FM2011 - Set Piece Suggestions

I recently came across the new screenshots for the Set Pieces released for 2011: here and here, and saw that they still appear to be the same options from FM2010 and earlier with minor additions.

I will give credit that there is a new "edge of area" position in the defending free kicks, and I'm hoping there are more options that are not shown in the screenshots.

My issues and ideas:

Attacking Free Kicks:

I presume the full options are/will be:

Go Forward. Mark Keeper. Stay Back. Disrupt Wall. Stand With Taker.

Options that should be implemented are expanded "Go forward" options, a 'stand off' option and a 'wing attack' option.

Go Forward should be split into:

Near Post

Far Post

Centre

And they should all 'attack' the ball.

Stand Off: The 'stand off' option should be used for players who often get the ball 'rolled' to them to attack with a shot from a better angle, eg the Gerrard type players and whatnot, used when attacking Free kicks is set to "mixed" for a change from the usual, although a "square ball" option would be good too.

Wing Attack: Some teams use a winger or wing-back running down the wing where the foul was committed, that can drag away a player from the wall, or be used to take the free kick quickly, and attempts to get the winger a chance to make a cross from far out. This player would run forward and might be used as a quick/short free kick.

Long Throws:

Existing options: Come Short, Lurk Outside Area, Near Post, Forward.

When a team is using a long-throw specialist, more options are required for more realistic set pieces.

Again, the "Forward" needs to be expanded:

Near Post Flick On: Works in the same way that this option works for corners.

Stand on Near Post: Position to try and capitalise on a flick-on.

Attack Far Post: Position there if the ball is thrown too long, or a flick-on goes far post.

Stand in Centre: Position to attack any bobbles or deflections.

Corner: Position for a player to make a run at the corner flag, or used to for time-wasting.

Attacking Corners

These have been quite good for a while, but I feel another few options could be used:

Attack Centrally: I may be wrong here, if this is covered by the existing Attack from Deep option, it might not be required. It is as it sounds, setting a player to attack the ball centrally with a run from around the penalty spot into the 6 yard box.

Near 18 Yard Box: This option is an alternative to the "short corner" style, as used by teams like Manchester United. Basically, they often have their wing-back run towards the corner of the 18 yard box, and if they are not marked, the ball will be played to them quickly, and then will cross or shoot.

Far Wing: This option would be used to place a player on the far side wing, around or past the 18 yard box, to reclaim any over hit, or flicked on balls that go through the penalty area.

Note on Timewasting: One issue that remains still in FM2010 is the inability to really set your players to waste time if they receive a corner in the dying minutes, even with an ultra-defensive 'time wasting' style set-piece routine. They often play the ball short and cross it to no-one, or directly fire the corner into the box with no-one standing there. A specific "Waste Time" corner Set Piece Team Instruction should be created that over-rides existing corner routines, or is an option that compliments one created specifically to waste time. It would mean that no matter what, the ball is played short, to a player standing next to the corner flag, who then stands in the corner to waste time.

Defending Corners

Again, this has improved, with the addition of the "Edge Of Area" instruction, but I feel a couple more could be included they are:

Intercept Near Post: Many, many teams, use a tall player (often a tall striker if they have one, leaving the defenders to man-mark), standing in between the near post and the corner flag, that is used to intercept corners hit too low towards the near post. When you watch a match and hear that the corner taker "Failed to get it past the first man," this is the type of thing I'm talking about. They are not man-marking, instead they are a specific zonal marker meant to cut-out low corners, since most teams leave between 2 and 3 players back, they are able to keep this player specifically for this area and not marking a player.

Mark Near Area: This player is similar to the near post intercept, except his job is to man-mark the near side penalty area position. In FM2010 there was a pretty strong bug that allowed the AI to constantly have men free in this area, and they would be unmarked, the ball would be hit straight to them, the player could bring it down and control and shoot (instead of heading) and they would score alot of goals from this. The solution was to set players to "close down corner" but that can cause further issues if the other team uses 1 or more players in a short position. It can still leave the team vulnerable. This defensive position's main job would be to eliminate that problem.

Isn't this a bit early to criticize game we haven't even seen it?

Isn't this a bit early to criticize game we haven't even seen it?

This. The game is still WIP and wait until you play it and then make judgements.

These aren't judgements, they are suggestions based on FM2010, and the screenshots shown for FM2011.

These aren't judgements, they are suggestions based on FM2010, and the screenshots shown for FM2011.

Try looking at the thread title again and then say your not critising

Saying something is inadequate without even looking at it in detail or trying it is stupid

The title was a little bit far I admit, I edited the post a few times, but wasn't able to edit the title.

However, the point still stands. I'm going on what we know about set-pieces from Fm2010, and from the screenshots from FM2011. Okay, if there are features not shown, that do what I have suggested, then fine, great.

But that by no means I shouldn't post up this idea/suggest/thoughts, nor does it make it an "attack" or "judgement".

The title was a little bit far I admit, I edited the post a few times, but wasn't able to edit the title.

However, the point still stands. I'm going on what we know about set-pieces from Fm2010, and from the screenshots from FM2011. Okay, if there are features not shown, that do what I have suggested, then fine, great.

But that by no means I shouldn't post up this idea/suggest/thoughts, nor does it make it an "attack" or "judgement".

I do undeestand you TBH, but still I'd wait and play the game, then I would give my 'rating' for all that. Remember the game is still WIP and as you said yourself maybe there are some more features regarding Set-Pieces Creator that haven't been unvieled.

I've changed the title for you, there's nothing wrong the the content of the post. It's pretty well put together, certainly a lot more constructive than many other threads on here.

I think the more options for set pieces the better really. I'd still love something like CM's set piece creator (one that actually you know, works) but from the screen shots I think we're heading in the right direction.

Some very good points in that post and excellently made too. Very constructive.

We've not had many new options for Set-pieces for years and I admit it's one of my main weaknesses in the game. The Setpiece creator will go a long way to addressing my own shortcomings. Further options would enable me to see a more modern approach to set-piece taking.

The title was a little bit far I admit, I edited the post a few times, but wasn't able to edit the title.

However, the point still stands. I'm going on what we know about set-pieces from Fm2010, and from the screenshots from FM2011. Okay, if there are features not shown, that do what I have suggested, then fine, great.

But that by no means I shouldn't post up this idea/suggest/thoughts, nor does it make it an "attack" or "judgement".

I think the set piece creator will add a little but not too much. Just like the tactics creator, its just a graphical/visual representation of what you can already do in the game for the people who maybe otherwise dont bother changing the default settings.

The tactics creator was a visual tool which just moves the sliders for you to a position where your player/team will do roughly what you want it to do. I didnt understand the sliders so the creator has helped me by actually reading and understanding what I want my players to do, and with a few clicks its roughly set up.

The set piece creator will be exactly the same. Just a visual reprsentation of what you can already do in the game. Which again is good for the people that never bothered about set pieces or couldnt really imagine what they wanted their team to do. Now they can.

Thank you Neji and Neil.

The set pieces as they stand are good, but like anything, could use expansion and improvement. Thank you to everyone else who read the ideas.

Great idea, exactly how I'd like to see the tool developed in future.

My only addition set-piece roles should be assigned by player and not position. If my best jumper is switched from Centre Back to Full Back (e.g. someone like Micah Richards) I still want him in the box as before...

I agree with Ck's suggestion in post #13.

New options would be great, but I worry about potential exploits.

These aren't judgements, they are suggestions based on FM2010, and the screenshots shown for FM2011.

For what its worth, Thin White Duke, I'll re-Post my suggestion. Certain coaches should have special set piece routines attached to them (maybe only 4 or 5 different ones for each set piece type, maybe only attached to 2 or 3% of coaches in the whole game). These are only accessible by hiring coaches with these routines and are auto-trained & implemented (though you can select not to implement them). These routines should be uncommon, unusual by design though based upon real life "odd" routines, rare to the game and totally tested to be bug free and not able to "break" the mentalities of defences. This may all sound complicated but I dont think it is, just needs properly implementiing & testing - and if it were in the game the calls for the crazy CM10 style set piece creator should die down for a bit.