How to play FIFA 09 - Wisdom from experience!

[bluchampblogger]

Guys! You might have read my long game play review of FIFA 09. Thanks for your nice feedback there. Now, I'm gonna share my experiences of some aspects of FIFA 09, which could be helpful to you. Once again, a long post!

'I love this game' is not the same as 'I'm good at this game'. I'm a decent football gamer. I'm not a great player but I'm pretty good. I play just for fun and relaxation and I don't play for ranks or points. I don't want to master this game for two reasons - one is the fun factor will be gone and the other is I don't take this seriously. This is just a game which works as a stress-reliever for me. Still, I can't really enjoy and relax if I happen to lose 10 matches in a row. That's how FIFA 09 started for me.

I chose to play at 'professional' difficulty because that was my standard difficulty level in FIFA 08. As always I played for Chelsea. I tried to use the real life formation that Scolari uses. So I put in a 4-1-4-1 with Drogba as striker and Essien as defensive midfielder and Lampard, Deco, Ballack and Joe Cole finding a place. The game is a bit pacy but I kinda liked that pace. having got adjusted to that pace I still found myself struggling to create or finish decent chances. I wish I could watch the complete replay of the match that I lost because I wanted to see where I went wrong.

After losing a few more matches, I didn't need my match videos. I could see the problem areas one by one. As the game is fast, I tend to go forward and forward, which is not required. I could control the pace of the game by my actions. Don't have run with the ball everytime you have the ball, just pass it back, let the players do their movements and runs, see the space and slowly knock the ball up. At any stage if you feel you're forced to make a risky pass, just don't do that, pass it back or make the easiest pass, keep the possession. From the half way line to goal, it takes only two or three passes. So, don't hurry them. If you're worried about the ticking clock, play 10-minute-halves instead of 5-minute halves.

Have you felt that something is wrong somewhere but you can't put a finger on what it is? If yes, get your tactics right. There are some key questions that you need to answer before you start the game. Do you want to play short passes only or short/long passes? Do you want to play narrow or wide? How do you want your chances to be created? How high should your defenders be? The answers to these questions will depend on your personal preference and your team's capabilities. You would adjust the custom tactic sliders based on the answers to these questions.

It is very important to get your tactic right up front because a 10 minute match could be half over before you could realise something is wrong. In FIFA 09, I have this habit of having my defenders stay deep because of the throughball threats. While I was playing Stoke City, at half time I realised that it was a waste because Stoke weren't that threatening with their through passes and my defenders can always catch up if something goes wrong. So I pushed up my defenders which added a new dimension to my attacks and the result - two second half goals. Don't jump into the game blindly, spend some useful time on the tactics.

Against better teams, I struggled a lot in the final third. Everytime Drogba was fed with a decisive ball, the made a meal of it. Drogba had the skill and pace but still I couldn't have him run with the ball even for a few yards. The defenders were all over Drogba, every single time. Then I realised that it is a problem of my formation. I was playing 4-1-4-1. What happened was one of these 4 midfielders would play the ball to Drogba, who on his own had to run towards the two or three defenders ahead of him. It wasn't going to work, not even in real life. I just imagined what Drogba would have done in those cases. He would trap and hold the ball until reinforcements came in. That's what I had to do too. Now, as Drogba I started holding the ball and played it back to one of the four surging midfielders.

Then I thought it makes sense to have a partner for Drogba so that I can keep the ball in the final third for more time. That's when I switched to 4-4-2 diamond. I brought in Anelka for Joe Cole. Since then it was a completely new ball game. I haven't started using the flanks so much because I'm still learning to cross. When I had decided that I'm not going to create chances using crosses, there is no point in my formation having two wide men. When I changed from 4-1-4-1 to 4-4-2, I felt like I'm playing with two extra men because I had all men in the zone where I play.

If you haven't noticed by now, the players are subject to realistic fatigue in this game. they do slow down in the last half hour of the game. They do
become tired but keep an eye on the opponents - they could also be tired or injured. All players around the 30-years mark, do get slowed down in the second half. In Chelsea, Deco and Ballack definitely lose some pace as the game goes on. Their game is not built on pace but if you bring in some
fresh legs it makes a huge difference. I brought on Kalou and Malouda for them and anyone could see that those were the subbed in players. They were zipping around with energy and to have such active subs also kind of wakes you up and brings some belief for you. It did for me.

People have told this a million times - finesse shot is your friend. Very true. when you play a finesse shot, the player does not rush the shot. He stops a bit and take a well aimed shot. In xbox360, finesse shot is the right shoulder button (or simply the right button, not trigger). I find it more comfortable to have it in the left button becaue in order to play the finesse shot I need to take my finger off the left trigger, which is for sprint. That's logical, isn't it? Take your foot off the gas when you want to apply brakes!

The thing with finesse shot is that, I was so conscious that I should play a finesse shot, I used to forget the fact that I need to apply appropriate shot power. So whenever you get into shooting positions, two things should come to your mind - your finger on finesse button and correct shot power. It's ok if you apply less shot power but avoid giving more power. Shots on target improves confidence and also could result in rebounds. Shots off target are of no use at all. So less it better. Shooting here in FIFA 09 is more life like. The chance will be gone in a second. When it's there you should grab it. If you don't take your chances well enough, you would get beat.

The teams are built with realistic strengths and weaknesses. You can surely see a difference between Man Utd and Everton, Aston Villa and Sunderland, West Ham and West Brom. This is quite different to FIFA 08 where pretty much any team would play like Barcelona. I remember that even second division teams would string 20 passes while you can only watch as they are simply unstoppable when they want a goal. In FIFA 09, the teams play truly to their strengths. If you're playing as Chelsea, you should be able to beat about 16 teams in the premier league while the other four can be anyone's game. Don't then say the game is easy, say the game is true.

So finally, where have all these left me? I'm not winning matches 10-0 on legendary. But I'm winning matches 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 and drawing some
matches 0-0, 1-1 and sometimes losing to big teams. But I'm creating chances, getting my shots on target and more than anything I'm enjoying my games. I'm playing the league now. I'm now 4th in the table with 27 points after 15 matches, with a goal difference of 5. Man Utd leads the table with 35 points in 16 matches. I think I'll get them sooner or later.

Don't frustrated or annoyed at video games, especially a great game like FIFA 09. Just put some thought and you can start enjoying the game.

[bluchampblogger]

bump?

[Fonzey]

lalala, do I have to read all that?

[Altairs Creed]

Originally Posted by Fonzey

lalala, do I have to read all that?

good stuff...to anyone who will read

[Magic_Drogbaaa]

Thanks . . .

[Fonzey]

Originally Posted by Altairs Creed

good stuff...to anyone who will read

Just read it. I agree about the differences between the better teams. In FIFA 08 they all felt identical.

[Trequartista]

Good read. Who are your top goal scorers so far? Do teams like Bolton and Stoke play the long ball physical game like in real life?

[Makballer]

veryyy well written. props *****

[cepwin]

Thank you for the tips!! I'll have to print them out, study them, and add it to the tip files.
Thanks again!

[c0dex]

Great post. Very good points in there.

[BigM1keQc]

Very very good read. Thank you very much.

[JackBauerGB]

Agree with everything mate, good read.

[TranceLover]

Verry good review I will take this tips, and hints into notice Thanks alot for sharing this words with us

[bluchampblogger]

Originally Posted by Trequartista

Good read. Who are your top goal scorers so far? Do teams like Bolton and Stoke play the long ball physical game like in real life?

Thanks guys! I'll keep it coming :-)

My top scorers are Drogba and Lampard. I even got a penalty! Think of AI fouling you and awarding you a penalty! I'm loving it.

The long ball teams do play long ball game. If you go to team management and see the tactics set up of these teams, you'll know that the slider for passing would be in the high 80s, which means predominantly long passing. Interestingly, if you check the same for Brazil, it would be 15 or something!

[JackBauerGB]

Originally Posted by bluchampblogger

Thanks guys! I'll keep it coming :-)

My top scorers are Drogba and Lampard. I even got a penalty! Think of AI fouling you and awarding you a penalty! I'm loving it.

The long ball teams do play long ball game. If you go to team management and see the tactics set up of these teams, you'll know that the slider for passing would be in the high 80s, which means predominantly long passing. Interestingly, if you check the same for Brazil, it would be 15 or something!

I set my passing slider to around 35-40, I think the custom tactics are amazing, you actually notice the changes you make. I like to keep my passing short and have players offering me easy options so 35-40 is perfect for me.

Have you experimented much with organized/free form on Build up and Chance creation? I've stuck do far to Organized on build up so I know where my players are and then Free form for chance creation so i getr plenty of movement in the final third.

I would go free form for both but as I'm Leverkusen who arent a Chelsea or a Man Utd I dont think both on free form would work. Not enough discipline.

[Katarinaccio]

Yes sir I'm so glad passing matters now, so that I actually need certain types of players, for instance, I can't make Mikel a central player because his passing is quite terrible, same with Joe Cole who at least in the Demo is giving me lalalala passes so I only include him in the final third, holding up the ball, crossing or shooting from outside the 18. Where as Lamps is my Playmaker if i don't have Deco in. Ballack, is mighty tough, actually ends up playing more defensive for me in the midfield Essien... brilliant on the 1-to-1 and the occasional shot or volley from outside, not much else. I actually use my Wing Backs in attack! oh happy day. Even Carvalho comes up for a shot sometimes. I just need to get the full game and fine tune my tactics because they matter now. I actually Played best with Chelsea in either a 4-5-1 or a 4-2-3-1

4-5-1
Bosingwa-----JT---------Carvalho---------Cole
Deco---Ballack--Essien--Lampard---Malouda/Cole
------------------Drogba---------------------

4-2-3-1
Bosingwa-----JT---------Carvalho---------Cole
-----------------Mikel----Essien--------------
----------Deco---Ballack---Lampard----------
------------------Drogba---------------------

[masterbrew]

Good stuff op

[manunited1]

First post here but am a Fifa veteran. It is nice to see someone with common sense discuss the game instead of bashing the game and not trying to play differently. I have always played the way he says (just play like real football) and i have been hitting in all sorts of different goals and not a single woodwork yet

I think this is the best football game ever and i have not had any of the problems people moan about, nor has any previous Fifa been unplayable. I am at work right now and cant wait to get home an play it.

[toopgui88]

Another great post!

Man, I love this game!

Aston Villa (I am Ashley Young) 2 games in with 4 points. Still no goals for me but I set one up... felt so great! The AI is the best I have ever seen in a football game, props EA!

[bluchampblogger]

Well, I haven't tinkered around the 'organised/freeform' too much. When I play as a top team, i play with organised in set up play and freeform in chance creation, trusting their 'sensible creativity'!

[Raul Madrid7]

Wow, it took me 45 mins with Chelsea to realise that I needed another striker on. I went 4-3-1-2 taking off Essien for Anelka, putting Cole behind the strikers with Lampard, Deco, Ballack in midfield. Done well with that team in the only online game I played with them.

[Slid593]

Good post, i play the game pretty much the same way, i.e like a real match patient and wait for the opening instaed of rushing it all the time which tends to create constant end to end games which are way to quick.

One thing i disagree with though is your mention of defensive line, as personally i've messed around with the tactical options throughout matches checking the difference in each one, and i find the defensive line useless and a bug that needs to be fixed, i've set the slider all the way to maximum and the next game i reduced it completly yet in both games when the opposition got the ball deep in their own half my defensive line was sat pretty much on the half way line in both games, thats why in FIFA 09 you get far too many one on ones, in FIFA 08 i felt i had to work good openings to get one on one's in ths game you just chip throughball to your pacy striker and hey presto.

[bluchampblogger]

I was playing against Fulham as part of my Chelsea league season. I was leading 2-0 by half time. Then around 55th minute, AI made subs and shifted to 3-4-3 and scored a goal. I shifted to 4-3-3 and killed them with a 4-1 score. Drogba scored a hattrick.

So the AI does make sensible subs and also takes risks in attacking tactics!

[yajrellim23]

Very good read mate.

Have to say you are spot on with having to play a patient passing game.

It feels more like real footy than any other game i've played, and that from someone who has PES2009.

This yeaar PES is good but have to admit FIFA09 wins this year.

[SykikJV]

Originally Posted by bluchampblogger

People have told this a million times - finesse shot is your friend. Very true. when you play a finesse shot, the player does not rush the shot. He stops a bit and take a well aimed shot. In xbox360, finesse shot is the right shoulder button (or simply the right button, not trigger). I find it more comfortable to have it in the left button becaue in order to play the finesse shot I need to take my finger off the left trigger, which is for sprint. That's logical, isn't it? Take your foot off the gas when you want to apply brakes!

The thing with finesse shot is that, I was so conscious that I should play a finesse shot, I used to forget the fact that I need to apply appropriate shot power. So whenever you get into shooting positions, two things should come to your mind - your finger on finesse button and correct shot power. It's ok if you apply less shot power but avoid giving more power. Shots on target improves confidence and also could result in rebounds. Shots off target are of no use at all. So less it better. Shooting here in FIFA 09 is more life like. The chance will be gone in a second. When it's there you should grab it. If you don't take your chances well enough, you would get beat.

Liked your tactics-based approach to the game.

I started a MM mode with Manchester United last night. I'm not a Man Utd-freak, rarely use them in multiplayer. Just liked the fact to start a MM with young players like Rafael, Fabio,Welbeck, Nani,... in my team.

I also try to switch tactics a lot. The classic 4-4-2 with 2 wide men and two strikers, the 4-2-3-1 with Tevez-Ronaldo-Rooney creating a lot of movement around Berbatov, the 4-3-3 with Rooney and Ronaldo as support strikers,... It depends on wether it's a home game or not, fitness-levels of players, form, the opposition's formation, their weaknesses,... It really works and it's fun to have a serious tactics-side to the game.

But about the shooting. So far I've managed to score only 2 long shots in all my games.

It should be possible to use a normal drive, shouldn't it? I like finesse-shot, but only around the box, otherwise the shot isn't strong enough to score a realistic shot from longer range. But everytime a try to shoot from longer range, the shot either gets blocked, or the goalie saves it, or the bal just goes wide. I've put the shooting in the custom tactics almost to the max, and still no succes... I try to use the pace-control when setting up my shots, but it's so ****ing slow. Everytime an opponents midfielder catches up to my players and recovers the ball.

Is it enough to just pull the left trigger just before shooting, and this way not really slowing down ingame?

How do you get your players into decent shooting positions? Do you cut back when your in a crossing position? Do you use layoffs from crosses? Do you cut inside with your wide men?

At the moment I've even switched back to assisted shooting. Would this be the reason?

I'd really like to master this stuff, because everything else of my game is pretty good and I've mastered a very realistic build-up in the game.

It would be great if you could answer some of these questions.