Scouting your Opponent in Freekick

written by Lee1950

One of the joys of Freekick is being able to tailor your lineup and tactics to take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses. In order to do this, you need to know how to scout your next opponent. This article will show you how to do the most basic scouting. Let’s look at your next league opponent and see what you can do to improve your scoring chances.

You need to go to your opponent’s club page. There are several ways to navigate to their club page, and here is one of them:

• Click on “Competition” > “Senior League” > “Overview”

This is a very informative page, and you should go to it often. It shows the standings, your next match, your last (most recent) match, and the high achievers in your division. Your next opponent is shown in bold face in the “Next round” section, opposite your team.

Before you leave this page, click on the drop down menu under “Club Selector” and select your opponent’s name. Now the game has highlighted all of that club's players who have scored, assisted, defended, or played as goalkeeper. For now, just note your opponent's goalkeeper(s) name. It is possible that he hasn't played any matches yet, so none of his players are listed, or that none of his keepers have met the minimum standards to be listed. That's okay - you can use this next week to scout another opponent. Now let’s go look at his club page.

• Click on their club name.

Now you are looking at their club’s information, and there is a lot of information to look at. Keep it simple for now, but there are a few things you’ll want to look at for every opponent you play:

• Who is the manager? Look right under the blue “General” bar at the top right of the page. If the manager is “FKBOT”, then the player has left the game, and the CPU is controlling the team. This is good for you (but bad for the game, as we hate to lose managers) because FKBOT is not a very clever manager.

• Click on the “”Transfers” tab to see how active the manager is. The more players that have been bought or drafted, the more active the manager is, and the more likely it is that you are going to face a tough opponent or that the opponent will be scouting your team.

• Click on the “Players” tab.

Here you will find some more tabs, allowing you to see what quality of players he has at different positions. Look at the “Goalkeepers” tab.

Remember we noted his goalkeeper earlier? Here you can see all of them. Click on the “R” (Rating) column header to sort them. Each keeper has five skills. Here is the link to the manual regarding Keeper’s skills (do you remember how to open in it a separate tab?):

http://www.freekick.org/?fk_manual=7#sub2

Freekick gives you the ability to assign your attackers a specific attack order to target each of the secondary goalkeeper skills: GP, IN, CT, OR.

Reflexes (RE)
The keeper will use his Reflexes as the primary method of stopping goal attempts. While this skill does not stop goal attempts to occur or even a stand alone skill for the goalkeeper to save a shot, it's fair to say that it's the most important skill for the keeper.

Goalkeeper Positioning (GP)
With a mix of anticipation and the ability to cut down angles the goalkeeper can make the save attempt much easier. This is especially important when facing long shots.

Interceptions (IN)
Used for defending high crosses and for rushing out to shut down free attackers, the Interception skill counts in two ways; the ability to make smart decisions in these situations and the technical skill to pull them off. Failed interceptions or judgment may result in the keeper being out of position for the shot, being rounded by a free attacker or simply a good opportunity for the attacker to score.

Control (CT)
Used for controlling the ball when saving shots or headers, but also during interceptions. The Control skill works in two ways; the ability to not release rebounds and the ability to release safe rebounds when he has to. A rebound can result in the opponent being totally free, corners, or that the goalie leaves the net wide open. A keeper with low Control can even slip a ball into the net when saving.

Organization (OR)
This skill is especially useful during set pieces like corners or free kicks. It has no relevance for saving penalties. But a keepers Organization skill is always beneficial for the defensive zone in the penalty box.

Here is the link to the attacker orders you will want to use (don't forget to tab):
http://www.freekick.org/?fk_manual=9#sub2

You’ll want to check the manual to become familiar with the orders for all the positions. Review your opponent’s keeper again, and note his weak skill.

If he is weak in GP, then you can set your Attacker orders to: “Tricky shot”
• This setting increases the effect (+50%) of the keeper being out of position. There is no drawback if the keeper is in position.
• (When it works, this increases your scoring chance.)

If he is weak in IN, then you can set your Attacker orders to: “Lob”
• The attacker tries to outsmart the keeper with a soft, high finish. The attacker needs to have higher passing skill than the keeper’s interception skill for it to be effective. If successful, the keeper will be more out of position than normally.
• (You should note that good attackers with a high PA are not common. You will likely want to look at the goalkeeper’s second worst skill rating to get any advantage.)

If he is weak in CT, then you can set your Attacker orders to: “Power shot”
• This setting means that the attacker focuses on power, causing the keeper to have more trouble (-10 Control) controlling the ball (more rebounds or even fumbles).
• (This is fun when it works – there will be lots of loose balls bouncing around in front of the net.)

If he is weak in OR, then you can set your Attacker orders to: “Unpredictable”
• This setting increases the effect (+50%) of the keeper losing his organization defense versus the pass into the box. If the keeper wins the skill duel, there is no drawback.
• Unpredictable is, maybe, the most used attacker order.

Now go back to your Lineup ( >Locker Room >Tactics >Lineup ), and change your attacker’s orders to the appropriate order to best attack the weak ability of your opponent’s keeper.

Please be advised that “Mixed” is almost never going to be the optimal setting for any player at any position. So a couple of hints:

1. Your attackers will get an opportunity when the ball comes directly to them outside of the penalty box. If your attacker has a good or better BC, then you might find “Dribble and Score” to be the most useful Midfielder order for them. If you click on an attacker and then on his “Settings” tab, you can set his default orders. I favor “Unpredictable” as my default attack order, and “Dribble and Score” as my default midfielder order for attackers.

2. I have a strong PA attacker, and he gets “Lob” and “Short Pass” as his defaults.

3. If you are playing with an AE attacker in your lineup, consider setting your RW/LW/RM/LM midfielder order to “Seek Corners”. This will generate high passes into the box. (An “AE attacker” typically has an excellent or better AE rating, and a good or better BC rating.)

4. Defenders use “Breakthrough” to counter strong OP attackers; “Ground Angles” to counter strong BC attackers.Y ou can figure out “Aerial Angles” for yourself!

5. If you think your opponent’s flank attack (do they use wingers? RW, LW?) is stronger than their center attack, set your keeper to “Flank Attacks”.

Wondering how to know if your opponent is playing OP/BC/AE attackers? Scouting!

You check his prior matches and his attacker’s ratings, and make a guess. Same for estimating the scoring threat from his center midfielders versus his wings….you check who he played the last couple matches and his player ratings, and you make a guess (don’t forget to look back at the “Achievers” list for Assists – that can be a good clue as to who is a dangerous assist man). The more scouting you do, the better your guess will be.

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." - Sun Tzu

Looking To Score

written by suzukii

5 reasons why your club is not scoring goals:

5. Losing opportunities in the air. Your midfielders send high passes (about 50% of the time) to your strikers who have horrible AE (Aerial) ability. You could try to "seek corners" with highly skilled AE attackers. Aerial to jump for the ball, ball control to win the fight for the ball, and then score.

4. The opponent has better defenders compared to your forwards. Your forwards needs to be faster. If your forwards have low CO (Constitution), they may finish (SC) badly towards the end of the game. Consider 65th minute substitutions.

3. Your forwards are fast (high OP) but not able to receive and control (low BC) the ball well enough.

2. The PA (Passing) coming from the midfield is not quality. The passes are not dangerous and there are not enough of them. You could try superb passing skill with the Long Ball tactic.

1. The SC (Scoring) skill finishes opportunities, but does not develop them. Spend your money in BC and OP, not necessarily SC. Both forwards will work together (Assistance) to split the defenders and confuse the OR (Organisation) of the goalkeeper.

Thinking of Buying a Forward?

written by suzukii

The forward that you buy needs to get free from his marker, receive the ball and then shoot. He either needs to be talented at doing many different things, or be an expert at doing one type of thing and win the positioning or reception duel.

Player A: 80 SC, 40 OP, 40 BC
Player B: 50 SC, 60 OP, 60 BC

Player A is a great finisher, but he has a hard time receiving the ball and losing the defender. Player B will get more shots on goal than Player A, but the shot quality will be worse. Still, more shots are preferable and will wear down the goalkeeper as the goalkeeper will get tired of being put to work so often. Player A may get one or two golden chances against a rested and ready goalkeeper. Player B will get more opportunities to score and more opportunities to test the goalkeeper and to hope he makes a mistake.

When shopping, always look for a forward with the ability to get the shot, instead over the quality of the shot. Think of a forward's OP as "speed" and his BC as having "soft feet" and then you will see that SC is the third important skill.

• If the opposition has defenders that lack DP, then use a forward with high OP.
• If the opposition has defenders that lack TA, then use a forward with high BC.
• If the opposition has defenders that lack AE, then use a forward with high AE and BC.

Player A: 60 SC, 40 OP, 80 BC
Player B: 60 SC, 80 OP, 40 BC

Player A gets marked a lot, but he has soft feet. Player B is not good with the ball at his feet, but he has room and space on the field to make a bad reception because he often loses his marker. Player B can get free and also use his speed to get to rebounds from "power shots" if the goalkeeper has low CT (Control).

Player A: 60 SC, 60 OP, 80 BC, 20 AE
Player B: 60 SC, 40 OP, 60 BC, 60 AE

Player A is called a ground attacker. He would prefer the "Demand Low" to call for the ball from his midfielders. Player B is called an aerial attacker. He would prefer the "Demand High". Player B, in comparison with Player A, can have success on the ground and in the air though so you can choose his tactic to "Tricky Shot" or something else. The "Demand" tactics will lower your club's Fun Factor, however.

Thinking of Buying a Goalkeeper?

written by suzukii

Many managers agree that the goalkeeper is the most important player on the Freekick field. When your midfielders fail to stop a pass, and then the defenders don't do their job closing down the attacker, the goalkeeper is the last line of defense. If you start losing matches, then you might go to the transfer list to buy 3 or 4 centre backs and flank backs (spending lots of money) when your club's real problem is the goalkeeper. This guide will help you choose what to buy.

RE (Reflexes)

You have read a lot of advice that you need well-rounded players to be successful. Goalkeepers have 5 skills, but Reflexes is definitely the most important skill to have. It is always the primary skill for you to look for on the transfer list, so you should search for the highest RE skill you can get. Do this, and you'll instantly improve your defense. Simply, this skill makes the save against the attacker's shot. Some managers see the 4 other goalkeeper skills as just a bonus or luxury.

• A goalkeeper with high Reflexes skill means that he has good hands, has good handling, can parry shots and he can jump and stretch to get to the ball.

GP (Goalkeeper Positioning)

Before Reflexes can even be used, the goalkeeper must be positioned well. Nevertheless, this is the goalkeeper's second primary skill. RE and GP should be the main skills that you look for when buying a goalkeeper. This skill attempts to compare the attacker's positioning with the goalkeeper's knowledge about where he should be in the penalty box.

• A goalkeeper with high Goalkeeper Positioning skill means that he has good game vision to read what the attacker will do next and can defend against Long Shots.

IN (Interceptions)

There are two parts to this skill. If you have defenders with low Aerial ability, then you should find a goalkeeper with IN skill to defend against high passes and corner kicks. You will also need a high IN goalkeeper if your defenders have low DP (Defensive Positioning) compared to the opponent's OP (Offensive Positioning) because the goalkeeper can choose to come off his line and rush out to cut off the scoring angles of the attacker. If the goalkeeper times his interception badly in either of these situations, then he will be out of position.

• A goalkeeper with high Interceptions skill means that he is tall, can jump high, can make good challenges in the air and has good speed to close down unmarked attackers that have the ball.

CT (Control)

After the goalkeeper has saved a shot, he will use CT to control, protect and keep possession of the ball. He can also successfully save a shot by tipping the ball over the bar for a corner kick if he feels there is need to do so. If the attacker uses the Power Shot tactic, then the goalkeeper will fumble or drop the ball if his CT skill is low. In that situation, RE and the defender's DP will be compared to the opponent's OP to see who is first to get to the rebound. Some managers think that if CT is high enough, a save can create a counter-attack, as the goalkeeper can throw the ball quickly to a teammate.

• A goalkeeper with high Control skill means that he can safely catch, collect and protect the ball.
  

OR (Organisation)

Corner kicks and freekicks will not be a problem for a team that has a goalkeeper that has good skills in organasation. He can positively motivate his club's defense. His orders orders are understood and, more importantly, followed by his teammates.

• A goalkeeper with high Organisation skill means that he can boss his troops around during set pieces and freekicks.

woodman663 speaking about scouting the opponent:

Type of attacker: Long shot midfielder/forward
Goalkeeper skill needed: GP very important, OR (Organisation) for when they get a freekick

Type of attacker: OP forward with high SC low BC
Goalkeeper skill needed: high IN, high CT

Type of attacker: OP forward with high BC low SC
Goalkeeper skill needed: high RE/GP, high CT

Type of attacker: BC forward
Goalkeeper skill needed: high RE/GP

Type of attacker: AE forward
Goalkeeper skill needed: high IN

Cafa talking to suzukii regarding Goalkeepers Orders:

You set goalkeepers orders it based on where you expect the majority of danger to come from.

For example, if I put defensive players in central midfield and offensive players on the flanks, obviously my opponent will pass through my flanks easily. Therefore, I set the goalie to Flanks.

But if you know you'll stop him on the flanks and not so sure you'll stop him at the centre, use Centre.

The majority of attacks goes through centre midfield (50%) if the opponent doesn't use winger(s).

Also, take note that MOST managers don't touch the default goalie order and leave it at Centre. Meaning, it's wiser for you to direct your attacks through flanks because then, most likely, you won't be facing the goalie focus.

Same thing goes for set pieces and long shots. Opponents don't expect them and therefore don't give the correct goalie order.

Arbetaren talking about Goalkeeper Orders:

You should not look so much at your goalies weaknesses but more on how your opponent usually plays. Look in previous match reports to see where the opponent places his strongest offensive midfielders (in the centre or the flanks) and focus on that kind of attack. One of these two is the standard Goalkeeper Order choice for me.

The other two options are less common. Long shot should only be used if the opponent has strong long shot players, which many teams do not have. Again, look in previous match reports to see if they have used the option before.

Set pieces could be used if the opponent uses strikers/forwards with strong aerial and ball control skills.

How to Read a Match Report

Minute 12
Billy Ljungvall of OAK made a superb pass to Nick Terrell at the right side of the pitch.
Explanation: Ljungvall, CM (Centre Midfielder) from Oakland (OAK), uses his superb (70-79) Passing. Ball is in the Midfield zone, on the Right Flank.

Lorenzo Latta received poor assistance, and was too late.
Explanation: Terrell, RW (Right Winger), uses his excellent (60-69) Offensive Positioning against Latta's (Left Midfielder) decent (40-49) Defensive Positioning. Latta's three teammates (in the Midfield zone) have decent (40-49), weak (30-39) and poor (16-30) Defensive Positioning and are unable to assist him in order to mark Terrell here. Terrell is too quick.

Terrell made a brilliant reception, and took control of the ball.
Explanation: Terrell uses his good (50-59) Ball Control, and gets a bonus from Ljungvall's quality pass to earn a brilliant reception. Latta is nowhere to be found and unable to attempt to tackle Terrell. Terrell has received the ball and will attempt to pass into the Penalty Box zone.

Terrell made a short, good pass to Marco Osbourne in the penalty area.
Explanation: Terrell uses his good (50-59) passing. Passes to FW (Forward) Osbourne.

Marian Ioan Chelu received poor assistance, and was too late.
Explanation: Chelu uses his good (50-59) Defensive Positioning against Osbourne's excellent (60-69) Offensive Positioning. The other defender's Defensive Positioning are good, decent and weak.

Osbourne was totally free with the goalie!
Explanation: All four defenders are too slow and Osbourne breaks away has only the goalkeeper to beat.

Osbourne made a decent reception, and took control of the ball.
Explanation: Osbourne uses his excellent Ball Control, but didn't quite collect the ball perfectly to his ability. Ball is now in the Penalty Box zone.

Versloot made an attempt to close Osbourne down, but without success.
Explanation: Versloot (GK) Goalkeeper is off his line trying to use his decent Interception skill.

Goal Attempt!
Osbourne tried to score with a superb shot!
Explanation: Osbourne uses his good Scoring, but made a superb strike of the ball. He received a bonus to his shot power by being "totally free" and lost his marker.

Marco Versloot between the posts was totally in the wrong position, and he made a masterful save attempt.
Explanation: GK Versloot uses his good Goalkeeper Positioning and then his awesome Reflexes.

GOAL!
Explanation: It's there! Osbourne scores.
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