Crossing the ball

So here's my rant...

No matter what I do my crossing is terrible. I manage about 25% complete on a good day. I've trie both to improve this and reduce the number of crosses being made. Here is a list of the things I've tried:

- Instructed the wide players to cross less
- Tried exploit the middle
- Play narrower

I'm playing a 442, pretty standard. Except I'm using Kris Commons (LM) as a sort of Thomas Muller role, it's working pretty well so far. My two strikers are Anthony Stokes (DLF) and Leigh Griffiths (AF), 5'11" and 5'9" respectively. They work pretty well together so that's why I'm set on 442. Griffiths is pretty quick and Stokes isn't the slowest either.

I'm going to try early crosses, I'm hoping this brings a few more through balls than crosses, so I'll wait and see.

Is that the norm in terms of cross completion (opposition always have more) or have I got the tactics wrong/misunderstood something?

Any advice would be great

Also on another note in a few season when I get the right players in I'm looking to transform it into a Bayern-esq 4141. Currently lacking a CF/F9 (s/a), an intelligent HB (d) and an AP/CM (a) that suit the roles. Also by the time I get the others I'll probably need a new LIF (a) to replace Commons.

short passing, maintain possession, might have to train players not to stay wide or stop full backs crossing the half way line thus creating more width to encourage crosses, its a tricky one

there's no doubt a tall strong striker, good first touch, off the ball, workrate, heading, jumping and finishing will do well with crosses aimed at him or to the back post, i find back post crosses to good target/complete fowards works well for my aberdeen team

i love the wingers game, crosses, diving headrers n stuff, but it can waste good situations when they make several crap crosses per game