Through balls are not as hard to stop as many people seem to make it appear when playing myclub online. I think there are several things that can help to improve defense. They can actually help you to win a lot of games given there seems to be a wealth of players that only know how to score using that type of tactic. If you take away through balls out of the equation they literally don't know how to do anything else.
1. Coach and tactics. I play a 41212 formation. The coach has all out defense and wide coverage mentality. That helps on 2 accounts. First, players drop back immediately as soon as I lose the ball. Second, they position themselves in such a way that more often than not they intercept the balls when the opposition tries to send through balls down the middle.
2. Pressure. My strategy to pressure depends on where is the ball on the field. If Im on the last third of the pitch and I loose the ball on a bad pass, I send double pressure. That way I can either force a bad pass and recover the ball while catching the defense on its back foot. Also it sends my DMF the opposite half of the pitch where it can help to recover the ball or put pressure on the opposition player that receives the ball is on that area.
Now as soon as the ball reaches midfield, double pressure is out of the question. I use a combination of L stick, R1 and x to pressure and try to retrieve the ball with any of my midfielders (I try not tu use R1 as much to save stamina). Sometimes the opposition player slips through. If that is the case, I only press from behind keeping an eye on passing lanes. If I try anything else, as in sending double pressure o anything involving my defenders, thats what creates space for the through balls. On that regard, I prefer giving away the opportunity for a 40yd strike than for an easy through ball. In any case as long as Im able to keep the pressure on the ball carrier, those shots don't seem to be that accurate.
Furthermore, the benefit of not actively playing your defenders is that if they have a good link with the manager, they know where to place themselves. If the opposition is not patient enough to try and beat your defense through any other means different to through balls, this results in plenty of interceptions. If they are patient enough that means that they will
corner you in your box eventually getting the the ball to their strikers in front of it. That is when I actually play with my defenders being careful to always make sure I can cover movements towards the center of the box. Sometimes they get through, sometimes they don't, but at least I make the opposition fight for it.
3. Players. My DMF and 2CBs are rated 79 (good but not spectacular). My LB and RB are 75. I did notice that when I introduced them to the team, and had low team spirit, they were more prone to errors. Now that they have developed full links to the manager they are pretty good in terms of positioning and interception.
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