A couple of tips I would like to pass on to those who take the time to view posts in the forum and participate with the community.

I would have posted these in existing threads, like Hed's Practice makes perfect, but I couldnt find it. Was it removed?
Anyway, tip number one:

In order to compete with the better players in this game, you must have a good short passing game and get a feel for the openings that come up in different defensive formats. Being that the large percentage of players on here are "non members" there are only two formations that you have to deal with most of the time. What is the best way to develop the short passing game and other badly needed techniques?
I have found that by playing the easy level practice squad, it gives me just enough slack to be able to work on combinations and practice tackles. If you cannot beat the easy level by 4 or 5 to nil, u need to practice. It is the best way I have found to work on skills before taking them to "friendly" or cup games and then on to official or league matches. Practicing against the easy level gives you just enough time to put together solid combination attacks, try plays that you see from other players, etc.

The second tip is that I seem to do much better in matches when I dont look at my opponents card, level, and ranking. Its not going to do you any good before the match anyway, and may just "psyche" u out or make you underestimate an opponent. Or cause you to play to safe when u get a lead in a match vs a much highler level and/or ranked player.
Overall, dont worry about what ur opponent is ranked or what level he is at, you will have plenty of time to get that info after the game is over. Like the old song about the Gambler says, there'll be plenty time for countin, when the dealin's done.

All the best to you who make use of the forum and these threads/post. Gdad

Helpful posts deserve a special place in our forum. That is why this post is a star of the week.

Great tips mate, I really think this could potentially help lower leveled users.

Add; practice vs the "easy" squad. I know a lot of you will say its a waste of time to use the practice, especially once you have hit the higher levels. But, the practice squad gives me a "guage", a dependable indicator of where I am at versus a known entity. As opposed to trying out new tactics and plays in "friendly" matches, which is fine, but does not give me the same consistency as the practice team. Just wanted to clarify my experience and opinion on that tip.

thanks soccerduke, hope they do.

Splendid tips grandad.

Thanks soccer and duke, and here is another one that just "popped up". While practising vs the "easy" level squad, I discovered that it is fairly easy to get corner kick practice. How? pass the ball to one of your wingmen and take the ball to the sideline and then up the sideline toward the goal, stop facing out of bounds (it takes a little practice to get it right and not kick/dribble the ball out of bounds). The defender will tackle the ball and knock it out of bounds for your corner kick. Its a great way to work on corners and ez! all the best to those who make use of the forum and support the "community". tc, gdad

and would like to add about not looking at opponents win %, rank, level. I do glance at the flag/country, especially for official matches. Why?....... because I want to know if there is going to be lag involved. As a USA player, I have found that it is better to use the best defensive formation (for me, currently its the 541)that you have and play 1-2 yards ahead of the dribble for tackling, or you will be toast, no matter what level/rank you are facing. There are a couple of other threads I have posted, especially "Euro Lag Advantages" that go into heavy detail on that subject, so will not belabor that here.

Yes, Great Tips!

some very helpful tips :-)

Great tips for lower level users or even high!

Very Highful tips :)

great tips from the old master :) lol No offence

great tips! ;)

A good few tips, indeed. =)

thanks a bunch, gdad, i was able to practice on the corners, great tip!!

@red, no offense taken at all, :)

thanks for the words of support bren, bears, boj,kish,rice, duke, and soccer, and busta.

and thanks for lettin me know about the old threads, Hed, congrats on another SOIW mate.

All of you are part of a group who really make the difference on this site/game, many thanks.

Now that the backslappin is over, on to another tip, one you can pass on to a lot of players in the gamerooms......
READ THE FORUM, especially gameplay and tactics!! (thought I would keep this one simple, lol). Whenever I am playing someone that asks me a specific question about gameplay,tactics, or I ask them if they could use a tip? I almost always get a "yes" and I tell them to go to the forum. I add that to the usual thanks and gg at the end, especially for someone who has demonstrated good sportsmanship. Not patting myself on the back or looking for pats, just want to help the "community" grow as much as possible. Thanks again to you all,
if you see me in the gamerooms keep me in mind for a friendly. You still owe me one, Hed. tc all, gdad

And, to add to the tip on how to use the Easy Practice Team to improve your game...

give urself goals or restrictions. Know that sounds kind of confusing, but here is an example. Prior to taking a shot, make three short passes, either regular or through. Organize an attack around one or two long passes followed by two short. Try another attack where you have a couple of long passes followed by a dribble or two dribbles then shot. Have each goal be from a different type of attack/approach till you can hit 4 or 5 goals per game.

The Easy practice team allows you more room and time to make ur pass and/or dribble, its hard to practice when you are spending half ur time chasin the ball when the practice team has it, and its far superior to practicing with only the goalie.

Yeah thanks for the tips grandadb. Nice thread

ur all more than welcome, and, pass it on to other players, especially first timers, tell them to use the forum to help their game.

Also, you may want to take a look at a couple of other recent threads that I started... Slight Lag Finale, and Wolves. We all benefit from a community that helps each other, tc, gdad.

Great tips mate!Will help lots of users!

thx floddy, and I would suggest that as you are able to score at will on the Easy Level team, 6 or more to nil, you should move on to medium and then when you do the same to them, move on to hard. You arent going to get the same defensive reactions as you get from a real player, but... you will have perfected the timing and reactions that YOU need for a successful play.

yup, was gonna say that the medium now works good for me. thanks again gdad and I also pass the tip on to read these threads.

I would be glad to follow to your tips,as you are a good player and know how long can you reach,also you have a lot of knowledges as I am in place to understand from your great posts,U ROCK!!!Hope this post stay live:)As Chris de Burgh says in his song named ''Revolution'';--We have lost once before,now we'll settle the score--

Wow nice tips gdad!! I think I have to improve my short passing technique.. And about the easy level practice with corner kicks yup you were right! you are a genious! :D

thanks kc, and leon, glad to hear this is helping you. also, as you may know, the practice teams AI has been "tweaked" to make them a little stronger. Again, the best way to start implementing a new passing attack is against the easy level team, and once you can score consistently with it, try it out on the medium. Then take it to a Friendly game or Cup match, where its not going to cost you rps. tc all, gdad