The hoodoo that you do
Posted by: not-Greg in FIFA09, bogey team, manager mode, tags: bogey team, FIFA09, manager modeI think I’ve identified the problem. Yesterday I said I was going back to my PS3 Manager Mode career with Coventry City. The one I started on the Xbox360 with Atletico Madrid was proving too tough for me and I didn’t know why. Yes, there are better teams in the top Spanish league than there are in the English Coca Cola Championship. But it shouldn’t be so tough—on the same difficulty and control settings—that I was in danger of getting fired by Atletico. Should it?
Of course, the answer turned out to be simple. I was trying too hard to score a ’showbiz’ goal, as Mark Hughes used to call them (and often score them) back in his playing days. I needed to calm down and just try to get bread and butter goals, and pick up points and move up the table, and let the showbiz goals take care of themselves. Let them come naturally in the fullness of time.
Which is what I did. Results came immediately. My first game ended 2-0 to me. I drew the next game 2-2, but should have won it (see below). And I won the third game of the session 1-0. Here’s one of those bread and butter goals, which came about after I switched to a wide formation in the tactics editor. I wasn’t getting this kind of space until I did:
Total bread and butter, that goal. After my troubles of yesterday I felt as happy with it as I would have done with a 40-yard screamer. Well, almost as happy.
I did score a slightly prettier goal during this session. I uploaded it, but I made the mistake of submitting it to EA Sportsworld in slow-motion, and somehow it snipped off the part where the actual goal was scored. So there’s no point showing it here. For the record, it was a delicious outside-of-the-boot finish from Maxi Rodriguez, scored from a long, pretty aimless cross that’d bobbled to him across the penalty box. It went in off the far post.
I have stopped using YouTube to stream goals to this blog, possibly for good. The new site—LiveLeak—allows you to directly upload .flv video files (YouTube doesn’t), and there is little or no loss of quality. I’d never heard of this LiveLeak place until I saw them mentioned on Evo-Web the other day. I hope they’re not one of these fly-by-night setups and I can use them for a good long while.
So. I’d been trying to score stunners, long-range screamers that I could show off here, rather than just concentrating on winning the match, which is what real football is all about. And can there be any doubt that FIFA09, for better or worse, is all about real football? I don’t think there’s an argument left to be had.
There’s got to be a downside. In the middle of my three games I came up against… Osasuna.
Regular readers will recall that Osasuna were my bogey team in the PS2/PSP version of PES2008. (A very good PES game and one I will return to at some point this year). Back then it seemed that every season they were primed to frustrate me no matter what I did or how well I played. Surely the hoodoo couldn’t translate into a whole new ball game?
It bloody well could translate. I went into a 2-0 lead against them and I thought: that’s it, I’ve cracked it at last… Naturally, this heralded an Osasuna fightback. I’ve noticed in FIFA09 that there is a kind of momentum (in Seabass’ dread phrase) that the CPU can build up when it’s behind. The possession bonus that it enjoyed in FIFA08 is still in 09, only it’s a bit more subtle I think. You don’t see the CPU players twisty-turning on the wings to the same infuriating degree, but they still have the old possession ‘magic’ when they need it.
Of course, it’s up to the human player to defend better. With discipline and patience. I didn’t.
Osasuna came back to draw 2-2. Of course they did. I threw everything at them in the last minutes, aching for the winner. I was horribly frustrated. Bloody Osasuna! They’d only gone and done me again. I’ll be watching out for the return fixture later in the season.
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The gameplay in that video actually looked a lot faster than I was expecting. Are the replays faster than the actual game, or is it just the case that the Demo is a bit slower?
Hammer - the full game of FIFA09 feels a little faster than its demo. But overall I’m used to it now (on Normal speed) and I think it’s just right. The argument is there to be had - was FIFA08’s speed perfect? Or UEFA2008’s? etc. Personally I like 09’s default speed but some don’t.
Also the replay shows an attacking move, which is faster relative to the general gameplay. You can speed up and slow down the gameplay according to how you play it. Lots of the game is played at a more sedate pace than that goal shows.
And weirdly, the 360 version feels slower than the PS3 version to me.
I’ve been playing UEFA since last night, the gameplay is slower but oh my god the difficulty is so much harder. I can barely win on Pro unless I go France, the whole team must be on speed. It makes FIFA 09 appear easy which I am now playing on WC. Strange.
Bread and butter goals are the goals that will propel you up the table. I rarerly score a spectacular goal. I did score a goal which involved around 20 passes, the replays only show the cross and header. These goals are more fulfilling to me.
heraldo - I don’t think the difficulty levels are anything to worry about with FIFA09. It was well-publicised before release that the difficulty levels had been changed from UEFA and FIFA08 in order to make the game more ‘accessible’ at lower skill levels. All it means is that you’ll need to play on WC, as you are doing, to get the same kind of challenge that Pro level gave you on the other games.
Me? I’m still struggling on Professional! The shame of it….
I’m getting closer with spectacular goals. The shooting system is extremely subtle. It depends on so many factors. Sometimes, with some players in some situations, you can get away with letting off ferocious heavy shots, when most of the time with other players in the same position they’ll fly over. This really is the year for player differentiation in FIFA, I think.
It looks a bit fast to me too. I didn’t get round to trying Euro2008, but I kinda liked FIFA08 speed (could be just a tad faster), so I guess I will be playing FIFA09 on its slow setting…still another 4 days until release here!
One thing that is quite interesting is that both PESChronicles and PESFanatic are running Spanish league MM’s….which makes me wonder which is the best or consistently challenging league to play MM in? I guess the English leagues probably have more longevity if you start at the bottom…but does the Spanish league offer the most consistently challenging teams right across the board, with different teams challenging for the top spot every year…or Bundesliga, Serie A??
It’s a slightly rhetorical question as I will be attempting to relive ‘the dream’ with Leeds United
Oh dear.. Welcome to the Champions League.
First CL game at home to Marseille, all my players stamina guages are on half. As soon as the match kicks off I know theres going to be problems. Beaten 0-2, in a tired lacklustre performance. That was my first defeat at home in my managerial career too.
Everytime I think I have professional mastered the game decides, not yet…
The speed is a lot faster- a little to fast I think. I play on slow but I am really not sure of the difference to be honest. That last match was slow- only because my players couldn’t sprint at all. In hindsight I should have played for a 0-0.
I think the shooting system is brilliant! It should be very hard to score cracking goals. I hated on PES that if you just sprint straight with gerrard and tapped square the ball genrally flew into the top corner. Far too easy. Manual shooting is so hard though, I need to stick with semi assisted just to get a shot on target in a match.
Matt
I played FIFA 08 on legendary in the end.
I have just started to play on World Class. I chose the Spanish League as I haven’t played it before in a MM. Wanted something new.
I have lost 4 games so far in FIFA 09 and 3 have been against Man Utd in friendlies. The EPL may be a real test if you go maybe a side outwith the Top 4.
not-Greg
I hope you don’t mind me posting 3 of my goals. The best one was in my first game on EURO last night. If I could only score like this in FIFA 09, it will come no doubt.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0a7_1223640079 DAVID VILLA FK
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=038_1223634510 MORIENTES 1ST TIME SHOT
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=88f_1223643712 RIBERY STUNNER scored last night
I think that Morientes one is the best! He is getting on in my MM now, I reserve him for European games and play Mata in the league now.
How did you hit the free kick? Do you push down for a hard shot? I have yet to score. Also with the ‘new’ controls on FIFA (the PES ones) what is super cancel?
Not Given
The Morientes one is also my favourite as I use manual lob and through balls. I would never have scored this goal in FIFA 08. They really have improved the shooting mechanics in 09.
Free Kicks - I have found the finesse FK is not as effective in 09. I use the normal shot but keep the direction held down to apply more curl. Try it out on the Arena. It curls alot more in 09.
FK Hard Shots (I use ALTERNATE controls) L1. I only use this from free kicks 30 yards+. It is all about the timing with the shoot button. You don’t get the same curl as normal FK.
Super Cancel on my controls are L2/R2
Oh and how good is Zigic? I bring him on the 65 minute mark. Defenders can’t get the ball off him, excellent dribbling ability.
Thanks!
Yes he’s like a Drogba. I bring him on if I am struggling to break a team down. Zigic is my long ball option.
Is Vicente good for you? I am just dismantling Standard Leige in the CL, Vicente has scored two unbelievable goals. One was similar to Messis Maradona like goal a few years back. Unfortunately upload is greyed out??
It would have missed out most of the goal anyway…
Matt - re the speed, I don’t find it that great a difference from 08. When it’s fast it is noticeably faster, but when it’s slow it’s pretty much the same. Someone just as pretentious as me once described a football match as being like a symphony, with fast and slow movements etc. It’s like that. It does all depend on the in-game situation.
And I’ve found the Spanish league much harder than I was prepared for. By contrast my Coventry career in the Championship on the same difficulty feels like another footballing universe entirely. Which is completely as it should be.
Not Given - I’m loving the shooting even more. I’m only now getting to grips with it, after a week’s play. It’s definitely all context-related.
And after yesterday’s talk about console reliablity I spent 15 minutes this morning backing up all my game saves to a USB stick. It’s no good tempting fate.
heraldo - I like the Morientes goal the best too. I haven’t yet sussed free kicks on 09, but I’ve come close and hit the upright and bar a few times. I’ve found that ‘grinding’ the left stick through 90 degrees while powering up the shot helps - it seems to put top and side-spin on the ball.
Not Given
Vicente has replaced Joaquin on the right of midfield. As I find he is more effective.
I have switched Silva to LM and placed Morientes up front with Villa. Del Horno comes in at LB as he is more willing to push forward.
My created player HERALDO replaces Albelda or Baraja on the 70 minute mark, who ever goes fatigues quicker.
Marchena is a beast of a CB.
You have dropped Joaquin! He is the spanish Ronaldo!
My team is built around Joaquin, Baraja, Villa, and Vicente and always has for years. It’s going to be hard phasing this team out on MM.
Yes, Helguera used to be the same a few years back. Give Mata a run in the side too, he may surprise you. I need new CMs desperately. Tried for over a year to get Xabi Alonso and liverpool refuses to transfer him, I have even offered 3 million more than his valuation.
Not Given - it’s great to see your enthusiasm for MM and quite infectious too. And it sounds as if MM has been beefed up in at least one respect - in FIFA08 you’d have had no trouble buying Alonso.
I’m getting to know my players at Atletico. Maxi Rodriguez is my captain and a star man out on the right of midfield. If/when I get round to playing Be A Pro Seasons, I’ll be a wide midfielder in his style.
Not Given
Yes I dropped Joaquin, no qualms about it either, thats the decisions you make as a manager
In real life he was a star a couple of seasons back but in football circles he hasn’t fulfilled his enormous potential. He could and should be better.
Like you I am enjoying this MM.
I just won the EURO’s with Portugal in a penalty shootout against Spain. It was so hard from the QF’s, strangely I had to go out all attack. This worked and penned Spain back, what’s the saying “attack is the best form of defence” It paid off with Ronaldo equalizing in the 89th minute.
Argh some people really try to ruin online gaming. Just went through a patch of losing online games constantly- my opponents were just too good (some guy beat me with a relatively unknown german side). I play through and keep trying, and add a few at the end if it was a good game. Then I FINALLY get a 1-0 win over Inter, were I had to defend for 30 minutes at the end. He quits on the 92nd minute and the win doesn’t appear on my stats.
It’s not that I am worried about my stats at all, it’s just frustrating that he couldn’t let me have the win- and instead felt the need to save his own stat profile so he looks better. What is the point? His no loss tally doesn’t make him good at the game and only he sees it anyway. It’s also a bit grating that he ‘got away with it’ and I grinded out so many defeats only to be robbed of a hard fought victory…
Greg, I don’t get along with the ‘be a pro’ mode at all. I have tried but it just isn’t my thing. I like to be in control of the entire team. It’s also the reason that, although i recognise their depth over FIFA and PES, I have little interest in manager sims. I like playing too much.
Heraldo,
Joaquin has been one of my favorite players in PES for years. Me and a friend have been playing PES against each other for years- a kind of ongoing series between Spain and his Italy. Joaquin and Vicente have been legends for me over the years- and it continues on in FIFA.
Not Given
That’s why I don’t play online. There are people that are such tossers and ruin the experience for all the good guys.
Pity about your XBOX because I would have played a few games against you. I would probably say that I am the most fairest player you could play online.
Oh, I started a BAP last night with Portsmouth and I love this game mode. Scored my 1st goal last night a 90th minute equalizer. I am still playing the CYC on EURO too. It’s a case of patience and holding your position. I can understand why people don’t like it.
They just see the whole game as winning and are worried about the stats. Had enough playing random people for now, against United again. All he did was sprint at me with Rooney and Ronaldo like a hyper ADHD kid all game. It’s not the type of game I enjoy- I prefer a slow match, with quick injections of action before going back to a slow passing game… He beat me 1-0 with one shot on target- and I was Southampton!
I wish I had a ’smaller’ team I supported to play online like a Portsmouth or Coventry City. Southampton was just a random choice trying to convince someone not to use United- and it failed.
Couldn’t you play each other online on the PS3? Are the online issues sorted? I can confirm that heraldo is indeed a fair-minded online opponent. After our first few games on the 360 last weekend I had to persuade him to skip replays of my shots ballooning 50 yards over the bar! Seriously, we had a good session using all kinds of teams, it was pretty darn good.
The standard online mentality puzzles and irritates me as well. Even playing chess online, you’ll meet the most extreme and terrible people!
I doubt I’ll ever go back to playing random all-comers on FIFA09 after enjoying a good long arranged session with one particular player—it’s the way to go, and the only way to play online IMO. The news about players quitting before they can lose is worrying. That happened to me a couple of times during the first weekend of playing quick matches on the PS3, and I never guessed why. I’m that naive.
Greg
You still can’t arrange rooms online on PS3. It hasn’t got the option playing a friend either. I read a few posts on EvoWeb today with guys having the same problem we had.
I forgot about letting you watch all those replays
I am glad we got that sorted out
You can play friends Heraldo! You invite them through your player Hub into a game, thats what me and greg tried to do- but the online errors won..
Yeah mate but it never works for the people who try it. Me and Greg tried for 40 minutes. It keeps freezing at the team selection.
The XBOX has a separate option to play a friend in the actual menu. Shame the PS3 hasn’t got this feature.
Hey Guys
We were discussing FK’s earlier just hit this with the L1/LB nearly wet my pants, check the distance.
http://www.eafootballworld.com/en_GB/video/1421591
Woo close!
I had 5 or 6 games with someone on my friends list. It was working fine! Do both of you have your ports forwarded and PS3 on NAT 2? Mine works perfectly now.
In one of the online games I scored from just inside the half way line. Complete fluke, just hit a shot for the hell of it, the gk slipped back and palmed the ball in! I couldn’t believe it…
Just had a great online game there! I was Luton, they were Shrewsbury (I think?) Won 2-0- Kevin Nicholls for some reason played like Messi. Very tempted to pick him up for a couple of thousand in my MM, see how he develops. Your right about playing a series of matches with one person- that isn’t afraid to take a loss. It is much more fun.
heraldo - just checked out your replay. So close! I’ve had one smack off the upright from about 30 yards. That was with one of my Coventry stiffs too.
Not Given - Yesterday morning I put a lens cleaner in my 360 and cleaned it a few times. Guess what - not a whiff of trouble since, through a couple of hour-long sessions. May just be coincidence but have you tried a lens cleaner?