ZaZ said: Maybe using instructions like Run Wide With the Ball can help, and letting them Stay Wider.
When making decisions, each player will look to their radius of action and calculate the expected success with each of their possible actions. The radius of action can change depending on their vision, passing directness and take risks instructions, which also influences what is an acceptable success rate for passing. If they believe dribbling is more desirable than passing, they will dribble instead.
What I think is happening is that your wingbacks always have good options nearby or ahead, so they prefer to pass than to risk a dribble. Getting them away from other players, closer to the side line, might increase their odds of dribbling, but that is just theory. Expand
To be honest, I was on a similar thought process, I have tried to isolate the wide players as much as possibly, I even as a test brought in Mitoma and Pedro Neto as they had the highest dribbles per 90 but again the results show the dribbles per 90 dropped dramatically. I experimented with different roles and roles of other positions to see if that helps, I have set the width to as wide as possible, focused play down the wings. Nothing I am doing seems to be able to get me past 4.00 dribbles per 90. I have added different traits. I have even amended the attributes to 20 which I believe are needed for a good dribbler but still no joy.
Unfortunately @ZaZ reducing the passing directness didn't work. I even slowed the tempo down and the results were getting worse. Just an FYI...I'm trying these changes on my test save with City and I'm inputting Doku on the left and Foden on the right. I ran multiple tests using shorter passing but altering different instructions like tempo and width and unfortunately the dribbles per 90 dropped at one point for Foden to 1.93
TL;DR: I am really struggling to get my wide players to dribble past opponents, with my wingers averaging only about 3 dribbles per game. Has anyone had success increasing dribble numbers, and if so, how did you achieve it?
The Tactical Goal
I am trying to replicate Anthony Gordon’s real-world movement for England—specifically how he received the ball on the flank against Costa Rica, knocked it past his opponent, drove directly at goal and either crossed from the byline or shot.
What I’ve Tried So Far:
Tactical Tweak 1: Using a modified version of CopyCat v6. I have set the team width to Wide, focused progression Down Both Flanks, and added the Dribble More instruction to both Inside Forwards (IFs). Despite this, they consistently look to pass rather than take on their marker.
Tactical Tweak 2: In a previous save, I applied the Hug Line trait alongside Knocks Ball Past Opponent and Runs With Ball Often to Kylian Mbappé. He still only averaged 3.14 dribbles per 90 mins over the season. I even signed Kaoru Mitoma (who had the best dribbles per 90 in the Premier League), but his numbers dropped immediately in my system.
Personnel: In my current PSV save,My IFs have good Dribbling, Agility, Acceleration, and Pace but are averaging just over 3 dribbles per 90 mins
Other Experiments: I have tried various shapes and different wide roles, but nothing seems to unlock consistent dribbling.
If anyone has figured out the right combination of instructions, roles, or traits to get wide players driving at their man in the current match engine, I would really appreciate your advice!
When making decisions, each player will look to their radius of action and calculate the expected success with each of their possible actions. The radius of action can change depending on their vision, passing directness and take risks instructions, which also influences what is an acceptable success rate for passing. If they believe dribbling is more desirable than passing, they will dribble instead.
What I think is happening is that your wingbacks always have good options nearby or ahead, so they prefer to pass than to risk a dribble. Getting them away from other players, closer to the side line, might increase their odds of dribbling, but that is just theory.
To be honest, I was on a similar thought process, I have tried to isolate the wide players as much as possibly, I even as a test brought in Mitoma and Pedro Neto as they had the highest dribbles per 90 but again the results show the dribbles per 90 dropped dramatically. I experimented with different roles and roles of other positions to see if that helps, I have set the width to as wide as possible, focused play down the wings. Nothing I am doing seems to be able to get me past 4.00 dribbles per 90. I have added different traits. I have even amended the attributes to 20 which I believe are needed for a good dribbler but still no joy.
That is an excellent point. Yes I am playing more direct. I will try it with shorter passing. Thanks
TL;DR: I am really struggling to get my wide players to dribble past opponents, with my wingers averaging only about 3 dribbles per game. Has anyone had success increasing dribble numbers, and if so, how did you achieve it?
The Tactical Goal
I am trying to replicate Anthony Gordon’s real-world movement for England—specifically how he received the ball on the flank against Costa Rica, knocked it past his opponent, drove directly at goal and either crossed from the byline or shot.
What I’ve Tried So Far:
Tactical Tweak 1: Using a modified version of CopyCat v6. I have set the team width to Wide, focused progression Down Both Flanks, and added the Dribble More instruction to both Inside Forwards (IFs). Despite this, they consistently look to pass rather than take on their marker.
Tactical Tweak 2: In a previous save, I applied the Hug Line trait alongside Knocks Ball Past Opponent and Runs With Ball Often to Kylian Mbappé. He still only averaged 3.14 dribbles per 90 mins over the season. I even signed Kaoru Mitoma (who had the best dribbles per 90 in the Premier League), but his numbers dropped immediately in my system.
Personnel: In my current PSV save,My IFs have good Dribbling, Agility, Acceleration, and Pace but are averaging just over 3 dribbles per 90 mins
Other Experiments: I have tried various shapes and different wide roles, but nothing seems to unlock consistent dribbling.
If anyone has figured out the right combination of instructions, roles, or traits to get wide players driving at their man in the current match engine, I would really appreciate your advice!
Changes-
Removed take more risks from OCBs and CHMs
Added dribble more and take more risks to IF
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Added stay wider to OCB
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OCB changed to BCB
OOP CCB changed to CB
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NCB changed to BCB
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NCB changed to BCB
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BCB changed to NCB
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Added take more risks to AWB
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OCB changed to BCB
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BCB changed to NCB
OOP CB on OCB changed to CCB
Added take more risks and shorter passing to IFs
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Added shoot more often to IFs and SS
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Added take more risks and cross from byline to IFs
Changes-
Added take more risks to AWBs and IFs