Any advice on teams parking the bus?

[Grøtflæsk]

Hey! Just started playing some days ago, and really like the game. Got out of the amateur league fairly easily, but struggling in the third division. Or shall I say, I play a lot of boring 0-0 matches. The opponent, whoever they are, seem to constantly park the bus, with no less than five defenders around the box. I find I barely get any space to move into when trying to attack, I'm always just left trying to shoot from outside the box, as my rainbow feint guys never seem good enough to get past their man and gain that extra action.

I always try to execute moves that will give me an extra action, but often I have spent 1 or 2 moves just trying to recuperate the ball from the opponent, and I'm left either trying to retain the ball (which I very rarely manage to do) or trying to pull of some desperate skill to gain an extra move or shoot from somewhere around the box that will almost always fail, and the loop goes on like that.

I also struggle with kickoffs, not quite sure what to do with them. I usually try to retain the ball in some way as trying to attack directly against the wall of defenders is usually pointless. I've been wanting to get an AM for a while to use that draw out a player trick, but haven't found any, and not sure how to train one. I also always try to either cross for a header (which worked often in the amateur league) or do the cut in with a winger (which I've never been able to pull off, as there is always at least one sweeper or defender inside the box defending). I've tried out various formations (the opponents seem to only use a variation of the parking the bus one, tbh), but to no avail, why can't you set up players in all the tiles on pitch?

Anyways, I'm ranting. Any tips on how to break down teams parking the bus?

[DontTreadOnMe]

Forwards with Rainbow Feint, high accuracy and control will get you through a packed defence, but they will take a big fatigue hit in doing so. AMs with RF can also do a job but they lack mobility. You'd have to employ them as a forward, right up against the opposition defensive line, but they do have a nice shooting bonus. They would also have the same fatigue issue. WFs with that break in thing they do are an option. They need high control and accuracy. I prefer to give them RF as they will have to get past at least one defender if the opposition are using a cage defence, but again it takes a toll on their fatigue level.

Depending on how active those forwards/AMs have been during a match, they will definitely have to be subbed, and in worse case scenarios, at half time!

One option I've found effective is to position a high control FW inside the opposition defensive lines - he needs an empty tile to move into - then pass it to him using a high-pass AM - they also get a passing bonus as well as the shooting one - even on your last move. In the latter scenario, the FW will be challenged by defenders and the GK during their own move cycle, drawing a penalty on many occasions. This tactic will also work if your WF finds himself in front of the keeper.

[Robin Noah]

Hi!

To be honest, I am always parking the bus in my formation. I put 6 D, 2 M, and 2 F, almost all the time.

About your concern, for how to break the opponents' defense of parking the bus, in before, I also didn't know how to break 5 or 6 defenders in their penalty areas. However, in my later experiences, I figured out how to do it, and almost always worked.

I need at least one MF, CM or DF with Long Pass skill (the higher talents and levels, the better) in the CM position (in the one grid behind the center line), and I would say at least one FW with Canon Shot or Rainbow skill is needed. And a DM with Tackle skill is highly recommended.

For the MF and DF with Long Pass skill, because they can have two skills, so if they have the other skill for Tackle skill, it would be perfect.

Next, I would explain my tactics with all the things above. It would be pretty difficult to explain.

Let's say you start the game with you have the first turn. You may put your MF (or CM, DF. I will say MF later) in the center line and right next to the sideline (for example, in a LM position). Now, your MF has the ball, and you have 3 steps. In your concern, maybe this time the opponent is putting 6 defenders in the penalty area. You may put one of your FW in the LF area before you start the game, and let the first step be letting your MF normally pass the ball to your FW in LF position.

When this FW gets the ball, his job is to make himself into the opponent's penalty area. Mostly he will lose the ball, because that's what we want. This is, if in the three grids of penalty, there are CDs, he will automatically tackle your FW, or if there is a DF, SW, or even LD, RD, you need to let your FW directly break through the defender in their penalty, and "try to lose the ball". The thing is, try to let your FW stay in the opponent's penalty when the turn is over.

Then it is the opponent's turn. Whatever he does, you pretty much need to hope after his turn your DM or MF would get the ball, or, maybe the ball is near your DM or MF, and he can use Tackle skill to save one more step in the next turn.

Lastly is that if your MF has good Long Pass skill, it would not be hard to send the ball into your FW in the opponent's penalty. This FW has Canon Shot or Rainbow, or even the precise shot that can end up with your goal.

I cannot explain very well, as there are more details. I hope it can help you a bit, and welcome to reply.

[View The Phenom]

Easiest solution is to dribble into a defender, it's guaranteed to displace them and take the spot. If it's a line of defenders in front of the box, just that one action can disrupt the entire tactic.

For more advanced solutions, you can use Classes to take advantage of their greater numbers. A CF who dribbles into a spot will automatically move forward, which means he'll be in prime position to receive the ball and attack. FWs & MFs can simply run past defensive lines without an issue, RFs & LFs can take advantage and Break-In to take space.
AMs can use False Kick to move defenders out of position, allowing someone else to take their place.

Ultimately, it's pretty simple to exploit once you've become familiar with the different options.

[That Fish Guy]

Break in was my favorite strategy, they seldom put defenders on the corners

[Hoplite39]

I have been posting videos of my beta testing campaign for FTG World. From season 3 I manage an Amateur team which will win the title at the end of season 4. In season 5, I take a newly promoted team in L3 to 4th in the league. Season 3 starts at the link below:
https://studio.youtube.com/video/GBPboEE6__k/edit



In seasons 1 and 2 I win all trophies with a strong Premier te against teams with tough defences.

Some of the features are different in the beta, but the player positions and base tactics needed to break down defences are the same. Please have a look if you are interested.

[Grøtflæsk]

Thanks a lot for all the tips, guys. I'll check those vids out, Hoplite!

[Kitsunin]

Nobody has mentioned Crosses yet either. That's also a really effective tactic that can only really be stopped by wing defenders on both sides AND a Sweeper. Universal Midfielders, Wing Midfielders, Attacking Midfielders, and Wide Forwards are all potentially effective at sending a cross.

Until First League just a regular CF has reasonable odds. In First League and up you should be able to use a CF or FW with trained Head Play.

[jsteninger]

During the course of the match you will pull players out of position by dribbling into players even if you lose the ball, and yes, crossing can be deadly if you're not facing a sweeper.