The Official Game Status Update Thread

[Nentsia]

Meanwhile in my laboratory, Catenaccio is getting me better and better results. When Blac was Schalke, and I was Napoli, we had our best game ever that eventually ended in 2-3 for Blac. Too many goals against in my opinion, so back to the Lab. Some test games end in goalless draws, but for several games in a row, my testing team (Internazionale), won with 1-0. Keeping Blacarite teams from scoring is not my only goal. I want to do so while using my preferred 5-3-2. As I explained, this poses some problems as Blacarism means 4 attackers, double support down the wings (where I have only 1 defender), and two central midfielders that can both build up the attack and smother any potential counter-attacks of mine.

After having tried everything, and my defensive organization getting infinitely complex (only to still have Blac score - driving me crazy), I have learned that the solutions are sometimes... very simple. But for the sake of gamesmanship I'm not going to tell what that solution might be. As it stands now, my Inter concedes about 1 scoring chance to Blacarite teams in every 137 minutes. In some games my Catenacciari scored an early goal and managed to defend that lead, and in other games (like the one above), they managed to steal a late goal after waiting patiently for 80 minutes.



But the truth must be told: even I can barely watch my team play. After 3 passes they lose the ball and return to their trenches. But the defensive principles that have helped this team to stay defensively solid can also be applied with other playing styles, so there is hope that I might combine a solid defense with a playing style that doesn't result in... 37% ball posession (look at that dreadful 59% pass completion). But for now, Catenaccio it is.

[Flo]

This experience will help you demolish the AI. if you couple this defensive strategy with some special attacking players, or speedy wingers, you could have a deadly strategy

[Nentsia]

This experience will help you demolish the AI. if you couple this defensive strategy with some special attacking players, or speedy wingers, you could have a deadly strategy

Me and Blacs did a round with me being Torino (<3) and Blac was Borussia Monchengladbach. The defenders were doing okay-ish but still allowing Lars Stindl to snag a few goals per game. So much for Catenaccio. I have already found the source of the errors that allowed Stindl to score. In our final game we therefore managed to stay 0-0 until like the 70th minute or something. Then Blac replaced Stindl with another striker who scored literally twice in a row the moment he came on the pitch. Probably a lapse in concentration of my defenders. This is Torino after all, not Juventus.

I ran some more experimental games against Blac's team, observing some defensive movements after I eliminated the source of many goals, and I spent a lot of time approaching the game as a typical Italian pragmatist: blunt the opponent's attacks and exploit their defensive weaknesses to the fullest. And all of a sudden: Torino wins. It would've been a nice and clean 2-0 victory if BMG hadn't scored a late goal in the 91st minute from a free kick.

Show ContentSpoiler:

As you can see, although there is the usual 42% ball posession on my side, the play has improved. 70% pass completion (against a dreaded 59% I had earlier), a clear cut scoring chance (I get those quite often in repeated test games), and of course just as many shots on target as my opponent. The numbers confirm my intended game plan: effectiveness.

In the 39th minute, when I instructed my players to take a little more risk, hoping to score a goal late in the 1st half, Belotti gave this beauty of a pass to my striker Ciro Immobile. Immobile rushed in a straight line towards the goal and fired it into the right corner past the goalkeeper. In the second half I instructed the team to withdraw deeper into its own half and prey on the counter attack.

Show ContentCiro Immobile goal:

In the 60th minute, although playing much more conservatively, Torino found another opportunity to exploit the spaces left by BMG.

Show ContentBelotti Goal:

Belotti got the ball in his feet from my reserve playmaker (the other was injured early in the game). Belotti turned right, where there was enormous space, then cut inside again - putting his marker on the wrong foot, and placed it brilliantly in the far corner of the goal.

What I liked about this new approach, where I focus on exploiting the weaknesses rather than thinking up a tactic of my own, is that it helps the team set up dangerous attacks throughout the game. It makes the game more tense, and obviously results in goals. The defence was solid throughout this match. There was one moment of panic when one of BMG's players hit the crossbar, but other than that, their offense was completely blunted by Torino.

[Nentsia]

Here is an overview of what Blacarism in FM looks like on paper and where the players' movements are and how they, according to the post-match analyses, position themselves on the actual pitch. Interesting that throughout the game, 5 of Blac's players position themselves predominantly on my half of the pitch, while 5 are positioned in his own half. Contrast this to my own teams: I only have 2 players in on the opponent's half, with 8 players positioning themselves primarily in my own half....

But what is Jose Mourinho doing in that image there? ...Oh look, Jose is pointing out for me where Blacarism is leaving an enormous defensive gap that makes his system vulnerable. It would be a shame if he lost ball posession while both that central midfielder and that left full-back have abbandoned their positions... @_@




...See you on the pitch tonight, Blacs e_e

[Seperallis]

Go Nents go! Be the future of football. \o/

[Flo]

Defeat the blacarist!!!

[Blacaria]

I can soundly say he failed in this endeavor... *looks at Flo* Hurry up dang it >:O

[Flo]

I almost defeated the blacarist, and with a vastly inferior team with outdated and frankly amateur tactics

[Blacaria]

Yet you still failed....who can challenge me e__e

[Nentsia]

I challenge you with Atletico Madrid. Ill teach you the art of Cholismo.