Ok hotshots, you think you know so much about football, well, we’ll see about that.
I’m currently playing FIFA 2005 on my Xbox and I’ve got an epic Champions League matchup against Chelsea coming up. First, a bit of background.
EA’s FIFA games are just about the only games I’m play. They always look and play great. So, I playing in career mode. In this mode you are the manager (I’ve called myself Arsene Wenger) and you can’t just start by managing Arsenal or Real Madrid. You have to work your way up. So, in season one I managed Celtic. I won the SPL, going undefeated in the process. Since this is professional football I showed no allegiance to the club that gave me my first shot at managing and instead jumped to NAC Breda of the Dutch league (even after winning the SPL I couldn’t jump to a decent team). First season at Breda I win the Dutch Eredivisie. I made a great purchase during the January transfer window, bringing Kluivert back to Holland.
Now in my second year at Breda I’m in the Champions League (and on top domestically at the halfway point). During the CL Group phase I just grabbed the second spot on goal differential (Monaco won the group).
And now I face Chelsea. But not before I made my second big signing - Shaun Wright-Phillips from Coca-Cola Championship side Man City. The game progresses along a 15-year arc with players switching sides and teams going up and down. It makes it hard sometimes to acquire a player because they may have already moved somewhere else!
Anyway, I’ve come to the wizards at Arsenal America to help me devise a game plan to beat the Blues. Don’t worry about who should be in the side, other than Kluivert and SWP you won’t have heard of any of the NAC Breda players (I sure hadn’t). I want to know what formation I should play, what sort of tactics, both on offense and defense, and any other advice you’d give me.
If I fail to vanquish Chelsea it will be proof that you lot aren’t that smart when it comes to football.
18 Responses to “Your Chance to Stop Mourinho”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
April 11th, 2005 at 8:13 am
Shift the “difficulty mode” to EASY or SEMI-PRO level hehe!!
BTW Rick, have u tried Winning 11? It’s more difficult to play, and IMO more addicitive. The best thing is you have to learn the move, say give-and-go, chip shot etc., the more difficult a move [in real life football ] is, the more difficult you be able to master it. FIFA is rather easier to master all the moves.
But my favourite game of ALL TIME, without a doubt Championship Manager [now Football Manager], I probably have lost a girl friend because of it, not kidding.
well, at least the consolation is for me to take Arsenal the the Champions League glory 7 times in 8 years. Well, I also took over Sir Alex’s hot seat at Old Trafford, and managed to take them down to the Conference [mind u, with the money they got, it's even more DIFFICULT to take them down to Conference than taking Arsenal to Champions League glory - I got sacked a few times in order to achieve that]!!
April 11th, 2005 at 8:30 am
I won the SPL with Celtic my first year, picked up another year and won Europe and all trophies. Went to Werder Bremen and did the same after fattening my squad with Clichy and Cesc, due to the chronic injuries to my midfield and left back (I remember being disappointed that Wenger gave them up so easily). I went straight to Villareal after that season cause I rate Forlan and had already won everything with Bremen but I was in for a surprise…Villareal don’t play 4-4-2. My prolific goal scoring technique of bringing a forward midfielder up and hitting my left or right strikers with a through ball into the box had become my trying to thread it to Deigo in the center. As I’m sh*t with anything in the air, my one-dimensional attack got me into trouble. Talk about your no plan B. I have the same problems as AFC! Personally, I think the crossing in FIFA went from ridiculously easy in 2004 to the opposite in 05.
So I quit and picked another team, as my manager Ken Ketchum would never have chosen a team who didn’t play his Wenger-style football (they need to fix this in 2006). I chose Lyon. It was flattering to be offered the deal, so I took it. They play 4-4-2, have some fluid midfielders and a terrific striker in Gavou. The goals returned and I was once again vying for trophies on three fronts. And then came Chelsea…
…I met them in the CL and they scored in the second minute from a cross/header like FIFA always seems to do. After that, their defenders only needed to get within three feet of any of my strikers to get the ball away. Cech made stop after stop, and it just wasn’t going in.
Now, defense in FIFA is a strange thing, and the computer has a distinct advantage that I’m lucky they don’t use every time. When they’re bringing up the ball, around the beginning of the offensive third, I can’t see my back four because of the limitations of the view. Therefore, I can’t anticipate anything if they decide to time a long ball into the box or a through ball up the flank. I have to charge with my midfielders and pressure consistently, trying to work them to the sideline. Once there, I usually can box them in and win the ball back. The main problem with this is my midfielders get fatigued quickly, especially Essien. I swear, I’m starting to lose my rating for him in real life because of this.
So what would I do against Chelsea? Depending on what you do with attack?you may be better at lobbing the ball onto a charging lone striker than I am?you may have to go 4-5-1 , and push up, trying to catch them offsides. Course, if you can’t see them, you can’t catch them creeping. The only problem with Chelsea is the way they get behind the defense and down the flanks. Drogba WILL score if he gets a sniff of the ball with his head, so make sure your fitness is great in the back line cause you’ll be chasing Duff all day and trying to prevent crosses.
Rick, if you score a lot of goals, it will still take you 12 shots on target to sneak one in. What I have found, is that when one goes in, it is IMPERATIVE that you don’t allow them to score an equalizer right away like FIFA loves to do. Hound them relentlessly and sub early. If they go too long without an answer, Cech tends to let another past. 4-4-2 is still a possibilty if your D is tight and you’ve upgraded well. For me, its the only way I can score with regularity, especially against The Blues.
So fitness is essential, and work them to the flanks. Keep your shape as much as possible, but make SURE you get in front of that cross. If you get beat down the side, don’t keep chasing. Move your defender into the box, positioning your defender as to be careful not to let in a floor pass to an on-rushing Lampard, and push that button like h*ll to head it out. Then break! The key is getting behind the midfield to score, and it can be done if your fit and good with the through ball and finish.
My prediction if you use my advice, 3-2. If you’re down by two, keep pressing. FIFA just LOVES that late winner.
April 11th, 2005 at 10:14 am
Chelsea can be tough. I was playing FIFA 2005 last night and lost to them as a matter of fact. I’m in year 2012 with Arsenal.
Anyways, I think their central defenders are strong, so I would consider working crosses from the wings. I tried a route one approach like you described and I couldn’t get a striker loose. Go over them from the wing, especially since you have SWP.
Another thing to consider is changing formation away from the 4-4-2. I hate 4-4-2 in this game as it is the most stagnant formation. The AI won’t let the midfielders join the attack, so your two strikers are isolated. The best formation I’ve found is 4-3-1-2… I place a real playmaker (most important skills: passing, shooting power, speed) right behind the strikers. He distributes to the strikers if they get loose, or he shoots from just behind the 18. When I managed Roma, I put Totti in this position. Now that I’m at Arsenal, I found a new player named Votava who is a 92 rated CAM (actually I bought him young when he was 85 rated and developed him) to be the playmaker. I tucked Vieira behind him as the CDM until he retired.
FYI, In 2012 the only original Arsenal players I have left are Ashley Cole, Jose Antonio Reyes, Robin van Persie, and Kolo Toure.
April 11th, 2005 at 11:46 am
I play first person shooters. My solution to most problems is, when in doubt throwing a grenade always softens up the enemy or solves the problem entirely.
Can you throw grenades because that is what I would do?
Failing that, I use the same principles that Stalin brought to war when he said, ?Artillery is god?. Get out the big guns and drop some ordinance on their heads. What ever you do, don?t use the MG as a machine gunners life expectancy during World War II was about 5 minutes: you?ll make a big splash but end up dying in the end.
Isn?t that why we are called the Gunners and wasn?t that what the Arsenal area was in history; making armaments? Try naming yourself Stalin and like his entry into Berlin drop a millions shells on them in just one afternoon. You?ll win.
If all seems lost and being the old Celtic coach get C. Bellamy and put him on the MG nest.
I guess that wasn?t much help but hey it works for me. Rata-Tat-Tat, Budda, Budda, BLAM.
A slow news day I take it ;)~
April 11th, 2005 at 1:02 pm
Yeah, FM 2005 is the absolute ultimate since they put out that new patch. I remember playing the very first CM games, I reckon I lost the girl I was gonna get married too because of it. Or maybe I was subconciously trying to get out of getting married by playing it every evening while she sat on the couch bored as f*ck. “I’ll be with you in a second love, only one more game!”
April 11th, 2005 at 2:46 pm
Yes man, it’s absoultely ADDICTIVE!! I even managed to create an Arsenal all time hero team [including the likes of Adams, Rocastle, Merson, Wright to go along with Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira etc]! The team is unstoppable!! absoultely loving it!
April 11th, 2005 at 4:33 pm
Try this formation
———————————GK————————-
———–DC——————-DC——————–DC-
—————————DM—————————–
———W———————-MC———————-W
—————————–AM—————————–
————————-F———————-F———-
April 11th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
Dude, you may need to seek counseling. Perhaps you could channel your energy towards something more productive.
Oh, you rock by the way.
April 11th, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Good stuff, thanks.
April 11th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
best laugh of my day!
April 12th, 2005 at 9:10 am
LOL!
I AM f**king. crazy.
Take small comfort in the fact that I apply the kind of intensity in evidence here to a number of other interests in my life, and one or two of them even make money.
So did you play? Don’t leave us hanging!
April 12th, 2005 at 9:27 am
*VERY* seriously funny!!! I play the first person shooters too, Gerard. Right now that means mostly Battlefield 1942.
April 12th, 2005 at 11:53 am
The match hasn’t taken place yet, maybe this weekend.
April 13th, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Right on! I play both BF42 and BFV waiting for Modern. Love this game!
April 13th, 2005 at 10:03 pm
As an Information Systems expert, I found this debate very interesting.
As a football fan who loves to play or watch the game on the pitch and spell the grass when you go down, I feel the need to try and take a distant and overall view of the REAL AND THE VIRTUAL world.
I must confessed I graduated from highly rated compuer engineering schools in Europe and north America, and work in in the same businees but I’ve never played a game on a computer in my whole life and I am not interested in even trying although I spent most of my own time on computer.
Call me what you want, old school, idiot, liar, but this is my truth.
I’ve a few questions or concerns about computer oriented virtual games.
It’s too restrictive and very far from the real game on the pitch.
IT MAKES THINGS TOO EASY.
It elimated the luck factor.
Your score depends on your expertise in undestanding the usage of the software product you paid.
You might ultimatly get spoiled and devasted because of a stupid addiction to easy fun.
Go and play on real pitches, breath fresh air, take the energy and feel the required strengh and desire to make love to your patner.
Sex is more important than football when you’ve got the opportunity to enjoy whith some you love or like and respect.
Bring your children to training and who knows.
Gerrad is still Liverpool player because his parent are strong pool’s fans
But this is not my business.
People reacted differently, some are mentally stronger than the others.
Don’t forget when you play game on a computer, you are mentally giving away something to the programmers for the pleasure you get.
You damage your mental balance and create an invisible gap between you and the real world around.
You feel you are learning football and how to win but you are not, you are just learning to use a simple software representing the particular vision of one or a group of people who had to address too many complicting factors, but whose main concern is to make money of your addiction. It can’t be rea if it’s to achieve his goals.
It has to give you confidence in your own abilities while giving you fun.
Sure you’re are getting tremendous fun, but are progressing ?
If so in what ?
If it’s in football, then tell me about your last performance on a real football pitch.
This is more interesting if we have to talk of a real team who plays on a real pitch.
YOU ARE NOT ONLY LETTING DOWN YOUR GIRL FRIENDS BUT ALSO THE REAL GAME.
I always laugh when I heard people claiming their right to an opinion. It’s very strange as it’s always about how to “change” the team, to sell or buy players, to change managers.
It sounds too artificial and too spineless in real world.
But the most interesting attitude is the reaction after a game and the almost permanent frustration and moaning caused by an uncontroled desire for perfection, absolute selfishness and debile always winning life.
This is not real life, and it has nothing to do with football except the name of the players and the teams.
If you think you are learning football, then we should be scared and start an debate on the mpact of Technology, Market and the lack for respect of the real world around.
FIFA’s going to kill football for the sake money.
Now they give awards to people like you, because the businesses behind the product and the football’s govering body work together to satisfy more their personnal interest than the interest of the game itself!
This is a new chalenge for the football world, and as ever money is going to decide the outcome.
I don’t play computer games bu I am not against people who do it.
But I do believe no matter how funny it is, a game can also more negative than positive.
Being funny and deadly damaging are not incompatible!
April 14th, 2005 at 10:37 am
Lighten up dude, it’s play not life.
Reality stings and virtual doesn’t. In life you die once in reality you can respawn until the power goes off. I’m not scowering the web looking for a means to buy a box of grenades either. It’s a game like soccer. The parameters of the program are essentially the same as the rules of any game. If your good you learn the exploits in the program. It’s the same as any other game - outside or inside, it’s just not as healthy I agree. Making love on the internet does suck though - you just get callouses.
April 14th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
I didn’t mean to make love on the internet. It might be shocking shocking at first place, but I used it as a way to get right to the basic meaning of point.
You are wrong if you think it’s game like soccer.
Is gambling a game like soccer ?
IT’S NOT A GAME LIKE SOCCER.
Do you fall when you play ?
Do you run out of gass and feel your physical limitations when you play ?
Do smell the grass when you fall ?
Are you scared of making a breaking your leg ?
If someone break your leg as it happens to me, do you go to hospital ?
Are you scared of taking a shot for whatever reason?
Are you scared to take on your opponent ?
If you get sacked or run out of contract, are scared by the prospect of loosing your home, your wife, turning to cocaine or drinking ?
The amont of things that happen on the field whether you are a professional or a sunday footballer, whether you are good or bad, is NOT KNOWN, Not defined in advance.
God or LUCK or call it what you want play a major role, and definitely putthe two games a part.
You unware of the real difficulty and pain of football when you are playing on a computer.
.
You cannot be fully aware of the uncontrolable nature of some critical factors that can affect your performanc.
Luck is something the computer cannot fully handle.
Even with the best programming skills there’s no way for human being to do it.
Factors such as rain, snow, injuries can be emulated to put some “calculed” uncertainity in a computer game.
In real football, nobody programs these crucial factors. They are totally unprevisible on a real pitch.
The rating of players and teams you’ve got in a computer game are based on stats, but automaticaly determine in some way the outcome.
In a match day, on a real pitch the rating are worthless, only count the performance on the day.
I play as a main striker.
We were playing and winning our games. I was scoring more than 50 % of our goals.
In the 1/4 final, in the first minute I try to head home the first cross of our left winger and one of my source of goals. I am 6′2″ and very good in the air (at my level of football).
A defender run at me while I was in the air. I missed the ball, and went heavily down, out of my control.
The game was over for and we lost 2-0, and we were out.
The next day I couldn’t walk or even stand on my foot.
A girl helped and offered her assistance so I could walk to the treatment room.
It’s a nice memory that will remain with me forever as well as the two months of treatment.
My son is 17 months old. He’s got a good physical constitution, and my dream is o make everything possible for him to be a star player possibly at Arsenal.
Cygan is maybe our worst player, but if he can do half of what Cygan does, and earns a living from football this will be fine to me and his mother.
I could have been a professional player with a little more luck.
I will be more happier if my son fulfil my dream.
That’s was what I was explaining in making reference to love.
I was also talking to Andez, Stag or others guys I admire or respect.
It’s was a kind of kidding, but I always feel for people when they suffer the end of a promising relationship.
But I reckon it can be for good at times and wish them the best for the future.
I just want all us of to make the difference between the two games.
I am not that scared.
I know for example, that someone like Andez clearly makes the difference. He’s not the only one, thanks God.
It’s just comment, maybe a little bit shocking, but wasn’t ultimatly meant to to, this time.
Compuer game has got good and bad consequences for the real
football
May 5th, 2005 at 11:32 am
If you want to put up alot of goals in FIFA 2005 (especially playing against a 4-4-2) play the 4-1-2-1-2. Don’t know who’s on your team but w/ today’s Arsenal line drop Viera to a central defensive mid, Ljunberg and Pires on the wings and move Gilberto up to an attacking mid. Make sure your offensive settings are set to attacking as it will put Gilberto behind the other teams midfield. Play a through-ball either from Viera or either wing to Gilberto who will have a free run to the defense. When you are close to the defensive line play a through ball to either Henry or Reyes and they will be free in on goal, adn should be able to slot it in near post. I just beat Chelsea in league play with this formation 9-2. Alwyas nice to imagine Mourinho’s expression after such a beating. Hope it helps