball, sprint after it and call the help defense over and try and pressure the AI into turning it back over. Do this for 10-15 seconds at most. If you don't get the ball back in that time, retreat back into the patient defensive game and absorb the pressure as I talked about earlier up there ˆˆ

Hope this all helps ... and anyone else with good tips, settings and strategy/ tactics, don't be shy, throw them up here.

[hirst1000]

Patrickhdxgaming has a great tutorial on his youtube page. I use this.

Sometimes I likento control the DM, try and force the play wide and fill passing lanes.

[BL8001]

We all are of like minds...I posted this in impressions but it suits here better.

The simplest method, and it can be so effective it may be an exploit, is to grab a player above the level of the ball, run him back and sit him in between two defenders. You then shadow the inside pass receiver the CPU is looking to pass to by holding LT and sticking to him, don't even have to be that close.

Then pressure the ball carrier here and there with RB contain, not enough to get the defender in the face of the ball handler but just enough to get him to make another decision.

You will see the CPU start to get disconcerted. They may play it out wide and then down the line with a run, cpu loves that. But they are mostly looking to in and out pass to exploit your player switching.

So just always shadow inside passing targets and let the CPU harmlessly dribble around midfield. Eventually they will make a bad pass and off you go on offense.

I can make a video tonight if you need more help.

[abadguy]

Quote: Originally Posted by BL8001

We all are of like minds...I posted this in impressions but it suits here better. The simplest method, and it can be so effective it may be an exploit, is to grab a player above the level of the ball, run him back and sit him in between two defenders. You then shadow the inside pass receiver the CPU is looking to pass to by holding LT and sticking to him, don't even have to be that close. Then pressure the ball carrier here and there with RB contain, not enough to get the defender in the face of the ball handler but just enough to get him to make another decision. You will see the CPU start to get disconcerted. They may play it out wide and then down the line with a run, cpu loves that. But they are mostly looking to in and out pass to exploit your player switching. So just always shadow inside passing targets and let the CPU harmlessly dribble around midfield. Eventually they will make a bad pass and off you go on offense. I can make a video tonight if you need more help.

interesting tactic, I would gladly watch a video if you can upload one.

By the way guys, when you talk about containg with L2/LT are you referring to new defensive controls or old ones? If I look to the controls list L2/LT is supposed to be "jockey" control and "A/X(press and hold)" the contain button. So what are you using? I find it very very difficult to contain and stay in front of a player, especially when they start to zig-zag I can't seem to stick to them. any tips?

[cadalyst17]

Quote: Originally Posted by FluffyTonka

I'm loving the game and finding it the best football game ever. So realistic it hurts my brain at times. lol I've noticed a few people having some probs, so thought I'd try and help. I've played and coached football irl and played videogame football since Commodore 64 days. haha ... I think I've owned every fifa since they were made on sega mega drive ha more lols ok ... You have to have a good back four.............

Not bad for a FIFA loving non sim kind of guy. I thought real soccer sim players didn't like FIFA, but then that would make me one also, since I love FIFA 15. Thanks for the info! :-)

[BL8001]

Yeah the way you don't have to stay with the ball carrier is you don't.

It's damn near impossible because they can get jiggy with the ball and make quick cuts and shimmy moves and the defender has wooden legs and is stuck in momentum based animations. Try to do a quick cut without the ball like the CPU (WITH THE BALL!), its impossible.

So you don't pressure the ball. You mark the logical passing target. And the one the CPU keys on the most is the one inside.

This is CPU tactic #1. The high low high.
A cpu player brings the ball over the midway line and finds a target higher up the pitch. He plays the ball to him (high), he plays the ball back to the player who passed it (low) who then first time passes it back to the first player he passed it to again (high).

Why do they do this?
They do this to exploit your auto switching. If you are back pedal defending player 1 who brought it over the midway line, when they pass high the "auto switch decay" runs the defender marking that guy off a step or 2, so you move him back towards the ball and when he passes back it auto switches again and the "auto switch decay" pushes that defender off the ball and then back high again. The exploit is that passing it back and forth quickly creates space for the attacker due to the auto switching lag.
Manual switching helps a little but it looks like they have coded in some really bad angles for the users CPU controlled defenders that still get exploited by this high/low/high crap.

CPU tactic #2. Wing run
They play the ball right along the touchline with a wing run that is almost impossible to defend. The only thing you can do is keep pace and either knock it out for their throw-in or just make sure you stay goal side as you move with him down to the corner flag. The RB contain logic when a CPU player has the ball near the corner flag is absolutely horrendous. If you hold RB they play off him and if you bring another player over manually the ball handler will find who you left with a perfect pass, or they will split your "loose" double team effort with a beautiful skill dribble you cant perform. (it's just a fact with this game, the CPU possess a quiver of wonderful little quick touch close control dribble moves vs the users assortment of elaborate drawn out dribble moves on the R stick) (the best close tight dribbling you can do is on the L stick and using LB to slow dribble here and there, it still doesn't compare to what the CPU can do)

Why does the CPU do this?
Because they know by keeping it near the sideline they can win a throw in, they know how the D coding is loose around the corners of the pitch, they know this mimics a human users desire to get it low and cross it, etc

CPU tactic #3 In out passing

This is a horizontal variation of the high low high technique above. The cpu will have the ball near the sideline looking for an inside target. If they hit that inside target as you close in to defend that player will pass it back out to the edge and then make a run behind your D. If you turn to press that guy with the ball he will thread a through ball to the player making the run.

Why does the CPU do this?
Because once again, they are exploiting ball pressure vs. the distances you have to cover to press the ball handler.

This year more than any year in FIFA, the base coding makes defenders wander.

Watch a FK or a CK into the box.

Defending 101 is that you must stay behind (or at least as low as) the ball to be in proper defensive positioning.
When the CPU sends a ball into your box on a corner and it never gets higher than the 6 box, your players will still start pulling out. NEVER NEVER EVER should defenders vacate when the ball is this close to the goal. If anything the coding should bring them CLOSER to the ball.

Same goes when the ball is just being moved around your box by the CPU. Watch how for some reason your defenders have to move just to move. IRL, If you are on D and have a great angle you can simply become a wall and force the ball/ball carrier to move. Too often the defenders are moving before the attackers or players they are "marking" creating on the fly space which is artificially creating attacking chances.

The only way to counter this is to pick someone above the ball, bring them in and guard the space/pass target.

If you bring that player you are in control of back and sit them in that hole, with help on both your left side and right side and a CB behind you, you are golden. If the CPU with ball goes outside, you hold and release RB to control the team mate contain pushing him back out. If he goes right you shadow his move while denying the pass high to player you are loosely marking. Basically you just sit in that hole denying the pass and use team mate contain to shepherd the ball handler and discourage the CPU from trying any of the above 3 tactics.

[gator3guy]

Quote: Originally Posted by hirst1000

Patrickhdxgaming has a great tutorial on his youtube page. I use this. Sometimes I likento control the DM, try and force the play wide and fill passing lanes.

I was going to ask can anyone suggest any video tutorials online for a FIFA noob like myself?

[abadguy]

Quote: Originally Posted by BL8001

Yeah the way you don't have to stay with the ball carrier is you don't. It's damn near impossible because they can get jiggy with the ball and make quick cuts and shimmy moves and the defender has wooden legs and is stuck in momentum based animations. Try to do a quick cut without the ball like the CPU (WITH THE BALL!), its impossible. So you don't pressure the ball. You mark the logical passing target. And the one the CPU keys on the most is the one inside. This is CPU tactic #1. The high low high. A cpu player brings the ball over the midway line and finds a target higher up the pitch. He plays the ball to him (high), he plays the ball back to the player who passed it (low) who then first time passes it back to the first player he passed it to again (high). Why do they do this? They do this to exploit your auto switching. If you are back pedal defending player 1 who brought it over the midway line, when they pass high the "auto switch decay" runs the defender marking that guy off a step or 2, so you move him back towards the ball and when he passes back it auto switches again and the "auto switch decay" pushes that defender off the ball and then back high again. The exploit is that passing it back and forth quickly creates space for the attacker due to the auto switching lag. Manual switching helps a little but it looks like they have coded in some really bad angles for the users CPU controlled defenders that still get exploited by this high/low/high crap. CPU tactic #2. Wing run They play the ball right along the touchline with a wing run that is almost impossible to defend. The only thing you can do is keep pace and either knock it out for their throw-in or just make sure you stay goal side as you move with him down to the corner flag. The RB contain logic when a CPU player has the ball near the corner flag is absolutely horrendous. If you hold RB they play off him and if you bring another player over manually the ball handler will find who you left with a perfect pass, or they will split your "loose" double team effort with a beautiful skill dribble you cant perform. (it's just a fact with this game, the CPU possess a quiver of wonderful little quick touch close control dribble moves vs the users assortment of elaborate drawn out dribble moves on the R stick) (the best close tight dribbling you can do is on the L stick and using LB to slow dribble here and there, it still doesn't compare to what the CPU can do) Why does the CPU do this? Because they know by keeping it near the sideline they can win a throw in, they know how the D coding is loose around the corners of the pitch, they know this mimics a human users desire to get it low and cross it, etc CPU tactic #3 In out passing This is a horizontal variation of the high low high technique above. The cpu will have the ball near the sideline looking for an inside target. If they hit that inside target as you close in to defend that player will pass it back out to the edge and then make a run behind your D. If you turn to press that guy with the ball he will thread a through ball to the player making the run. Why does the CPU do this? Because once again, they are exploiting ball pressure vs. the distances you have to cover to press the ball handler. This year more than any year in FIFA, the base coding makes defenders wander. Watch a FK or a CK into the box. Defending 101 is that you must stay behind (or at least as low as) the ball to be in proper defensive positioning. When the CPU sends a ball into your box on a corner and it never gets higher than the 6 box, your players will still start pulling out. NEVER NEVER EVER should defenders vacate when the ball is this close to the goal. If anything the coding should bring them CLOSER to the ball. Same goes when the ball is just being moved around your box by the CPU. Watch how for some reason your defenders have to move just to move. IRL, If you are on D and have a great angle you can simply become a wall and force the ball/ball carrier to move. Too often the defenders are moving before the attackers or players they are "marking" creating on the fly space which is artificially creating attacking chances. The only way to counter this is to pick someone above the ball, bring them in and guard the space/pass target. If you bring that player you are in control of back and sit them in that hole, with help on both your left side and right side and a CB behind you, you are golden. If the CPU with ball goes outside, you hold and release RB to control the team mate contain pushing him back out. If he goes right you shadow his move while denying the pass high to player you are loosely marking. Basically you just sit in that hole denying the pass and use team mate contain to shepherd the ball handler and discourage the CPU from trying any of the above 3 tactics.

Some serious knowledge there mate, great share.