FM11: The worst football manager all time.

FM 2011 is the worst so far. Patch 11.3 is the worst of all time. You've fixed up a lot of crap, but at the same time you've created twice as many bugs that make the game terrible. It is now much easier to score 1 vs 1 against the goalkeeper, but the defense is simply not working at all. I score and get "incredible" goals. Example:

[video=youtube;7cwx47rN4_Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cwx47rN4_Q

Goals from set pieces are so much that defenders became my top goal scorers. Transfer system is absolutely devastated. With 30M budget can not afford to hire assistant manager who wants 8500, because my wage limit is 8400.

For 10 days injury my striker drops 5 of his physical attributes, and now I can't back his stats no matter what training I use. I imagine if he injured himself again.

Just the game is terribly unrealistic, is not flexible and bad as never been before. I personally will return to FM10, and certainly do not think to buy FM12 that's for sure.

A tip: Do not include Innovations in the new version and fix the mess you've already created FM11. I feel so frustrated because I did not expect this year's version of the game I love, to be so horrible and unnerving.

I do seem to be scoring alot more goals lately...

Complete matter of opinion, i myself love the game as im sure many do, im aware there will also be other who dont like the game, but thats the same with any game

FM 2011 is the worst so far. Patch 11.3 is the worst of all time. You've fixed up a lot of crap, but at the same time you've created twice as many bugs that make the game terrible. It is now much easier to score 1 vs 1 against the goalkeeper, but the defense is simply not working at all. I score and get "incredible" goals. Example:

[video=youtube;7cwx47rN4_Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cwx47rN4_Q

Goals from set pieces are so much that defenders became my top goal scorers. Transfer system is absolutely devastated. With 30M budget can not afford to hire assistant manager who wants 8500, because my wage limit is 8400.

For 10 days injury my striker drops 5 of his physical attributes, and now I can't back his stats no matter what training I use. I imagine if he injured himself again.

Just the game is terribly unrealistic, is not flexible and bad as never been before. I personally will return to FM10, and certainly do not think to buy FM12 that's for sure.

A tip: Do not include Innovations in the new version and fix the mess you've already created FM11. I feel so frustrated because I did not expect this year's version of the game I love, to be so horrible and unnerving.

I agree with that. Zander Diamond who i signed for Hibs from Aberdeen First Season is my top scorer with 6 Goals and i'am only at October 2010.

Hey I love the game. But FM10 is 100 times better than this years. And FM09 is 100 times better than FM10. Every year the game is getting worse and worse. There are bugs that are not fixed for years, for example - the defense. And this year the mess is really huge.. This is just not the FM it was, and not the FM it supposed to be..

[video=youtube;738uHi-FcxI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=738uHi-FcxI Just saw this on your uploads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=738uHi-FcxI&feature=channel_video_title

Wow o.O lol

First time ive bought Football Manager after years of playing the LMA series (which ceased in 2007) and overall I am impressed.

However I have no previous edition to compare it against, but it must be the BEST football amanger sim currently available - surely.

Hey I love the game. But FM10 is 100 times better than this years. And FM09 is 100 times better than FM10. Every year the game is getting worse and worse. There are bugs that are not fixed for years, for example - the defense. And this year the mess is really huge.. This is just not the FM it was, and not the FM it supposed to be..

Agreed, my defence concede and always allow stupid balls to go over their heads

lol my defence is solid

stop complaining

as if balls over the top dont bother real life managers too

I have to say its in pretty bad shape all things considered. Many pointless changes from 2010 that have just made the game worse on top of the many bugs. So disapointing to see people talking about 2012 aswell as i feel we have a right to a properly finished working product. 2011 is close but its not there yet. Best thing that could happen for the game imo would be to base the next one off 2010 and try to pretend 2011 never happened. Personally i cant really see myself buying the next one if its in the same mould as 2011. Put the training screen back the way it was ffs!

I have to say its in pretty bad shape all things considered. Many pointless changes from 2010 that have just made the game worse on top of the many bugs. So disapointing to see people talking about 2012 aswell as i feel we have a right to a properly finished working product. 2011 is close but its not there yet. Best thing that could happen for the game imo would be to base the next one off 2010 and try to pretend 2011 never happened. Personally i cant really see myself buying the next one if its in the same mould as 2011. Put the training screen back the way it was ffs!

People will always talk about the next version way before it comes out. That has no reflection on the quality of the game but more to do with the success and enjoyment people are getting out of the game.

Personally there is little i can agree with in this thread i think fm 11 has been an improvement on fm 10 which had a very annoying ME imo, but fm 10 was a huge improvement on fm 09. Yet not everyone is going to agree and some people just don't like certain versions because they struggle with it.

I don't think that Haiku is the worst football manager all time.

People will always talk about the next version way before it comes out. That has no reflection on the quality of the game but more to do with the success and enjoyment people are getting out of the game.

Personally there is little i can agree with in this thread i think fm 11 has been an improvement on fm 10 which had a very annoying ME imo, but fm 10 was a huge improvement on fm 09. Yet not everyone is going to agree and some people just don't like certain versions because they struggle with it.

yeah but im not moaning cause i cant win im moaning cause the interface is a pain in the ass, the ME sucks (specifically strikers that miss all the time, defenders that dont defend etc etc) and the game still has a number of annoying bugs. Im not gonna write a book about it here but there are a number of things that just dont come over.

Edit: infact i would say the game could do with a little more difficulty in some ways. Some formations are over powered imo

I have to agree with this thread. I was waiting for ages for the 11.3 patch and there are just too many unrealistic things which just make me not want to play the game. Its not enjoyable to think that goals from corners or set pieces by your defenders are 50% of your total tally. FM has moved backwards, its become too focused on making money and not bothered about completing the game for the purists.

Having waited for so long for the patch, I cant believe that it will be another year now before I try the game again, as FM12 will no doubt be littered with bugs until the final update and then there is no guarantee of improvement. There should be no FM12 and the developers should just focus on improving this game and then make money by selling a 2012 update. Everyone will buy it and then at least they will have a complete game.

yeah but im not moaning cause i cant win im moaning cause the interface is a pain in the ass, the ME sucks (specifically strikers that miss all the time, defenders that dont defend etc etc) and the game still has a number of annoying bugs. Im not gonna write a book about it here but there are a number of things that just dont come over.

Edit: infact i would say the game could do with a little more difficulty in some ways. Some formations are over powered imo

yeah exactly, i felt that way about fm 09 but i've been enjoying fm 11 its really down to personal preference in some cases.

I have played every version since the first one ever with fake players, I am also thinking this is the worst version so far.

Just look the video I posted: The FB is leaving his man, the CB is closing down the same player and leaving the striker and a huge gap ahead of him and the other CB is just doing nothing. Triple NONSENSE..!?!?!!?!? Is it real!?

Just look the video I posted: The FB is leaving his man, the CB is closing down the same player and leaving the striker and a huge gap ahead of him and the other CB is just doing nothing. Triple NONSENSE..!?!?!!?!? Is it real!?

It's their tactic

Well yes I told them to run chaotically on the pitch. You can do this with the "Screw everything" tab on Tactic screen.. it's my bad. sorry!

Yeah, it's totally your fault and not the match engine's. Next time remember to talk to a journalist about the opposition manager so he'll play better tactic (it's one of the new features in this year's game).

I'd interpret it slightly differently.

1: Your DL has been bypassed by the ball player at the beginning of the move. The DC rushes to cover the threat.

2: The ball player shows some technical excellence with the drag back and pass, setting the runner free and taking two players out of the game.

3: The DCR fatally hesitates to cover as he is checking where his man is (is he man or zonal marking?)

4: The DL is not quick enough to get back and stop the shot.

This is a series of very bad decisions and poor play, resulting in a goal. It could be cause by many things. The defence could be very ungelled and thus prone to making bad decisions. Your tactical set up might be asking too much of them or forcing them into bad positions (as high, wide + man-marking would do in such a situation). You might not be employing a shielding MC, who could have picked up the central runner as he broke.

If I saw the lack of lateral cover from the DC on multiple occasions, I'd perceive it as a bug. However, if it is a rare occurrence or is only happening to one player, I'd be more likely to look at the player ability and the tactical instructions to see if it was something a different tactical style could fix. I'd also check on his confidence levels, as poor confidence can result in terrible decisions. If that seemed to be the case, I'd then look at how I could boost his confidence through man and media management, and look at whether he started to play better.

Questions to the OP:

1: Are you using TC settings or a manual, classic tactic?

2: How wide and deep are you playing?

3: Are you using a man or zonal marking system?

4: How good are your defenders decision making, marking and positional attributes?

5: Are you employing a covering MC?

Rather than just shouting 'bug', I'd suggest looking in detail at the above first, to see if you can correct this type of play yourself.

Only thing I have a problem with on this is how I concede so many from corners no matter what tactic I play, or anything like that.

Well yes I told them to run chaotically on the pitch. You can do this with the "Screw everything" tab on Tactic screen.. it's my bad. sorry!

I wish I could not like, but love, this post.

Only thing I have a problem with on this is how I concede so many from corners no matter what tactic I play, or anything like that.

The problem is that:

1)Using default corner tactics you get a ton of goals

2)The game doesnt recognize/obey edited corner defense tactics.

I'd interpret it slightly differently.

1: Your DL has been bypassed by the ball player at the beginning of the move. The DC rushes to cover the threat.

2: The ball player shows some technical excellence with the drag back and pass, setting the runner free and taking two players out of the game.

3: The DCR fatally hesitates to cover as he is checking where his man is (is he man or zonal marking?)

4: The DL is not quick enough to get back and stop the shot.

This is a series of very bad decisions and poor play, resulting in a goal. It could be cause by many things. The defence could be very ungelled and thus prone to making bad decisions. Your tactical set up might be asking too much of them or forcing them into bad positions (as high, wide + man-marking would do in such a situation). You might not be employing a shielding MC, who could have picked up the central runner as he broke.

If I saw the lack of lateral cover from the DC on multiple occasions, I'd perceive it as a bug. However, if it is a rare occurrence or is only happening to one player, I'd be more likely to look at the player ability and the tactical instructions to see if it was something a different tactical style could fix. I'd also check on his confidence levels, as poor confidence can result in terrible decisions. If that seemed to be the case, I'd then look at how I could boost his confidence through man and media management, and look at whether he started to play better.

Questions to the OP:

1: Are you using TC settings or a manual, classic tactic?

2: How wide and deep are you playing?

3: Are you using a man or zonal marking system?

4: How good are your defenders decision making, marking and positional attributes?

5: Are you employing a covering MC?

Rather than just shouting 'bug', I'd suggest looking in detail at the above first, to see if you can correct this type of play yourself.

Well I use the standart(new) tactic system. I haven't change the players personal settings except closing down for wings. I am using zonal marking, the man marking is leading to worse results. I am playing really narrow(about 5 notches) and normal d-line(in the middle). All three defenders got 13 decision, and marking above 15(the defender that do nothing got 17 marking). My MCs are standard Central Midfielders(Support-Muntari and Defend-Cattermole) Both got very good defensive stats. The goal is not a problem, the problem is that the defenders' moves look totally unprofessional, unrealistic and unhuman..

Defenders movement and positioning is totally unrealistic in fm 2011.Its not about bad decisions when defenders are escorting strikers or when they choose to cover a dead zone instead of closing down the strikers.

We also can see that defender who should close down the striker is for no reason stoping his run.Same stops of players its happening in attacks also and maybe this flaw in ME affects in a bad way crosses also because we can see very offen strikers stopping their run and they are very often left behind by wingers.

Defenders movement and positioning is totally unrealistic in fm 2011.Its not about bad decisions when defenders are escorting strikers or when they choose to cover a dead zone instead of closing down the strikers.

its much better than fm 10, i've found that in fm 11 you can actually get the defenders moving in front of strikers to make interceptions.

11.3 does improve the ME in some sense. but the defensive positioning and the brains of defenders are almost totally non existent.

Watch it all on the old text box, makes it much easier. Problem is the graphic is trying to show what the match engine is doing and it doesn't always look right. Basically the 3-d viewer was trying to show Santa Cruz scoring a nice goal and the defence being pants. It's just made it look worse than it is. I always try and remember that the 3-d is just trying to show something but doesn't always work. I hate seeing a player amble about the pitch, like the left back is doing in the op's video, and need to try and think what is actually going on. Is the left back unhappy cause he's only on 170k a week and not 175k? Has he just been busted for trying to sell tours of the club's training ground? Has he slept with any team-mates wives/partners lately? Has he developed an addiction to melton mowbray pies recenlty?

Watch it all on the old text box, makes it much easier. Problem is the graphic is trying to show what the match engine is doing and it doesn't always look right. Basically the 3-d viewer was trying to show Santa Cruz scoring a nice goal and the defence being pants. It's just made it look worse than it is. I always try and remember that the 3-d is just trying to show something but doesn't always work. I hate seeing a player amble about the pitch, like the left back is doing in the op's video, and need to try and think what is actually going on. Is the left back unhappy cause he's only on 170k a week and not 175k? Has he just been busted for trying to sell tours of the club's training ground? Has he slept with any team-mates wives/partners lately? Has he developed an addiction to melton mowbray pies recenlty?

It's the pies, they are evil incarnate

Who are you playing at DC anyway? I don't expect Bramble to be too smart tbh

Well I use the standart(new) tactic system. I haven't change the players personal settings except closing down for wings. I am using zonal marking, the man marking is leading to worse results. I am playing really narrow(about 5 notches) and normal d-line(in the middle). All three defenders got 13 decision, and marking above 15(the defender that do nothing got 17 marking). My MCs are standard Central Midfielders(Support-Muntari and Defend-Cattermole) Both got very good defensive stats. The goal is not a problem, the problem is that the defenders' moves look totally unprofessional, unrealistic and unhuman..

I've watched it again more carefully and both the DL and DC stutter at the same time, as if they are expecting the other to cover, which leaves the FC through. The DL then chases whereas the DC seems to decide to leave it to him. I suspect that relates to an ungelled defence.

Regarding your tactics, you say you are using the new system, but are talking about width as if you have manually selected a slider setting. I'm speculating here, but the step across from the DCL might be caused by relatively high pressing with a narrow width setting. The narrow width sees him getting close to the DL and the high closing down sees him dealing with the threat. Are you using a relatively attacking strategy but with manually narrowed width? If you are and have a relatively ungelled defence, closing down / positioning mistakes will get made.

I've watched it again more carefully and both the DL and DC stutter at the same time, as if they are expecting the other to cover, which leaves the FC through. The DL then chases whereas the DC seems to decide to leave it to him. I suspect that relates to an ungelled defence.

Regarding your tactics, you say you are using the new system, but are talking about width as if you have manually selected a slider setting. I'm speculating here, but the step across from the DCL might be caused by relatively high pressing with a narrow width setting. The narrow width sees him getting close to the DL and the high closing down sees him dealing with the threat. Are you using a relatively attacking strategy but with manually narrowed width? If you are and have a relatively ungelled defence, closing down / positioning mistakes will get made.

Can you explain why there are an abnormal amount of goals from set pieces and corners? Defenders are becoming top scorers for teams and many people have said that they have defenders scoring 20+ goals a season.

On centrebacks scoring:

This one is true. My centreback is scoring quite a lot. I saw Stoke-West Ham FA Cup yesterday and the commentator mentioned that Roberth Huth scored his 8th (or was it 12th?), so it is possible in real life for a centreback to score 10-15 goals if he is a good attacker of aerial ball but 20+ goals per season as reported? This needs checking.

On bad defending:

This is also true. However, I am not sure if people notice this small problem. When I loaded my game (which I start in 11.2), suddenly the fluidity of my team drops significantly in Match Preparation. Before I patch to 11.3, all bars were full. So suddenly my team was playing worse than before the patch. I could not win for 6 games! Then suddenly with time, the Match Preparation bars are full again, and then hei, its good again. But in those 6 winless games, I had to try quite a number of things and change my tactics.

I suspect the complaint was due to the fact that it suddenly became difficult to win game once you install 11.3. After close to 2 months, the team starts to perform (with lots of tactical tweaking of course)

I also notice that physical attributes, mainly speed and height + jumping abilities plays a significant effect on how well your team plays. I play with 2 strikers (1 target man + 1 speedy striker). They score easily compared to other strikers who are way much more skillful, but neither very tall or quick.

FM 2011 is the worst so far. Patch 11.3 is the worst of all time. You've fixed up a lot of crap, but at the same time you've created twice as many bugs that make the game terrible. It is now much easier to score 1 vs 1 against the goalkeeper, but the defense is simply not working at all. I score and get "incredible" goals. Example:

[video=youtube;7cwx47rN4_Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cwx47rN4_Q

Goals from set pieces are so much that defenders became my top goal scorers. Transfer system is absolutely devastated. With 30M budget can not afford to hire assistant manager who wants 8500, because my wage limit is 8400.

For 10 days injury my striker drops 5 of his physical attributes, and now I can't back his stats no matter what training I use. I imagine if he injured himself again.

Just the game is terribly unrealistic, is not flexible and bad as never been before. I personally will return to FM10, and certainly do not think to buy FM12 that's for sure.

A tip: Do not include Innovations in the new version and fix the mess you've already created FM11. I feel so frustrated because I did not expect this year's version of the game I love, to be so horrible and unnerving.

yes agreed, 11.2.1 better than this new patch. and i found out all my strikers score for fun even with big team. too easy this time. come on SI. we do love this game but please fix it. there is a lot of bug players stats missing, TV match for BPL. duplicate players for De Graafschap 1st team and reserve. oh come on!

typical that everyone moans about the 1 vs 1 then complains when they improve it, sigh

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but in my own experience I think 11.3 is ok.

It's nowhere near the best FM but it is a good solid game in general.

My defenders seem to play ok and although there is always going to be the 'madness' from them it does happen in real life too!

I'd interpret it slightly differently.

1: Your DL has been bypassed by the ball player at the beginning of the move. The DC rushes to cover the threat.

2: The ball player shows some technical excellence with the drag back and pass, setting the runner free and taking two players out of the game.

3: The DCR fatally hesitates to cover as he is checking where his man is (is he man or zonal marking?)

4: The DL is not quick enough to get back and stop the shot.

This is a series of very bad decisions and poor play, resulting in a goal. It could be cause by many things. The defence could be very ungelled and thus prone to making bad decisions. Your tactical set up might be asking too much of them or forcing them into bad positions (as high, wide + man-marking would do in such a situation). You might not be employing a shielding MC, who could have picked up the central runner as he broke.

If I saw the lack of lateral cover from the DC on multiple occasions, I'd perceive it as a bug. However, if it is a rare occurrence or is only happening to one player, I'd be more likely to look at the player ability and the tactical instructions to see if it was something a different tactical style could fix. I'd also check on his confidence levels, as poor confidence can result in terrible decisions. If that seemed to be the case, I'd then look at how I could boost his confidence through man and media management, and look at whether he started to play better.

Questions to the OP:

1: Are you using TC settings or a manual, classic tactic?

2: How wide and deep are you playing?

3: Are you using a man or zonal marking system?

4: How good are your defenders decision making, marking and positional attributes?

5: Are you employing a covering MC?

Rather than just shouting 'bug', I'd suggest looking in detail at the above first, to see if you can correct this type of play yourself.

I appreciate the stance you have to take WW but coming from someone who has played this game far, far too much over a significant amount of years I can safely say that I've had the most issues with this one. The very strange behaviour of players in the match engine (I've had multiple situations like in the OP plus some extremely odd and frustrating 'attacking' by my strikers) would probably be my biggest complaint but there has been little bits and pieces scattered through-out the game that has made it, for me, one of the worst FM entries in quite some time.

In saying that it's miles ahead of the competition and unless there is significant improvement elsewhere I'll no doubt be buying fm12. The problem is people won't continue buying an incomplete product forever.

you call this classic goal!? probably you are blind...

And what about this classic own goal

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::................................................ ........

[video=youtube;lFiydNnz9o0]

.................................................. .::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::

Classic...

I'm enjoying it though the goal kick bug and set pieces sometimes drive me mad!

Also why sometimes there's a free-kick near the half-way line and i'm playing a counter or defensive strategy and my entire team pushes up and it's the goalkeeper that takes it.. i'm trying to park a bus, don't push forward!

I'm enjoying it though the goal kick bug and set pieces sometimes drive me mad!

Also why sometimes there's a free-kick near the half-way line and i'm playing a counter or defensive strategy and my entire team pushes up and it's the goalkeeper that takes it.. i'm trying to park a bus, don't push forward!

You have absolutely no control over free-kicks and throw-ins.

I'd interpret it slightly differently.

1: Your DL has been bypassed by the ball player at the beginning of the move. The DC rushes to cover the threat.

2: The ball player shows some technical excellence with the drag back and pass, setting the runner free and taking two players out of the game.

3: The DCR fatally hesitates to cover as he is checking where his man is (is he man or zonal marking?)

4: The DL is not quick enough to get back and stop the shot.

This is a series of very bad decisions and poor play, resulting in a goal. It could be cause by many things. The defence could be very ungelled and thus prone to making bad decisions. Your tactical set up might be asking too much of them or forcing them into bad positions (as high, wide + man-marking would do in such a situation). You might not be employing a shielding MC, who could have picked up the central runner as he broke.

If I saw the lack of lateral cover from the DC on multiple occasions, I'd perceive it as a bug. However, if it is a rare occurrence or is only happening to one player, I'd be more likely to look at the player ability and the tactical instructions to see if it was something a different tactical style could fix. I'd also check on his confidence levels, as poor confidence can result in terrible decisions. If that seemed to be the case, I'd then look at how I could boost his confidence through man and media management, and look at whether he started to play better.

Questions to the OP:

1: Are you using TC settings or a manual, classic tactic?

2: How wide and deep are you playing?

3: Are you using a man or zonal marking system?

4: How good are your defenders decision making, marking and positional attributes?

5: Are you employing a covering MC?

Rather than just shouting 'bug', I'd suggest looking in detail at the above first, to see if you can correct this type of play yourself.

All this post suggests, sadly, is we're expected to try and tactically counter act major flaws in the match engine, mainly to do with common sense and positional awareness. No tactical set up should ever result in a defender leaving his player to go and pointlessly mark space, resulting in a simple through ball. But it happens constantly.

If he posted it in the bugs forum and uploaded the game, it's a 99% chance he'd get a "this is a known issue and under review" as well.

you call this classic goal!? probably you are blind...

And what about this classic own goal

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::................................................ ........

[video=youtube;lFiydNnz9o0]

.................................................. .::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::

Classic...

That would just infuriate me to the point of hitting "exit game"... It's bad enough when a defender decides to back away from a ball right next to him for a striker to pick up but yeesh that takes the cake.

All this post suggests, sadly, is we're expected to try and tactically counter act major flaws in the match engine, mainly to do with common sense and positional awareness. No tactical set up should ever result in a defender leaving his player to go and pointlessly mark space, resulting in a simple through ball. But it happens constantly.

If he posted it in the bugs forum and uploaded the game, it's a 99% chance he'd get a "this is a known issue and under review" as well.

If only football was played by robots that never made any mistakes ever during a game.

I like the game a lot, but I play it mostly in text mode

If only football was played by robots that never made any mistakes ever during a game.

I'm not talking about mistakes every now and then, I'm talking about consistent defensive behaviour which is nonsensical.

I'm not talking about mistakes every now and then, I'm talking about consistent defensive behaviour which is nonsensical.

The thing is that it is just the 3D representation of the ME that is terrible at portraying what is really happening, not the ME itself (in most cases). Don't believe that what you see in those clips are actually what occured. It still needs fixing, but once you start taking the match highlights with a pinch of salt, your life will take a turn to the better.

I'm not talking about mistakes every now and then, I'm talking about consistent defensive behaviour which is nonsensical.

You've clearly not watched a single Aberdeen game this season if only it was as simple as common sense.

The thing is that it is just the 3D representation of the ME that is terrible at portraying what is really happening, not the ME itself (in most cases). Don't believe that what you see in those clips are actually what occured. It still needs fixing, but once you start taking the match highlights with a pinch of salt, your life will take a turn to the better.

Totally agree with this. The ME is much better this year, but still miles away from a realistic representation of whats going on. I just watch it for visual interest, of more importance (tactically) is the commentary, detailed match stats and assman feedback.

In reply to the OP and his video, if your using zonal marking manually set to narrow, this can lead to weird defending. Your team is unnaturally squashed together in relation to how high up the pitch you are, if you have closing down set relatively high this can lead to the back line rushing forward to cover zones which almost start to overlap each other (if that makes sense) If your using zonal you want most of your back line on relatively low closing down (to hold the line and their shape) with maybe one midfielder hanging back with high closing to chase down breaking players.

Using that set up Im having pretty good success with my Ajax team who have no real superstars, sure we lose sometimes and make the occasional bad mistake but thats football not even the best are faultless, but if you take care setting up your tactic you can get consistently good play going. My current team isnt quite as free scoring as it was but we are solid now and very tough to break down, so defending is definately not 'broken' imo.

As for corners, well they've always been like that in FM, its no different now really. And tbh if your DC is top scorer its more of an issue with having poor strikers, my best DC scored 8 last season, a tad to many to be realistic, but then my best striker scored 35 so it kind of makes sense in a weird FM way.