You maybe don't notice things such as strikers always receiving unmarked in the own half to start a counter. I do and it makes me so nervous I end up quiting the game. This is one of the most stupid things in this series. Having strikers unmarked in the own half makes them bloody easy to pass to start a coutner, which totally destroys ANY kind of tactics.
I think the problem lies more with the nature of clearances and quick response to an aerial pass, rather than marking.
I don't have much of a problem with the way the centre-backs remain safely goal-side rather than tracking a striker who has dropped off deep. If they got tight and the clearance sailed over their heads, one pass and they could be out-sprinted for a chance on goal.
Here CPU Wolves are defending the edge of their penalty area late in the game to protect a single goal lead against me. They have nine behind the ball and their forwards are dropping deep between my midfielders and my centre-backs, ready to help out. Collins can only track Fletcher/Doyle so far, I think.
Obviously the problem comes if I lose the ball. Firstly, like most aerial 'passes' in the game, the clearances are pretty false. Most of the time they tend to be sucked towards people rather than just going randomly anywhere or into touch.
Secondly, imagine this scene from the Tele cam. If the ball is launched to the left edge of the screen I can't see my CB, but the strikers are drawn to the ball instantly. As soon as the ball begins its flight they know where it is going to land and, off-screen, being moving towards it. My CB would be somewhere hidden off-screen to the left and most likely starting to back-pedal. Even if I know where the ball is going to drop, I can't see him, select him or direct him towards it. Plus the clearance tends to drop closer to the striker so they'll probably have a head start anyway.
By this point the striker has already arrived at the exact moment/place where the ball lands on the grass.
Clearances made with the Shoot button need to be more randomised, and if not shanked out for a throw-in (they are sometimes) then they should be launched long into the opposing half, where the defender has the head-start and can gather to restart the attack. Then you'd get a nice delineation between hacking the ball anywhere for safety/relief, and being composed enough to pick out a forward with a deliberate pass to set up a counter. Right now the defending team can hack it anywhere and still end up with the ball.
In the meantime, the way it is presently, as wrong as it is, at least heightens the tension when I'm attacking. I have to take care of the ball and play the safe pass, protect it and be patient, otherwise I know the CPU can counter in an instant. Keeps me on the edge of my seat if nothing else. It's far from a game-breaker in my eyes.
I suppose one could try employing a dedicated anchor man, preferably with a high Reaction attribute. For real-life Barcelona I suspect Sergio Busquets would be just in front of the LS there, ready to intercept any short clearance before a counter could begin.
On another note I also have an example of how sometimes tactics can be worthwhile in this game. Yesterday I played as Villa vs Chelsea. Knowing that Anelka (their RW) has low defensive work-rate, I gave Warnock (my LB) a forward arrow and would look to engineer situations in midfield where my LCM was holding the ball up and waiting for Warnock to start a run. Invariably he would leave Anelka snoozing and I'd have a two-vs-one against Bosingwa down that flank.