Tactics for winning 50/50 balls

[uncle_colin]

What's the best way to go about winning 50/50 balls?(Therefore winning the ball after the goalkick). My players always seem to lose out and be in the wrong position after the goal kick. For instance, when playing proffesionals I win about 10percent of the 50/50 balls. If I improve this standard skill, I reckon I can kid myself that I may become good one day. Any ideas?

[manicx]

Proffesionals? Where?

Can I assume that you are playing 4-2-4?

[uncle_colin]

No, I'm using the default formation.

[manicx]

This is 4-2-4! Well, the best way to win headers is to switch to a tactic that midfield players are close to the centre of the pitch. I find it easier with 5-3-2 and maybe 4-3-3.

[JamesHBeard]

Remember to press the fire button to get control of the player nearer the ball if you do not have control of him.. that way you can move to the ball and beat your opponent to it.

[manicx]

Yeah, listen to James. He invented the BLC FFS!

[Robert]

If you are needing to win the ball from goal kicks, then it's best to do it without heading, as once you head it down you need to control it. However if your opponent is going for the headers, you can-

a) Make yourself more likely to win the header by moving in the direction the ball is travelling, rather than trying to go sideways or against

b) Let your opponent head the ball down then steal it off him in the half second as it hits the ground

[JamesHBeard]

Yeah, listen to James. He invented the BLC FFS!

Beard's Line Chip, probably the most powerful goal in the koa world. In all the excitement of ko2 i have lost track of how many goals i scored.. was it 6 or only 5 ?

[Noodlebug]

Never having seen any of you play, I don't yet know how qualified I am to give advice.

But I would add to what Robert said with:

c) Know your players, some are stronger than others and you can aim your goal kicks and receiving players accordingly.

d) You don't always have to collect the ball, sometimes you can just push the other guy out of the way, let the ball roll through, and chase it.

e) Mix up the directions: diagonal headers, back headers, consecutive headers - don't just rush for goal ever time. If you know which way the ball is going and your opponent doesn't you have an edge.

On the other hand, from opponent's goal kicks provided you get a player in line with the ball moving to meet it from the opposite direction, my experience is he'll win every single header, unless your timing is hopelessly off. Against CPU it's a boring way to get lots of consecutive shots at goal (see FINISHING) and pinning the CPU in their own half.