The AI defending on the User's side is really frustrating me right now. They just stand around like a bunch of pylons, they don't tackle, don't cover passing lanes properly, don't try to contain the opposing player unless you command them to. You basically have to do all the defending by yourself whereas in my last FIFA game (FIFA 12) you could rely a bit more on your AI teammates. No matter how good my team is defensively, I give up a ton of goals and quality scoring chances. Any tips would be appreciated.
This is gonna sound quite a bit arrogant, but learn how to defend.
I almost never use the AI + teammate contain (meaning holding R1 + X). I've always done my defending manually, meaning controlling 1 player at any given time, and do the tackles manually.
Sure, contain works great for loads of people, but in FIFA 15, it will make you suffer if you rely on it. Pace and dribbling is very important this year, compared to FIFA 14. And using auto contain will only cause frustration on your end when you meet an opponent who knows how to work around the contain mechanism.
Do the defending tutorials on the skill games. Use L2 and O (circle) for the most part, and Square for slide tackles if needed, and avoid using R1, X and R2 buttons.
A good example is that a good friend of mine who were very good at FIFA14, has started really poor on FIFA15 because he did almost only use the teammate contain and relied on it. We could have very even games, wins, losses, draws...
In FIFA15 however, I am 27-0 in 5 games against him. Not because I am a better player, because i'm not, but because I am better at defending than him. Same goes when I play online, I rarely conceed more than 2 goals and most of the time score 5+.
And I don't even have a good team, haha. You can see it a bit further up at post 185.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/fifa-15.310855/page-7#post-10111333
I will agree however that the AI is more stupid than ever in this years FIFA. Specially the back 3/4/5 and the keeper.