I need help - Conceding Late Goals Pandemic

[UnreadyMammal]

Recently started playing FM22 and I think it is a huge improvement on FM21, especially in regards to the match engine (crossing aside), the movement and decision making is significantly better etc. That being said I have been struck with a curse... I concede an obscene amount of late goals. It doesn't matter if I'm managing Manchester United or Gateshead, whether I change the formation, time waste, drop the line deeper or just do nothing. 

For context, I dived into the Create a Club feature, in which I'm currently 15 games into the season, my 1st game in charge I drew 2-2 away to Boston United conceding in the 94th & 96th minute. Oh FM, you cheeky bum you, I thought, still playing with our emotions after all these years. But since then, it just hasn't stopped;

80+ mins Goals Against -  13 (eight 90+ min goal)
80+ mins Goals For - 2 (one 90+ min goal) 

At this point I feel I have tried everything, so any help is extremely welcome. 

Thanks, 
Mammal 

[Craghacked]

In my own save I have found the following tactical changes useful this year. They are listed in order of how sure I am they work: 

1) Narrowing width in possession.  I think it helps with both retaining possession and helping players transition into the defensive shape quicker. I counter press so I think it also helps keep enough players off my players in range to contribute.

2) I take off “counter” and select “hold shape”. I want to keep hold on to the ball when protecting a lead, not lose it after throwing players forward on a counter attack.

3) I select the middle option for time wasting. 

4) I sometimes switch my very attacking RB to a support, or even a defend duty.

5) If I am playing with a CM (A) I switch him to a BTB. 

6) I sometimes ask my players to be more disciplined

7) I tell more players to stay back on attacking corners, throw ins, and free kicks.

 

I started training a version of my tactic with the first three changes in one tactic slot so I could switch easier. They do seem to help with my tactic and with my players. But they might might not fit your tactic. Another bonus is that first three reduce the intensity of my tactic, which helps me keep my players in good condition.

There are things I thought would help but don’t:

1) I thought unticking counter press would help. In fact it just seems to let the other team keep possession and apply pressure. I suppose if I was winning the counter pressing was probably working. I think my players have better attributes for pressing than retaining shape.  

2) Switching to a back 5. In the past i found this shape useful for holding a lead whilst offering a potent counter attacking threat. Not this year, at least with the particular version I made.

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by Craghacked

[bibird.]

6 hours ago, UnreadyMammal said:

Recently started playing FM22 and I think it is a huge improvement on FM21, especially in regards to the match engine (crossing aside), the movement and decision making is significantly better etc. That being said I have been struck with a curse... I concede an obscene amount of late goals. It doesn't matter if I'm managing Manchester United or Gateshead, whether I change the formation, time waste, drop the line deeper or just do nothing. 

For context, I dived into the Create a Club feature, in which I'm currently 15 games into the season, my 1st game in charge I drew 2-2 away to Boston United conceding in the 94th & 96th minute. Oh FM, you cheeky bum you, I thought, still playing with our emotions after all these years. But since then, it just hasn't stopped;

80+ mins Goals Against -  13 (eight 90+ min goal)
80+ mins Goals For - 2 (one 90+ min goal) 

At this point I feel I have tried everything, so any help is extremely welcome. 

Thanks, 
Mammal 

I don't like changing things too much. If I'm in a leading position, then my strategy for that match has clearly worked and doesn't really need much altering.

However, there are a few steps I take to mitigate late concessions. I do keep an eye on the opposition formation at all times. If they make any drastic switches to their shape, I might alter the duty of an attacking full back, for example. Or perhaps swap a supporting wing back's role to full back on support instead. It wouldn't alter my player's individual mentality, but he wouldn't get forward as often, as one of the default PIs for the wing back role.

Tweaking roles and duties will have less impact on your overall shape and gameplan, but can help to make you that little bit more compact in the latter stages of a match.

Something I also like to do is have a "defensive impact sub". Pundits always bang on about having extra firepower on the bench, but it's well worth having a versatile defensive option to bring on with high work rate, stamina, teamwork, aggression, composure and - crucially - determination to come on and lock a game down for your team. Think Arsene Wenger lobbing on extra full backs for wingers in the last few minutes of matches that Arsenal had a tight lead.

Aside from that, perhaps switch to comprehensive or even full match highlights. Keep an eye on where the opposition are building up from, which of their players are causing you the most problems and where your transitions are breaking down, then you can take steps to course correct from there.

Edited November 19, 2021 by bibird.
Addition

[zyfon5]

9 hours ago, UnreadyMammal said:

Recently started playing FM22 and I think it is a huge improvement on FM21, especially in regards to the match engine (crossing aside), the movement and decision making is significantly better etc. That being said I have been struck with a curse... I concede an obscene amount of late goals. It doesn't matter if I'm managing Manchester United or Gateshead, whether I change the formation, time waste, drop the line deeper or just do nothing. 

For context, I dived into the Create a Club feature, in which I'm currently 15 games into the season, my 1st game in charge I drew 2-2 away to Boston United conceding in the 94th & 96th minute. Oh FM, you cheeky bum you, I thought, still playing with our emotions after all these years. But since then, it just hasn't stopped;

80+ mins Goals Against -  13 (eight 90+ min goal)
80+ mins Goals For - 2 (one 90+ min goal) 

At this point I feel I have tried everything, so any help is extremely welcome. 

Thanks, 
Mammal 

Try to let the Assistant manager manage some games using the instant result button and see if anything improves. If the AM is doing better than you, the problem is definitely with your in game management.

[Lesterfan_Cambiasso]

11 hours ago, UnreadyMammal said:

Recently started playing FM22 and I think it is a huge improvement on FM21, especially in regards to the match engine (crossing aside), the movement and decision making is significantly better etc. That being said I have been struck with a curse... I concede an obscene amount of late goals. It doesn't matter if I'm managing Manchester United or Gateshead, whether I change the formation, time waste, drop the line deeper or just do nothing. 

For context, I dived into the Create a Club feature, in which I'm currently 15 games into the season, my 1st game in charge I drew 2-2 away to Boston United conceding in the 94th & 96th minute. Oh FM, you cheeky bum you, I thought, still playing with our emotions after all these years. But since then, it just hasn't stopped;

80+ mins Goals Against -  13 (eight 90+ min goal)
80+ mins Goals For - 2 (one 90+ min goal) 

At this point I feel I have tried everything, so any help is extremely welcome. 

Thanks, 
Mammal 

Id also watch out that youre not burning your players out by asking them to press relentlessly for the full 90 mins

[UnreadyMammal]

Thanks guys, a few things I didn't think of, I'll report back some success hopefully.