dunk105

Id like to be hard on them but if they get support from the rest of the team I have to ship them out asap. Can't be arsed pandering to them when I normally have a younger replacement near to ready and eyes on others to fill the backup slot.

Just to add, Ive now tried taking off tight marking on my strikers and midfielders, also dropping pressing to slightly more often and same thing. Can almost guarantee that one of my players will pick up a yellow card off the first foul and within the first 5 minutes. All for there being a tactical fix but this seems highly unlikely from what we are posting.

Sorry thought that was in the PKMs. Anyway another- all my yellows are from first fouls: Opposition- not the same issue despite 30 fouls in the game: 31 fouls to 11- surely this isnt my tactic when the opposition are fouling away all game: Attached my tactic (this just after so you can also see 2 of my players have been injured by the persistent fouling) , and screenshot: The data hub suggests my tactic is fine: And Im clearly the most fouled team: Respectfully I think you need to look at this from why in games I'm dominating and have no need to win the ball back or risk fouls that the distribution of cards allows the opponent to foul away all game without penalty. Your point that yellow and reds are close to real life, hints that the refs are allowing silly numbers of persistent fouls without punishment because its aiming or somehow locked into keeping card numbers realistic rather than have refs punish by merit. 433upload.fmf Tottenham v Burnley.pkm

Im seeing this too, haven't changed my tactic and my IF and IW arent doing that thing where there would be a chance to cross and they turn back and take the momentum out of the move if marked. Ok crosses get blocked too but Im fine with this as they are attempting the cross by trying to beat the player. Really impressed as previously when defending needed work it would tend to go too far that way (or the other if attacking needed work) but it feels well balanced with improvements in both attack and defence.

Can back this up. Have always struggled getting Son to perform for a couple of years now but since the patch (above redline) he's been a revelation: The DLF/A role for Kane markedly improved to: So nice to finally get them playing effectively in simple tactics, default PIs particularly against teams that sit deep with the way wide and central forward positions feel more linked.

Yet to try the new patch but have to say thats the best list of ME fixes I've seen for a long time, genuinely excited to try it out.

Another- the AI have kicked lumps out of me all game. Sessignon injured with a horrendous tackle and no card. Both my yellows are for first and only fouls: Starting to feel like the new improved AI this year is simply that the game cheats. This really needs to be fixed. Southampton v Tottenham.pkm

6-0 Win- I toned down my pressing after 2 early goals, 74% possession: Me: 12 Fouls 3 Yellows 2 of my yellows are for first and only offences: Them: 32 fouls, 3 yellows. Clear Persistent fouling from the AI: Clear from the highlights that the AI just hard tackles and fouls away all game without a care as they arent being punished for racking up a foul every 3 minutes. It really doesnt feel like a level playing field, and its quite annoying taking into consideration keeping yellows down only to see the opposition get away with this time and time again. Tottenham v Watford.pkm

Another 6 fouls to me 15 to oppo, dominated game, and reduced pressing as didnt need to but still very unbalanced. Bellinghams yellow and my 3rd was actually the 4th foul we'd made too. Tottenham v FK Austria Vienna.pkm

Found this year early crosses seems to actually do something so worth trying if you havent, I still get players turning back in but put that down to one footedness and using work into box. Although still find wingbacks dont cross as much as Id like.

AI managers seem very passive in the transfer market. 2nd season playing as Spurs and Hojbjerg wants a new contract and much as I love him he isnt getting 270k a week after being a 20 game squad player last season. So Newcastle jump in with a £67m offer, so with my 40m budget and that I think why not try and get Bellingham. Madrid and PSG then come in with offers for Hojbjerg too, but none of the AI who seemingly wanting a midfielder think to battle me for Bellingham as Id think he'd turn me down in favour of at least one of those clubs. Surely this is where the AI going on reputation just makes the game far too easy, as in previous years they'd swoop in and take Bellingham? Also the salary Hojbjerg is after is ridiculous too, its forced my hand and rather than happily carry on with him as a squad player Im forced to sell as he's instantly unhappy and 24 players agree with him. For me this is why a lot of players can start with the best of intentions to grow organically but the ridiculous AI means you have a choice between realistic growth or being handed unrealistic upgrades without any competition as its very hard to resist!

Small thing but just seen a freekick deflect in off the wall. Very pleasing to see! Bissouma 52' in PKM. Tottenham v Chelsea.pkm

Another one, AI is just foul, foul, foul all game due to this. And truly it doesnt make a difference and I may as well just use hard tackling when a more conservative approach gets me games like this. Southampton v Tottenham.pkm

The set piece designer is even more of a mess than before. So I have tactics a 343 and 4231 both with their own specific sets of set pieces saved and attached to each tactic. Swap between them and suddenly my AF stays back and my WB or FB is staying back on the half way line for corners. How hard is it to keep DR/DL and WBR/WBL recognised as similar positions and not swap with a striker? Bad enough that when I swap between tactics my AML swaps with a DM when I switch tactics in formation but a complete joke that saved tactic set pieces swap players around.

Cough, he even admits in the OP he reloads to get results........

Agree- and the AI (even though Im aware it doesnt differentiate human and AI) seem to be able to foul away all match. This has been an issue for a few releases now. As has been mentioned just a couple of matches show this, doesnt matter what we do in terms of mitigating it, and Ball Winning Midfielders I tend to only give a half each as they pick up yellows without fail.

Re: Crossing. Maybe try early crossing. We all love work ball into the box but finding this year that this option will end up with what you describe. For me first time I've ever really seen the early crossing option visibly do something.

Interesting as BPD on Cover shouldn't amplify pressing as their role description is to drop deeper and cover behind the line, a stopper pushes up. Def broken if they are pressing more!

Do you play high lines and aggressive defending? Found with my save that unless I absolutely have the best defenders who are quick then the game punishes me for that, so a more conservative approach helped me. Still get the odd ball over the top, and have concerns about the space DCs leave between them in a 4 to allow runs in between them, but get the idea that as people get used to the newer ME a lot of the issues are more a case of us getting used to or rethinking approaches that worked in previous versions.

Agree, one of the criticisms of previous FMs was the AI was too passive, now its very aggressive when it needs to be. No longer do I walk away at 2 or 3 nil up, make my final subs and make a cup of tea comfortable knowing the game is won. One thing I've noticed is you can't just put any defender as a ball playing one, if they haven't got the attributes for it then you will get punished whereas before these didn't appear so critical.

Central Defenders defending is shocking no matter the level of player. Why defensive width was removed is beyond me, as its clear DC positoning is an issue no matter what tactical options you use in 4.

This. We really need some form of defence width put back in, as the inside / outside funnelling does not help and generally DCs are shocking in the regard you mention.

That helps, although really think defensive width needs to be reintroduced. I like the idea of funnelling but currently two DCs in a pair leave far too much space in-between. A combination of both would be better than leaving it all to funnelling which no matter what you do still leaves this huge gap for players to run through.

One thing I think we are really missing now is the defensive width option, as there is always too much space between the CDs in a pairing. Its far too easy for central strikers to run inbetween them now. The funnel option is great but neither option help with defensive spacing in this regard.

Another one. Whats quite frustrating is the AI are then able to press me late in the game, roaring into tackles without a care in the world. Southampton v Tottenham.pkm