Well it didn't take too long, but I now mastered the new patch.
In my last 4 games, I won 5-1, 6-0, 3-0 and 4-0.
All I had to do was be a little patient in the build up and to defend successfully just change the setting from Attacking to Balanced, and just make sure you control the near where the CPU striker is going to past to rather than the nearest player (Just double tap the change player button).
So just had to change slightly the way I play, but easy as ever on Legendary.
Same here. I've won the Premiere League in my second season as Stoke - essentially dominated the league as if I was Man City this year. All too easy, scoring 3-5 goals per game no probs.
My theory is it's down to form. Anyone with experience with FUT knows how much of a boost chemistry can be, and I think it's the same with CM and form - once you get players on a bit of good form, their play becomes near unstoppable.
Add that to attacking play being overpowered in general, and it's just far too easy to rack up the goals this year.
I had a few more games yesterday and enjoyed it - the variety in my goals is great - but again, all the goals the AI scored came from pinging first-time passes around the edge of the box until they set up a literal tap-in that's impossible to miss.
If I could turn down the amount of first-time passes the AI strings together I'd be happy. If I could then turn down how desperate they are to get the ball to the striker as soon as they're in possession, I'd be very happy.
Does everybody play on Legendary? Is it futile playing on lower difficulties long-term? Do the lower difficulties affect the AI's first-time insta-passing anyway?
Are you playing with sliders? What you keep saying about the CPU always trying to get the ball to their striker as soon as they're in possession seems so different than what I see on default. Sure, I have games where the CPU's strategy is to play forward to the striker, though I find it's typically when they play with a lone striker formation, and especially when they play with forwards who are target forward-types.
But I just played three matches trying to pay close attention to this, and in only one game did the CPU play like that - and it was entirely in line with what you'd think they'd do considering who the striker was and their formation. The other two games were nothing like that - in one they played 3 up front and the only time they ever played a direct pass to the central striker was when they gained possession in their attacking third from sloppy play by me... what you'd totally expect them to do. In the other game - I don't remember the formation - they played a slow buildup style and balls to the striker were varied and definitely not a primary tactic.
Maybe post a video. I'd like to see it 'cause it seems so counter to my experience.
The one touch passing is an issue, as it's always been, though I find that far less an issue this year than in previous years. In my experience it's only a problem when the CPU goes in all hyper-aggressive mode, usually when they're chasing a game, which is frustrating because it makes it more difficult than it probably should be to keep a clean sheet. Aside from those moments, I only have an issue with one touch passing this year when playing elite level teams and even then it's easier to defend than recent years. I've just started a new CM playing in the Championship and so far I've rarely seen the CPU play a successful one-touch passing game against me with much success. And I'm not using sliders.