i've sent my skype handle to MMD. not sure what i need to look out for in skype (mac version), though. i hope it'll be obvious.

last time i checked, i haven't been accepted to the squad, yet. once i'm in and online, i'll drop by the club to check for games.

a customized 442 should be used for clubs

Add me to club please.

just popping in to say i'm really enjoying the strategy/tactics discussion (and trying to relate it to 1v1 as well!) - please keep it up

disagree
formation is fine

problem is off the ball movement, it is terrible(all make the same runs) and playing defensive opening trough passes is therefore almost impossible

when making other runs(cutting across or whatever) you either
a) pull a defender away and the player on the ball has more room or
b) you get into dangerous areas and when timed correctly are trough on goal

What Cashy said about the attacking I find that a lot when attacking in Clubs also wherever the ball goes the whole strikeforce goes when you need people pushing wide and making Z shaped runs almost. Can't wait to get home and play this

I don't have nearly as much footballing knowledge or game skill as most of you in the club, so take this for what it's worth. In the games that I've been in we're trying to ping pong it too much up the middle, which is predictable and allows the defenders to anticipate our next pass. The one and only decent game I've had was as CAM where I held on to the ball longer than I usually do, pulling extra defenders and opening a clear lane for one of the forwards to receive the ball.

I'm not advocating one person trying to Maradona the ball through 6 defenders, but the change in defense this year allows you to take more time on the ball. I think we've all played Fifa 11 enough that we're afraid to hold on to the ball for any period of time, but this year I think you can.

Another thing I've noticed is that we have trouble with the Any player on the opposition. Usually this is the most skilled player, and with EA boosting the CPU players in clubs, it means we need to take some time developing our VPs.

The formation 41212 is extremely popular on FIFA, it is the highest priced card on UT so i anticipate it will have support to stay as our formation but you really need to look past the 41212 and look at our performances which have been poor - the stats speak for themselves.

In our current state the way people like to play and the general level of our VPs it's clear our formation isn't working. I've played most attacking positions in this formation so i have a good perspective of what we're doing right and wrong and how to change that and that is by changing formation.

We need a better base in central midfield - 1 isn't adequate. They look to the wing - who is isolated unless the forward makes a run down the wing then we have strikers out of position - they should be focussed within the width of the goals.

The solution is 2 CMs either in 4222 or 4231 imo as that enables the strikers to work more in the width of the goal as the CMs can push the team forward and the wingers are able to operate more effectively on the wing meaning the strikers don't have to come wide so much.

I preference 4231 over 4222 at first as with 5 supporting the striker it could give us more confidence in how to build attacks but i'm also 100% behind 4222 as i know that formation extremely well too and it is excellent for what we need imo.

we have enough players playing the pass(cbs, fullbacks help building too) but not enough making runs so there just is no point in changing formation, we just need to change the way we play(other off the ball runs)

Changing formation plugs the gaps in the skill of our VPs and our own abilities. What you're saying is we need to become way better at this game.

The more realistic solution to give us a better chance of winning is to get a more workable formation.

It's like Madrid with their Galacticos - the chairman Perez thought he could buy all the players then they would win with their ability. The truth is you need to get a formation and organisation that fits the players you have or you win jack ****.

I gotta say I am +1 on formation change.

Having played all the position from LM to ST there is something fundamentally wrong with it or the way we play it. The back 4 and CDM is solid.

I play AM and too often I am finding myself joining in the Attack because that's where the space is believe it or not. The RM and LM are both moving up the pitch so that they have my AM space covered which means I am looking ahead and moving into the space where LST or RST should be and every is just ending up on top of each other.

I would vote that we try 4-2-3-1 for a few games. Give us some width and some defined space up front that everyone knows is their own space.

This would allow the AMR and the AML to move into the space up front beside the ST and allow the AM to hold his position and drop short for both the CM to pick him out and link up better.

Iv literally just woke up so haven't proof read this but hopefully it makes sense.

4231 is my fav formation and the only one i use so i am not biased toward 41212 at all but i think the formation is fine. And it is down to what Cashy said, i said it in my previous post too. No one makes decent runs. No one makes themselves available.

What everyone seems to do is as soon as the ball reaches the attacking half they look to make the run for the ball over the top which might have been viable in fifa 11. In 12 it is not. Seb has picked up on it and has started halting his runs and coming deep as one of the ST's which does a whole number of things.

1. It provides the ball carrier with an extra option
2. It pulls defenders out of position
3. It creates space for the other ST to move into as the defenders aren't there anymore

The LM/RM's need to prove the LB/RB & CDM with options when we are around the midfield area, go into UT and change the formation to 41212 and see where the links are, it will give you a basic idea of who you should be trying to link with mainly.

Just got the game today and haven't had a chance to play yet.

Is the 'take control of goalkeeper and let CPU defend for you' loophole still possible? Sounds like it could really spoil online H2H play. How widespread is it?

alright im into season 7 now and only made division 6(played a whole season drunk)

my best advice thus far

Attacking
-finesse shots are still good but the angles have changed, straight on and 90 degrees are not good in these spots but if youre coming in diagonal its the best

-dribbling is overpowered, just take your finger off sprint and GG.

-long shots to the sides are also quite good and i fell like theyre easier than before

defending

-tug shirt, tug shirt, tug shirt alllllll day, this move is so good, its like a slide tackle that keeps you in better position and never gets called, i grab jersey then slide tackle sometimes but never just slide tackle. best move in the game IMO.

-fill in the space directly in front of goal, basically the counter strategy to what im posting but crazy finesse shots from the corner of the box are much more uncommon in this.


Random stuff-formations with 2 wings and a striker are proving to be incredibly effective and i dont think playing 2 guys up is as good in the past

skill moves got nerfed to hell

and where the **** are the calls refs?

thats all

how do i get in the PS3 team?

There are two threads on the EA forums with a combined page count of 100, and still no response from EA. I've played 7 ranked H2H matches and think that's been used against me in 5 of them. I rage too bad and am afraid of breaking my controller, so I won't play them until I get confirmation that it's been fixed. There's really no reason to have it in the game at all.

keep us updated please

Yup I usually hammer H2H but got to division 8 and haven't bothered playing any further. It's ridiculous that they haven't changed it yet. They asked for our opinions and we gave them our opinions and still they want something else. It's pathetic.

Are you in yet?

If not pm your skype and I will get you into the chatroom.

No games going this now though as the EA servers are being a ****.

I don't know why I never put 2 and 2 together, but it's a bug that your VP doesn't get accomplishments during club matches. They're aware of it, but that doesn't meant it'll get fixed any time soon.

sometimes you get em sometimes you dont
had about 12 cleansheets so far but only got awarded 4

Alrite guys, just picked up fifa... Was pretty decent at fifa 11 but never done this team thing you guys do..

Willing to play tho whenever so gimme a shout

i suck so bad at defending its unreal i used be my strength isit better to get good at tactical or go back?

I am deeply offended by the Utterly biased ratings again. Makes me sick.

Leighton Baines is rated 80. Thats such a sad Joke. Should be 83 - 85 easily. Best LB in the league over the past 2 years ainec.

If he played for one of top 4 teams would be 87.

Seething

also all young players rating horrendous some youngster is flying and he get 60 speed