Another guy begging for help on Pro difficulty (WC2010)

[jayshaw91]

It is to the point of utter an total frustration. I'm using the USA. On Semi-Pro, when I play the qualifying games, I am beating down the lesser teams like Guatemala, Cuba, and the like with scores of at least 3-1. In most cases I can put up 5-7 goals and clean sheet these teams. I did lose in the WC finals twice (didn't leave group stage first time. Second a late, bad Swiss goal cost me dearly), sadly, but I felt that since I was destroying these lesser teams by such a wide margin I could turn on Pro difficulty and still dominate, but more like 3-1 and 2-1 victories instead of the mammoth beat-downs I was administering.

So, now I'm in Pro difficulty and I cannot for the life of me generate *any* sort of real offense. I'm losing games, usually, 1-0 and 2-0. I think in the 10 or so games I've played on Pro I've scored maybe 4 goals total.

The issues as I see them: the defense is always on top of my ball handlers when in their 1/3 of the field and it is taken away. I cannot get a through ball to save my life. If I am on a rare breakaway, I swear the defender hunts down Altidore/Davies like they're wounded deer.

My style on Semi-Pro was very "ping pong" soccer. Pass, pass, pass. Possess the ball, try to feed the wings and run it up field. Then either cross, shoot, or dump to the center of the field and work on a through ball. That does not work on Pro.

My possession in Pro is usually 55%+, so at least that end of my game has carried over, but my scoring chances have dropped from like 10+ a game to 3.

Anything ya'll have would be appreciated.

[Lecrae]

I wish I could get that challenge nowadays. First off have you trried editing custom tactics? Here is a list of custom tactics that you can randomly assign to different nations in your qualifying groups and they play better but still have a different feel each time you play.

[jayshaw91]

I'll take a peek. Not doing them at this point. Any other do/don't stuff for Pro?

[jayshaw91]

Ah crap... that's for FIFA 10. How would I apply this to WC, specifically? Take the English Premier settings and apply it to England, for example? That simple?

[Lecrae]

go to the one titled Generic Custom Tactics Chart. Make those settings and just assign them by region as listed in Assigning Tactics To Leagues. Choose at random one of the ones in that area and assign it to a nation.

For example, if your the USA you might use Generic North. You might also assign this tactic to Canada. Then assign Long Fast to Central American teams and Counter Long to all carribean teams. Assign Generic South to Mexico and your good for CONCACAF Qualifying.

Just choose at random one of the tactics that sounds like the nation/region or just choose at random to at least make the games different and at times easier/difficult.

There is another website that does have league tactics for the top leagues in Europe though.

[jayshaw91]

Good stuff, thanks.

Two more questions: once I get to the WC Finals, I assume I should then assign these to each of the remaining teams? Also, do I need to do this EVERY time I start a new qualifying campaign or does this stick?

[Lecrae]

You can assign it to a team once and as long as you save it and use the same roster it should carry over. Every team you play and at least the ones with leagues in FIFA 10 that have a list of possible generic tactics you might want to go ahead and give it to them.

[jayshaw91]

Well, I did not make these changes, but I will report back I've made improvements in my game. Unfortunately for anyone looking for a quick fix, all I've got for you is this: keep playing. The game needs to "slow down" for you.

Don't go for tackles when they're on a 1-1 with you being the sole defender. Try and stay back and cut off their angles. Don't give them a clean shot if you can prevent it. Use the clear button to clear your box if you are under pressure. Nothing worse than trying to pass out and giving away a goal.

For offense, this is where I had problems and learned the most. The defense is relentless on Pro. They just swarm and press. I could get to their final 1/3, but I'd stall out. First, work on your crosses. Second, learn to be aware of all of your players around you, i.e. try not to tunnel vision on your player with the ball. There may be a simple pass and shot that leads to an easy goal. Watch your replays to see if you missed a golden opportunity and learn from that.

Doing a knock-on around a defender or a bridge move to get around a defender is not a gimme like it is on Semi-Pro. Use that left trigger/L2 button to keep the ball close in. Use both triggers to skill dribble and buy time/get around guys. Use the LB/L1 button to stop on a dime and clear space.

Corners... get good at them. They're easy goal opportunities. Send the ball in outside of the goalies box, charge up the shot button and let go right when it is about to hit your defender. That gives a very nice, powerful header at the net.

That's all I have right now. Really, it's just simply fighting through the frustration and getting better at the game offensively. I was losing 3-0 on road games and 2-1 on home games when I started. Now I usually win my homes games and have had numerous draws and close road losses with the occasional win sprinkled in there.