I don't know if the "sprint system" (i.e. a button mapping) needed changing, but if somehow they make it adaptive as they're hinting then fine. Defending probably did need changing, but this is a half-baked FIFA tactical defending setting at present. With no second-man press as it stands, yes your team retains shape, but not in anything like a realistic manner (nobody moves from their position!). They also, as yet, don't have the ability to switch using the right stick (and the automated/L1 switch options are pants), which makes defending lanes, anticipating attacks etc. almost impossible. Again, usual caveats: they may well bring these things in. Concerning if they don't though.
Another thing about the defending system – the esports community as it stands already complains about "auto-defending", by which they mean the AI defenders getting into good defensive positions, anticipating attacks etc. Their preference, in order to increase the competitive "skill gap", is that the human player do as much of the defending as possible. So it's a slight concern to see the beta has no options right now for the things I've mentioned. It could signal a new direction to appease the esports crowd.
I disagree about this. I'm also FUMA, and I also got the legacy target locking issues. I imagine they'll always be there to a degree, when the intended pass receiver isn't clear to the game.
There are other things to write about though. What about passing itself? It seemed a bit more predetermined for me, on FUMA. What about ball physics? I'm unsure, but they don't look as realistic as before. What about offensive AI movement? What about space between the lines? I thought in my first couple of games there might have been more of a midfield battle, but I think I was seduced by the camera pan getting so tight I wasn't seeing the rest of the pitch.
Yeah it's early, and I'm reserving judgement, but it's a strange one. If being redesigned from the "ground up", certain things you would think would be better even in an early demo.