LLM problems in FM15

[Chaz Sexington]

Every year I do an LLM save, and last year I had a successful Hayes and Yeading save, where I took them from the bottom English tier to 4th in the EPL, and the previous year I took Aprilia from the bottom in Italy to the top in the Champions League. With the release of the third patch, which traditionally makes FM playable, I loaded up the game. Departing England, I created my new profile (with zero experience) and took over Albion Rovers in the bottom Scottish tier, predicted to finish 4th.

Having usually played with 4 defenders, I picked a 3-5-2 formation, but having never played one, I took the automatic 3-5-2 and tinkered it to be a counterattacking, direct type of play. I got 3 solid defenders on loan, ranked 4 stars, but my usual priority is getting a fast, pacy striker (acceleration and pace 12+) proved impossible. Grumbling about Glasgow's obesity problem and scurvy caused by a lack of sunlight affecting Glaswegian legs, I had pre-season friendlies every three days for the duration of pre-season, and bar my goalkeeper, no players reached 100% match fitness. An odd departure from previous games I thought.

So the season began brightly with a 2-0 win over Annan, but then... I scored 1 goal in the next 7, including two shocking games against the Mickey Mouse teams of the Mickey Mouse league. My strikers were all rated 4/4.5 starts, yet only had a slightly better goalscoring record that Torres. They couldn't hit a barn, never mind a barn door, and if it weren't for gravity, there wouldn't be a football left in Scotland.

Then the rest of my team. God. Rapists have better first touches. My players were about as coordinated as marionettes controlled by a man with a hook for a hand and Parkinson's, and kept running into each other and the ball, where it would invariably go to my opposition.

Now, I've done two playthroughs with Albion Rovers, not even making it to Christmas. That is pretty new to me. I've not always been promoted (and sometimes even relegated), but I can't remember last I was fired. My team is good, averaging 3.5-4.5 stars.

To me it seems the ME has gotten worse somehow. So many mistakes are being made by my players (and after having spent 2 seasons in the Skrill South last year I thought I'd seen them all) I'm wondering if there's something wrong with the ME.

My other question is how much do your stats affect your players' performance? I'm used to LL players being slightly more sensitive a baby with eczema and generally throwing fits if you even raise your voice slightly, but this was beyond that.

 

[WJ]

ME got worse because you're doing ****? 99.8426% sure it's your tactic and possibly even your management too. A clue, for instance, is that your Shots to SOT ratio is ****. Much worse than what it should be.

 

[Chaz Sexington]

ME got worse because you're doing ****? 99.8426% sure it's your tactic and possibly even your management too. A clue, for instance, is that your Shots to SOT ratio is ****. Much worse than what it should be.

The thing is, my strikers send it over from 5 metres. If this was a rugby game my gameplan would be drop goals.

Secondly I wasn't saying the ME was making my shots worse - my issue with the ME is my players constantly running into each other/the ball. On a counter attack, my players trail my player with the ball, run into his back, knock the ball away, and kill the counter.

And I'm aware I'm not the best tactician/strategist, and I'm not claiming to be so, so no reason to get your panties all knotted up. However, the issues I'm currently experiencing don't seem to stem from the tactics. I've tried two tactics so far, a 4-4-2 and a 3-1-4-2.

 

[WJ]

No, what your were saying was "To me it seems the ME has gotten worse somehow." which you're basing on what, exactly?

The Total Shots vs SOT ratio tells a different story. It is your tactics. That's why you're not doing well.

If they're getting in each other's way, that might be tactical or gelling issues or both. How many players are new at the club and how fluid are your tactics?

Overall though, it's a tactical issue.

 

[sickness81]

i'm Always using a 4/5/1 tactic.
with one striker as a finisher.
and a inside forward on the left are right sometimes mixing this up.
and the other on support and a amc who sometimes is going in to the space the striker is leaving.
and Always keep 2 players up front with defensive corners and one half way to snap up the ball and play it deep to couter attack.
works great

 

[Chaz Sexington]

No, what your were saying was "To me it seems the ME has gotten worse somehow." which you're basing on what, exactly?

The Total Shots vs SOT ratio tells a different story. It is your tactics. That's why you're not doing well.

If they're getting in each other's way, that might be tactical or gelling issues or both. How many players are new at the club and how fluid are your tactics?

Overall though, it's a tactical issue.

If you really want, I can take screenshots where my shots are from. They cannot hit anything, and when they are on target the shot is so weak an asthmatic tortoise would outsprint it.

Obviously my tactics play a role in where the shots are from, but I'd enjoy a slightly better than 79 shots/28 on target per goal.

The ME complaint is my anecdotal evidence of seeing poorer player pathfinding. The whole "take a shot from an impossible angle rather than passing" problem isn't as big a problem anymore, but the pathfinding seems to be problematic.

i'm Always using a 4/5/1 tactic.
with one striker as a finisher.
and a inside forward on the left are right sometimes mixing this up.
and the other on support and a amc who sometimes is going in to the space the striker is leaving.
and Always keep 2 players up front with defensive corners and one half way to snap up the ball and play it deep to couter attack.
works great

I've usually played a similar 4-2-3-1, but as I said in OP, I decided to try something else than the very normal 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 formations. As far as tactics are concerned it may well be 3 at the back is not good for LLM, and AFAIK generally attacking formations are better. However bar the two games against the strongest teams in the league, I haven't really conceded that many goals either.

I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems as I have in LLM. It doesn't really translate to players who only manage top teams like City, Chelsea, United etc though.

 

[WJ]

If you really want, I can take screenshots where my shots are from. They cannot hit anything, and when they are on target the shot is so weak an asthmatic tortoise would outsprint it.

Obviously my tactics play a role in where the shots are from, but I'd enjoy a slightly better than 79 shots/28 on target per goal.

The ME complaint is my anecdotal evidence of seeing poorer player pathfinding. The whole "take a shot from an impossible angle rather than passing" problem isn't as big a problem anymore, but the pathfinding seems to be problematic.

The PKM would be far more useful. As would a screenshot of the actual tactic.

The key is to improve the shot qualities. It seems that the shots they do take is poor - rushed maybe? Overall, you have so little actually hitting the target, that your tactical setup has to be poor somehow. It's either not creating the space it needs to, forcing rushed shots or simply build up too slow, resulting in mostly blocked shots.

 

[ShevaPippo]

"My team is good, averaging 3.5-4.5 stars."

Star rating is relative to your team. You could be the worst team in all of England and you're going to have at least a 4* player

 

[Chaz Sexington]

The PKM would be far more useful. As would a screenshot of the actual tactic.

The key is to improve the shot qualities. It seems that the shots they do take is poor - rushed maybe? Overall, you have so little actually hitting the target, that your tactical setup has to be poor somehow. It's either not creating the space it needs to, forcing rushed shots or simply build up too slow, resulting in mostly blocked shots.

It's not really the tactics I'm bothered about; I restarted and played 4-2-3-1 and I'm top of the league. I'm not too fussed I couldn't manage a 3-1-4-2 formation, and some tactics tend to function better/worse relative to your skill.

However, I'm noticing fewer collisions than before. I know in certain FMs certain formations have been considerably better, like wingers two years ago were way better than they should be, so it could be the formation affects pathfinding adversely.

"My team is good, averaging 3.5-4.5 stars."

Star rating is relative to your team. You could be the worst team in all of England and you're going to have at least a 4* player

For my team that means good for the league above.

 

[WJ]

It's not really the tactics I'm bothered about; I restarted and played 4-2-3-1 and I'm top of the league. I'm not too fussed I couldn't manage a 3-1-4-2 formation, and some tactics tend to function better/worse relative to your skill.

However, I'm noticing fewer collisions than before. I know in certain FMs certain formations have been considerably better, like wingers two years ago were way better than they should be, so it could be the formation affects pathfinding adversely.

I've used the 3-1-4-2 and almost every other formation, except the 4-2-3-1 and I've not had the collisions issue. I'd suggest you had the wrong selection of roles and/or duties which was why you were struggling and getting players in each other's way.

 

[Chaz Sexington]

I've used the 3-1-4-2 and almost every other formation, except the 4-2-3-1 and I've not had the collisions issue. I'd suggest you had the wrong selection of roles and/or duties which was why you were struggling and getting players in each other's way.

Aye, very well could be. It was pretty annoying having three players trying to run into the same spot.

Edit - This is what I mean with faulty ME.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dlcFgW2bvo