Beating Chelsea, FM 2015

[saiffarrag]

So yes, I haven't updated to FM 2016 I didn't bother and said I'd just wait until FM 2017. But thats not my problem, my problem is Chelsea FC. I began managing Man Utd and I'm doing well, finished 3rd in my first season behind City and Chelsea, and I'm in my second season, doing well in the UCL and in the League and FA Cup, but I've beaten every team in the BPL, but Chelsea, the past results have been 3-0, 3-0, 0-0 and a humiliating 7-1 while trying new tactics and having an injury ridden month. And honestly I've tried at least a new tactic almost every game, the tactic that got me the 0-0 draw was at home, and honestly De Gea was the only reason we didnt lose, so i changed it up and the 7-1 happened. I try to play quick counter attacking football against chelsea with a defensive 4-3-3 and I've tried 3-5-2 with a reserved attacking mentality. I've done some great transactions bringing great players like Jackson Martinez in, who has 30 goals in 27 games this season, Eugene Konoplyanka who is now being tipped for Golden Ball for his performances, and other weak positions strengthened. So long story still kinda long (sorry), I simply can't beat chelsea, their football is so rapid its unstoppable and I mean, they won the treble last season, literally no one could stop them, but I won't settle for that, I need to beat them, Any tactical suggestions? Transfers I should make? New Formations? New instructions? Anything is appreciated. I'm still a bit of a novice, I don't play as much as I'd like to because of school and so on, so I'm not a pro at the game, I just use my football knowledge and try to apply it to the game, and it works for everyone but chelsea.... Thanks

[Kuolemanlaakso]

I find the best way to beat teams like this is just attack them. You're overthinking it. Just attack attack attack. If they score 3, you will score 4. It's a stupid way to go for every game but honestly i've noticed in FM when you get a bogey side you overthink and try to overdefend. Do the opposite, I bet you win!

[saiffarrag]

Thanks very much, I hadn't really thought of the simpler tactics! I'll try a much more attacking approach when we clash in the FA Cup and see how it goes. I appreciate it!

[Kuolemanlaakso]

Not saying it'll work but it's what I try when i'm getting frustrated :)

[saiffarrag]

Well, haven't met chelsea yet, but I beat City 5-0, and PSG and Atletico 3-0 and 2-0 in the UCL, worked really well! And the quick, short passing I had my players doing worked really well with it, thanks man!

[Mikaelmorgansjodin]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=411427238&searchtext=goal+machine

[saiffarrag]

Thanks man, season's just finished so perfect time to put in a third tactic and try it out. Thanks for your input!

[richisdisturbed]

In my first season at United, I used a 4231, line up below, we won the domestic treble (Beating Spurs & City 9-1 & 8-0 both away & Chelsea 8-2 at home);

play short passing, play ball into box, retain possesion, play into space, clear ball to flanks, run at opponents, low crosses, hit early crosses, play wider, push higher up, higher tempo, get stuck in, close down more

GK - David De Gea --- (Unbeatable,Barca wanted him, & he asked to leave, but I refused & he signed a new contract second season)

LB (Automatic/ Full Back) - Luke Shaw --- (Amazing, wanted Ricardo Rodriguez, but didn't need him)
CB - Chris Smalling --- (Played every single League game & average rating was 8.52)
CB - Eder Alvarez Balanta --- (Paid £3-5mil, did really well first season, but sloped off second season & was replaced by Varane)
RB (Automatic/ Full Back) - Rafael --- (Did amazing for me but replaced him second season for a younger model)

RCM (Support/ Deep Lying Playmaker) - Marco Verratti --- (Paid £18mil first week of the save, bargain, my team didn't play when he didn't feature, the heartbeat)
LCM (Defend/ Ball Winning Midfielder) - William Carvalho --- (Paid less than £10mil if I remember right, great defensive force, but doesn't favour CM & had about 6 red cards while he was converting)

CAM (Attack/ Treriquista) - I alternated between Rooney/ Di Maria/ Mata while looking for buyers for all 3 --- (Mata & Di Maria were incredible, consistently providing goals, both scored 20+ each. Rooney was okay, nothing special, but I always regretted not picking one of the other 2 players, I could never sell him, & had to sell him for nothing! lol I ended up keeping Mata/ Di Maria)

LW (Attack/ Inside Forward) - Memphis Depay --- (Paid £21mil, best season I have seen a player have on FM in recent times, scored nearly 70 goals overall, & 43 in the Prem! He did play upfront for about 10 games, but majority from LW, won Golden Boy)
RW (Attack/ Inside Forward) - Adnan Janazuj --- (Incredible, usually would've been the star, but Memphis kept outshining him. Everything Janazuj did, & tha was a lot, Memphis just did it better)

ST (Attack/ Complete Striker) - Richario Zivkovic --- (Paid about 9mil, did really well, scored 20+ goals in the Prem alone, & scored 7 in one match in the cup against Wolves in a 12-0 romp!)


I would've uploaded the tactics, but I deleted them accidently while sorting through my saves! :( Do try out the tactics/ formation & let me know how it works out for you.

What's your current first 11 atm?

[saiffarrag]

Thanks for the input. My tactics currently are De Gea as my sweeper keeper, Rafael as my Complete right back, Pepe and Phil Jones, CB, Luke Shaw,LB, McCarthy Anchor man, Ander herrera, deep lying playmaker, Konoplyanka, LW, Di Maria, RW, Mata as Treq, and Jackson Martinez, Advanced forward. I'm surprised you got Memphis, everytime I go in for him, PSV always demand at least 40 million, and I'm not willing to pay that, especially since I sniped Konoplyanka for 2.7mil from Dnipro 7 months from the end of his contract. I play possessive football and with faster,wider passing. I play a kind of 4-1-1-3-1, with the anchor man, McCarthy/Blind, sometimes I use them as regular DMs or Registas. I use the low cross tactic as well as I think it works very well for Jackson. I play a really high pressing game, even my forwards have close down much more, it works well against everyone, but chelsea are just ridiculous...

[richisdisturbed]

I always put my transfer bids in on the first day of the transfer window. I always have my targets preset & won't advance until every one has had a bid placed.

For some reason, on the first season, it seems you can get players cheaper than normal doing this. I've tried signing Veratti & Memphis in the Jan window on different saves & had no chance unless I was willing to spend big! I 100% advise you sign Memphis though, at any cost. Simply incredible!

As for your team, starting with the back, I wouldn't trust Pepe. No chance! lol Have you looked into any other CBs? Never played with McCarthy, but Blind is a consistent enough choice though, always does well when I use him. I think Janazuj could definetly fit into your team, you should give him a 10 game stint, see how he does, fits in well as he can play in any of the 3 attacking midfield positions. Are you using your wide men as inside forwards, or actual wingers?

Seems a quite rounded team overall though, Maybe just move McCarthy ito a more central role with Herrara but have him stay back. He'll still win you the ball loads & break up many opposition moves but gives a bit more freedom to Herrera to play with & release your attacking 4.

[saiffarrag]

Yeah, I hear you. I recently signed Shkodran Mustafi and he took a little while to settle and now is performing greatly. Pepe does have a bit of a yellow card streak, but hasnt been sent off or given away a penatly yet. I mostly signed him because I felt like the defence was lacking experience and he was available for only 3 million. McCarthy is great, really strong DM, great passing too. Januzaj plays fairly regularly, he comes in ab out every other game since h can play across the 3, LM, CAM, RM, so he plays quite a bit. I'll certainly look into getting Memphis, they ask for 50million +, but I'll see what I can do to get him. I'll look to give Herrera a bit more freedom too. Right now I've got Youri Tielemans, got him for about 12mil, he spent the first season loaned back to anderlecht, and now that he's back I try to feature him as much as I can, he plays well but still has work to do, he's really a big part of my future plans in CM. I also got Kenedy for only 3 mil.

[saiffarrag]

I'm surprised you still have Chris Smalling though, after two years he had been performing so badly that I just couldnt be asked to play him infront of Jones and Evans, who kept about 15 clean sheets in the BPL, and when I did manage to play Smalling, he would give away penalties and make mistakes, just like before.

I tried playing him regularly, but by half time I'd have to take him off because he'd be on a yellow or would be making mistakes or would have leaked goals, eventually sold him for about 12mil. And as of today I wont the UCL against Bayern in the final, my starting line up was: De Gea, Rafael, Pepe, Jones, Shaw, McCarthy, Hererra, Di Maria, Mata, Nani (Konoplyanka injured) and Jackson Martinez. We won 1-0, Jackson Martinez with the goal shortly after HT. Nani performs really well when I call on him, but if Memphis is really so good, then I can look to offload Nani for him.

[Neo]

I agree, Chelsea is the most difficult opponent to Utd in 15. I jot beaten 3-0 at OT the first time when I used 3-5-2. The lesson learnt was 2 overlapping wingers can make one WB cry. So I prepared for the tough second game which was a CL game against Chelsea. I scouted a series of Chelsea game and found where they leave gaps to exploit and where to neutralize them. Hazard & Costa was my nemesis in the first game. No matter what I did , they were unstoppable. So I found the source and made sure Oscar and Fab see no balls :P. Then came the changes. Chelsea moved to a box to box direct approach. I knew this from my scouting lessons and was prepared with subs just in case. So the basic Idea is that Chelsea are so flexible in attacking approach, so be prepared for that. While I was effective in controlling the defensive aspect. I made sure that I would also scrap a goal. Freeckicks were most effective opportunities for me against them. Somehow managed one each game. And to get some attacking fund, the gaps I found were use of false nine and supportive AM, which made their DM suffer, while exploiting any nervous gaps they leave due to their DM by using intelligent and paecy Raumeteders.

Summary, 4231 with a flexible semi high defense and non overlapping fullbacks supported by Ballwinning DCM and supportive DLP. In the attack 3 roaming midfielders in 1 AMC (support) and 2 Raumeteders and a menacing false nine. Team was used for a flexible counterattack.

PS, the false nine is most critical unit for a win against Jose's 451 murder weapon.

The flexible defense was a good marking and pacey defender and an aggresive header. This combo makes the defense flexible. Also use a decent header like jones in FB position. A short fullback can be targetted by set pieces.