Is a CDM better at CB on FIFA 13?
A strange question you might say but we decided to test it following a few wins in head to head using Yaya Toure as CB. Was it just that he is a great player or does it help on FIFA to have a more all round player at the back? So we went into UT and set up a Serie A based team using a CDM at the back. We decided to choose 77 rated Pogba from Juventus who gets just 5 chemistry. A very strong player with a good standing tackle but not blessed with blistering pace or heading. Although there aren’t many top defenders with sprint speed above 75 in the game anyway. High passing and dribbling with 90 shot power he should really be more of a CAM. We didn’t change to a custom tactic just used the default to make it a fair test.
Here is the video of our Division 1 campaign on Ultimate team. The previous attempt with Chiellini and Ogbonna fell short of the title so how would dropping one of the best defenders in the game for a CDM work out? Have a watch and see…
Pogba really stood out for us in this campaign as a rock at the back. Not many of the top strikers got behind him or ran past him so for us it worked. So does this mean everyone suddenly use CDMs in UT expecting to win Div 1 title after title? Probably knowing the fans desperate to win who follow us. We aren’t saying this is a secret of FIFA we just think there is something about using them that seems to work better. Maybe the better passing and strength is important. And it wasn’t a one off as we used CDMs at Arsenal, Man City, Newcastle and others in h2h seasons. With much higher win ratios than normal. So give it a try with a few CDMs and see if improves your game.
And what do you say as a CB in CDM position?
Have tried David Luiz there here loves it!
You are using the wrong approach here, what you should be doing is playing players in a certain position because of their attributes…so, a CDM with high interceptions, marking, aggression and tackling will theoretically fit well into CB, however, a CDM with high aggression and tackling but poor marking or interceptions could be a recipe for disaster at CB.
In terms of attributes that make a good CB, i would list the following in order from most to least important:
1. Interceptions: this rates the tactical ability of the player to read the game and intercept passes.
2. Marking: a high rating on this is useful when defending on corners and containing players
3. Standing tackle: obvious
4. Agression: I like defenders with high aggression
5. Strength: the stronger your defender the better they will fare against strong forwards
6. Reactions
7. Jumping and heading for dealing with aerial balls
8. Slide tackle.
for a player to be a good CB
they should have:
1. Interceptions >85
2. Marking > 80
3. Standing tackle > 80 (preferably 85)
4. Aggression > 70
5. Strength > 75
6. Jumping and heading > 75
7. Slide tackle > 80
medium or high defending work rates and low attack work rates.
As you can see from this, playing Pogba as a CB is a bad idea, so is playing Vidal because of his high\high work rates he will get caught out of position often. However, Yaya Toure, Sergio Busquets, Luis Gustavo, de rossi, de jong have the attributes to do well at CB.
Well as in the video we did win the Div 1 title using Pogba as CB?
Hey B4arca,
love your site. One of the best arround – Keep on the good work for 14!
On this I to aggree on Bijo. IMO there are various factors which make a player suit into another position:
a.) Your personal skills (you play decent with nearly any player)
b.) Player skills do match your playstyle (see a.) and you get the best out of them (possibly Pogba for you, if you ask me the best striker arround is Jovetic)
c.) Just the player stats -> see Bijo
I think Bijo is right in General – your success with Pogba is possibly a., b. and c.
FIFA14 is totally different so after a week of testing it will be lots of updates soon.
Wouldn’t Pogba And The LB And RB Get Forward And Leave Gaps?
Dunno we won the title. Watch the video.
Nice article. Just one theoretic observation: Most CDM’s (ex. Yaya, De Rossi, Vidal) dont have above 80 in marking. So you might gain speed and passing abilities, but watch out on those crossings!
I have been using CDM’s for a long time as CB’s… back when Yaya Toure played in Barcelona I saw him in this position for the Champions League final and though: “damn, how didn’t anybody see how awesome he is in this position before.” I’ve used Mascherano (before when he was a CDM), Toure, in FIFA 13 I’ve used Song and Abidal. I play with all Barcelona or Man Udt. squads, so these are the ones I’ve tried as everybody knows Pique and Puyol are awesome in real life, but too slow for pace abusers in this game… I play 4-3-3, and other things I do and that people find unorthodox: ST as CM, such as Rooney & Van Persie (Rooney is much better, work-rates). LM as CM, Iniesta & Nani, they are just too good there, but a waste on the wings. 5 Star Weak Foot LW as RW, or vice-verse, self explanatory. If the game gets hard, or the other guy is ultra defensive, I’ll instantly switch to 3-4-3, with Dani Alves as RM, Rooney & RVP as CM’s, Nani goes to LM, and Iniesta goes to the LW, as now he doesn’t need to use pace at all…
I currently use Ramires at CDM…thoughts on moving him back there? He is 76 Def, 72 Head
I appreciate you sharing this experiment with CDMs as CBs. I recently experimented with RBs and LBs as CBs in 352 with mostly great success. I had Clichy at LB, Richards at RB with Kompany in the middle. Clichy had obvious pace and decent tackling, while Micah Richards was immense! He could chase down and rough up any winger pretty much. The best chemistry I could get was 7 for both of them. I’m thinking now after seeing this of maybe Yaya at center CB.
Thoughts on using a LB or RB at CB for the pace?
As can see in video use a LB and a RB next to Pogba. Seemed to work well. Maybe no CBs are the way forward!
NIce vid, can you tell us what sort of custom tactic setup you have? trying to get a setup that stops the counter attack newbies, i endlessly get matched up against. Tried Defensive which helps but going forward and corners are a disadvantage
Didn’t use any custom tactics for this experiment. Just the default every time.