Chat 2 BPDs > BPD + CD?

[kjiho]

Hi, I’m not sure if somebody’s already answered something similar, but does anyone know definitively if playing two BPDs should end up producing more attacking play, possession & goals than a BPD+CD pairing with the EME? Also, does it let in more goals than the latter?

I’ve been playing with two teams for many seasons and experimenting with each combination but have very varied, confusing results.
 

1. Man Utd in a 4-1-2-2-1 with:

SK, 2BPD, 2WB, BWM, AP, BBM, 2IF, CF

2. Blackburn (Promoted to PL, same formation/tactics, similar squad quality):

BPD + CD rather than 2BPDs.

 

I expected a double BPD pairing would lead to higher possession/goals + more conceded, but this wasn’t always the case. In my third season in the PL with Blackburn w/ a CD+BPD pairing I had higher avg. possession (pretty sure), more goals scored and less conceded than my best season with United. Almost everything else was equal, except with Blackpool I kept Pau Torres as a CB rather than training his passing/dribbling to turn him into a BPD.

I’m really curious to find out, but don’t have the time to repeat the experiment with everything else except the defender roles being equal..

Edited August 29, 2020 by kjiho

[Aaron Thornton]

I always found two BPD was defensively poor, BPD and CD or two CD is my preferred pairing

[FuddledFox]

49 minutes ago, kjiho said:

expected a double BPD pairing would lead to higher possession/goals + more conceded, but this wasn’t always the case.

I think there is often a bit of a misconception as to what a ball playing defender actually does and that he will help play the ball out from the back and help keep possession but I don’t think that’s the case.

A ball playing defender is going to look for more high risk passes which is in turn going to mean he is more likely to give the ball away and decrease possession overall.  If anything a BPD is going to suit a more direct passing style than a short possession style because a BPD is going to look to play through balls to advanced players or balls over the top for a striker or wingers to run onto. A standard CB who has a decent passing attribute is much more likely to play short passes that help keep possession at least in theory anyway.

Personally I always use two CD and look for them to have good passing as I don’t want my defenders playing risky passes and would rather they simply pass it short to wing backs or midfielders further forward.

[kjiho]

1 hour ago, Foxy said:

I think there is often a bit of a misconception as to what a ball playing defender actually does and that he will help play the ball out from the back and help keep possession but I don’t think that’s the case.

A ball playing defender is going to look for more high risk passes which is in turn going to mean he is more likely to give the ball away and decrease possession overall.  If anything a BPD is going to suit a more direct passing style than a short possession style because a BPD is going to look to play through balls to advanced players or balls over the top for a striker or wingers to run onto. A standard CB who has a decent passing attribute is much more likely to play short passes that help keep possession at least in theory anyway.

Personally I always use two CD and look for them to have good passing as I don’t want my defenders playing risky passes and would rather they simply pass it short to wing backs or midfielders further forward.

I guess it’s all about finding that balance between possession and chances created, eh? That clears things up a bit, thanks.

[Rich]

I personally always use CD’s with any tactic I go ahead With, I usually have a DLP in my team and the CD’s will try and find the wing backs or the DLP, it means less mistakes from a CB a passing to the opposition striker. Always depends on the overall tactic how much possession I get, doesn’t seem to affect it Possession wise having no BPD.

[Mr Tree]

Yep echo the above, found 2x BPD ineffective, and these days I just play 2x CD even if I have a stud at the back, it seems the most effective to me. Not sure you'll get a definitive answer, but hopefully some help anyway

[Ian]

I tend to stick with CB’s only in most of my systems these days but I still look to get defenders with decent passing and dribbling if possible. I actually think of the BPD as a defender who often tries to dribble with the ball out of defence as well as the risky passing, maybe they don’t but I’d always insist on good dribbling, passing and technique for any defender I’d ever put in as a BPD. As well as the other important CB attributes of course.