Subject: [NT] vs Nederland

The defense was a big mishap, it really looked at times like we were playing with just 7 guys on the field, because the defenders were basically standing on the goal line doing nothing. But hey live and learn I'm sure they'll be better suited next match :)

What should be done is that new NT coaches should have a friendly or two before the WC.

I did half think of doing an exact copy of my own club one to be on the safe side as it generally works quite well! I think it must be more secondary intensive than I originally thought. Still, there is absolutely no reason not to qualify from this. India next week should prove not to be too difficult to beat with the class of players in the squad (but I'll be looking for as big win as possible to recover some GD).

I'll get the points from the contest sorted at some point over the next day or two.
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thats ok :) dont worry he will bring happines to USA

Play Rakes. Magical pace.

Just some philosophical comments. I havent watched the match yet.

6 defenders? I imagine that crippled our midfield posession. Did you really want to let Netherlands midfield of great passers have every chance to get the ball to Van der Eede?

You can say it was bad defensive play, but let's be honest. Defensive templates are passive. That doesn't necessarily lend itself to playing an NT match against a far superior team. As the 26 shots against demonstrates.

hell on my own third tier team I experimented with a true defensive formation, and found similar results. Even at that low level of play (we're talking teams with ratings of mid to upper 30's) the defensive emphasis typically hurts more then it helps.

Defensive templates can help against teams weak in the midfield. Thats about it, in my experience so far.

like playing a prevent defense in American football. The saying is 'all prevent does is prevent you from winning'.

Moreover, what are players with 'garbage' tech, if thats the case, doing on the team in the midfield?
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I wouldn't say that the formation had 6 defenders. It had 6 players with "DEF" orders, but not 6 defenders. The formation was a 4-4-2.

Doesn't matter what you would have done. You could never stop my Van den Eede scoring against wrestny Gibbage...

Uh, oh. Max the Wonderous is lurking in the US.

benmor, I realize that. I didn't say it had 6 true defenders in it. (edit: okay, I didn't mean to imply that. I realized it was likely 2 back mids with def orders :) )

Using a lineup with 6 players on defensive orders effectively kills your midfield presence. It doesn't matter how you dress up the formation.

Sure, they will pass quicker, but the better question is why does a national team actually have this perceived issue with tech?

that was my actual point. If it works on occasion for Gibby on his own team, then its probably because his team is better then the opponents.

Great players can make any tactic look good.
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I don't think that giving your mids DEF orders would, by definition, "kill your midfield presence." I don't see how that would be the case.

they're less likely to dribble or pass. decreases the amount of transition game. Doesn't kill it, but decreases it certainly

Lots of booting the ball out of bounds for sure.

I haven't watched the game, but did the midfielders do a lot of booting out of bounds? If they're not dribbling or passing (and I agree, a player with a DEF order isn't going to dribble in his own half), what were they doing? Burying the ball 6 feet under?

There's more to the equation then what a midfielder with DEF orders does offensively.

There's also what he doesn't do on the defensive side. Like play aggressively. Defense order players tend to stay back and defend. Tactically you can influence this to a degree, but a defense order is to play defense, not generate possession.

the biggest point I'd want to make here is why exactly a national team has a need to employ such a tactic as it did this weekend.
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I think the booting away part is much more for poorly skilled defenders (low PM).

I find even my normal defenders don't boot it away when i wouldn't want them to often. They can make great passes at time, even when there are opponents around...

So i don't think this is a huge issue.