Subject: Playmaking for Forwards?

Since the engine change at the start of the season, Playmaking has clearly become a more important skill in decision making. Having watched a fair ammount of games this season, in particular the national team games, i'm wondering whether the lack of playmaking for forwards is contributing to the lack of goals.
As an example, the match against Serbia. Matthews had numerous chances to shoot was far too slow to do so. Speed of decision making comes down to playmaking skill. What are other peoples views?

I think high PM forwards will decide to take a long shot on more often and like you said do it a bit quicker. You do notice alright that sometimes a forward can take an age to get going. From a pass they run on to though I haven't noticed a lag.

I think the main problem with Matthews is that at international level now he's a good striker but not a great striker :)

Hmm ... I actually don't really believe that ...
I have no idea what makes a striker shoot or not, but a striker in my team has formidable playmaker and he often has the same problem that he's not shooting at the right moment ...

But on the contrary so many managers think playmaking could have an influence, so maybe it's just the tragic form that makes my striker not shooting ...

i had a striker with 2 PM and i think it was a handicap. now he has 4 and it seems to be better. i think it effects decision making, such as run straight into the defender who tackles you easily (PM 2) or try to run sideways a bit so he has to eventually tackle you from side or even back if you are fast enough...

but i agree with Geg, it is not for sure as form also has a great influence and it is difficult to say which is which.

A quote from the German forum:

"gerade loop hat damals immer wieder nachgehakt, bis greg mal deutlich gesagt hat, dass PM nur nach der Pass-Entscheidung eine Rolle spielt, aber nicht nach der Entscheidung zu dribbeln oder zu schießen. Vielleicht hat er das Zitat noch.

demnach brauchen auch Stürmer PM lediglich in Situationen, in denen sie zu passen versuchen. Und mit der Entscheidung Passen-Dribbeln-Schießen ansich hat PM auch nichts zu tun."

Meaning:
loop asked greg several times about PM and what its influence is. Greg said clearly that PM is only important, when the player decided to pass or not. It got nothing to do with the decision "dribble or shot".
Therefore PM is only important in situations, when the striker wants to play a pass. It got nothing to do with the decision "pass, dribble or shot"

So imho (concerning that statement from mod-mauser) it doesn't influence his decision of running into the defender or running sideways.