I've heard that strikes can actually score from 1-on-1's after the 8.0.2 patch. The problem is that I haven't had any of them yet in my matches.

I've got good passers on the midfield (Bodmer, Jimenez, Banega, Silva) and "try through balls" set to often in their instructions. I have Gokhan Unal, Paolucci and Aguero competing for the place(s) up front. Not the best strikers in the world, especially after Aguero got his attributes lowered in the patch ( screenshot).

So, the question is... How can I create more 1-on-1's? Not just for the players mentioned above, but generally. And I don't want the defenders to be hoofing desperate longballs up the field. I want to know what kind of team instructions and player intructions are needed to get my middlefield play intelligent through balls for strikers who are actively trying to create openings in the defense.

I have the exact same problem since the patch. Times when my amc would normally play a nice through ball slicing the defense apart, he would now would rather just pass it backwards.

Made some tests and lowering the creative freedom on the middlefield and up front seems to help.

What style of play are you using? if you attacking with a high DL then imo thats why your not getting many 1 on 1s, if you play a deep DL when the opposition is playing a high DL and play on the counter and direct passing with a quick striker then im sure you will see your striker have a few 1 on 1s.

I've tried different styles, but I'll try a deeper DL next.

For me it's dependent on the match situation, as i believe like many other's FM is now about using various tactics for different match situations..And if i were looking for 1 on 1 situations it would only be when im big underdogs
or holding on to a lead against similar opponents.It's no good looking for 1 on 1's against teams who are gonna sit back and defend, if you read the match engine then you will know when to exploit it.