Please consider seeing my comment on the current last page of the "Not happy with PES 2012 thread" with reference to the difference between Professional and Superstar.
With that in mind, this is my advice for playing defence:
I think you should view the game like Alice-through-the-looking-glass. So, when on offense you naturally control the player closest to the ball (after all, you have the ball in your possession). However, on defence you should control the player furthest away from the ball. Of course that is a bit extreme, but I think you know what I mean. Thus, on offense I control my AMF who has the ball; but on defense, when their AMF has the ball I do not switch to the player closest to him (say it is the DMF). Instead, let your DMF deal with the ball-carrier on their own. Switch to a player away from the ball carrier and prepare for an interception, or track a CPU run, or, depending on the situation, establish a position in the box to head away a cross. In my opinion, you have to trust that you have prepared your team with a good formation, with suitable tactics, and you have to trust your players to be good relative to their statistics. Let your players play. After all, on offense, when you control the ball-possessor, you don't tell all the other players what to do. Instead, you trust them to establish positions off the ball and play offense! And so on defense, always play off the ball; control a player away from the ball and trust every one else, including the player closest to the ball, to play defense. The only circumstance in which I find myself controlling the player closest to the ball is after an air-ball when the cursor switches automatically. If in that case the situation is dire (in the penalty box, on the wing, etc) I will not switch away but remain in control of that player until the opportunity presents itself to switch away. This is especially crucial in the penalty box but also on the wing. If, for example, a lobbed through ball or air-ball comes to the wing and I am automatically switched to the SB, you should certainly NOT switch players because the likely nearest player will be a CB and thus you will inadvertantly move him out of position at the crucial time (right before a cross). Stay with the man and live or die with it.
In short: play defense in an inverse way to how you play offense. Control a player off the ball and establish position or track a run, prepare to intercept.
Also: I can play an entire 25 minute game on Superstar and never once press a single button while I play defence. I play defense entirely with the two sticks (one to move the player and one to switch the player). That's it. I never, ever, ever, press X or Square, I never sprint, I never hold up play, I never jockey. Just the two sticks. So lets say I am in control of my LWF and he loses possession and the CPU plays out. If the CPU CMF has the ball and my DMF approaches him, I never switch to the DMF, and I never tell the DMF to pressure. Heck, he already knows what to do because I have established a game plan with Pressure at a certain level (for me that level is 4 or 6 at the most). If he doesn't pressure properly then I'll just have to trade him. Anyway, so I am in control of my LWF at the time and the DMF is properly applying a delaying pressure on their CMF. I establish an interception position by tracking their other CMF and I attempt to intercept. If I am too late, I simply approach the new ball carrier and, if my stats are good enough, I will automatically tackle. If I don't win possession and the CMF beats my LWF, one of my other players will approach him at a rate relative to my designated Pressure level of 4 or 6. But I do not therefore switch to that new, approaching player. Instead, I switch to a different player far off the ball and establish a new intercepting position or I track a run. But I never, I stress never, press any single button while playing defense. I never, ever tell my players what to do. You've got to let your players play. After all, that is how we play offense. I never demand that Sigthorsson rush the box to prepare for a cross. He either does it or he doesn't depending on his stats. If you are in control of a player who is approaching the CPU ball carrier, If they are good tacklers, then simply approach the ball carrier and they will win it or lose it. Even better, control an off the ball player and establish an intercepting position and let your uncontrolled player do his thing. If they keep losing it, then trade em! Again, use only the two sticks to play defense and play off the ball. It is the looking glass of offense. Never press a button.
I have a few caveats: this is an extremely hard way to play defense when the CPU is in your penalty box. For example, their AMF and CF are playing give an go against my two CBs and my DMF, but I am in control of my CMF who is late arriving into the box. The urge to demand that my CB or DMF tackle is very great, obviously. But I never do. Instead, I trust that Vertoenghen has good enough defensive attributes that he will time his tackle or play wisely in tandem with Alderwereld. Instead, I establish a position to receive a loose ball or interception. I offer, with my CMF a play-out-of-the-box option. If Vertoenghen gets beaten, I trust Vermeer to come through for the team. If not, I move on, try to get it back on offense.
Last caveats: if you play this way, the CPU will have increased possession because (especially with my moderate Pressure level) I try to allow my team to play strategic defense. Further, I can only confirm these ideas on Superstar level where I think it is acknowledged (at least in my own mind!) that the CPU plays greater build-up, is more patient, and switches sides. Finally, I still draw half of my games, lose the other quarter, win a quarter. When Vertoenghen does get beaten, the urger to press a button next time is very great. But don't do it. Be patient, try it for a full game or two and let me know how crazy you think I am!
Good Day!
