WE:7 related...Need some defensive tips

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 3:49 pm

More times than not, I´m finding my defensive player getting beat one on one opening up a clear shot for the opposition. I don´t overly use the [] button as I realize it can lead to me being out of position. Normally, I´ll risk it if they´re out 20 yards or so. Perhaps I´m attacking too early....
 
 Also, it seems I tend to give up a lot of straight on shots..meaning, I´m allowing the other team to take the ball right through the middle. Can someone suggest a more balanced defense? As it stands, I´m using the default defense and not worrying about strategy.
 
 Finally, my last question has to do with positioning. Being a soccer novice, I´m not entirely sure how far I should attempt to chase down the AI with the ball using my MF or FW before backing off..or giving way to my defenders.
 
 Thanks in advance for your advice. I´m enjoying this game immensely. No game has ever made me throw my hands in the air in celebration when I score like WE:7 has. I truly feel as though I´ve accomplished an end to end play from the beginning of the play until the achieving goal.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:20 pm

Dan,
 Some times...
 
 Only use the [] when you have player support. I never use it when by pressing it it take one of my defender off the opposition leaving up that player. Did that make any sense.
 
 Also make the R2 button your best friend. You don´t have to play We6 style where you have to shoulder tackle anything that moves. By using the R2 button you square up to the defender thus having a good chance of blocking the shot or pass. I don´t use the shoulder tackle unless I have support or I know I can disrupt the play.
 
 Also find your best player at the different positions and play defense with him. I was plaiying as arsenal last night and when I´m trying to stop the attack I´ll pick Viera (MF)becaues he´s good defensively. Plus this will allow for my backline to stay in position.
 
 I´m not worrying about strategy until I get into the last 20 minutes. Use the quick settings if you don´t want to mess around with everything. If I´m down I´ll go all-attacking. This is important...if I´m ahead use all-defensive. It does make a difference if you are just playing balls-out in the last 20 minutes with a 1 goal lead, they will probably score. If you are ahead it´s imperative that you hold onto the ball and not give it up. Also make sure everyone is playing back. The AI does cheat a bit late in the game when it´s down and you really have to be ready for it.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 6:32 pm

Jrod,
 
 I feel like there is some AI cheating going on myself. The last 4 games that i´ve played i´ve had leads only to see the CPU comeback and tie it up or win. Last night i´m playing as Werder Bremen against Schalke 04 and was inline for what should have been my first victory. I´ve played 16 games and haven´t won yet! Schalke took the lead early in the first half but i evened it up just a few mintues later. Then midway through the 2nd half I scored the mother of all goals when Bremen´s Ailton charged a loose ball in the box. The Schalke goalkeeper came out to play it and actually beat Ailton to the ball by just a hair but he coudn´t control it and the ball bounced off the keeper and then off Ailton´s knee over the keeper. Ailton then hurdled the keeper and tapped it into the net. I was up 2-1 and was as excited as I´ve been in a long time when playing a sports game. I really felt like this was a win that I was going to earn. However Schalke tied it at 2 all and then scored the winner during extra time. I was livid!!! The Schalke forward walked right around me and there was nothing I could do. I like the game alot and i´m seeing new things every game but i´m starting to feel some scriptedness towards the outcome of games. Then again I haven´t won yet so I apparently suck. Cheating feels like it´s there though. What does everybody else think?
 
 Tim

TheMightyPuck · Post by **TheMightyPuck** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 6:45 pm

Yeah, I think teams get tougher when they are playing catchup at home as the game winds down. This may be cheating or an attempt to capture the "mental" part of the game. I´ve been playing alot of Holland USA matches and Holland always comes on gangbusters at the end and has nicked tons of games against me at the wire. My problem (everyone´s problem) is defending against set pieces. Seems like my opponents get an open header almost every time. It´s kind of a button mash and pray moment every time the opponent ball gets crossed into my penalty area.

Post by **Jared** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 6:54 pm

TJung,
 
 I previously had that feeling about games being scripted. But basically, the computer really starts to attack HARD when they´re behind late in the game. (You can tell by the color of the bar under the player´s name. Red means all out attack, orange means mostly attack, yellow means medium, green and blue I think are defensive.)
 
 It really really helps if you switch to a more defensive strategy late in the game and if you´re up a goal. Just use a quick tactic and go either to all out defend or counter attack. If not, then the computer usually has numbers and can either beat you on a cross (more people in the box) or one on one (no extra defenders to make up for a player if he gets beat). If the team is down a goal and you get the ball, look on the radar to see where the opposition´s CBs are. Lots of the time they´ll only have one or two players at the middle of the field, and you can boot a long ball over the defense and have a chance at a breakaway.
 
 And as for general defensive tactics, I try to have one or two DMFs that play pretty conservatively and use them to try and make plays on the ball. If they get beat, you´ve still got at least one back to give support. I use to try and get the ball with my middle CB, miss the tackle and get burned. Now it occasionally happens, but not nearly as much.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 7:23 pm

One of the beauties of the game is to watch the AI when it gets down a goal late in the game. It will pull out all the stops. Typically I not only switch the quick tactic to "defensive" but also change to a 5-4-1 if it is critical to not allow a goal. If it´s not the end of the world if you concede one, and if you´re feeling a bit daring, hit them with the counter - you can pick up bunches of easy goals late in the game when they pull everyone into the attack.
 
 Not only do I tend to overuse the [] button, but I usually use a [] X combo which causes an all-out press double-team. Nine times out of ten it´s worth the risk.

mudtiger · Post by **mudtiger** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 7:48 pm

My startegy on defense is usually to play off the ball and cover passing lanes to the most obvious man. Force them to retreat or towards the sidelines by herding them with you defensive position. I then use square to send someone else in to attack the ball carrier. When the time is right, I´ll pounce on him too with X. Also, don´t overuse the R1 sprint.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:37 pm

yes, the game is not scripted...the AI just goes balls to the wall when down late.
 
 but if they get down by 3 or more.....they lay down hard core.....funny how it works that way in real life as well.
 
 My big strategy is to not allow open guys on the wing inside the last 25.
 
 Crosses are dealy in this game, so I do my best to choke the sides and make them come back in the middle.
 
 Anticipate their cuts when in the middle and then hit R1 and []......you take the ball away and sprint out for a quicck counter that usually is a 3 on 3 or 3 on 3.
 
 Your right about late equalizers and winners taking the sails out...it feels like crap....especially when you have autosave turned on and you can´t start over(the way it is meant to be played).
 
 Damn I love this game.