Much better game play these days mate. For whatever reasons things changed around the time of the IO patch & 2142 being released. From this point on the lack of tards was noticeable & gameplay/teamwork improved loads.
Loads of reasons things improved i s'pose & my examples could just be coincidence, all i know is it happened. All this year i have gone from one server to the next picking up full squad teamwork based gameplay. Nothing prearranged just casual public play as & when i fancy. No matter when i go on my squad fills & the team plays together. On the odd occasion it don't i just leave & join the next server.
I am high ranked so that helps when you need support/squad members but even noobs play in squads & follow orders in my experience.
I have to say that noobs to BF2 are superb as squad members as they are keen to do well/score well & are feeling that buzz i had ages ago.
Noobs are what will keep BF2 going & vets know & respect that.
I would advise anyone new to BF2 to play Infantry only at first as this is where teamwork is needed more than most & lack of teamwork is pretty much a death sentence. Squad up & work as a team or Die to be quite honest. Just join a squad as medic & keep your Squad leader alive first then squad members second, give your life to revive the squad leader as this is Key to success as a squad. drop packs for the others but whatever you do revive your squad leader. Then just follow orders & use voip but only when needed.
On vehicle maps it is different & you do have to look for a teamwork based server. You may have to go on 3 to find 2 teams having it proper. Don't get involved in any Tard behaviour though, if there are idiots on there killing for planes & armour just leave, don't waste your gaming time on some retard just leave. With vehicles practise makes perfect is about all i can say but all vehicles are instinctive.
With the Awards scheme it's like single player achievements built into your multiplayer game but also as you gradually go up in rank you are required to get certain badges/awards Before you rank up. This works out perfect as by the time you are high rank you have worked your way round All classes & all armour/planes/jets etc etc etc
I've said enough i think

I think i may like this game