Win, Lose or Draw? Probably Draw.

I've just bought FM2010 after upgrading to a PC capable of playing at, and it's just like old times!

Like old times insofar as, like FM09 and 07 before it, I am without question something of a draw specialist. There's no pattern to it, no consistent chain of events, I just seem to draw games a hell of a lot. 2-0 up against Burnley at home (I'm Villa, by the way), concede two late goals. 1-0 down away at Chelsea, score at late equaliser. Have just finished an epic 4-4 against Everton, where i went 2-0 down, got back to 2-2, then 3-2 down, came back to be winning 4-3, only to concede the most predictable of equalisers in the 93rd minute.

Obviously, sometimes it's been great. The point at Stamford Bridge was a lovely point, and one I'd have taken prior to kick-off. I'm not complaining, and I'd like to pre-empt any replies of "it's your tactics", by saying that I agree, and am trying to work out how to defend a lead. Have tried numerous variations on my formation, bringing on defensive players when going into the last 10-15 minutes so as to defend my lead, but time and again, I end up losing 2 points. Currently, my record looks like this:

P 16 W 4 D 9 L3

Can't blame the fans or the media for their schizophrenic reactions to games. Much is being made of my 9 game unbeaten run (7 of them draws), and yet the fact that I'm languishing in 10th doesn't seem to reflect this run of form and the fans are annoyed, yet pleased, but always confused.

Has anyone else found that, for want of a better phrase, time again it's a case of "always the bridesmaid, never the bride"?

I get annoyed when I fail to draw! After my first dozen games of my current season i was W6 D1 L5! Obviously I'd rather have draws than defeats, but I don't like the imbalanced look it gives when I lose more than I draw. Ideally i would win more than I draw, and draw more than I lose. W6 D4 L2 has a far more pleasing look don't you think?

Having said that on my first ever save on FM7 I drew the first fourteen games of my campaign in Holland. I was dumbstruck!

Well, yes. If nothing else, a draw is better than a defeat. It's the inevitability that starts to get to you; this consuming knowledge and dread that the equaliser is on it's way. The only person enjoying the humdrum monotony is my housemate, who once again gets to enjoy the anguished cries and outbursts of rage whenever i drop two points.

Im surviving my first season in the Blue square premier on draws alone, currently P22 W5 D12 L5, im glad im surviving dont get me wrong but the inevitability of the draw is driving me nuts

Know your pain, fella.

i used to find the i drew alot

*tries not to make myself sound like the its your tactics guys*

But (granted this only worked for me) towards the 70th minute i would normally crank up passing to long ball and timewasting to full as it kept the opposition out the box, granted there are some draws you just seen unable to get out of but, look on the brightside, you aint losing

How do you tend to see out a game Norville Rodgers?

I've just bought FM2010 after upgrading to a PC capable of playing at, and it's just like old times!

Like old times insofar as, like FM09 and 07 before it, I am without question something of a draw specialist. There's no pattern to it, no consistent chain of events, I just seem to draw games a hell of a lot. 2-0 up against Burnley at home (I'm Villa, by the way), concede two late goals. 1-0 down away at Chelsea, score at late equaliser. Have just finished an epic 4-4 against Everton, where i went 2-0 down, got back to 2-2, then 3-2 down, came back to be winning 4-3, only to concede the most predictable of equalisers in the 93rd minute.

Obviously, sometimes it's been great. The point at Stamford Bridge was a lovely point, and one I'd have taken prior to kick-off. I'm not complaining, and I'd like to pre-empt any replies of "it's your tactics", by saying that I agree, and am trying to work out how to defend a lead. Have tried numerous variations on my formation, bringing on defensive players when going into the last 10-15 minutes so as to defend my lead, but time and again, I end up losing 2 points. Currently, my record looks like this:

P 16 W 4 D 9 L3

Can't blame the fans or the media for their schizophrenic reactions to games. Much is being made of my 9 game unbeaten run (7 of them draws), and yet the fact that I'm languishing in 10th doesn't seem to reflect this run of form and the fans are annoyed, yet pleased, but always confused.

Has anyone else found that, for want of a better phrase, time again it's a case of "always the bridesmaid, never the bride"?

My recipe is - don't protect your lead, unless you really have to.

I usually start the game with attacking mentality and I don't change this nor my tactics after scoring first or second goal. Only when I'm against a really strong team and struglling on the pitch (e.g. have couple of very narrow escapes in defence and opponent gets too much chances) I have to change things around.

But attack is the best defence most of the times, so unless you really have to - don't change tactics that brought you a lead in first place.

I think if you persevere with what you are doing and improve on your squad, you could soon turn those draws into wins. Maybe you just need better defenders or goalkeeper? It isn't always about tactics. Sometimes players are just not good enough.

I once went unbeaten in the league for the whole season, and finished second, because of draws (that's alot of draws), and what I thought was some crazy scorelines. I didn't change anything tactically for the next season and slightly improved on my squad. I turned those draws into wins (obviously not possible if you don't have the funds).

On the other hand, If improving your squad isn't an option, then maybe you shouldn't change anything during a game you want to see out. Do you always try and hold on to a lead? Maybe you shouldn't, maybe you should go for the jugular more often, if that suits your players better. Attack is the best form of defense sometimes.

Just an idea, hope it helps.

I always draw. It annoys me to no end. But it's probably my tactics.

How do you tend to see out a game Norville Rodgers?

Going against the advice of others, i tend to try and protect my lead. Retain possession, switch to a defensive mentality, that sort of thing. Might be worth going with the suggestions here and just carrying on attacking. Thing is, it somehow feels more professional and managerial to sub a striker, bring on a second DMC and try to see the game out, but maybe that's exactly what I'm doing wrong.

Very last game i played last night, i went 4-3 up in the 89th minute away at Goodison, only for Steven Pienaar to crack home a predictable equaliser in the 93rd. Wasn't much more I could have done with regards to "shutting up shop".

The only problem with going defensive is that you drop deep and invite the opposition onto you. I would suggest combining any Defensive mentality with an instruction like "push forward" and see if that helps. [Hopefully your back line won't go too deep but you will get men behind the ball]

Well, since my last post on this, I've resisted the lure of trying to protect my lead, and to all intents and purposes there has been an improvement. Sure, I've still drawn a couple, and the less said about the 4-0 drubbing at Fratton Park, the better. But I've definitely noticed that when 1-0 or 2-0 up with time running out, attack has been the better form of defence.

Marshdweller, like your thinking regarding going defensive, but pushing up as well. Got to be worth a try.

I would support the idea of going defensive and pushing up, especially when you are using DMs. This is because I find that the team will tend to sit too deep when playing with a DM due to the settings of the tactics creator which naturally adjust the d-line when DMs are being used.

'Push higher up' is especially useful when going to 'defensive' or 'contain' strategy and finding that you are sitting too deep and allowing the opposition to get too close to your goal.

Try this post for some other ideas of shouts you could use: http://community.sigames.com/showpost.php?p=4678268&postcount=1

Its clearly the tactics. Check out the tactics forum

Cheers Edle

I once drew five consecutive matches. All 2-2.

That doesn't contribute to the conversation. It was just an example.

Got an update for us norville rodgers? I'm very interested to know what you have decided to do and how it has worked out for you.

I have a similar problem, and after trying numerous tactical changes i have resorted to setting my team as quite narrow on the tactics, yet issuing instructions to get the ball wide... seems strang and, although i would prefer not to use this obvious tactical hypocrisy - it works fairly well.

The only problem with going defensive is that you drop deep and invite the opposition onto you. I would suggest combining any Defensive mentality with an instruction like "push forward" and see if that helps. [Hopefully your back line won't go too deep but you will get men behind the ball]

good point but like my way, its not very realistics is it :/

Got an update for us norville rodgers? I'm very interested to know what you have decided to do and how it has worked out for you.

Well, I took the advice of others and essentially decided not to try and protect my lead. I can't say I've tried going to a defensive mentality whilst pushing up, but I have had success in doing nothing more than continuing to attack. On paper, certainly, my Villa side are stronger going forward than they are defending, so if I'm in a situation where I'm 1 goal up with 10 minutes to go, I bring on a fresh centre back, and a fresh striker, and continue in an attacking vein.

Must say there's been a couple of draws into the bargain, but I've beaten Arsenal 4-2, am taking a 1-0 lead to Anfield for the second leg of the Carling Cup, and am currently up to 9th. So it has definitely proved to be fruitful not sitting back and trying to see games out, but rather sticking towhat I'm good at, which is attacking.

That felt a bit long-winded; apologies if it was.

Well, I took the advice of others and essentially decided not to try and protect my lead. I can't say I've tried going to a defensive mentality whilst pushing up, but I have had success in doing nothing more than continuing to attack. On paper, certainly, my Villa side are stronger going forward than they are defending, so if I'm in a situation where I'm 1 goal up with 10 minutes to go, I bring on a fresh centre back, and a fresh striker, and continue in an attacking vein.

Must say there's been a couple of draws into the bargain, but I've beaten Arsenal 4-2, am taking a 1-0 lead to Anfield for the second leg of the Carling Cup, and am currently up to 9th. So it has definitely proved to be fruitful not sitting back and trying to see games out, but rather sticking towhat I'm good at, which is attacking.

That felt a bit long-winded; apologies if it was.

Not at all.

Glad its working out.

You change your CB's during a game? Interesting. I have never done this as I always presumed that the defense shouldn't be tampered with, especially in the middle of a game, and especially the center of defense. Have you always done this? Maybe it is having a negative effect.

I have a similar problem, and after trying numerous tactical changes i have resorted to setting my team as quite narrow on the tactics, yet issuing instructions to get the ball wide... seems strang and, although i would prefer not to use this obvious tactical hypocrisy - it works fairly well.

good point but like my way, its not very realistics is it :/

Well, it is realistic when there isn't an instruction for "get men behind the ball". I want my team to track back, so I go Defensive, but this has an additional effect of making my team drop deeper, which I don't want, so I tell them to push up (hopefully negating the change to the defensive line cause by going Defensive).

If I were a real manager shouting from the touchline I would be telling my players to get back but not get sucked into their own area, so I don't see how this is an unrealistic method.