About CF + head play

[twitch.tv/jeremdelsol]

I'm at the point in second league when I encounter GK with 75+ ctrl stat, with the bonus of GK it goes for 110+ value in game, and that is without playing out skill... Yet I'm only in second league, but it makes me feel CF + head play will become situational in the current league and obsolete in the next one.
I never played higher than second league, any experienced players in higher leagues can confirm that ?
And if it's the case, as for some specialised class, it might need some love in the balancing.

[Kolakhan]

Whatever change they made most recently basically made heading obsolete for me. I used to work hard to try and get a decent CF who can head now it has disappeared from my game. I work to develop othert things that are more useful.

[19821103]

Don't be too pessimistic. Even in the First League there are teams with a keeper having control <50. Just make sure that you are prepared for everything (header, cannon shot, rainbow feint, olympic goal) and don't be a one-trick-pony.

[yoman38]

A keeper can't be perfect, even with good control + def + reaction + against cannon shot (the best keeper possible imo), you can still score from corner kicks.

I'm pretty sure you'll face by control keeper don't be afraid, now that you're a bit richer buy other players with other skills

[twitch.tv/jeremdelsol]

Yep I figured it would be possibly that way too, that's why the situational adjective. I didn't checked the first league teams, that's why I was a bit afraid, since from amateur league, each league, and it's normal, get the overall stats of teams higher, that's why I supposed CF + head play would possibly get obsolete, since it has a limit of 125.
But you gave me hope, and meanwhile I already put a youngster going for CF header so in a way I still thought it would be usefull. :p

[twitch.tv/jeremdelsol]

Ok, being in premier league and having to play against different defense setup, I know what bugs me overall with head play in offense... It is the last skill option you should think of as a scoring option.
Here is why :
While it can be a decent option, it is still a single roll vs one or many defenders ( GK included ), in a way it can be compared to an accuracy single roll, but then, it is a skill, you spent long time to grow it. I just lost a game because I chose this as my main offense option, thinking this was the easiest way. I was wrong, and this very last game made me have this insight about it.
So even in a game with a low ctrl GK and close to no head play def, you should still prefer a cannon shooter, olympic kick or rainbow feint scorer if the GK is not immune to those and the def allow good opportunity to use them. Because even on a 10 vs 10 base, having 3 attempt will always be better than a single attempt on the head roll ( and then include the 10% auto fail, which is a neat idea, but sink the head play potential even more ).

Head play is still my favourite way to score, because it's so much fun and the way it works is great... But it became the way I use the less... Overall I think a CF header will be superior to mostly any other lvl 1 offense skill, then even with lvl 2 and way behind when lvl 3 are here.

In a way it's the same as nutmeg for accuracy ( but more versatile because you could put it on a passer too ), but then nutmeg has other functions that make him more particularly usefull in some formations, plus it has in itself a movement role etc... I think I'm even ending using nutmeg more often than headplay ( even if I still use it very rarely, it's hard to have a good opponent def setup to use it correctly )

Head play is then a very good skill to begin a campaign with, but soon enough it will mostly be a complementary way to score on already won games.

[DeWitt]

But it has one advantage which other skills have not: It is usable from kickoff. No other skill is able to net you a goal in first round after kickoff.

Then there are situations where you simply cannot setup your RF or cannon guys as easily as a header.

/edit: Also it is not influenced by RD/LD talent afaik.

[twitch.tv/jeremdelsol]

You made some interesting points. I remember some games where I did a last turn substition to put cross passer + header in use for a last try to save or win a game.

[CAJUN]

LF/RF can be used from kickoff.

I play in the top league and use CF when the opposing GK can stop the RF and Cannon shot or has a low control. It does seem hard to score compared to other options. It helps to cross from either the sideline or the spot closer to center so that your CF is attacking the ball on the first available square going across goal. Like crossing right by the SW and letting the CF attack down the center of the goal so you bypass the SW.