Comments on: Truly, Bradley, Deeply

By: gregdowns

gregdowns — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 14:05:43 +0000

It’s very easy to forget and leave a defensive 5-4-1 switched on. Both kinds of alt formations are only really useful for either defending a lead or chasing a goal late on. They’re also wickedly effective at winning back possession - switch to one or the other just as the CPU keeper takes a goal kick, for example, and you’re 95% guaranteed to get the ball straightaway.

They’re useful for dogged defending/desperate attacking. Unfortunately there’s not much call for either in PSE2008 once you get to know the game !

By: david

david — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:21:21 +0000

The problem with formation switching is firstly that it could be forgotten and left on attack or defense; secondly that its tiring for the players (especially those poor defaulters) and thirdly - it could disrupt the harmony you have with your normal formation. I know that with my 433 ill have a winger free to counter with, and by choosing full attack as soon as i get the ball, its practically a goal, i dont need to have my DMFs and so-forth going up.. if its a slow build up, my passes will coincide with the player being forced to make a pass-and-run.

personally i dont assign other formations

By: gregdowns

gregdowns — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:36:37 +0000

If/when I do restart ML with everything on Very Hard and in an uber-League of all the top clubs, I’ll probably start with a 4-5-1 (Liverpool-style). At a pinch I could imagine myself going for a 4-4-2, but I’ll never try to play a 4-3-3 with the Default goons again.

What anyone can do, of course, is design a couple of extra formations and assign them to strategy buttons, and switch between them as needed. That’s what I’ve done for several PES years now, and always find it effective - if timed right, of course. as with anything else on the game, better players will swap positions quicker. The Default squad were terrible at switching formations mid-game, mostly.

By: david

david — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:48:07 +0000

i must admit using 3 5 2 with the defaults to try and get a formation that was defensive yet allowed attacks. ruskin, ximelez, burchet and the likes playing wide midfield. since the negotiations (and 9fresh faces - 4trade,5youths) ive reverted back to my 4 3 3, similar to yours, greg.

3 4 3 is a little too offensive for the defaults and the level of opponent one comes up against normally, but 3 5 2 is workable (i found).

By: stinger

stinger — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:00:04 +0000

greg much like your favourite 4-3-3 formation i try not to waver from my 3-4-3. With the original default players this simply isn’t a viable formation as the players are to poor to play in this sort of shape but once i made a few changes to my side this is the formation i aim for and now have it set and chances are i wont change it.

I used to find that the opposition did attack me a lot down the flanks and this is where i was conceding my goals from, however given the right players in certain key positions i find it more effective than any other formation I’ve used.

The most important thing is high stamina on my outside midfielders as well as my 3 centre backs. I basically us my SMF’s to track back when attacks come down the flanks. When this is not possible due to my SMF’s being to far up field after an attack i use one of my centre backs to come outand shut down the attacker down the wing still leaving me with my other 2 centre backs as well as my DMF in the centre to defend against any crosses.

It is also important for my formation to have tall centre backs who are good in the air, i find this can easily nullify the threat of the opposition in the air, i will often turn down the chance to sign a defender who looks better overall if they are no good in the air.

Currently still only in my 2nd season of the ML i haven’t had the chance to sign the type of defenders i want but the formation is still working thanks to one man. My Australian DMF who i am a big fan of in real life (down to the fact that i am Australian probably) in Wilkshire. He doesn’t look the most brilliant player but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time when the opposition breaks down the flanks. He appears to be a really hard worker and constantly intercepts opposition attacks.