Nator

I think we’re largely saying the same thing. Closing the game out, you choose to be less aggressive - but FM doesn’t always reward that, in fact it encourages more pressure etc. Again, I’ve found it more pronounced away from home which should favour a more defensive style of football, but FM doesn’t allow for as easily. The whole ‘mentality’ is problematic because people are trying to do which in a football sense is logical, but FM isn’t football.

But the theory isn't wrong, is it? You go two nil up, you sit more defensively so you can counter attack when they flood forward. So perhaps it's the mechanics of the game that are problematic, rather than people trying to do what I would suggest is correct.

I'm happy you're happy.

I've decided to stop playing until it's patched, it's really not enjoyable in it's current form. Away games are basically impossible. It doesn't matter if you play defensively, offensively, high or low line. Ultimately they will take their chances and your players wont - it doesn't seem to follow any rhyme or reason and just becomes irritating. The match engine seems to struggle with a single striker through the middle. All of the strikers i have played with struggle compared to the wider players.

Every away game it feels like you start expecting a loss from somewhere. It’s ridiculous. Form goes out of the window, as does superior players etc, all because you’re not the home team. it’s much more pronounced in the league than Europe or cup games, but the issue still remains. Has this been acknowledged as an issue, because every season I’m winning 90% of home games and losing 90% of away games?

It's still just no good, in away games it feels like tactical input make absolutely no difference. The least interesting or enjoyable version of the game that's ever been released in the series. I cant think of a version that I've played so little.

I agree, the lack of contrition/acknowledgment there is even an issue is getting on my nerves a little.

I don't really think that's a good enough response, personally. I think there's enough about this version that is so bad, I'm surprised SI had the chutzpah to release it. People are entitled to expect they have bought a product that is good enough to play, and if there are things wrong with it, that they sort it out faster than saying "we'll sort that out in two months."

I've just finished another first season and all I can say is that if it is my tactics, I fear for someone who hasn't been playing this game for 15 years.

I take all of this on board... I've owned and played each version extensively since 01/02 so I'd like to think I know what im doing. If no one else is finding this to be the case then I'd be surprised. I'll leave it there.

Ok, so you’re saying it’s definitely something I’m doing, rather than an overpowering in the game itself for home teams?

I've raised it elsewhere, but I'm finding this year crazy. I started a new save after quitting because of the imbalance between home and away games. I've played 25 games, no losses at home, 9 losses away. It doesn't matter if I have more shots or a much higher xG, it seems like anything and everything I do does not work. It has got to the stage where I am just expecting to lose every away game if teams are top or bottom of the table. I can beat a great City team at home 3-0, and then lose to bottom of the table Bournemouth 4-0 away the next game. I vary tactics, play a different defensive line, and have messed around with being both offensive and defensive. Nothing is working. Can someone let me know if I'm just wasting my time, because this feels a bit fundamentally broken.

Is there any rough dates for a patch? I note from Steam's forums that SI are aware of some of the defensive issues highlighted in the BETA testing and they are currently working on them. As I've mentioned before, I don't think its really on to sell an unfinished version of the game and to fix it after people have bought it, but that seems to be the game industry these days. Giving some clarity on when those changes are going to be made might be appropriate...

That’s interesting to hear. I have no interest in moaning for the sake of things, but I will regularly have more shots on goal, etc and the result will always fall to the home team. There just seems to be an unbalanced advantage to playing at home. I can only tell you of my experience. Perhaps it’s because I play as West Ham, rather than a City etc who you’d expect to win every game either home or away.

I cannot believe that the game has been released in this state. I stopped playing the BETA because of the defensive issues and the odd balancing between home and away games. I fully expected some (if not all) of these issues to be fixed upon full release but it’s no different. I’m not going to go full hyperbole and say “I’m never playing this again”. I’ve been fm/cm since 01/02 like many others here in the forum. I just find it a little insulting that the game has been released when it is so far from the finished product. As it stands, I find the game unplayable and it seems like many others agree. It would be good to hear from SI when the next patch is due so that I can look forward to playing the game I bought.