Teasershow: The ART of FUT: Dealing with Pressure and Improve Yourself

[00:00:00] Hello, foodies, and welcome back to a Patreon-exclusive episode of FUT IN REVIEW. Welcome back to The Art of Food. My name is John and of course, I'm joined by the man who earned, well, who earned, who was so kind to put his name on this program, none other than the Polish legend, the man with the best hair, no, not even, but my dear friend Archon.

[00:00:30] Hello, John. Hello, FUTEES. I miss you guys and welcome back to another ART show.

[00:00:36] Yeah, it's been two and a half weeks? Too long? Three weeks?

[00:00:39] Two, exactly two. We also recorded on Thursday last time.

[00:00:43] That's true.

[00:00:43] And it wasn't such a good show, you know, remember you invited your friend and you just ambushed me with my theory and opinions. It's okay, it's okay. Nate, greetings.

[00:00:56] Thanks. Nathan has taken a week off this week. He's actually decorating his office, so I don't know.

[00:01:03] Oh, that's cool.

[00:01:04] It is cool, but I rather play FIFA.

[00:01:07] Well, we all have some, you know, things to do in life too.

[00:01:12] That is definitely true. And it makes sure he can play FIFA. When he's back, Archon, the art of food is all about gameplay, tactics, any in-depth discussion, not concerning any menu grinding of FC25.

[00:01:29] And like you said, it's Patreon exclusive, so you can be a little bit more nuanced with your language as well.

[00:01:37] That helps.

[00:01:38] Last time we spoke about rules, play styles. You weren't a big fan. Nathan and myself were.

[00:01:46] You saw a lot of disadvantages. We saw a lot of advantages.

[00:01:49] Like you said, you felt you like being ambushed. So this week I thought it's better if we make it a one versus one show. I mean, one on one show.

[00:01:57] Yeah, we'll see if someone's joined us. But I want to hear, you know, Discord also whoever listened to the show, their opinion, because it was a little bit quiet about after our last show.

[00:02:09] So I would like to just know what people think about it. And to be honest, you know, I was like looking at the Discord and there is a lot of negativity going on with the gameplay and stuff.

[00:02:21] A lot of frustration, let's say, because we are not getting the results that we had in previous FIFA or even in AFC 24.

[00:02:31] People are struggling, people trying to learn the game. But I think it's a bad approach that they have.

[00:02:40] And before we go to the tactics and gameplay stuff, I just want to, you know, I posted one thing that my advice and most people agree with it, but I think they're not following that advice.

[00:02:56] I'm stuck in Division 3 because of my choice.

[00:03:00] How dare you?

[00:03:00] Yeah, I don't care. You know, one job, one thing. Upgraded rewards, Division 3 or not upgraded, Division 2.

[00:03:10] Yeah.

[00:03:10] One.

[00:03:12] Why, guys, you forget about sometimes that we have to play 15 games at least, at least to get those upgraded rewards.

[00:03:22] I don't know how much you have time for it. I don't as much right now because those 15 games actually takes me just 25.

[00:03:29] In Division 3.

[00:03:31] In Division 3. But I imagine if I get to Elite and I see some really good players are playing 70, 80 games to get those upgraded rewards because most of the games, they're just winning one, losing one, or drawing.

[00:03:42] Yeah.

[00:03:43] And they're not getting enough points. They have to just spend a lot of time to grind. So my advice was, take it slow. Why are you rushing to Division 2, 1? Learn the game. Get to the division where you feel you have a competitive, I know, competitive enough players to play against.

[00:04:02] Because I'm not saying, you know, start a count and stick in Division 10. There is no reason for it because you're not going to learn there also. But stick to the division that you feel comfortable about, like winning, drawing, and go from there. Look at your mistakes.

[00:04:19] I said to myself, if I win, like, if I get, let's say, 21, 22 points, at least in a 10-game streak, then I'm fine to go to Division 2.

[00:04:31] Yeah. So if you win 70% of your matches.

[00:04:33] At least. I can draw, but I don't want to lose. I don't want to lose any game. I want to feel comfortable enough to go further.

[00:04:42] And you know what, John? For those who knows me, I'll just give an example from basketball because I play basketball.

[00:04:50] I'm not upset that I'm not an NBA player. You know what I mean? I'm not good enough to play in NBA or in the first league of national competition, whatever.

[00:05:01] So why are you guys upset you're not getting to your elite division? We're not pros. We're playing that for fun.

[00:05:06] I mean, at least. I think the biggest thing is last year, most of them were in the elite division or in this one.

[00:05:11] John, last year, 90% of people shouldn't be in the elite division. It was the structure that allows us to get there eventually.

[00:05:21] You basically were facing division 6-5 guys in the end because everybody else already was in the elite division.

[00:05:28] And you were just winning against the players that basically belong to division 4, 5, 6 or even below.

[00:05:35] And we all get to the elite division. So I think that's the main issue.

[00:05:40] Right now, we're still not structured every player to division that he belongs, right?

[00:05:46] But all I'm saying is this is a totally different new game.

[00:05:50] And it's like I'm a, let's say, two-point shooter and someone is asking me right now to shoot only three-point shots.

[00:05:59] I'm not making them right away, guys. You cannot do it either.

[00:06:03] So why are you getting frustrated? I mean, you're getting frustrated because of your own fault.

[00:06:10] Right now, even you know that I'm not a fan of this game.

[00:06:13] I told you that so many times I'm still trying to force myself sometimes to play.

[00:06:20] But I'm not getting frustrated because right now I'm getting those results.

[00:06:24] I'm winning the games and I'm feeling more and more comfortable.

[00:06:28] I'm feeling more and more.

[00:06:30] I'm getting more and more positive feelings about this game at this moment.

[00:06:35] Yeah, James in chat.

[00:06:37] And of course, if you are a patron member, you can join these live chats as well while we record it.

[00:06:41] He says it's a different game. You just can't use the same metrics.

[00:06:45] And I think that, like you said, it is...

[00:06:48] Lastly, you might be a Division 1 player, actually should be a D4 player or 5 player or whatever.

[00:06:53] And there's actually nothing wrong with being a D5 player.

[00:06:57] And I think, like you said, the problem that people are frustrated is that they can't...

[00:07:02] I don't know if the problem is that they can't win the 15 games or that the problem is that they can't seem to level up.

[00:07:10] I think it's the 15 games that frustrates people more than the fact which Division they are.

[00:07:15] Don't you think so?

[00:07:17] As I said, it's a lot of games to play.

[00:07:19] Even for me, 15 games takes me like 25, 27 games to finish, to complete.

[00:07:24] And I'm saying I'll stick to Division 3.

[00:07:26] I'm losing on purpose.

[00:07:27] I told you that.

[00:07:28] I'll share that on the Discord too.

[00:07:32] I cannot imagine to play 70 games of rivals.

[00:07:35] I can't.

[00:07:36] And the frustration comes because you're getting tired also when you're playing.

[00:07:40] If you play 10 games in a row...

[00:07:42] I mean, come on, guys.

[00:07:43] It's just...

[00:07:44] You're playing against...

[00:07:46] Every game is against good players, at least at your level.

[00:07:50] It's not easy games.

[00:07:51] So your brain is just not working properly after 10 games.

[00:07:56] You have to take breaks.

[00:07:57] And you cannot take breaks because you're rushing to get those rewards till Thursday.

[00:08:02] By the way, why the hell did you guys care about the results?

[00:08:06] There are so many other ways to obtain packs.

[00:08:09] And those rewards are usually shit anyway.

[00:08:13] Why do you care?

[00:08:14] You know what, John?

[00:08:16] One one thing that...

[00:08:17] Because I don't want to forget.

[00:08:18] I'm going to mix a lot.

[00:08:19] Yeah, that's all right, mate.

[00:08:19] I'll try to keep everything in...

[00:08:21] About the five-pack formation.

[00:08:23] I don't know.

[00:08:23] The patch came.

[00:08:24] I installed it.

[00:08:25] I didn't see...

[00:08:27] I didn't feel much difference till now.

[00:08:29] But I play like two or three games.

[00:08:30] So I cannot speak properly on...

[00:08:32] They nerfed five-pack.

[00:08:34] I don't know if they did.

[00:08:35] Guys, if you play five-pack formation, for example...

[00:08:38] I don't mind at all.

[00:08:40] This is a formation in a game.

[00:08:42] It's like play...

[00:08:43] Last year, we were playing 4-3-2-1.

[00:08:45] The previous years, it was 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-2-3-1 formations.

[00:08:49] That were most effective, let's say, right?

[00:08:53] Okay?

[00:08:53] If you're playing five-pack, that's cool with me.

[00:08:56] But the only thing that I want to worry about...

[00:08:59] When you're playing five-pack formation, you're not learning the game.

[00:09:02] You're not learning to defend properly manually.

[00:09:05] Because all those things that you're making a mistake...

[00:09:09] It's covered by another AI defender.

[00:09:12] So just a warning.

[00:09:14] Because if we live enough to get a game where the manual defending will be...

[00:09:20] The only way to defend...

[00:09:23] Mm-hmm.

[00:09:23] Then you will struggle again.

[00:09:26] I prefer to suffer defending manually in a four-pack formation and learn everything...

[00:09:33] Like basics with the defending...

[00:09:35] Than use five-pack formation just to cover my mistakes.

[00:09:39] Because you're not noticing those mistakes.

[00:09:41] And you're actually deepening those habits.

[00:09:44] You're making a tackling and you miss the tackle.

[00:09:48] Don't worry.

[00:09:49] There is another defender who will cover for you.

[00:09:51] When you're defending manually with a four-pack...

[00:09:53] It's actually...

[00:09:55] You have to think if it's the right spot to tackle, for example.

[00:09:58] Okay?

[00:09:59] And how to recover from it.

[00:10:01] If you switch quickly enough.

[00:10:03] I don't mind.

[00:10:04] I'm just saying...

[00:10:05] Don't tell me that you play five-pack just for a result.

[00:10:08] Because if you do, then...

[00:10:10] You shouldn't play this game at all.

[00:10:12] I mean, come on.

[00:10:13] If you're playing only to win the games and you don't care about learning...

[00:10:18] Then...

[00:10:19] I'm old.

[00:10:19] You're getting older.

[00:10:21] Thank you for that.

[00:10:23] No problem.

[00:10:24] We're not going to go pro, right?

[00:10:27] So...

[00:10:28] We're not?

[00:10:28] You remember in EFC...

[00:10:30] My 15-game last strike?

[00:10:34] Yeah, yeah.

[00:10:35] Because I don't.

[00:10:38] Exactly.

[00:10:38] All I'm saying...

[00:10:39] You will forget what happened like three, four days ago.

[00:10:42] Yeah.

[00:10:43] In this game.

[00:10:43] Don't care as much about this game.

[00:10:46] Don't get so frustrated, guys.

[00:10:48] If you are frustrated, turn the fuck off.

[00:10:51] Here's the thing, though, Art.

[00:10:52] I think there's a couple of things.

[00:10:54] I think...

[00:10:55] There's one topic I wanted to discuss.

[00:10:57] And I've been discussing this previous.

[00:10:58] I think comparing anything in life always ends up being a negative experience.

[00:11:10] Right?

[00:11:11] Yeah.

[00:11:11] So if I compare myself to last year, I could see that as a negative experience.

[00:11:16] If I compare myself to you, I can see that as a negative experience.

[00:11:20] If I compare my team to you or whatever, it feels a negative experience.

[00:11:24] And I've compared my back luck versus anyone else's back luck.

[00:11:27] And seeing that I didn't have any back luck.

[00:11:29] So everyone's against me and I can be down about it.

[00:11:32] So I always try in our coaching and in the things we discuss and the negativity that gets

[00:11:37] spewed to us lately to see if we can at least stop comparing yourself on any of these levels

[00:11:44] with anyone else.

[00:11:45] And that's hard, right?

[00:11:47] But it's also, I think, the thing that makes a massive difference.

[00:11:52] If I look at my team, it's a pretty cool team.

[00:11:57] But I'm not going to see if I play against Nbappe, it's not going to be, oh, he's playing

[00:12:01] Nbappe.

[00:12:01] So here we go again.

[00:12:04] No, seriously, I don't even watch the teams.

[00:12:05] I don't care.

[00:12:07] And I think it's a mindset.

[00:12:10] And it goes same with rewards.

[00:12:11] I'm in Div 2 now.

[00:12:13] Right?

[00:12:14] Sort of stumbled in, if I'm honest.

[00:12:16] And I'll probably renegade.

[00:12:17] I'm not even, I doubt I'm supposed to be there currently.

[00:12:22] Like, and I used to be a lead player as well, right?

[00:12:23] So I think this feels definitely above my level.

[00:12:28] But honestly, I'm not doing so bad.

[00:12:31] Like, I'm winning, drawing, losing, a little bit like this.

[00:12:34] So it's like 30% chance I win, 30% chance I lose.

[00:12:38] And most of the games, I just draw, basically.

[00:12:41] Which means if I will look forward next week, I'm like, oh, 15 games, I might not even make

[00:12:46] it 15 wins.

[00:12:46] If my focus is those 15 wins, and I'm like, everyone around me takes the 15 wins.

[00:12:51] Oh, RG got 15 wins in Div 2 easily, and I can't do it.

[00:12:55] Oh, I'm frustrated.

[00:12:56] But like you said, you make your own path.

[00:12:57] You say, okay, I'm going to do it in Div 3.

[00:12:59] It's probably a bit easier to make it.

[00:13:00] And if you don't make it, rewards aren't good either.

[00:13:03] But I think it all starts with trying to compare something against something else first.

[00:13:10] And if, like, I love comparison.

[00:13:12] I love data-driven coaching.

[00:13:15] But then I compare your match after training to a match before we train.

[00:13:20] So I'm comparing you with you.

[00:13:22] And that way, we can learn from it, I think.

[00:13:25] Comparing you to someone else just doesn't make any sense because we're not the same person.

[00:13:29] I agree 100%.

[00:13:30] And the same with sports in general.

[00:13:33] You don't compare the left back with your other left back.

[00:13:35] You look at the strengths.

[00:13:36] You put them on the strengths.

[00:13:37] This game is actually the same.

[00:13:39] You have a left back that's pretty good.

[00:13:41] You get a left back that's stat-wise a little bit poor.

[00:13:44] But he can play false back plus-plus.

[00:13:46] And actually, you need a false back in your setup.

[00:13:49] Play the lesser player.

[00:13:50] Don't compare them on only the face stats, right?

[00:13:53] Play what you need in this.

[00:13:55] I think I'm trying to make a point here.

[00:13:58] But I think negativity comes from, like, if you get frustrated.

[00:14:02] Frustrated comes from something.

[00:14:04] Usually out of, it can come out of anger.

[00:14:06] But it has to do with a feeling.

[00:14:08] And those feelings usually come from comparing yourself or something you did to someone else's.

[00:14:15] And if you're listening to this or watching this and you're like, I'm frustrated about something in the game.

[00:14:22] Try to see, does it cause frustration?

[00:14:25] Would that happen if you didn't know anyone else where it didn't happen to?

[00:14:30] Right?

[00:14:31] Right?

[00:14:31] I got bad back look.

[00:14:33] I'm not sure it's bad.

[00:14:34] You only think it's bad because someone else got a super card out of it.

[00:14:38] Right?

[00:14:39] John, regarding the frustration also.

[00:14:42] Not my frustration, mate.

[00:14:44] Look at me.

[00:14:44] It's all right.

[00:14:44] I'm like, I'm zen.

[00:14:47] But listen.

[00:14:47] Listen, also, what I notice is people make mistakes as a coach when I see their games.

[00:14:56] And what happens is they don't learn from those mistakes.

[00:15:00] They go to another game and do the same mistakes.

[00:15:04] You know what I mean?

[00:15:05] I'm trying to get to the point where, okay, how you want to even improve or get less frustrated if you're making the same mistakes.

[00:15:15] If this pass is not working in 5, 10 games, stop making that pass.

[00:15:19] If you're turning to the left every time on your sides and you get tackled there, maybe try to turn back or right.

[00:15:26] Just like simple things, you know, with just one thing that you know that you're doing wrongly.

[00:15:31] And you know, like, deeply inside that you're doing it, like, because you have a bad habit.

[00:15:36] And you don't want to change that.

[00:15:39] That's the issue.

[00:15:40] That's the issue with you, like, with every one of us.

[00:15:43] I have the same problems.

[00:15:44] I have the same bad habits like everyone else.

[00:15:49] But whenever I'm just re-watching my game, and I don't have much time, guys.

[00:15:53] It's, like, it's enough to watch one game at least per week and get some conclusions from it.

[00:16:01] Now, I think it goes even further than that, right?

[00:16:05] If we want to help people, like, that's what we do at Footcoasting.

[00:16:07] We try to help people getting better at this game, but mostly enjoy the game more, right?

[00:16:13] If you have a poor moment in a game where you think, oh, the game is against me, or how could this happen to me?

[00:16:21] Right?

[00:16:21] And I'm not saying this game is perfect.

[00:16:22] And I have seen moments where I'm like, okay, not much you could do about this funky ball bouncing all over the pitch and the wind blowing the ball.

[00:16:30] Okay, that happens.

[00:16:32] And that's crap.

[00:16:33] But most of the situations where you look at it, and you are able to look at that moment and thinking, what is the one thing I could have done differently here?

[00:16:42] And try to implement that.

[00:16:44] I've seen examples where people apply high press, for example, on a back line, where they pass the ball to the fullback because he's more wider, especially if they're on certain.

[00:16:55] They play with five players at the back, so they're even more wider.

[00:16:57] They play the ball to the fullback, the right wing goes running up, and they want to go towards the byline and pass the ball over or pass the byline to that right midfielder.

[00:17:07] But it's pretty predictable, so sometimes they just get the ball off that right back and they get countered, right?

[00:17:13] Yeah.

[00:17:14] And I've seen this example, and I'm serious, I'm not even exaggerating.

[00:17:17] I think at least a dozen times this week on all the sessions we got sent in, where I'm like, why don't you just pass the ball back to your goalkeeper?

[00:17:24] Like, you've got 11 players, pass the ball back to your goalkeeper.

[00:17:27] That same five or four back to face will also go wide.

[00:17:31] Wait a little bit until they start chasing up your goalkeeper, and you can just pick either of those four players.

[00:17:36] It's probably to just pass the ball in, turn around and be safe.

[00:17:40] And there was each, as in chat, I've never done this.

[00:17:42] Yeah, he was also one of the specific analysis I did where I'm like, hmm, could have you schoolkeeper there?

[00:17:49] And those are just like little bit examples.

[00:17:52] Like pressure isn't that bad if you just pass back and let them go for it because the midfield is wide open.

[00:17:58] But if you instantly want to go forward, there's a big chance you run into those upcoming players.

[00:18:01] They get the ball from you, and then you're done, right?

[00:18:04] But looking at those moments yourself when this happens, and I seriously got sent a lot of clips.

[00:18:09] People are like, look at the high press.

[00:18:11] I'm like, yeah, but what could you have done different in this situation?

[00:18:14] And if you start asking, like, what could I have done differently when this happened?

[00:18:19] Most of the time you're like, oh, wait a minute, if I just did this or if I didn't do this, it might help.

[00:18:23] And you start trying that the next match, you've done half the work we could do for you already.

[00:18:30] And you can just help yourself in that as well, right?

[00:18:32] John, I have one suggestion to our players on this.

[00:18:36] Just one?

[00:18:37] For now.

[00:18:38] For now.

[00:18:39] The show is going, so we'll see how many suggestions I will come up with.

[00:18:44] But what I notice is when I'm losing the game, like, let's say I met a really good player.

[00:18:51] And I'm losing 5-0.

[00:18:53] Yeah, it happens to me.

[00:18:55] I'm losing 5-0, but I don't want to quit.

[00:18:58] Because I believe that matchmaking is, like, a little bit lower with your ELO if I stay in a game.

[00:19:04] That's my habit.

[00:19:05] I don't quit.

[00:19:07] But what I'm trying to say, when I already don't care about the game, let's say, and it's the 60th minute, I'm losing 5-0.

[00:19:15] And I'm not in the mood to finish the game or concede more goals.

[00:19:18] I'm keeping the ball.

[00:19:21] And what I notice is when I don't care about the game, I'm keeping the ball in the possession against those really high-press players.

[00:19:29] They cannot get the ball from me.

[00:19:31] Especially in this game.

[00:19:33] I'm turning to the right way.

[00:19:34] I'm finding the right players.

[00:19:37] I'm calling short.

[00:19:38] I'm sending to the run.

[00:19:39] I'm making the movement myself.

[00:19:41] They cannot touch the ball.

[00:19:43] Nope.

[00:19:43] And I can keep the 30 minutes, 40 minutes, whatever I need.

[00:19:45] And after, of course, after 20, 30 minutes, they just give up and just, like, you know, drop the controller also.

[00:19:52] But what I'm trying to say is you guys think that pressing in this game is very difficult to break.

[00:20:00] But the reason is because you are forcing plays.

[00:20:06] You are forcing plays in a wrong situation, in a wrong moment.

[00:20:11] You're turning to the press.

[00:20:14] Whenever you turn from the press, you will find the opening.

[00:20:19] And believe me, how many times you read on the Discord also, guys, how to press.

[00:20:27] That's, like, totally different, you know, how to press in this game.

[00:20:31] I'm losing 1-0.

[00:20:32] He's keeping the possession.

[00:20:33] I cannot get the ball.

[00:20:34] The others, I mean, another day you're saying the press is just unbearable.

[00:20:41] You know what I mean?

[00:20:42] So it's like, no, it's not.

[00:20:44] We're losing the ball.

[00:20:45] We're losing the possession because only of our faults and mistakes, basically.

[00:20:51] And unfortunately, this is the 80-90% of the goals, how you concede in this game.

[00:20:56] It's giving the ball away in buildup.

[00:20:58] Yeah.

[00:20:58] Especially in your half.

[00:21:01] It's very hard to break down the defense when it's structured the way it's supposed to, like, during the formation that you're using.

[00:21:09] It's very hard.

[00:21:11] The player has to make a mistake or you have to outsmart him with some really great buildup or some specific runs that you manually send player to.

[00:21:23] So all I'm saying is just try one game when you're losing for fun.

[00:21:29] Keep the ball.

[00:21:29] And you will see it yourself that it's not easy to get the ball from you.

[00:21:34] No, that's true.

[00:21:35] I got one golden tip, though, if you are feeling pressure.

[00:21:38] Whichever one can apply.

[00:21:39] Like, everyone.

[00:21:40] If you are being pressed.

[00:21:43] Right?

[00:21:43] Let's say you play from the left side to the pitch to the right side of the pitch.

[00:21:48] Oh, I actually have a tune for that these days, mate.

[00:21:50] I forgot.

[00:21:51] This is today's...

[00:21:53] Foot coachings.

[00:21:55] But this is today's foot coaching top tip.

[00:21:58] Say you're playing from left to right and your opponent is pressing you very high, right?

[00:22:03] Like, again, pressing isn't that bad in my honest opinion, but let's say they have a high line.

[00:22:09] Make sure your first touch you do with the ball, with the player receiving the ball, is aimed backwards.

[00:22:16] So say you play from left to right, you play the ball from your center defensive to, let's say, your center defensive midfielder.

[00:22:21] Make sure the first move you make with that CDM is to your left.

[00:22:26] One step back.

[00:22:27] And we'll do a couple of things.

[00:22:28] You'll create a meter of space to turn around if needed.

[00:22:32] But most likely, if the opponent plays a press just by moving, you didn't have to touch anything else.

[00:22:39] If your opponent plays the blind pressing forward, he'll just run past you.

[00:22:43] You can just turn around and suddenly you get all the space in the world.

[00:22:48] And if you take the first step back, there is literally no way they can get the ball of you straight from our first press.

[00:22:56] They can't get near you.

[00:22:58] So right from left, you take your first back.

[00:23:01] Touch to right, left to right.

[00:23:02] Take your first step left.

[00:23:04] Take your first step with the receiving player towards your own goal.

[00:23:09] That's all there is to it.

[00:23:10] I think if we play a match together and we would try to get the ball of each other,

[00:23:15] and our target was to who holds possession for the longest, we can't get the ball from each other in this game.

[00:23:19] Oh, if we don't care about the scoring, it may happen.

[00:23:22] Yeah.

[00:23:22] If we don't care about attacking, that's exactly what will happen.

[00:23:26] And that's why we're looking at the processing sometimes and the game's in depth 1-0, 0-0,

[00:23:31] because whoever scores is just like can do whatever he wants with the ball.

[00:23:35] Good luck with that.

[00:23:36] Yeah.

[00:23:36] Yeah.

[00:23:37] About that turning back, John.

[00:23:39] And also, I want to address one more thing about it.

[00:23:42] Don't pass the ball if you don't feel the pressure.

[00:23:44] Exactly.

[00:23:45] With a player.

[00:23:46] Just let him commit with someone.

[00:23:48] Why are you passing the ball if you have the whole green space in front of you?

[00:23:52] If you pass, if you have a space and you're passing the ball, you're passing to the congestion area right away.

[00:23:59] Because nobody's pressing you, it means they are pressing other AI covered players right now.

[00:24:05] So they're at least covering your available players.

[00:24:08] Available options.

[00:24:09] Yeah.

[00:24:09] Exactly.

[00:24:11] Also from my game, you know what?

[00:24:12] I use formation with a one striker, right?

[00:24:16] I'm just trying different formation.

[00:24:18] Doesn't matter.

[00:24:18] With one striker.

[00:24:19] And my habit, bad habit, is I tend to pass to that striker.

[00:24:24] Like in my buildup, you know?

[00:24:27] And because he seems like always open.

[00:24:29] And I watch a couple of my games.

[00:24:33] And 90% of the time that I'm losing the ball is because of the striker.

[00:24:38] So what I tend to do right now, even if I decide to pass to him, if I cannot avoid to pass to him,

[00:24:45] not only I'm turning back, but before the ball gets to him, I'm already looking for another option to just pass back.

[00:24:51] Because I pass to that one striker, and I'm telling that to everyone who's using one striker formation.

[00:24:58] Guys, he's surrounded by five, six defenders right away.

[00:25:01] Yeah.

[00:25:02] And you're not prepared.

[00:25:04] Your defensive line is not prepared, structured, to defend when you lose the possession in that area.

[00:25:10] Well, no.

[00:25:11] But if the player you're passing to, that striker, for example, in a false nine,

[00:25:15] then he is available to take the first step back and hold it up.

[00:25:19] But if that same role is put, for example, on a poacher, he has tennis.

[00:25:24] You still can do it, John.

[00:25:25] You still can take back and pass back.

[00:25:27] Yeah, but harder.

[00:25:28] Harder.

[00:25:28] It is, of course.

[00:25:28] Because he comes from further away.

[00:25:29] Of course, because he's running away from you.

[00:25:31] So you have to call him short, for example.

[00:25:33] But I'm just saying it's so easy to pass to the striker because he seems always available when you build it up.

[00:25:41] And he has so much space.

[00:25:42] But before the ball gets to him, and I'm like, he doesn't have any space anymore.

[00:25:47] And I was trying to dribble with him.

[00:25:49] I was trying to make a specific first touches, whatever.

[00:25:52] And I was just losing the ball.

[00:25:54] You guys remember that whatever tactic you're using, your offensive structure is different than your defensive one.

[00:26:03] Right?

[00:26:04] Where I'm going with this.

[00:26:05] Because when you're building up, your players are trying to get to that offensive structure.

[00:26:10] So they don't care about covering the players of your opponent.

[00:26:14] They're trying to get to the positions where you intend them to do when you create the tactic.

[00:26:20] So when you lose those balls, especially in the middle, it's so easy to counter because usually their striker is just right open between your center backs.

[00:26:31] It's just one hard pass and it's just gone.

[00:26:36] You're gone.

[00:26:37] That's how I concede most of my goals.

[00:26:39] Because of my mistakes.

[00:26:40] But I know that.

[00:26:41] Of course I concede shitty goals, but I scored a lot of shitty goals either.

[00:26:45] I mean, come on.

[00:26:46] I get so many rebounds too.

[00:26:49] It's not like only against me are scoring those goals.

[00:26:53] Of course, those are more noticeable ones when I'm conceding them when I'm scoring.

[00:26:59] But still, so yeah, just one thing that notice that you in your game that you're making like wrongly all the time and just change that one thing.

[00:27:12] I'm not saying change everything right away.

[00:27:15] Just one thing and notice the difference.

[00:27:17] Or of course, get some coaching.

[00:27:19] Okay.

[00:27:20] So we discussed a couple of things, but hopefully that will help some of our Discord members.

[00:27:26] If not, go ahead, guys, ask questions.

[00:27:28] We are always here to help you out.

[00:27:30] About the tactics, because this show is about the tactics.

[00:27:32] Well, it's about everything.

[00:27:33] And I just want to summarize what we can do when you are being, if you're frustrated with the game and you are extremely frustrated by pressing.

[00:27:45] First, stop comparing your results against previous results from last year.

[00:27:49] Does it make any sense to do so?

[00:27:51] And you're only hurting yourself.

[00:27:53] Second, stop comparing yourself with anyone else.

[00:27:57] Like in-game, your team, your play styles, your goals, the concealing goals, your back luck, stop.

[00:28:03] It hurts only yourself.

[00:28:06] Just inward looking.

[00:28:09] In-game, when you are pressured, take the first touch back.

[00:28:13] Make sure to call the player back, Arjun.

[00:28:15] Use the goalkeeper.

[00:28:16] Do not pass the ball when you're not being pressured.

[00:28:21] When you have space in front of you, move into that space.

[00:28:24] Stop there.

[00:28:24] I will add one more thing.

[00:28:25] Yes.

[00:28:26] Don't dribble to the pressure or to your player.

[00:28:29] You know what I mean?

[00:28:30] How many times I see myself, I'm trying to, I have a lot of space and I see myself, I'm dribbling to the next player of mine, even who is congested with other defenders.

[00:28:41] And I'm like, why are you going there?

[00:28:43] Just turn around, go other way, make a space for him to make a run.

[00:28:47] I'm bringing my defender to his defender and suddenly I have no space to move.

[00:28:52] Start looking for those green spots, guys.

[00:28:55] Every time I'm even recording my tactic videos, I'm always just advising to myself too.

[00:29:04] Start looking for those green spots.

[00:29:06] This is your best friends on the pitch.

[00:29:09] Those empty areas.

[00:29:10] No, I agree.

[00:29:12] 100%.

[00:29:13] And don't pass the ball to your striker when he's surrounded by five players.

[00:29:18] Regarding the tactics, John, because our conversation from last show, it's not like I changed my mind.

[00:29:24] I still think we are kind of limited in tactics creation this year.

[00:29:31] What I mean by that is you have to choose.

[00:29:34] You cannot use whatever you want.

[00:29:37] You have to choose.

[00:29:38] And if you want to play offensively, if you want to play defensively, it's some choices that you have to make before you go to the game.

[00:29:46] Okay.

[00:29:47] And I'm not saying it's bad.

[00:29:50] I'm saying it's kind of lowering our options a little bit when even creating the team.

[00:30:06] Okay.

[00:30:09] But again, like for example, I know you were bragging on Discord that you used three-back formation and have five wins in a row.

[00:30:20] Yeah, I did.

[00:30:21] How many losses you got after that?

[00:30:24] Still none.

[00:30:25] Still none.

[00:30:25] Okay.

[00:30:26] No, no.

[00:30:26] It actually got me in div too.

[00:30:29] So far, so far, nine games played with a three-back and I won six and drew three.

[00:30:34] Okay.

[00:30:35] So.

[00:30:36] I will lose soon enough though.

[00:30:37] Don't worry about it.

[00:30:39] What I'm saying is, guys, for example, John is using three-back and it's very difficult this year to use three-back.

[00:30:47] You, all I'm saying is just before you go and touch the three-back, you kind of have to defend manually.

[00:30:56] You have to adapt.

[00:30:57] Which is, I mean, I'm not very good at FIFA, but I'm decent.

[00:31:01] That's all I said.

[00:31:02] You know how to defend.

[00:31:04] You know how to not commit.

[00:31:05] You know which player to use to cover empty spaces.

[00:31:09] That's the whole, because it's not three-back formation like from previous years, guys.

[00:31:14] It's wide open.

[00:31:15] You cannot turn it to the five-back.

[00:31:16] You cannot turn it to the four-back.

[00:31:18] No, you will stick to the three defenders.

[00:31:20] And if you cannot bring manually those midfielders back and cover those runs of your opponents, it will struggle.

[00:31:27] It's the same thing with the 4-1-2-1-2-0.

[00:31:30] If you cannot use those midfielders of yours who are standing in the middle of the pitch to go and cover those wide runs of opponent midfielders, it will struggle.

[00:31:41] It's fun.

[00:31:42] It's great attack information, but it comes rewards.

[00:31:46] You have to sacrifice something.

[00:31:48] That's why I'm saying when you use five-back, it's cool with me, but you're not learning to defend this game.

[00:31:55] You will suffer sometimes.

[00:31:58] I don't know how the patch changed the five-back.

[00:32:00] Maybe it's not viable anymore.

[00:32:01] Maybe I'm talking about the five-backs because all I've seen is some picks from old gen and some game playing from old gen.

[00:32:12] And those five-back formations are not good.

[00:32:15] What I mean by that, three center backs very close to each other and a whole lot of space on the sides.

[00:32:21] There are so many gaps right now.

[00:32:23] I don't know how it will transform to the new gen because it's a little bit different game.

[00:32:29] Well, it's totally a different game, let's say.

[00:32:31] Not a little bit.

[00:32:32] So we'll see.

[00:32:33] But all I'm saying is just it's fun.

[00:32:35] It's okay.

[00:32:36] You can use five-back.

[00:32:37] But as I'm saying, you will not learn manual defending.

[00:32:41] One thing, John, about the gameplay that I wish they could do, and I would be honestly totally fine with it, with the game.

[00:32:51] It's recovery after a mistake of the defenders.

[00:32:57] What I mean by that is they recover too fast.

[00:32:59] After hard tackle, after tackle, they recover too fast.

[00:33:03] If someone is making a mistake and I force him to make that mistake, I should have a little bit of time to take advantage of that mistake.

[00:33:12] Right now, I feel like it's a little bit too fast, those recovery speed of defenders.

[00:33:18] I'm not saying their speed initially.

[00:33:21] No, no, no.

[00:33:22] I get what you mean.

[00:33:22] You go one-on-one, you make a move.

[00:33:24] He made the wrong tackle.

[00:33:26] He should be punished for it.

[00:33:28] What do you think?

[00:33:29] I'm a little bit in between there, honestly.

[00:33:31] Okay.

[00:33:33] Because if I see how I defend, which is, I think I've been 99% manual, right?

[00:33:39] And you are playing against my center defender.

[00:33:42] I use my center defender to actually defend.

[00:33:44] And he steps left, right, left.

[00:33:45] And I step left, right.

[00:33:46] And a little bit later to the left again.

[00:33:50] I think sometimes it seems like, oh, I was passed there.

[00:33:53] But I was still in time.

[00:33:55] I do a hard tackle.

[00:33:55] So the long tackle, and I get the ball back.

[00:33:57] And I think that is also seen sometimes as, hey, the defender has already beaten, but you still got it.

[00:34:04] Well, I actually just corrected it.

[00:34:06] And that's only possible because defenders are sort of, if they have good defensive awareness, they are fast in actually making the defense response, right?

[00:34:15] So I'm a little bit, like, I get what you're saying as well.

[00:34:19] But I also find, for example, if a striker runs into your defender and a striker falls over, he instantly jumps up again.

[00:34:25] And he's so fast back to the ball, that wouldn't be possible either.

[00:34:27] So I'm not sure if this is just the way the game sort of works.

[00:34:32] Because else I would also want to see it on the other side, where a Virgil player runs into Virgil, falls over, suddenly magically is back on his feet and instantly attracted to the ball.

[00:34:43] So I see it on the attacking side as well.

[00:34:46] So I don't think you can see one from the other.

[00:34:48] I get what you're saying.

[00:34:50] I am not sure if it's a problem yet.

[00:34:52] John, but at least you were speaking about defenders who have defensive awareness and stuff.

[00:35:01] I understand that part.

[00:35:02] It's okay.

[00:35:03] But at least make a little bit less quick recovery for those midfield players, strikers, forwarders.

[00:35:11] Yeah, but that's what I'm saying.

[00:35:13] Because they tackle all the time.

[00:35:14] Like, I understand why people get frustrated on the Discord.

[00:35:17] Because they're making 90 tackles per game and there is no punishment for it.

[00:35:22] That's why people spam tackling.

[00:35:24] They don't want to learn the game, guys.

[00:35:26] No, but maybe it should be instead of just slamming your body against the ball, it's enough to get the ball back.

[00:35:31] It takes more into account how much defensive awareness a player has.

[00:35:35] Meaning that if you do a tackle with your striker, a sling tackle with your striker, it takes longer to recover.

[00:35:41] Or there's a bigger chance you actually hit the player or less chance to actually get the ball off.

[00:35:44] I think that's sort of built in, but it doesn't show, doesn't reflect well enough.

[00:35:51] Because you were right.

[00:35:52] I can use my Haaland to just try to slam into defenders and get the ball instantly connected to my feet.

[00:36:00] And that was like I said.

[00:36:01] If you want to look at the defensive side, the offensive side is sort of more of my issue.

[00:36:06] Of course.

[00:36:08] Because I think that's more unrealistic.

[00:36:10] Let's put it like this.

[00:36:11] And it rewards blind play.

[00:36:12] Well, if you do it with your defender, it rewards selecting it manually and trying at least.

[00:36:18] So that's what.

[00:36:19] But I get what you're saying.

[00:36:20] And I have seen it.

[00:36:22] And I also want to come back on our little discussion about the limitations of these rules in the new tactic system.

[00:36:30] Okay.

[00:36:30] Because you are 100% right.

[00:36:33] It's limited.

[00:36:34] And I have experienced those limitations.

[00:36:36] Okay.

[00:36:37] Stop right here.

[00:36:37] Stop.

[00:36:38] But.

[00:36:38] Guys.

[00:36:40] One more time.

[00:36:41] Repeat.

[00:36:41] You were right about the limitations, Arjun.

[00:36:43] But I don't mind that.

[00:36:45] Because I think this is a perfect situation to balance everything from here on out.

[00:36:51] And get this at a starting point of these new systems.

[00:36:55] I really don't care too much about the fact you are now not able to get your attack or your center backs run forward.

[00:37:05] Right?

[00:37:06] Because you can put them on attacking, for example, on corners now.

[00:37:09] And you don't see many attacking or defenders actually coming forward.

[00:37:13] But if they add that next year after they sort of fix this system and balance out the system.

[00:37:19] Fine for me.

[00:37:20] But I don't want them to add too much to break the system that's already pretty complex for where we came from.

[00:37:27] That makes sense.

[00:37:28] And if there's one thing that I find sometimes harder.

[00:37:31] So, for example, I now went to the 3-5-2-2.

[00:37:33] 3-5.

[00:37:34] Jeez.

[00:37:36] I went to the 3-5-2.

[00:37:38] So, two CDMs in a formation and two wingers.

[00:37:41] And I would love my wingers to be defensive capable.

[00:37:45] Right?

[00:37:46] I want to see them move up and down.

[00:37:48] I'm not necessarily as a 5-back, but a little bit higher, but at least come towards the level of my center defense midfielder.

[00:37:53] But I also want to send them up fields to do a cross, basically.

[00:37:58] So, Bombasto, for example, could do it as a left midfielder.

[00:38:00] Has the right rules.

[00:38:01] Fits perfectly.

[00:38:03] Find a right winger in this game.

[00:38:04] Or right midfielder, I should say.

[00:38:06] Not a right winger.

[00:38:06] But find a right midfielder that actually has capable rules for that.

[00:38:11] There's almost none.

[00:38:13] Which means, like, if I want to make this work, I need to put up a 5-back where I put my right wing-back on forward.

[00:38:22] Or on attacking wing-back and on balance.

[00:38:26] That looks more like it than having it on a right midfielder and get them to defend either.

[00:38:32] So, I now find sometimes a limitation at the players available for the rules.

[00:38:37] I think this system could support.

[00:38:39] But then again, I also think that's a temporary thing.

[00:38:41] But there's something there.

[00:38:43] I think the true potential for this system comes out whenever we get more players or we are able to add rules, for example, on players.

[00:38:52] Exactly.

[00:38:53] They may add some rules.

[00:38:55] They may add chance, I was going to say, instructions.

[00:38:59] But, you know, for the specific players right now, you know, there is one specific role, like right mid, left mid.

[00:39:06] I tried that.

[00:39:08] White midfielder.

[00:39:10] And when you put him on defense.

[00:39:12] He comes sort of back.

[00:39:13] He's not going forward at all.

[00:39:15] No.

[00:39:16] But it says that as well.

[00:39:17] It does say.

[00:39:18] I know there is.

[00:39:19] Okay, guys.

[00:39:19] This is a new thing that they introduce.

[00:39:23] It's not like they bring the new thing and the job is done.

[00:39:29] They have to see how it actually works in a game from us playing it.

[00:39:36] Are they noticing those things?

[00:39:37] I think they are at least.

[00:39:39] I don't know how much they want to change that.

[00:39:41] But I think this is a work in progress still with the roles, with AI movement of those roles.

[00:39:49] There is something that they introduced.

[00:39:51] But if they're going to stick to that, they're going to improve that.

[00:39:55] The same thing with their play styles.

[00:39:57] They introduced something and they were working during the whole year on how those play styles should really work in a game.

[00:40:07] Exactly.

[00:40:07] Yeah.

[00:40:08] Like, just remember, guys.

[00:40:11] We, in the beginning of the game, E24, we were saying, like, press proven is like shitty play style and nobody's using it.

[00:40:19] It's like pointless and stuff.

[00:40:20] Right?

[00:40:21] And then what happened is in the end of the cycle of the EFC 24, hey, this player doesn't have a press proven.

[00:40:27] He cannot dribble.

[00:40:28] You know what I mean?

[00:40:29] They're just improving as we go further and further in the cycle of the game.

[00:40:35] And this is what probably will happen also with Rose.

[00:40:40] No, I think it will be fine.

[00:40:40] I definitely hope so.

[00:40:41] Yeah.

[00:40:43] I definitely hope so.

[00:40:44] Because, you know, I don't care if I get pretty good results in the weekend leagues and I'm a little bit surprised.

[00:40:51] But I don't care if I get seven, eight wins in the weekend league.

[00:40:55] Actually, even less.

[00:40:56] But I want to play three back formations.

[00:41:00] For now, I'm not good enough for it.

[00:41:04] I'm telling you honestly.

[00:41:05] I might throw back from it as well.

[00:41:07] Sorry?

[00:41:08] I might come back to it as well, though.

[00:41:10] But for now, I am quite enjoying it.

[00:41:12] Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[00:41:13] It's so enjoyable to play that.

[00:41:15] But for now, when I'm facing really decent opponents, I'm getting punished too much for my attacking might of style playing.

[00:41:27] You know what I mean?

[00:41:30] So I'm just hoping that they will evolve somehow those roles in the future.

[00:41:36] Okay?

[00:41:37] Yeah.

[00:41:38] No, I think we agree.

[00:41:39] Yeah.

[00:41:40] But I guess it's strange.

[00:41:41] It's very strange, guys.

[00:41:42] Maybe you're the first time listener of the show, but we don't usually agree.

[00:41:47] No.

[00:41:47] It's the first time in four years we agreed on something.

[00:41:50] Oh, well, we did agree on the boat trip.

[00:41:53] That was a good idea.

[00:41:54] But that's a different story for a different day.

[00:41:57] Hey, Arjun.

[00:41:58] We got some questions sent in.

[00:41:59] Exactly.

[00:42:00] I was going to.

[00:42:01] Go ahead.

[00:42:02] Yngwie asks, do you guys think that many users that are struggling are trying to find faults with the game before looking at what they do themselves in game?

[00:42:12] Well, Yngwie, in my opinion, those faults in the game are easier to spot for every person than your own faults.

[00:42:20] It's going to be always like that.

[00:42:22] It doesn't matter if you want to admit or not.

[00:42:26] It's easier to spot something and blame that something is wrong in the game than admit that you made a mistake in specific situations.

[00:42:37] It's the same thing in real life, right?

[00:42:39] We usually, like, for example, my wife, she never agrees that she made a mistake, you know?

[00:42:45] I really thought you were going to come with me here.

[00:42:51] But, Yngwie, this is a, I will answer with a question to you.

[00:42:57] And you can ask our listeners, our footies, how many of you guys really rewatch your game?

[00:43:04] How many, how much time you really spend on improving?

[00:43:08] Because I have great examples of my middle son.

[00:43:12] He's, like, getting frustrated playing EFC.

[00:43:15] You know, your family's not going to talk about, talk to you anymore.

[00:43:18] It's a Polish show, so.

[00:43:20] It's my show.

[00:43:21] Listen, and I'm like, okay, how much time you spend to learn that skill move, precision shooting, whatever, whatever, you know, mechanic of the game?

[00:43:31] Even the basics.

[00:43:32] You know, every time when I just come to your room and see you playing, you're just playing competitive game modes.

[00:43:40] So how you want to improve if you're not doing anything for your own game?

[00:43:46] I mean, even those best pro players, they go to the practice arena and they start from there.

[00:43:55] Some pro players do have some good coaching software, just saying.

[00:43:58] Yeah, they are doing for them.

[00:44:00] Yeah.

[00:44:01] Like us.

[00:44:02] Yeah.

[00:44:04] But you know, John, where I'm going with this.

[00:44:06] No, I agree.

[00:44:07] I mean.

[00:44:07] Just the question, how many of you guys, how you want to spot your faults if you're not taking any time of just analyzing your own game?

[00:44:16] And by the way, if you don't have a time, we are here for that analysis.

[00:44:21] Yeah, but I mean, I do agree.

[00:44:23] Like I've got an example out of our sim racing part, right?

[00:44:29] So I know our co-host James is also in the chat listening to us, but he's way faster than I am because he's most of all, I think he's far better than breaking.

[00:44:41] And I am.

[00:44:42] That sounds weird, but if you slow down, that's where you lose or win most of the time.

[00:44:45] And he's a better breaker than I do.

[00:44:47] So he wins most there.

[00:44:49] And I am practicing, practicing, practicing, but I keep making the same mistakes, although it doesn't actually feel like a mistake because I don't spin off.

[00:44:57] It doesn't feel like a mistake, but I'm not getting any faster.

[00:45:00] So James sometimes tunes in while I'm playing, while I'm driving.

[00:45:05] And he just says, okay, a little bit more throttle here, a little bit more on the brakes there.

[00:45:09] Break five meters later.

[00:45:10] Thank you.

[00:45:10] He does three laps with me like this.

[00:45:12] And I'm like, oh, half a second faster.

[00:45:14] And it doesn't feel like it did many things differently.

[00:45:17] Okay, I can do this.

[00:45:20] It tells me where I have to look.

[00:45:21] So look at your telemetry, see how your braking goes, right?

[00:45:24] Look at the brake line.

[00:45:25] Oh, I put that brake line on my screen while I'm driving.

[00:45:28] And now I can actually get faster on my own because I know where to look.

[00:45:33] Sometimes it's just as simple as just taking your time not to do the same lap, same thing in FIFA.

[00:45:40] Sometimes just take a set step back, watch something back.

[00:45:43] Like, oh, how could I have done this?

[00:45:45] Like when we started the show with, what could I have done differently?

[00:45:48] Or ask someone, what could I have done differently?

[00:45:51] Try it next match.

[00:45:52] I'm like, oh, that wasn't too hard, honestly.

[00:45:55] And we're never expecting anyone to make silly skill moves or ingenious tactics, right?

[00:46:00] It's just the simple things that work the best.

[00:46:03] John, I want to add one thing, as you said about the practice.

[00:46:07] Whenever even guys, if it's boring for you to play offline game modes and you want to play only with other people,

[00:46:15] don't be afraid to experiment and learn in arrivals.

[00:46:19] Why you care about losing the game if you are going there in a specific reason to learn something new?

[00:46:27] It's okay to learn in arrivals.

[00:46:30] If you reach some, let's say, checkpoint, right?

[00:46:32] In the divisions, arrivals.

[00:46:35] You cannot go lower.

[00:46:36] Just go ahead, practice four or five games.

[00:46:39] One thing.

[00:46:40] Even if you lose all those games, you will benefit more than just going and playing only for wins.

[00:46:48] Because the results might be the same.

[00:46:50] You still may lose, but you haven't learned anything.

[00:46:53] True.

[00:46:53] Good point.

[00:46:55] Homer, or as I like to call him these days, Wong.

[00:46:59] Why do I call him Wong?

[00:47:00] Because that's the player he used in his rush when he played.

[00:47:04] He scored goals with a, I think, 48 rated Wong player.

[00:47:09] So he's now called Wong.

[00:47:10] When you're dominant and passing around the opponent's box, but that bit of space needed to get through the defense just doesn't come.

[00:47:17] Or is it forcing a ball that's going to turn over control?

[00:47:20] What's the next best step?

[00:47:22] Is it to go back to the defense or even goalkeeper and try to force them out?

[00:47:26] Is it to keep calm and wait for it?

[00:47:28] Or is there a pass or skill move I am lacking?

[00:47:31] All right, Homer.

[00:47:32] What I do, and I'm not saying it's the best thing to do.

[00:47:36] If I go to any buildup using my wings, then recycling through the middle, finding the strikers, that's basically, let's say, the easiest way to score in this game.

[00:47:48] Right?

[00:47:48] You go to the wing, trying to recycle through the middle, find your strikers who are making the runs.

[00:47:54] And sometimes those options are not available.

[00:47:57] So what I do is I just switch sides.

[00:47:59] And I'm not saying just cross from one right side to left side.

[00:48:03] No.

[00:48:03] I'm just going to another side through passes using my midfielders.

[00:48:09] Because you have to understand that the congestion comes with the AI defending when they move to one side.

[00:48:16] Every time the second side is open.

[00:48:19] They're moving, like all defenders are moving the same way to the one side.

[00:48:23] So the second side will be open.

[00:48:25] The other side of the pitch will be open.

[00:48:28] So those openings you will find in those little, like, seconds of time when they are moving from one side to another.

[00:48:37] Those defenders.

[00:48:38] So I'm switching sides.

[00:48:40] If it's not working, I'm switching one more time and then trying to find those strikers.

[00:48:45] Okay?

[00:48:45] You ask if you go to, if the price is high enough, why not?

[00:48:50] Go to your goalkeeper.

[00:48:51] How many in real life, we tend to compare to the real life football, right?

[00:48:59] How many real teams going to the goalkeeper to recycle the ball?

[00:49:06] Basically 99,9%.

[00:49:08] They're all using goalkeepers right now to recycle the ball, right?

[00:49:12] The building from the goalie, actually.

[00:49:14] They're starting new attack.

[00:49:16] Look at Liverpool now.

[00:49:16] I mean, slot builders will team around the fact that they can't play long balls.

[00:49:22] Just pass back to your goalkeeper, start again.

[00:49:24] And regarding the question about the skill moves or whatever, Homer, believe me, I suck at skills.

[00:49:34] He does.

[00:49:34] Maybe I have two to, my fingers are not working properly or whatever.

[00:49:39] Whatever, I try to do some skill moves.

[00:49:41] I mean, if I create something with a skill move, it's mostly because I did something unpredictable and it didn't have intention for it.

[00:49:51] You know what I was trying, let's say, make a ball roll and I did something totally different.

[00:49:56] But what I'm trying to say, I don't use skill moves as much.

[00:50:00] Maybe those basic ones, okay?

[00:50:02] No.

[00:50:02] But I tend to build up with the passing and manual movements of the players and stuff.

[00:50:08] So my suggestion is just go to other side, come back, change again to the right side, go to the left side.

[00:50:17] And as I'm saying, the crossing is not perfect because we don't have great passing stats players yet.

[00:50:26] But so those crossings are not the best to do it, to switch sides like in previous years.

[00:50:32] So what I tend to do is just quick passing for using my midfielders who should be available at least for that possibility to change the sides.

[00:50:41] What do you think, John?

[00:50:43] No, I agree.

[00:50:46] If you go left, right, especially when you go to the left side, people will go, the defense will shift to that side.

[00:50:52] You go back to the other side and go from left to right.

[00:50:56] They will sometimes make a mistake and then suddenly have a chance.

[00:51:00] And against those players that are that packed, you can probably just pause.

[00:51:04] Like you only need one goal to break everything open after that because they don't know what to do when they have to attack and they can't counter.

[00:51:12] So it's just to get, be a little bit patient, go from left to right, like you said.

[00:51:16] Recycle the ball safely, not over the ground, not in the air because you will lose the ball for counter.

[00:51:23] Be over the ground and you'll get space.

[00:51:25] Next time I'll have that experience from me, I'll try to make a video, put that on the Patreon page as well.

[00:51:30] And Homer, my friend, and other footage, one more thing.

[00:51:34] If you're playing against players who tend to use, let's say, five back and only to defend and count on counters,

[00:51:41] players, they're just waiting for your impatience.

[00:51:43] They're just waiting for it.

[00:51:45] They're just waiting.

[00:51:46] They're keeping the defensive structure and they're waiting for your mistake.

[00:51:51] So don't be that guy who's going to force the play.

[00:51:54] Because what I tend to do also when I'm struggling to break the five back or any really good defender with a four back, for example,

[00:52:04] I tend to use more and more players in my buildup.

[00:52:07] You know, I'm bringing everybody like more bodies and making a mistake.

[00:52:12] I have one, two center backs and I'm like considering the goal, the game is over because I know how good defender he is.

[00:52:19] I couldn't score, you know, two, two, two, one goal.

[00:52:23] So I probably will not score two.

[00:52:25] Yes.

[00:52:25] So just be more patient with it.

[00:52:28] Be more like precise with your passing decisions.

[00:52:34] Because they're only counting on that, on your mistakes.

[00:52:37] I agree.

[00:52:37] I hope that helps and else we'll try to make a little bit video one next time we experience it.

[00:52:41] I think that helps as well.

[00:52:43] Of course.

[00:52:43] But just think about if I have four back, those four are, let's used to say they are 50 white.

[00:52:49] Just putting on a number.

[00:52:50] It doesn't have numbers anymore, but let's say they're on width 50.

[00:52:53] That means they can't be more than this amount apart.

[00:52:57] This amount of means apart.

[00:52:58] So if you shift everything to the left side of the pitch, those four players will move with the same space between them to that side of the pitch, opening on the other side.

[00:53:07] And by the transition going left and right, that back line will sometimes split apart a little bit.

[00:53:13] Exactly.

[00:53:13] Or they will select the player.

[00:53:13] This is the moment that you should also look for.

[00:53:15] And then you go forward when you take it.

[00:53:16] Those transition time, you have to like just spot those gaps that are opening.

[00:53:22] Yeah.

[00:53:23] But we'll hopefully decide.

[00:53:24] It comes with one thing, John.

[00:53:25] I just want to add one thing.

[00:53:27] That you cannot look only to the ball, at the ball.

[00:53:31] You have to look outside the ball when you're passing.

[00:53:34] I think we have to make a whole different show on that.

[00:53:37] I was even thinking about maybe I wanted to install an eye tracker to show people where I'm actually looking.

[00:53:42] You have to follow.

[00:53:43] Yeah.

[00:53:44] You have to look in front of you or behind you and not at your player.

[00:53:48] And that's why we also recommend different cameras and stuff.

[00:53:50] Exactly.

[00:53:51] You will lose those spots.

[00:53:52] You will lose those spots.

[00:54:05] So, I think, first of all, you could have asked us.

[00:54:07] And we could send a video ourselves.

[00:54:09] But besides that, what do you think?

[00:54:11] Does EA do a good enough job of explaining this game?

[00:54:14] Well, to be honest, I never took any trainer games.

[00:54:18] I never realized that EA will teach me the game.

[00:54:24] Like, honestly, if I want to learn something and I noticed that other player was doing it,

[00:54:30] I was just searching or asking on our Discord, you, for example, how to make specific MOOCs or whatever,

[00:54:38] some specific skills, or looking for in YouTube.

[00:54:42] The thing is, there are so many options that even if I see that on a menu on EAFC,

[00:54:50] I will not know how to use it.

[00:54:53] You know what I mean?

[00:54:54] Specific button, like combinations or whatever.

[00:54:57] I know there is, like, specific dribbling instructions.

[00:54:59] But if I don't see it in real life or, like, with my own eyes, I don't know when and how to use it.

[00:55:06] So, if that helps you, I don't think they're doing a great job of teaching us.

[00:55:16] But all those hardcore players, like we are, let's say, because we are actually hardcore players.

[00:55:22] Because, guys, honestly, when I was casual, I didn't care about any other dribbling stuff.

[00:55:27] I was just using left stick, pass shoot.

[00:55:30] You know what I mean?

[00:55:31] So, I didn't care about new things.

[00:55:33] But for those who are grinding the ultimate team, I think you still need to go to other sources to find out how those specific things work.

[00:55:44] Yeah, I would recommend trying those.

[00:55:47] I always forget how they're called, so I'm going to screw this up.

[00:55:51] Is it called, it's not called milestones.

[00:55:54] What's the mode called?

[00:55:55] Moments.

[00:55:55] Moments, it's called.

[00:55:57] Because in moments, they actually explain what they want you to do.

[00:56:01] And that actually teaches some combinations, how you have to tackle.

[00:56:06] Because, for example, in moments, it actually says, hey, tackle the ball for this one objective.

[00:56:11] Tackle the ball, right?

[00:56:12] And people slide.

[00:56:14] But the actual tackle is hold on one and the tackle button and not slide.

[00:56:19] And it shows the difference between it in the actual tutorial there.

[00:56:23] But no one is reading it.

[00:56:24] They're just clicking it through.

[00:56:25] And they send those messages, hey, how can we do this tackle challenge?

[00:56:28] Like, it's literally in the explanation.

[00:56:31] And I think the moments mode, I do it first week just to see if I miss something and get those couple of packs.

[00:56:38] Never touch it afterwards.

[00:56:39] But it is a very good way of actually teaching the game, I think, the basics of the game.

[00:56:46] But nobody says that and EA doesn't actually advertise it as a good tutorial way.

[00:56:50] So I think going through those moments.

[00:56:52] It's still basic things.

[00:56:54] Yeah, but still, even the basic things.

[00:56:56] We know, mate, that basic things aren't that common knowledge.

[00:56:59] Yeah, those are the most important ones.

[00:57:01] Exactly.

[00:57:01] So how to do a driven pass, how to do a good tackle, how to do a hard tackle.

[00:57:08] It's just not teached.

[00:57:09] And once we start teaching people, I'm like, oh, I didn't know that.

[00:57:12] Well, it's literally also in the game, but they never tell you.

[00:57:15] So, but it's also because when you start the game, they ask you your level.

[00:57:19] And the trainer actually does help with some of these as well.

[00:57:21] But nobody turns the trainer on because they think they already know the game.

[00:57:25] So I think it's also a little bit of we hurt ourselves doing that.

[00:57:29] But hey, you can always ask here.

[00:57:31] You can always ask us.

[00:57:32] Of course.

[00:57:33] We're always willing to help.

[00:57:34] But I do think that EA does a pretty decent job, honestly, these days of teaching it.

[00:57:39] If you're open to be teached, buy it.

[00:57:42] As you said, advertising where to find all those hidden explanations how to play this game.

[00:57:48] Yes.

[00:57:50] I agree.

[00:57:51] That's hard.

[00:57:51] And we are too lazy, actually, to find them ourselves.

[00:57:55] Sometimes.

[00:57:56] But we also have the knowledge, which makes it a little bit hard.

[00:57:57] We just want to open the game straight and jump into the competitive mode and just play.

[00:58:02] Definitely.

[00:58:02] But if you have any questions about defending in general, Nick, just ask us and we'll be able to help with that as well.

[00:58:09] Arjun, do you have anything to add, my friend?

[00:58:10] It's been a whopping 59 minutes or 60 minutes as I speak.

[00:58:13] Oh, that's cool.

[00:58:14] I think that's enough.

[00:58:15] We cover some new topics.

[00:58:18] For those who are waiting for something new from me to release.

[00:58:25] I'm working.

[00:58:28] I'm working.

[00:58:29] Oh, no.

[00:58:29] How dare you?

[00:58:30] I have a daily job.

[00:58:31] No, I'm just kidding now.

[00:58:34] It's coming.

[00:58:35] It's coming.

[00:58:36] As I said, those videos are not going to be on a daily or weekly basis because there is no point of showing something that you can find everywhere, basically.

[00:58:47] Whenever I come up with something new or something that you haven't seen yet, then it will be posted.

[00:58:55] No, I agree.

[00:58:56] We'll see it appear, mate.

[00:58:57] We'll see it appear.

[00:58:59] Arjun, we'll be back in a week or two.

[00:59:02] I hope Nate can join us.

[00:59:03] Well done.

[00:59:04] We'll see.

[00:59:04] Any questions, just reach out to Arjun or myself or Nate.

[00:59:07] You can tag if you are a Discord member, which you are because you're listening to this,

[00:59:12] but at coach, if you do an at coach, every single coach in the food coaching team will get a notification and they can respond on your questions.

[00:59:19] So at coach on the Discord or just reply anywhere here.

[00:59:23] Or DM us, always willing to help.

[00:59:26] Arjun, thank you very much.

[00:59:28] There's one thing left to do.

[00:59:30] That is to drop it.

[00:59:33] Drop it.