Frankfort United: Welcome to IV.53

[DukeRulesMAB]

Welcome to season 21 of Hattrick, and season 3 of Frankfort United! Information on past series here:

Year 1 (5th place, V.22)
Year 2 (1st place, V.22)

Last year, our goal was to finish 3rd. We had an unexpectedly strong year and finished a deserving second. Of course, we then ended up fluking into promotion after the true series champions tanked the last game and we got to play a walkover in the promotion match.

Our goals this year are twofold:

1) Establish the winger training program

2) Survive in IV.53 to see another year in the division.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Youth pull

Harvey Donovan (20502782)
18 years, passable form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is temperamental and honest.
Has disastrous experience and poor leadership abilities.


Speciality: Technical

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 2 000 US$
Wage: 500 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: wretched Passing: poor
Winger: poor Defending: disastrous
Scoring: poor Set Pieces: wretched


We really broke the bank with our Week 1 pull this season.

Economy

Income

Crowd: 42,928
- 36,065 (at FK Sarajevo)
- 6,863 (at Borussia Torhunger)
Sponsers: 50,575
Interest: 6,000
Temporary: 369,720
- 75,000 (Win Series)
- 30,000 (Promotion)
- 31,770 (Supporter Dues)
- 3,870 (New Supporters)
- 18,400 (Sale of Mcwhorter)
- 184,000 (Sale of Travis)
- 7,360 (Sale of Watts)
- 19,320 (Sale of Macartney)

Total revenues: 469,223

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 20,310
Staff: 30,000
Arena: 8,370
Temporary: 968,510
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 3,000 (Listing Fees)
- 368,310 (New Arena)
- 10,500 (Fired Coaches)
- 268,700 (New Trainer)
- 6,000 (Travel Fees)
- 84,000 (Purchase of Gómez)
- 226,000 (Purchase of Hylind)

Total Expenses: 1,047,190

Profit (Loss): (577,967)
New Balance: 838,224

Man, I didn't know I had it in me to spend 1 million in a week. Hell, I've still got 838K to burn! And believe me, I plan on burning it good.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Compased
Confidence: Strong

Sponsers: Satisfied
Supporters: Calm
# of Supporters: 1188 (Up from 1059)

This, of course, represents the reset, as well as our promotion boost in supporters.

Up Next: A run through of the roster once aging occurs, followed by a series preview of IV.53.

[sterlingice]

Oh great- a new season and now I have go to and bookmark all the hattrick dynasties again

SI

[DukeRulesMAB]

Using the DK format, as always.

Keepers

#9 Matthew Matlock
- Age: 20
- Current Form: Excellent (8)
- Experience: Disastrous (1)
- Assessed Value: $1,650,000
- Wages: $8,230 per week
- Goaltending: Outstanding (10)

Our highest paid player, our best player. He's in the best form of his career, too. Only downside: still stuck on disastrous experience after a year and a half of action.

We will be pulling keepers in order to seek a backup starting in the near future.

Defenders

#1 Arthur Eaton
- Age: 32
- Current Form: Solid (7)
- Experience: Passable (6)
- Assessed Value: $64,000
- Wages: $990 per week
- Defending: Solid (7)

Our best outfielder, good for ***/***~ most games, and is a rock in the central defense. He also serves as our backup captain.

#3 William Hawkins
- Age: 30
- Current Form: Excellent (8)
- Experience: Weak (4)
- Assessed Value: $73,000
- Wages: $1,010 per week
- Defending: Passable (6)
- Winger: Inadequate (5)

Better than he looks due to consistently strong form and good experience. Will be replaced in the long run with someone young enough to be trained, but we don't have that kind of coin right now.

#6 Alexander Apelblad
- Age: 22
- Current Form: Inadequate (5)
- Experience: Wretched (2)
- Assessed Value: $88,000
- Wages: $1,248 per week
- Defending: Passable (6)

Our Swede plays wingback out of nessessity, though he has no winger skill to speak of. Struggles some with form, but is a reasonable defensive wingback most of the time. Like Hawkins, he'll be moved in a year or two when we have the money for real wingback trainees.

#15 Haold Diehl
- Age: 18
- Current Form: Inadequate (5)
- Experience: Disastrous (1)
- Assessed Value: $7,000
- Wages: $530 per week
- Defending: Inadequate (5)

The better of my two shit defense backups. Will be released when the Cup ends for new trainees, will probably not see game action till then.

#18 Eric Hogue
- Age: 18
- Current Form: Weak (4)
- Experience: Disastrous (1)
- Assessed Value: $6,000
- Wages: $540 per week
- Defending: Inadequate (5)

Even worse than Diehl cuz his form always blows, and he has no stamina, so he gives up the occassional event goal. Not sure exactly why I haven't released him yet. It's coming, tho.

Midfielders

#4 Robert Mullineux
- Age: 30
- Current Form: Solid (7)
- Experience: Solid (7)
- Assessed Value: $77,000
- Wages: $1,284 per week
- Playmaking: Solid (7)
- Stamina: Excellent (8)

The team captain. He's old, but still very good, the only middie we have right now capable of three stars.

#17 Michael Chopin
- Age: 25
- Current Form: Solid (7)
- Experience: Poor (3)
- Assessed Value: $42,000
- Wages: $912 per week
- Playmaking: Passable (6)
- Stamina: Excellent (8)

Had a very strong season, and was consistently in good form. Will probably be around a while.

#2 Theodore Arnold
- Age: 29
- Current Form: Inadequate (5)
- Experience: Weak (4)
- Assessed Value: $67,000
- Wages: $1,150 per week
- Playmaking: Passable (6)
- Stamina: Excellent (8)

Our first decent midfielder, but he's also likely to be the first to go. Struggles with form and injury, gets the lowest rating of the 3. When we have money, could be replaced.

#14 Borislav Sakic
- Age: 22
- Current Form: Solid (7)
- Experience: Disastrous (1)
- Assessed Value: $43,000
- Wages: $888 per week
- Playmaking: Inadequate (5)
- Stamina: Excellent (8)
- Passing: Passable (6)

Our primary backup struggled all year with horrible form before a late bounceback. Serves his purpose.

Wingers

#10 Felix Hylind
- Age: 18
- Current Form: Passable (6)
- Experience: Disastrous (1)
- Assessed Value: $80,000
- Wages: $1,044 per week
- Winger: Inadequate (5)
- Playmaking: Solid (7)
- Stamina: Inadequate (5)

The first of our TM winger trainees, he's actually tied for the best playmaker on the team. Probably the "A" toward-middle winger, though they are close enough that little things (like form or the results of this week's stamina training) could make the difference.

#12 Mariano Gómez
- Age: 18
- Current Form: Passable (6)
- Experience: Disastrous (1)
- Assessed Value: $85,000
- Wages: $1,092 per week
- Winger: Passable (6)
- Playmaking: Passable (6)
- Stamina: Inadequate (5)
- Defending: Inadequate (5)

The young Argentinian is well-rounded, and should be pretty strong. He may be sold after this year, not sure. Depends on how the starting situation works itself out.


We still have two more winger trainees to acquire. Likely, they will be offensive (read: high winger/passing). Either way, it'll be done by Thursday's training.

Forwards

#8 William Morales
- Age: 25
- Current Form: Inadequate (5)
- Experience: Poor (3)
- Assessed Value: $71,000
- Wages: $1,010 per week
- Scoring: Passable (6)
- Passing: Inadequate (5)
- Set Pieces: Solid (7)

Valuable because of his set pieces, and led V.22 in scoring. I'm hoping to bring in a super SP guy this season, in which case Morales would become expendable.

#5 Jacob Knapp
- Age: 22
- Current Form: Inadequate (5)
- Experience: Wretched (2)
- Assessed Value: $101,000
- Wages: $1,130 per week
- Scoring: Passable (6)
- Passing: Inadeqate (5)
- Playmaking: Inadequate (5)
- Stamina: Passable (6)

Jacob fills many roles for us. He's a #2 striker, though his form is occasionally worrisome. He's a backup midfielder in an emergency. He has a head specialty (very useful). And he's a full clown. He probably won't be a starter here much longer, but he'll be with the team forever.

#11 Courtney Sellers
- Age: 30
- Current Form: Passable (6)
- Experience: Weak (4)
- Assessed Value: $26,000
- Wages: $750 per week
- Scoring: Inadequate (5)
- Passing: Inadequate (5)
- Winger: Inadequate (5)
- Defending: Inadequate (5)

Courtney is our all-purpose backup, but is best in the forward slot, where he occassionally picks up starts.




So this is our team, we still need a backup keeper, two wingback trainees (eventually), and two offensive winger trainees (this week).

[DukeRulesMAB]

IV.53 Preview

1. Vampires

Last year's finish: #8 (8 points) in III.10
Last ten Games: High NSI - 82, Low - 69, Average - 75.0
Typical Formation: 3-5-2

2. Byzantines

Last year's finish: #2 (27 points) in IV.53
Last ten Games: High NSI - 80, Low - 67, Average - 72.8
Typical Formation: 3-5-2

3. FC Parkersburg

Last year's finish: #3 (26 points) in IV.53
Last ten Games: High NSI - 92, Low - 73, Average - 81.2
Typical Formations: 5-3-2, 4-4-2

4. AC Weezer

Last year's finish: #4 (21 points) in IV.53
Last ten Games: High NSI - 80, Low - 63, Average - 72.5
Typical Formation: 3-5-2

5. Frankfort United

Last year's finish: #1 (33 points) in V.22
Last ten Games: High NSI - 66, Low - 54, Average - 57.6
Typical Formation: 3-5-2


6. The Little Pretties

Last year's finish: #6 (14 points) in IV.53
Last ten Games: High NSI - 66, Low - 57, Average - 60.6
Typical Formation: 3-5-2


7. ole

Last year's finish: #1 (42 points) in V.23
Last ten Games: High NSI - 71, Low - 60, Average - 63.0
Typical Formation: 3-5-2

8. Jumpers

Walkover. Lineup has been reset.




Well, we're royally screwed. The top 4 is pretty well defined; Parkersburg looks better, but they're tilted toward defense and...well...we all know how that goes. Vampires is the favorite but, as always, it'll come down to who made the best offseason and in-season moves.

Eighth place is obvious. So we have to somehow top Pretties or ole for 6th to stay around. We are at a deficit ratings wise; I'll have to manage TS absolutely perfectly. Every games against the top 4 will be PIC'd. Every cup game will be PIC'd, though I know it'll mean an early exit. We lead off at home against the Little Pretties. I'm strongly considering an early MOTS, but I haven't decided yet. Thoughts from readers? If it helps any, the next 3 weeks are clear PIC's (two where we're dead, and the walk-over).

Anyway, we'll have to play perfectly (strategically) to pull this off. I don't see it happening.

1. Vampires
2. FC Parkersburg
3. Byzantines
4. AC Weezer
5. ole
6. The Little Pretties
7. Frankfort United
8. Jumpers.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Escalante sold, getting us a little over 130K; more for the winger fund. We still haven't gotta either of our offensive wingers, yet, though I expect that to change later tonight.

Season 3 - US Open Cup: Round 1

Virginia Samurais vs. Frankfort United

Date: November 12, 2003
Arena: Virginia Arena (Virginia)
Crowd: 6,553 (7,000)
Weather: Cloudy

Finally, our first competitive game in quite a while. We have made 12K from the gate, plus we get our first look at our new trainees. Will be an easy PIC win.

Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Alexander Apelblad

Right Wing: Felix Hylind
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Mariano Gómez

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Jacob Knapp

We go with the A team today, getting them the experience, plus their game for the week.

These two are the only two wingers around right now, so they are in, both toward middle. Both have inad stamina, so they probably won't help there much, plus my wing attacks will suck, but it shouldn't be an issue.


The Match

6553 spectators had come to Virginia Arena this cloudy day. Virginia started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Wong - Franks, Land, Pitt, Pavón - Gage, Lourdes González, Ratcliff, Walton - Kruse, Whitney.

Frankfort tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Apelblad - Hylind, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Gómez - Knapp, Morales.

An opportunity to take the lead in the 2nd minute was passed by as Frankfort´s William Morales missed a penalty, firing wide of the mark. Virginias Freddy Pitt got himself booked after a foul. Frankfort took the lead in the games 33rd minute with 0 - 1 after some elegant plays down the middle. Jacob Knapp was the scorer. Frankfort´s Robert Mullineux received a play slashing through the home side´s defense in the 38:th minute, chipping it past the keeper scoring 0 - 2. The home crowd was not pleased with that one. 38 minutes into the game Felix Hylind had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Courtney Sellers. Halftime score was 0 - 2. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 74 percent possession rate.

In the 56:th minute Frankfort put themselves up 0 - 3 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. Scorer was Jacob Knapp. Frankfort´s William Morales received a play slashing through the home side´s defense in the 78:th minute, chipping it past the keeper scoring 0 - 4. The home crowd was not pleased with that one. Some fine manouvering on the left lead to an 85:th minute Frankfort goal, making it 0 - 5. Arthur Eaton was noted down as the scorer. The structure of the game started to change as Frankfort decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. William Morales increased the visitors lead by putting a volley shot away on a pass from the right. 0 - 6. Dane Wong kept the home side in the game with a magnificient save, as William Morales delivered an almost perfect free kick to the far cross bar. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 86 percent possession rate.

Most important Virginia player was Dane Wong. However, Keith Kruse made a disastrous appearance. Frankfort´s best player was Matthew Matlock. Courtney Sellers was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 6.




Goals: Knapp 2 (2), Morales 2 (2), Mullineux (1), Eaton (1)
Yellow Cards: none


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Apelblad: **~

Hylind: *~
Sellers (In for Hylind): *
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: **~
Gómez: **

Morales: **~
Knapp: **


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock


Virginia Samurais

Midfield: wretched (2)
Right Side Defence: passable (6)
Central Defence: passable (6)
Left Side Defence: passable (6)
Right Side Attack: wretched (2)
Central Attack: poor (3)
Left Side Attack: poor (3)


Frankfort United

Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: inadequate (5)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)


Not much of an effort till late, but we got the job done. Pretty nice ratings. The worst parts (the side attacks) will improve over the season greatly. Midfield will be fine, too, we plan on judiciously taking care of our team spirit. Plus this week's stamina training. On a side note, Hylind's injury is minor, he's bruised but training. His and Gómez's ratings should improve quickly if they can get a stamina boost.

In no shock, all 7 competitive IV.53 teams smacked the crap out of bots. The 8th was walked over by a bot. We play a really putrid bot team next week (even worse than this week).



Next up: Training, plus I hope to land a winger or two.

[robbgmaier]

Originally posted by DukeRulesMAB
IV.53 Preview

Eighth place is obvious. So we have to somehow top Pretties or ole for 6th to stay around. We are at a deficit ratings wise; I'll have to manage TS absolutely perfectly. Every games against the top 4 will be PIC'd. Every cup game will be PIC'd, though I know it'll mean an early exit. We lead off at home against the Little Pretties. I'm strongly considering an early MOTS, but I haven't decided yet. Thoughts from readers? If it helps any, the next 3 weeks are clear PIC's (two where we're dead, and the walk-over).

I was a prohibitive favorite to finish 7th in my own seven horse race in IV.10 last season. My first match was against vex's Sidekicks, one of two teams who I thought I had a legitmate shot at beating, and it was at home also. I finally decided to MOTS sunday morning, out NSI'd him and led 2-0 early, and still lost. This started what was a very long downward spiral, that in the end needed desperate measures and a lot of "help" to recover from at the end.

My advice would be to just go ahead and PIC, keep jacking up the TS. Even if you lose, you may make up for it later in the season when one of the better teams comes to your house and PICs, and your high TS will cause an upset.

free of charge

[DukeRulesMAB]

Thanks, robb! I'll keep your experience in mind. The downside to that is that I'm so far behind the top 4, I really don't see any scenario in which I'll be able to snag a cheap win, even by the end of the year. Still, the prospect of an early MOTS has me iffy.

----------------------------------

The wingers have landed!

Jesse Collier (20553193)
17 years, passable form, healthy
A controversial person who is temperamental and upright.
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities.


Speciality: Head

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 56 000 US$
Wage: 760 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: poor Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: weak Passing: wretched
Winger: solid Defending: weak
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: passable


Jesse was purchased for 298K last night after the game. He has absolutely no secondaries, of course, but hell...he's a 17 YO first week solid. He can't be too bad.

Per Pettersson (20555779)
17 years, passable form, healthy
A sympathetic guy who is tranquil and honest.
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities.


Speciality: Quick

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 116 000 US$
Wage: 1 272 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: wretched Passing: solid
Winger: passable Defending: poor
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: poor


Per was just now purchased for 276K. Unlike Jesse, he's not a 17 YO solid, but he's close, plus he has passing and he's quick! I suspect he's actually better than Collier, but we'll see how it works itself out on the pitch.

--------------------------------------------

I still have over 350K left in the bank. For now, I'm going to save it. In a couple weeks, I'll need to get some cheap trainees to use at wingback in the friendlies, plus I'd still like to make a move for a high SP guy to keep me in games I shouldn't be in.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Training News

Stamina training week has arrived. Let's get right to the results.

Hylind 2 levels to Solid
Hogue 2 levels to Weak
Arnold to Formidable
Eaton to Excellent
Hawkins to Solid
Knapp to Solid
Morales to Inadequate
Sellers to Inadequate
Petterson to Inadequate
Collier to Weak
Matlock to Weak

The really big news is Hylind bumping to Solid stamina to go with his Solid PM and Inad Winger. He's really gonna be a star. Other good news includes starting central middie Theodore Arnold popping to Formidable, and Jacob Knapp (who backs up in the midfield on occassion) going to solid.

The bad news: our second toward-middle winger Gómez didn't pop at all. That really hurts his value in my eyes. That said, he has to start this weak for reasons listed below.


Form Update

Starters Going Up: 2 (Apelblad, Morales to Passable)
Starters Going Down: 3 (Matlock to Solid, Hawkins 2 levels to Passable, Hylind 2 levels to Weak)
Reserves Going Up: 2 (Diehl to Passable, Hogue to Inadequate)
Reserves Going Down: 0

Not bad, considering it was a stamina weak. Hylind going dow two level is annoying, cuz when he's in good form, he's gonna be fabulous.

The backup defenders are increasing in form, but they've still probably played their last games for us.

Total Team Value (Before Training): $2,616,000 (2,652,000)

Not as bad as it looks. Matlock's value is such an overbearing part of the team's value (~60%) that even a one-level drop in form by him drops the team.

Coming up next: Youth pull and finances.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Youth pull

Timothy Chastain (20804654)
18 years, passable form, healthy
A controversial person who is balanced and dishonest.
Has disastrous experience and passable leadership abilities.


Speciality: Unpredictable

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 52 000 US$
Wage: 760 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: poor Passing: inadequate
Winger: passable Defending: wretched
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: poor



Will go up for sale tomorrow afternoon at 5K.

Economy

Income

Crowd: 12,463 (at Virginia Samurais)
Sponsers: 52,305
Temporary: 138,377
- 240 (New Supporters)
- 137,700 (Sale of Escalante)
- 437 (Sell-On Fee for Bryson)

Total revenues: 203,145

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 19,282
Staff: 48,000
Arena: 8,370
Temporary: 580,000
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 4,000 (Rename Arena)
- 298,000 (Purchase of Collier)
- 276,000 (Purchase of Pettersson)

Total Expenses: 675,652

Profit (Loss): (472,507)
New Balance: 365,717

Time to sit on the money for now...that may change eventually, but I want to see how profitable I'm gonna be in the new stadium.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Calm (Up from Composed)
Confidence: Strong

Sponsers: Delirious (Up from Satisfied)
Supporters: Satisfied (Up from Calm)
# of Supporters: 1195 (Up from 1188)

Remember my promise to take care of TS? It's about to go out the window.

IV.53 Preview

Vampires - Byzantines

The first of the two big matchups. Vampires should win coming down from DIII, but we'll see. As always, the first week is the most unpredictable after offseason moves.

FC Parkersburg - AC Weezer

The other big matchup. Can Parkersburg get a goal our two to help out their defense? I think they can at home.

Frankfort United - The Little Pretties

I'm MOTSing. It's silly, and I know it, but I have to. This may well be the only other team besides the walkover I can beat in the series, so I have to beat them twice. If we lose, it's a disaster, but if we lost this, we were pretty much done anyway.

ole - Jumpers

ole gets a walkover in their D IV welcome.

Up Next: Our Division IV debut, and the debut of our brand new arena, F.U. Field, as we host The Little Pretties.

[Masked]

Originally posted by DukeRulesMAB

Frankfort United - The Little Pretties

I'm MOTSing. It's silly, and I know it, but I have to. This may well be the only other team besides the walkover I can beat in the series, so I have to beat them twice. If we lose, it's a disaster, but if we lost this, we were pretty much done anyway.

Good luck.

Briefly looking over your division and schedule, I like the call. If you lose, MOTS or not, your in big trouble and will be hard pressed to recover before midseason if at all. All you risk is perhaps a bit earlier exit from the cup, and one round really isn't that important. By the time you play ole, you should have built your team spirit back up and will have another decision to make.

[DukeRulesMAB]

My vague plan is to go:

MOTS (TLP) - PIC (Cup) - PIC - PIC (Cup) - PIC - PIC - MOTS (Ole) - PIC - PIC - PIC - PIC - MOTS (Ole) - PIC - PIC - PIC - ??? (TLP)

I'm assuming I'll win my Cup match against the bot this week even with bad TS. Depending on the draw, I may have one more Cup match than listed here to PIC before the first Ole match, but I'm not counting on it.

The last game is, of course, up in the air. In an ideal world, I'll have enough points accumulated to PIC for the qualifier. Much more likely, I'll have to make some tough decisions, weighing possible auto-demotion against a possible tough qualifier.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Game 1

Frankfort United vs. The Little Pretties

Date: November 16, 2003
Arena: F.U. Field (Kentucky)
Crowd: 22,201 (29,424)
Weather: Cloudy

This is the debut of the brand spanking new F.U. Field! It's also the key to the season, as we are MOTSing one of the very few games we have a chance to win. It's our debut in division IV and in IV.53, and we're already MOTSing. I think I'm insane.

The Little Pretties are a touch better than me. They're way better in the midfield, our defense and attack are even or better. Hopefully, the MOTS + home field will narrow the midfield deficit enough to win.


Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Alexander Apelblad

Right Wing: Mariano Gómez
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Left Wing: Per Pettersson

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Jacob Knapp

Pettersson gets his first ever start in the key matchup in a key role. The Little Pretties runs an unbalanced 3-5-2, always with the same wingback removed. We have put our best offensive winger, Pettersson, in the offensive role over there with his passable/solid wing/passing (as opposed to Colliers Solid/wretched).

The weak point is Gómez, but Hylind is injured and in Weak form. Collier's better than Gómez, too, but I need the toward-middle to help out in the midfield.


The Match

22201 spectators had come to F. U. Field this cloudy day. Frankfort had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Apelblad - Gómez, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Pettersson - Knapp, Morales.

Pretties had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Johnson - Donahue, Atkinson, Coe - Pack, Knutsson, Hamby, Soon-Ho, Titus - Zamora, Davis.

Pretties saw most attack opportunites on the wings and were directing their passes that way. In the 22nd minute Frankforts Robert Mullineux received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Frankfort tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but kept getting stuck on the visitors defenders. Pretties nearly produced a goal as Connie Coe set up Thomas Titus for a strike from a seemingly impossible angle. The receiver wasn´t as clear-headed though, and put the shot wide. 41 minutes into the game Bobbie Zamora was a hair´s breadth away from giving Pretties the lead. A prompt block by Matthew Matlock saved the home team that time. The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 0. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Frankfort, with an impressive 53 percent possession of the ball.

Frankfort were awarded a penalty 55 minutes into the game but William Morales produced a poor shot, quite easily saved by Ernest Johnson. The terraces were silenced in the 63rd minute as Pretties´s Cyril Davis put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack from the right. Pretties came close to extending their lead as Cyril Davis delivered a long range shot from the right but the angle was too sharp, and the shot hit the side of the goal. Frankfort, bringing the final ball possession rate to 51 percent, dominated the battle.

Frankfort´s best player was Matthew Matlock. However, Mariano Gómez made a disastrous appearance. Most important Pretties player was Toby Hamby. However, Teddy Pack made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 1.



Goals: None
Yellow Cards: Mullineux

(Note: Goal totals are for all competitive games this year, not just for the league)


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: **~
Eaton: ***~
Apelblad: **~

Gómez: **
Mullineux: ***~
Arnold: **~
Chopin: **~
Pettersson: **

Morales: **~
Knapp: **


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock

Frankfort United

Midfield: solid (7)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: inadequate (5)
Central Attack: passable (6)
Left Side Attack: solid (7)


The Little Pretties

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: passable (6)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: passable (6)
Central Attack: inadequate (5)
Left Side Attack: passable (6)

Well, I don't really have a lot to say. If we can't beat the worst non-reset team in the league at home with a MOTS, we don't belong in DIV. Which is as I always suspected; we should still be back in V.22 right now, but that's life. We'll soldier through this year as best as we can. I'll stick to the plan on PICing everyone but the quasi-winnable games. But if we're gonna perform this bad, doesn't much matter.

Elsewhere in V.22, Byzantines upset Vampires, when the latter tried an ill-advised switch to counter attack, and killed his midfield and attack. FC Parkersburg pulled off a divine central defense along with a better than normal midfield in whipping AC Weezer 3-0. And, of course, ole got their walkover.

Next up: We go to another bot in the second round of the cup.

[Havok]

tough break man... ratings wise you should have won

At least you can try to make a nice cup run this season. Good luck bro... either way the Misfitz will be pulling for ya!

[DukeRulesMAB]

Thanks for the good wishes; I think we'll probably still PIC through the cup in hopes of a miracle in the series.

This was just horrible time for promotion for my team. There is no rougher time in a team's history that when they are starting a new training program, because none of the trainees are developed, just starting from scratch. Give me the formidable/excellent wing attacks I had last season, and maybe I get a goal or two in this game.

Fortunately, this half-season of pain is the last time Frankfort will have to deal with that. I already have a plan for staggering trainees, so never again is an undeveloped 17/18 year-old counted on as a starter.

After this season:
- Sell Gómez
- Pick up new offensive winger trainee

After next season:
- Sell Collier and Pettersson
- Pick up one new offensive winger, one new TM winger

After 3rd season:
- Sell Hylind and the first new offensive winger trainee
- Pick up one new offensive winger, one new TM winger

And so on....

Once this gets started, I'll be able to sell two players each season to fund both improvements elsewhere and new trainees. Plus, once I get a better cash buffer, I'll be able to add in wingback trainees to the process.

One day, I hope to get a U20 player from some country...he would be held onto through age 20. If by some chance I ever develop a U20 American, I'd consider training him forever, a la Jude Sutherland.

But for now, I've got 4 guys at the very beginning of training, so it's gonna be painful for about 7-8 weeks, until Collier is Formidable and Hylind is Solid/Solid/Solid.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - US Open Cup: Round 2

North Dakota Eagles vs. Frankfort United

Date: November 19, 2003
Arena: North Dakota Arena (North Dakota)
Crowd: 7,000 (7,000)
Weather: Partly Cloudy

Coming off of a very disappointing defeat on Sunday, we're back, PICing with furious Team Spirit. Fortunately, we're playing a really awful bot-run team, and should win handily.

Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Alexander Apelblad

Right Wing: Felix Hylind
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Borislav Sakic
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Left Wing: Jesse Collier

Striker: Courtney Sellers
Striker: Jacob Knapp

Most notable here is the debut of longshot US U-20 hopeful Jesse Collier. We're expecting good things from him. Sellers and Sakic are also being worked in, as they are the two non-trainee backups that will be around all year, good to get them action. The defense stays the same, as the backups are out the door the moment we're out of the Cup.

We're also interested to see how the midfield does; I think Hylind, even in poor form, can help us there.

The Match

7000 spectators arrived at North Dakota Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Dakota started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Weems - Potter, Matthews, Newsome, Bernal - Clay, Daugherty, Gifford, Grigsby - Krause, Huynh.

Frankfort had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Apelblad - Hylind, Mullineux, Chopin, Sakic, Collier - Sellers, Knapp.

In the 15:th minute the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending and Courtney Sellers put the ball away for 0 - 1. One of many good passes from Hugh Grigsby at the wing was recieved and skillfully taken care of by Jeremy Clay, scoring for Dakota to 1 - 1. A mistake by the home sides central defence in the 23rd minute allowed Jesse Collier to score 1 - 2 for Frankfort. The away team´s Courtney Sellers took advantage of a mistake to the home side´s right in the 30:th minute increasing Frankfort´s lead to 1 - 3. Hugh Grigsby of Dakota received a yellow card in the 32nd minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 1 - 3 was the half-time score. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 73 percent possession rate.

After 67 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Courtney Sellers who increased Frankfort´s lead to 1 - 4. At that, Courtney Sellers was noted down for a hat trick. The visitors William Hawkins took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side´s goalie and full backs in the 70:th minute. 1 - 5 for Frankfort. By now Frankfort were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead. In the 74:th minute Frankforts Jacob Knapp received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The referee showed Dakotas Denny Bernal the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. In the 81st minute Frankfort put themselves up 1 - 6 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. Scorer was Courtney Sellers. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 87 percent possession rate.

Dakota´s best player was Jeremy Clay. Ivan Krause was a disappointment, however. Most important Frankfort player was Matthew Matlock. Felix Hylind on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 6.



Goals: Sellers 4 (4), Collier (1), Hawkins (1)
Yellow Cards: Knapp


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: **~
Eaton: ***~
Apelblad: **~

Hylind: *~
Mullineux: ***~
Sakic: **
Chopin: **~
Collier: **~

Sellers: **
Knapp: **


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock


North Dakota Eagles

Midfield: wretched (2)
Right Side Defence: poor (3)
Central Defence: weak (4)
Left Side Defence: weak (4)
Right Side Attack: poor (3)
Central Attack: poor (3)
Left Side Attack: poor (3)


Frankfort United

Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: formidable (9)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: weak (4)
Central Attack: passable (6)
Left Side Attack: solid (7)


I can't believe we let these tools score on us. Ah well, good game. Most notably Sellers tallying 4 goals in his reserve role, and Collier scoring in his debut. We're also excited about our midfield here. We got a weak despite:

1) PICing
2) With Furious TS
3) and a backup (Sakic) in the game
4) and with our TM midfielder in weak form.

Hylind's really gonna be a beast in the very near future. We're extremely excited about him.

Next week, the Cup gets serious, as we visit the Oak Park Gorillas. We're better than them, but their upper range is about the same as my lower range. Could be tricky.

Next up: Winger training begins!

[DukeRulesMAB]

Training News

Winger training starts. We got no pops. Not really sure when to expect one, of course, since these guys are all brand new.

Great experience news, though, as 3 starters popped. Eaton to Solid, Chopin to Weak, and Knapp to Poor. Eaton's my backup captain, while Knapp is my clown, thus every little bit of experience he gets makes me happy. One day, about 8-10 seasons down the line, he will be an excellent/solid coach. Yes, I do think that far ahead.


Form Update

Starters Going Up: 4 (Matlock to Excellent, Hawkins, Morales to Solid, Arnold to Passable)
Starters Going Down: 1 (Hylind to Poor)
Reserves Going Up: 1 (Hogue two levels to Solid)
Reserves Going Down: 1 (Sakic to Passable)

Form bounced right back after the stamina week. All 4 of those starters are very good news. Hylind is already pissing me off, he's my most important trainee right now in the games themselves (Collier is the most important long-term), and I have to decide what to do with him.


Total Team Value (Before Training): $2,700,000 (2,616,000)


Coming up next: Youth pull and finances.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Youth pull

Brandon Weston (21149148)
19 years, passable form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is balanced and dishonest.
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 71 000 US$
Wage: 880 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: passable Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: passable Passing: poor
Winger: weak Defending: poor
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: inadequate


I've had a lot worse. On sale right now for 20K, ending Tuesday night.

Economy

Income

Crowd: 160,793
- 147,593 (vs. The Little Pretties)
- 13,200 (at North Dakota Eagles)
Sponsers: 60,885
Temporary: 8,204
- 210 (New Supporters)
- 4,600 (Sale of Chastain)
- 1,900 (Sell-On Fee for Hiatt)
- 1,494 (Sell-On Fee for Watts)

Total revenues: 229,882

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 24,440
Staff: 48,000
Arena: 18,830
Temporary: 3,000
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 1,000 (Listing Fees)

Total Expenses: 114,270

Profit (Loss): 115,612
New Balance: 481,329

We're gonna make a purchase soon, just waiting to see what comes available. We really, really want a set pieces player who can improve either a wingback or forward slot, but haven't found one yet.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Composed (Down from Calm)
Confidence: Strong

Sponsers: High on Life (Up from Delirious)
Supporters: Satisfied
# of Supporters: 1201 (Up from 1195)

IV.53 Preview

The Little Pretties - Vampires

Not sure what to think here, Vampires has more talent, but isn't doing well tactically and is on the road. Could be an upset special.

Jumpers - FC Parkersburg

Walkover time for FCP.

Byzantines - ole

Byzantines has more than enough to dismiss the new guys.

AC Weezer - Frankfort United

AC Weezer played poorly last week, but they're gonna be pissed off and ready to go. Not to mention their POE TS. We're doomed.

Up Next: We visit (and get mauled by) AC Weezer

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Game 2

AC Weezer vs. Frankfort United

Date: November 23, 2003
Arena: Consumers Energy Arena (Michigan)
Crowd: 42,653 (50,000)
Weather: Partly Cloudy

Wow, that's a big arena. Anyway, after a crushing defeat in our home opener, time to venture on the road for the first time in division IV. AC Weezer hasn't shown much this year, but they're not overlooking us (they're quite an active team) and they have...wait for it...Paradise on Earth team spirit. Yeah, we're dead.


Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Alexander Apelblad

Right Wing: Per Pettersson
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Mariano Gómez

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Jacob Knapp

No special matchup stuff this week, they run a balanced squad, nothing special to be done. Gómez stays on the A team despite me not liking him much due to Hylind's horrid form. And, star ratings aside, I suspect that Pettersson contributes more to an attack right now than Collier. Further, I could really use a quick specialty goal from Per. We have plenty of head specialists like Collier.


The Match

42653 spectators arrived at Consumers Energy Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. ACW tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Larsson - Yang, Belanger, Gerhardsson - Suslik, Darnell, Di Blasio, Papazov, Capó Giol - Kjellsson, Nocon.

Frankfort had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Apelblad - Pettersson, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Gómez - Knapp, Morales.

ACW mostly ignored the flanks in favour of attacks in the middle. Many thought Franklin Belanger ought to have been awarded a penalty shot in the 10:th minute, as he went down trying to circle the visitors keeper Matthew Matlock. Oskar Kjellsson gave his ACW the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. The home side´s Damiano Di Blasio came close to extending the lead in the 24:th minute. His shot came in off the right hand side but Matthew Matlock managed saving with a fingernail. After 33 minutes Per Pettersson made a speedy advance and dropped the ball to Jacob Knapp who shuffled the ball past the keeper. The score was now 1 - 1. The referee showed Frankforts Michael Chopin the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. 1 - 1 was the half-time score. ACW, bringing the final ball possession rate to 67 percent, dominated the battle.

ACW tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but kept getting stuck on the visitors defenders. ACWs Iordan Papazov got himself booked after a foul. ACW created a good opportunity to score in the games 67:th minute when Xavier Darnell`s hooked ball created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. ACW´s Alfonso Capó Giol left the field after 75 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was Brian Esbensen. The referee showed ACWs Brian Esbensen the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Frankfort made a substitution in the 79:th minute. William Morales limped off the field and was replaced by Courtney Sellers. ACW held the ball, with a clear 64 percent possession rate.

Most important ACW player was Xavier Darnell. However, Iordan Papazov made a disastrous appearance. Frankfort´s best player was Matthew Matlock. Mariano Gómez was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 1.


Goals: Knapp (3)
Yellow Cards: Chopin

(Note: Goal totals are for all competitive games this year, not just for the league)


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Apelblad: **~

Pettersson: **
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: **~
Gómez: **

Morales: **
Sellers (in for Morales): **
Knapp: **


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock

AC Weezer

Midfield: excellent (8)
Right Side Defence: solid (7)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: solid (7)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: outstanding (10)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)


Frankfort United
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)

Wow, that was certainly unexpected. I knew there was a reason I overpaid for Pettersson, and that quick specialty paid off huge. It's not particularly meaningful; it's only one point and we got outplayed in a major way. But it shows that survival is possible. Not probable, not remotely so. But possible.

On the bad news side, Morales is out 2 weeks. I hired 4 doctors (in addition to my usual 1), we hope to have him back for next week's Cup match, if we can get a win this week. I don't know how likely that is without Morales.

Elsewhere, The Little Pretties upset Vampires 1-0. They're off to a hot start, and have to be considered a threat. Byzantines thrashed ole 4-1, they are certainly the favorites to win it all.

Next up: The Cup reaches the challenging phase, as we visit Oak Park Gorillas.

[Havok]

Quick wingers rock!!! nice tie bro

[DukeRulesMAB]

Yeah, I have you to thank for that. I'd forgotten to go for a quick winger until you mentioned it, so I made sure my fourth trainee was quick. So a big thanks.

[sterlingice]

Wow- completely unexpected but can't look a gift point in the mouth

SI

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - US Open Cup: Round 3

Oak Park Gorillas vs. Frankfort United

Date: November 26, 2003
Arena: The Zoo (Chicago)
Crowd: 20,700 (20,700)
Weather: Sunny

Now the Cup gets challenging. Oak Park isn't great (their best TS's are about on par with my worst), but they could easily pull an upset, especially at home. We're PICing, of course; eye on the prize of surviving IV.53.

Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Alexander Apelblad

Right Wing: Jesse Collier
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Felix Hylind

Striker: Courtney Sellers
Striker: Jacob Knapp

Except for rotating the trainees, this is the best team we can put on the field. I decided to screw backup form (though really Sakic is the only one affected).

The attack is a problem, Knapp's in inad form, and Sellers is playing for an injured Morales. Hylind's also in crap form, but still should help out midfield.

The Match

The 20700 spectators at The Zoo were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Gorillas had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Morrissey - Gamberini, Echols, Stephens, Murray - Byrne, Potter, Boyd, Nickerson - Levy, Thomas.

Frankfort had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Apelblad - Collier, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Hylind - Sellers, Knapp.

A lovely rush by Gorillas's Wilbert Byrne pastAlexander Apelblad could have resulted in a goal, but the finish was just outside. 6 minutes into the game a free kick combination hooked into the box almost resulted in the home team taking the lead, but the last header went wide. Wilbert Byrne of Gorillas received a yellow card in the 10:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Frankfort took the lead after 30 minutes with 0 - 1. Jesse Collier placed the ball out of reach for the home sides keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left. The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 1. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 55 percent possession rate.

In the 47:th minute the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 2 as Robert Mullineux finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Frankfort´s Courtney Sellers got himself booked. The referee showed Gorillass Theo Potter the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The Frankfort player was Matthew Matlock who had to be helped off the pitch, unable to finish the game. In the 62nd minute Frankforts Jacob Knapp received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Gorillas were forced to a substitution as Roderick Echols couldn´t continue playing due to the rough treatment. Frankfort, bringing the final ball possession rate to 62 percent, dominated the battle.

Most important Gorillas player was Marvin Morrissey. Ray Childers on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Frankfort player was Robert Mullineux. Harold Diehl was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 2.




Goals: Collier (2), Mullineux (2)
Yellow Cards: Knapp, Sellers


Matlock: ****
Diehl (in for Matlock): 0 stars

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Apelblad: **~

Collier: **~
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: **~
Hylind: *~

Sellers: **
Knapp: **


Team Match MVP: Robert Mullineux


Oak Park Gorillas

Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: solid (7)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: solid (7)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: solid (7)

Frankfort United

Midfield: inadequate (5)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: passable (6)
Left Side Attack: weak (4)

Who says defense can't win? After giving up a couple event opprtunities early, they had nothing the rest of the game. Especially impressive was our midfield play, when Hylind gets in good form, he's gonna be a major boost. Our attack ratings are even starting to come around. Very happy with the effort.

Despite the scary moment with Matlock, he's only listed as out a week, and we expect to have him for next week (we already have 5 doctors on hand to deal with Morales). It does underscore the eventual need for a backup, though.

The other 6 IV.53 teams all are up to round 4 as well.

Next up is our first home game against the Pepsi Warriors of V.202. They are better than us, and somehow got relegated last year. Their midfield is about the same as ours, the defense can be better than ours when they play the "A" side, and their offense is always better than ours. Owie. On the bright side, we have our league walkover this week, so we'll be able to play the A teams without worrying.


Next up: Training Update

[DukeRulesMAB]

Training News

We've got our first pop, and it's a good one.

Jesse Collier (20553193)
17 years, solid form, healthy
A controversial person who is temperamental and upright.
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities.


Speciality: Head

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 95 000 US$
Wage: 760 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: weak Passing: wretched
Winger: excellent Defending: weak
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: passable

He's not a U-20 guy unless there is a serious rash of injuries, but he's still gonna be damn good.

Also, "wingback" (really a central defender playing out of position) Alexander Apelblad popped to Poor experience. That leaves only Matlock and whatever trainees are starting in a given week as the A teamers with disas/wretched experience.


Form Update

Starters Going Up: 3 (Arnold, Collier to Solid, Hylind 2 levels to Inadequate)
Starters Going Down: 2 (Chopin to Passable, Apelblad to Inadequate)
Reserves Going Up: 1 (Sakic to Solid)
Reserves Going Down: 1 (Hogue 2 levels to Inadequate)

We're very happy to see Hylind bounce back quickly, and Collier in good form. Both of them will start in the big Cup game.

Interesting note: Sakic didn't even play this week.


Total Team Value (Before Training): $2,568,000 (2,700,000)

When Matlock is hurt, our team value plummets. That's what happens when he has 60% of the team's value.

Coming up next: Youth pull and finances.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Porras finally was daytraded, netting us a bit over 40K. Took his team long enough.

Youth pull

Bill Henry (21474175)
18 years, passable form, healthy
A controversial person who is balanced and infamous.
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 73 000 US$
Wage: 860 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: poor Passing: poor
Winger: weak Defending: solid
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: inadequate

That's almost exactly what we wanted. He'll slide right into Apelblad's wingback spot. He's better than him defending, and has better winger and is younger, making him more trainable. I can see him being with Frankfort for quite a while.

Apelblad will likely go on the list Monday, after I play Henry in the walkover, and make sure his star rating is up to snuff.


Economy

Income

Crowd: 47,520 (at Oak Park Gorillas)
Sponsers: 66,000
Temporary: 61,050
- 510 (New Supporters)
- 19,320 (Sale of Weston)
- 41,220 (Sell-On Fee for Porras)

Total revenues: 174,570

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 24,440
Staff: 48,000
Arena: 18,830
Temporary: 3,000
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 1,000 (Listing Fees)

Total Expenses: 114,270

Profit (Loss): 60,300
New Balance: 541,629

Having landed our wingback through a youth pull, we're gonna look hard for a new forward this week. Hopefully, something in the Excellent/Inad range.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Content (Up from Composed)
Confidence: Strong

Sponsers: High on Life
Supporters: Delirious (Up from Satisfied)
# of Supporters: 1218 (Up from 1201)

IV.53 Preview

FC Parkersburg - Byzantines

The two leaders in the league meet. Will be a rough game either way, but I expect a Byzantines win, they just impress me more.

Frankfort United - Jumpers

We get walkover #1.

The Little Pretties - AC Weezer

Intersting game. The Little Pretties are off to a hot start, and have a home match against a struggling ACW (still with strong TS, though). I see TLP holding court here with another narrow win.

ole - Vampires

Vampires is struggling, despite coming down from DIII, but they aren't struggling this bad. They should take care of ole.

Up Next: Our home walkover.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Game 3

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 11375 at F. U. Field today. Frankfort had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Sakic - Hawkins, Eaton, Henry - Pettersson, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Gómez - Sellers, Knapp.

Jumpers tactics involved an interesting 0-0-0 combination. The following players had been chosen: - - - .

The visitors weren´t able to produce at least 9 players, which is the minimum amount allowed, so they had to concede to a walk over. The spectators, who had all been looking forward to an exciting game, were of course very disappointed. The match ends 5 - 0.



-----------------

We got our walkover win. Not much to say of course other than that Henry got the expected **~, so he's good to go. Apelblad will go on the transfer wire tomorrow afternoon cheap.


In competitive IV.53 action, Byzantines and FC Parkersburg fought to a 1-1 draw. FC Parkersburg has great NSI's, but it's concentrated on their defense, so ties like this will be common. Vampires took out out 3-1, and seems to be rounding into decent form. But the amazing thing is this.

The Little Pretties

Midfield: inadequate (5)
Right Side Defence: passable (6)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: passable (6)
Central Attack: inadequate (5)
Left Side Attack: passable (6)
NSI: 54

AC Weezer

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: excellent (8)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: formidable (9)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)
NSI: 65

TLP won six to one! That's gotta smart for ACW. TLP now leads IV.53 with 9 points, but clearly that's not gonna last.

Coming Next: We host Pepsi Warriors in the US Open Cup.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - US Open Cup: Round 4

Frankfort United vs. Pepsi-Warriors

Date: December 3, 2003
Arena: F.U. Field (Kentucky)
Crowd: 29,424 (29,424)
Weather: Sunny

This should end our cup run. They got relegated in a complete fluke last season when they lost 4-3 to a team they out-NSI'd 76-56. They haven't had a competitive game less than 68 NSI in over a full season. I've never had above a 66 NSI. Also, we're PICing for the league. So yeah, this is bad.

Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Bill Henry

Right Wing: Jesse Collier
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Felix Hylind

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Jacob Knapp

Well, first off, as you can tell here, we didn't buy a forward this week. The reasoning for this was 3-fold

1) We realized we were 100K-200K short of the kind of forward we really wanted.
2) We realized we had almost no shot in this game
3) Morales got to Bruised but Playing

The rest is normal. This is Henry's first start, we're happy to have him. We have a shot at a passable midfield here with good TS, at home, with Hylind in improved form.

The Match

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 29424 to F. U. Field. Frankfort started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Henry - Collier, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Hylind - Knapp, Morales.

Pepsi-Warriors had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Lafleur - Wai-kheng, Zapletal, Davidsson - Macedo Hinz, Acedo Menin, Stadlbauer, Westerén, Åkesson - Cedergren, Pålsson.

Jose Eduardo Acedo Menin came close to putting the visiting team one up in the 5:th minute, following a solo raid down the middle, but Matthew Matlock managed to tip the ball to a corner. Frankfort broke through to the left in the 10:th minute, Theodore Arnold firing at an acute angle giving the home side a 1 - 0 lead. Frankforts Arthur Eaton got himself booked after a foul. With 15 minutes played Jacob Knapp could have brought this one home for Frankfort, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. Visitors Lucas A. Westerén was alert on a play coming in from the left, making the score a tie at 1 - 1 in the 16:th minute. The referee showed Frankforts Robert Mullineux the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Possession of the ball saw an equal split between the teams during the fortyfive minutes.

Frankforts William Morales gave, after 72 minutes, the home team a 2 - 1 lead after an attack coming in from the right. Christian Stadlbauer of Pepsi-Warriors received a yellow card in the 79:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Visitors Magnus Cedergren was alert on a play coming in from the left, making the score a tie at 2 - 2 in the 87:th minute. Bill Henry of Frankfort received a yellow card in the 88:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Pepsi-Warriors, bringing the final ball possession rate to 52 percent, dominated the battle.

After the regular 90 minutes, the agony of overtime followed. Unsportsmanlike behaviour by Bill Henry rendered him his second booking of the match, and Frankfort had to finish the game with a reduced squad. William Morales gave his Frankfort the lead with 3 - 2, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. With that Frankfort had won the game in extra time. The most dominating Frankfort player was without a doubt Matthew Matlock. However, Felix Hylind made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Pepsi-Warriors player was without a doubt Lucas A. Westerén. Magnus Cedergren was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 2.


Goals: Morales 2 (4), Arnold (1)
Yellow Cards: Henry 2, Eaton, Mullineux


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Henry: None Given (Sent Off)

Collier: ***
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: ***
Hylind: **

Morales: **~
Knapp: **


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock


Frankfort United

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: formidable (9)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)


Pepsi-Warriors

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: formidable (9)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: formidable (9)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: formidable (9)

Wow! What a great effort from our guys. An all-time high NSI. Supporter rates it as my best game, best defense, 5th best midfield (on a PIC!), and 15th best attack. The attack is more impressive then you'd think given that we played both wings offensive all of the last two seasons. And, I re-emphasize, on a PIC! Just a great effort. Our first ever OT game, too. Not to mention our first 5th round US Open Cup appearance.

Morales's return was key, and he put in two goals. Hylind is already having a big effect on the team. Hell, before he was sent off, Henry helped us to our best ever left defense rating! Actually, that's the one downside, he's not even tempermental, him getting suspended for Sunday's game is irritating. Not sure what direction I'm gonna go in there, stay tuned.

Next week, we face Bulldawgs. They are in 3rd place in III.4 (uh oh). Their ratings tonight looked like:

Midfield: outstanding
Right Side Defence: magnificent
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: outstanding
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: brilliant
Left Side Attack: excellent

And lest you think that was their A team, their Sunday ratings looked like:

Midfield: brilliant
Right Side Defence: brilliant
Central Defence: magnificent
Left Side Defence: supernatural
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: excellent
Left Side Attack: excellent

At least there's no point in worrying about that game.

Elsewhere, The Little Pretties lost a tight game to a good team, while Vampires got waxed by a similarly talented team. Vampires just isn't very good. The other IV.53 teams all won, including ole winning in extra time like myself.


Next up: Training Update

[Havok]

nice win Duke

That defense is looking nice!

[DukeRulesMAB]

Thanks, Havoc!

I'm really glad I trained keeper for my first two years. For one thing, it's easy, and hard to screw up, something that's underrated for a newbie. And now, even with defenders of passable/solid/solid and an offensive coach, I can put up those defensive ratings. Matlock's the best keeper in my series, and will likely keep me in all games except the biggest mismatches.

Now I can build my offense without worrying about defense, and when I can afford some excellent defenders...yow.

[Havok]

Im wondering what kind of defensive ratings i'll get with a formidable goalie.

Right now when everyone is in passable form i'll get solid/excellent/excellent with 1 wingback playing normal. With a formidable goalie i "think" i'll get a excellent/formidable/formidable.

that sound right to you???

P.S. my current goalie is a mid-level solid.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Yeah, I think you'll go up about a level accross the board, though it's hard for me to guage that based on my team, because while Matlock was improving 2 levels, he was also improving in form, so I have trouble separating the two.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Training News

We got the pop we really, really wanted for this week.

Mariano Gómez (16328672)
18 years, passable form, healthy
A sympathetic guy who is balanced and honest.
Has disastrous experience and poor leadership abilities.


Speciality: Head

Nationality: Argentina
Assessed value: 119 000 US$
Wage: 1 092 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: passable Passing: weak
Winger: solid Defending: inadequate
Scoring: poor Set Pieces: wretched

Mariano is the one winger we're planning on selling at the end of the year, so this was crucial. We now expect him to pop formidable late this year, so he should bring in a nice piece of cash.

Per Pettersson has been trained 3 weeks now at 17 years old; either he pops next week or I've been misinformed about the time it takes for a winger to pop. Hylind should pop within the next two weeks, as well.

One thing I forgot to mentioned last week, wingback William Hawkins dropped from inadequate to weak in...passing. If we counterattacked, that would bother me, but we don't, so it doesn't.


Form Update

Starters Going Up: 4 (Eaton, Arnold to Excellent, Knapp, Hylind to Passable)
Starters Going Down: 0
Reserves Going Up: 1 (Diehl to Solid)
Reserves Going Down: 0

We are in inhumanly great form. We have one player below passable. And it's a player who will never play for us again. AND he's in inad form. We have 3 starters in excellent form, 3 in solid, 4 in passable.

Total Team Value (Before Training): $2,806,000 (2,549,000)



Coming up next: Youth pull and finances.

[DukeRulesMAB]

A nice little bidding war broke out over Apelblad. On the bad side, our TS took a slight hit when he left (he was popular). On the good side, he sold for slightly over 100K! This for a passable defender with passable passing in his mid/early 20s. Guess someone really wanted that CA.

That put a touch over 90K in the bank, and we dropped 36K of it on this guy:

Demitri Makris (21418280)
18 years, passable form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is calm and honest.
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities.

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 39 000 US$
Wage: 816 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: wretched Passing: weak
Winger: passable Defending: inadequate
Scoring: wretched Set Pieces: inadequate


He's nothing special, we probably overpaid a touch, but we wanted to get the guy and get it over with. He'll get trained at half speed for a while, until he's at least excellent winger. No real plan for him (or the other guy we'll pick up soon who'll probably look at lot like Demitri).

Meanwhile, this doof will start at wingback Sunday. I gave brief thought to bringing in a one-and-out solid or excellent, but we're not gonna be anywhere close to Byzantines anyway, and I didn't want to risk another TS hit.

Finally, with this acquisition, we have released scrub defense backup Eric Hogue. We now have no one below passable form on the entire squad.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Youth pull

Kev Cabrera (21722084)
19 years, passable form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is balanced and upright.
Has disastrous experience and inadequate leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 34 000 US$
Wage: 680 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: poor Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: weak Passing: inadequate
Winger: poor Defending: weak
Scoring: passable Set Pieces: poor


The last 4 weeks, I believe we've gotten 3 player that we've sold (on in Kev's case will sell), and Henry, who's our new starting wingback. None of the players sold for any great sums, but we're certainly not complaining. This one's for sale at 10K, ending 12/10/2003 at 01:40.


Economy

Income

Crowd: 204,474
- 75,848 (vs. Jumpers)
- 128,626 (vs. Pepsi-Warriors)
Sponsers: 69,465
Temporary: 102,330
- 780 (New Supporters)
- 91,800 (Sale of Apelblad)
- 9,750 (Sell-On Fee for Huber)

Total revenues: 376,269

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 24,440
Staff: 54,000
Arena: 18,830
Temporary: 45,000
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 1,000 (Listing Fees)
- 6,000 (Fired Doctors)
- 36,000 (Purchase of Makris)

Total Expenses: 162,270

Profit (Loss): 213,999
New Balance: 755,628

We've got a boatload of cash, we are eventually going to get that forward, but I'm in no hurry, and have very specific requirements.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Content
Confidence: Strong

Sponsers: Dancing in the Streets (Up from High on Life)
Supporters: High on Life (Up from Delirious)
# of Supporters: 1244 (Up from 1218)

I'm quickly learning the importance of coach leadership, as we can't hold high TS for anything. I think we'd be satisfied if not for the Apelblad sale drop, but still. Getting a better coach is definately moving up on my list of priorities, though not till next season at the earliest.

IV.53 Preview

Vampires - AC Weezer

These two have been disappointing so far. But Vampires much more so; I expect AC Weezer to get the road win here.

Jumpers - The Little Pretties

TLP grabs their first walkover, and is, unbelievable, perfect through 4 games.

Byzantines - Frankfort United

Byzantines is the favorite in the series, IMO. Second at worst behind FC Parkersburg. But FCP is mainly a defensive team, so I still might have hope against them of getting a fluke point. Byzantines, there is no such hope, so with us on the road, this makes it the most hopeless game of the year. We'll be PICing and hoping it doesn't get too ugly.

ole - FC Parkersburg

You never know when a team as unbalanced toward defense as FCP, but they're so much better than ole I can't see them blowing this.

Up Next: We visit the series favorites and beg for mercy.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Game 4

Byzantines vs. Frankfort United

Date: December 7, 2003
Arena: Hagia Sofia (Arizona)
Crowd: 42,000 (42,000)
Weather: Partly Cloudy

Byzantines was one of 4 teams I thought had a shot at the title before the year. Two of them (ACW and Vampires) have fallen way off the pace early. The Little Pretties appear to have joined them at the top, but I still don't think that'll last. That leaves Byzantines and FC Parkersburg. FCP is an amazing defensive team (putting up the occassional divine central defense), but is weak elsewhere. That makes Byzantines, for my money, the series favorites, and this the most unwinnable match of the year for us. Definately PIC time.


Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Demitri Makris

Right Wing: Felix Hylind
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Per Pettersson

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Jacob Knapp

With Henry out, Makris makes his debut. Not just for Frankfort United, his first match ever. Our defensive ratings will take a huge hit of course. I've shifted Eaton over to Makris's side of the central defense (he usually is on Hawkins' side), but it won't make much difference. On the very, very small bright side, Makris should help our wing attack a touch.

Elsewhere, Hylind takes his position on the "A" team as his form is just fine nowdays. And Pettersson gets the call over Collier. He won't but up Collier's ***, but the weather forcast was right for his quick specialty, so we're hoping.


The Match

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and Hagia Sofia saw a crowd turnout of 42000. Byzantines tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. They fielded: Andreasson - Farley, Singletary, Anthony - Carvoeiro Martin, Yates, Whitten, Esposito, Mestre - Kuusemaa, Herzog.

Frankfort started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Makris - Hylind, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Pettersson - Knapp, Morales.

Ron Herzog gave his Byzantines the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. José Alberto Carvoeiro Martins was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the enemy box - Ron Herzog managed to kick one of them into 2 - 0 in the 13th minute. After this Byzantines lowered the tempo in order to concentrate on their defensive efforts. After an industrious effort down the middle Ron Herzog could have closed the game off in the 16:th minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. An indirect free kick in the visitor´s penalty area in the 23rd minute could have resulted in another goal, but Matthew Matlock got a hand out and tipped the ball over the bar. Michael Chopin of Frankfort received a yellow card in the 37:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. In the 39:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Karl Kuusemaa dashed through, knocking home 3 - 0 for Byzantines. The teams went for a half-time break at 3 - 0. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Byzantines, with an impressive 59 percent possession of the ball.

In the 46:th minute Frankforts Robert Mullineux received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Benjamin Whitten the unlucky victim, couldn´t continue the game, so Marco Nielsen had to come off the bench. After an industrious effort down the middle Karl Kuusemaa could have closed the game off in the 47:th minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. Frankfort reduced in the 68:th minute to 3 - 1 as Per Pettersson easily chipped the ball past the home sides keeper on a play from the right. In the games 69:th minute Byzantines´s Ron Herzog head butted an opponent nastily and so the referee sent him off immediately. Byzantines held the ball, with a clear 52 percent possession rate.

Byzantines´s best player was Kyle Yates. Rafael Anthony on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Frankfort player was without a doubt Matthew Matlock. Demitri Makris on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 1.



Goals: Pettersson (1)
Yellow Cards: Chopin, Mullineux

(Note: Goal totals are for all competitive games this year, not just for the league)


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Makris: **

Hylind: **
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: ***
Pettersson: **~

Morales: ***
Knapp: **~


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock

Byzantines

Midfield: solid (7)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: solid (7)
Right Side Attack: formidable (9)
Central Attack: formidable (9)
Left Side Attack: formidable (9)


Frankfort United

Midfield: inadequate (5)
Right Side Defence: excellent (8)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: inadequate (5)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: formidable (9)


Strong effort from our guys, all things considered, just not enough to deal with a superior team. Highlights included still strong defensive ratings despite a major handicap down there. Individually, Makris (said handicap) performed better than expected, while I was also pleased with the ratings from Arnold, Pettersson, and Morales. Pettersson is proving to be a playmaker, as he got today's goal not even using his quick specialty. We're not nearly as good as the top teams in the series, but we're not gonna get killed most weeks either.

The one downside: Mullineux is suspended. But we weren't gonna be winning Wednesday anyway, so I'll look at it on the bright side and say it's nice to have his slate clean for the real games.

Elsewhere in IV.53, Vampires whipped AC Weezer 4-1, and finally showed the talent that made them a division III team last year, including a magnificent central attack. In the other competitive game, FC Parkersburg eeked out a 1-0 win over ole. Next week we play ole at home in a must-win.

The standings through 4 weeks:

1. The Little Pretties 4 13 - 1 12 
 
2. FC Parkersburg 4 10 - 1 10 
3. Byzantines 4 10 - 4 10 
4. Vampires 4 8 - 5 6 
 
5. Frankfort United 4 7 - 5 4 
6. ole 4 7 - 8 3 
 
7. AC Weezer 4 3 - 14 1 
8. Jumpers 4 0 - 20 0 

Next up: We get absolutely smacked in the Cup by Bulldawgs.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - US Open Cup: Round 4

Frankfort United vs. Bulldawgs

Date: December 10, 2003
Arena: F.U. Field (Kentucky)
Crowd: 20,798 (29,424)
Weather: Rain

Rain kept the crowd down, and frankly, I'd rather my fans not see this game anyway. Bulldawgs has an excellent team, which is gonna wipe the floor with me. We're PICing for the league, and playing reserves for various reasons.

Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Bill Henry

Right Wing: Jesse Collier
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Borislav Sakic
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Mariano Gómez

Striker: Courtney Sellers
Striker: Jacob Knapp

Mullineux is suspended, so Sakic is in, and we have no chance, so I shuffled Sellers into the lineup. Sakic and Chopin are Powerful, so maybe we could luck into a rain event goal of some sort, but that's the only tiny prayer we have.


The Match

Due to an all-day shower, 20798 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at F. U. Field. Frankfort had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Henry - Collier, Arnold, Chopin, Sakic, Gómez - Sellers, Knapp.

Bulldawgs started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. They fielded: Hummel - Harbin, Börjesson, Quinn - Moran, Pihlhall, Mclendon, Wästerander, Simas - Jarolím, Diculescu.

Some quick foot work on the left side of the field in the 8:th minute left Bulldawgs´s Ray Quinn completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. In the games 19:th minute Frankfort´s Courtney Sellers fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Courtney Sellers for taking a dive. James Mclendon was, after 26 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors lead with a well placed diving header but home side keeper Matthew Matlock saved. William Hawkins was uncomfortable with the soggy pitch as he couldn´t move the ball around with his usual grace. After the ball got lifted in from the left David Pihlhall was on his own in the home side´s penalty area 35 minutes into the game, and should have scored, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 1. Bulldawgs, bringing the final ball possession rate to 67 percent, dominated the battle.

After 52 minutes of game time Grigore Diculescu received an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but Matthew Matlock was in the right place, tipping the ball to a corner. In the 64:th minute the visitors put themselves ahead 0 - 2 as Tomas Jarolím finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. Frankfort will have to do without Courtney Sellers for a time due to a bad foot injury. He was substituted by William Morales. In the 67:th minute Bulldawgs put themselves up 0 - 3 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. Scorer was Tomas Jarolím. Bulldawgs held the ball, with a clear 70 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Frankfort player was without a doubt Matthew Matlock. Mariano Gómez was a disappointment, however. Bulldawgs´s best player was Thomas V. Wästerander. Ray Quinn on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 0 - 3.



Goals: None
Yellow Cards: Sellers


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Henry: **~

Collier: ***
Chopin: **~
Sakic: **
Arnold: ***
Gómez: **

Sellers: *
Morales (In for Sellers): ***
Knapp: **~


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock


Frankfort United

Midfield: inadequate (5)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)


Bulldawgs

Midfield: brilliant (11)
Right Side Defence: brilliant (11)
Central Defence: magnificent (12)
Left Side Defence: world class (13)
Right Side Attack: passable (6)
Central Attack: excellent (8)
Left Side Attack: solid (7)

Yep, that's about as expected. We matched up OK on offense, but their defense and midfield all but guaranteed we wouldn't score, while their midfield had the ball so much the offense couldn't help but score a few. Matlock's 2 saves were the only things that kept us in the game for a while, and kept the score respectable in the end.


Sellers is out 4 weeks, but that's not a big deal, even for backup purposes, for reasons stated in a post to follow.

We're very happy with our Cup run, and hopefully can repeat or top it next season!

Elsewhere, it was not a good week in the Cup for IV.53. FC Parkersburg lost in PK's. Byzantines got spanked by one of DK's rivals, Sweden Heights. And AC Weezer lost a tight game. The only IV.53 member left in the 6th round? None other than bottom-feeding ole, who took out Twin Cities United 3-2. Hopefully, they MOTS'd so they'll be down for this weekend.

Next up: Training Update

[DukeRulesMAB]

New Starter

Our search for a new forward has come to an end...

Daniel Aguado (10781685)
19 years, passable form, healthy
A controversial person who is balanced and honest.
Has disastrous experience and poor leadership abilities.


Speciality: Quick

Nationality: Chile
Assessed value: 220 000 US$
Wage: 1 572 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: poor Passing: inadequate
Winger: weak Defending: inadequate
Scoring: excellent Set Pieces: solid

The young Chilean caused a slight TS hit on his arrival, but it will be more than worth the 691K we dropped on him. We don't even have a solid scorer right now, so this is a major upgrade. He brings some passing and some set pieces to the table as well, paving the way for the exodus of William Morales (our current SP guru) at some point, though not now. He's also quick; we preferred unpredictable, but we'll take it. All in all, should help our event goals, and should greatly help our attack ratings. We're very excited!

There will be no releases to make room for this. Sellers is out for a while, but we've decided to start carrying a full B squad, and this gives us the full 4 forwards. We are also probably going to start working on a second formation in friendlies to go with our 3-5-2, likely a 4-5-1. Just something to keep other teams on their toes.

[sterlingice]

Oooh! Pretty! I bet he didn't come cheap. That's almost identical to what I'm shopping for!

SI

[DukeRulesMAB]

si - 691K was most of my cash stash, but I'm still happy with the possible improvement to my attack.

Training News

Well, we got a pop, but it wasn't the one we expected.

Demitri Makris (21418280)
18 years, solid form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is calm and honest.
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities.

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 43 000 US$
Wage: 816 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: wretched Passing: weak
Winger: solid Defending: inadequate
Scoring: wretched Set Pieces: inadequate

This was a nice bonus, as he pops after only one week of half-training. He'll likely be kept till formidable the second half of next season, then sold.

This disappointment was that Per Pettersson did not pop to solid. He's 17 years old and has received 4 weeks of training, guess wingers take 5 weeks to pop? I had been under the impression it was 4 weeks. Ah well.


Form Update

Starters Going Up: 2 (Hawkins, Collier to Excellent)
Starters Going Down: 2 (Eaton to Solid, Morales to Passable)
Reserves Going Up: 4 (Makris, Pettersson, Sellers, Gómez to Solid)
Reserves Going Down: 0

Another strong form update, though mostly among backups. Sellers is particularly odd given that he's out for a long time. I now have 4 starters in Excellent form!

Total Team Value (Before Training): $3,099,000 (3,056,000)

The aquisition of Aguado has pushed us over the 3M mark.

Coming up next: Youth pull and finances.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Youth pull

Now that we're out of the cup, we're gonna pull keepers until we get an acceptable backup.

Denny Owen (22011539)
19 years, passable form, healthy
A popular guy who is temperamental and honest.
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 37 000 US$
Wage: 700 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: wretched Goaltending: weak
Playmaking: disastrous Passing: wretched
Winger: disastrous Defending: wretched
Scoring: disastrous Set Pieces: poor

Denny's not it. But since it won't cost us anything, he'll be kept around to back up for the week, then fired after the friendly.


Economy

Income

Crowd: 93,381 (vs. Bulldawgs)
Sponsers: 72,105
Temporary: 102,330
- 330 (New Supporters)
- 23,000 (Sale of Cabrera)
- 10,500 (Sell-On Fee for Franco)

Total revenues: 199,316

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 24,328
Staff: 48,000
Arena: 18,830
Temporary: 694,000
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 1,000 (Listing Fees)
- 691,000 (Purchase of Aguado)

Total Expenses: 805,158

Profit (Loss): (605,842)
New Balance: 149,786

This week, we're gonna be purchasing a backup central defender and another cheap wingback trainee. We also have a home match, so we should about break even.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Satisfied (up from Content)
Confidence: Decent (down from Strong)

Sponsers: Dancing in the Streets
Supporters: Content (down from High on Life)
# of Supporters: 1255 (Up from 1244)

Best TS of the year, and a good time. Our supporters need a boost.

IV.53 Preview

FC Parkersburg - Vampires

Great matchup here, Vampires has really started to improve to expectations the last couple weeks. I think FCP will scratch out a 1 goal victory at home, though.

Frankfort United - ole

Crucial matchup. We should win, but I don't know where his TS is, and how strongly he'll attack this game with a cup game Wednesday. We absolutely must win this game.

The Little Pretties - Byzantines

Battle of the top 2 teams to date, I think TLP's Cinderella run ends here. Byzantines by 2 or 3 easy.

AC Weezer - Jumpers

Much needed break and 3 points for ACW after a rough start.

Up Next: Frankfort United hosts ole in a crucial match around the demotion line.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Game 5

Frankfort United vs. ole

Date: December 14, 2003
Arena: F.U. Field (Kentucky)
Crowd: 17,013 (29,424)
Weather: Cloudy

This is, for all intents and purposes, it. We must win at home today against ole to stay in IV.53, barring something getting completely pulled out of our ass. I think we're the better team, we're in the best TS of the year (satisfied; poor leadership coaches suck), and we'll be playing normal. I think we will set an all-time FU NSI record, but we'll see. On the other hand, I have no idea where he is; he is the only team in IV.53 left in the cup, and he may have spent his TS last week. Or he may be saving up his big effort for the Cup game Wednesday. Or he may see this just as importantly as I do and be MOTSing here. Hard to say. We're taking a risk by normaling instead of MOTSing, but I think it's the right call.


Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: William Hawkins
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Bill Henry

Right Wing: Jesse Collier
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Felix Hylind

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Daniel Aguado

The full A tam out there today. We're in very good form, plus we just added an excellent forward. I expect the best NSI ever. Collier gets the nod over Pettersson here; we already have a quick player (Aguado) on the pitch, and with us being the perceived (by me ) favorites, I want the best players out there, and that is Collier.


The Match

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 17013 at F. U. Field today. Frankfort tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. They fielded: Matlock - Hawkins, Eaton, Henry - Collier, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Hylind - Aguado, Morales.

ole had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Tripathi - Windham, Duarte, Yngvesson - Caño, Spaulding, Edlind, Thystrand, Hess - Stanton, Oneil.

Daniel Aguado gave his Frankfort the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. Arthur Eaton increased Frankforts lead to 2 - 0 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right. In the games 26:th minute Frankfort´s Arthur Eaton fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Arthur Eaton for taking a dive. One of many good passes from Jesse Collier at the wing was recieved and skillfully taken care of by William Morales, scoring for Frankfort to 3 - 0. After an industrious effort down the middle William Morales could have closed the game off in the 27:th minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. Frankfort put themselves up 4 - 0 when Daniel Aguado broke through on the right, leaving the entire defensive box behind him. The structure of the game started to change as Frankfort decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. William Hawkins of Frankfort received a yellow card in the 33rd minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. 4 - 0 was the half-time score. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 58 percent possession rate.

After an industrious effort down the middle William Morales could have closed the game off in the 58:th minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. Frankfort, bringing the final ball possession rate to 60 percent, dominated the battle.

Most important Frankfort player was Matthew Matlock. However, Felix Hylind made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating ole player was without a doubt Sören Edlind. Randall Windham on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 0.


Goals: Aguado 2 (2), Morales (5), Eaton (2)
Yellow Cards: Eaton, Hawkins

(Note: Goal totals are for all competitive games this year, not just for the league)


Matlock: *****

Hawkins: ***
Eaton: ***~
Henry: **~

Collier: ***
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: ***
Hylind: **~

Morales: **~
Aguado: ***


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock

Frankfort United

Midfield: excellent (8)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: formidable (9)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: outstanding (10)
Central Attack: excellent (8)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)


ole

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: excellent (8)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: solid (7)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: excellent (8)

Um wow. Best NSI ever...by 8 points! By Supporter, it was our best midfield by 19% (!), our second best defense, and our third best attack. Oh yeah, it was also our best game ever by 16%. Not bad, I say. And all this on a normal! First ever excellent midfield, and I believe our first ever outstanding attack rating. Individually, Aguado had a fabulous debut with 2 goals. Collier got another assist. Hylind got his first **~. All told, pretty good game.

We absolutely had to win this one...now we can focus on PICing, and if we can beat ole at their place in 5 more games, we should have a top 6 slot virtually clinched.

Elsewhere in IV.53, FC Parkersburg did was they do best and took a 1-0 win over a game Vampires squad. We visit FCP next week, and it should be roundly unpleasent. And in the battle for first place, Byzantines took a relatively easy 3-1 win over TLP. FCP technically leads now, but they're tied with Byzantines in what should be a great second half race. Weezer moved into 6th with their walkover, so they are happy as well.

All in all, this was a great day for Frankfort United. Hopefully more will follow.

Next up: Franfort visits Denmark and obeluxerne.

[DukeRulesMAB]

With Cup season over, it is time to add some new backups. First welcome:

Bart Bokhorst (16502863)
25 years, passable form, healthy
A popular guy who is balanced and honest.
Has poor experience and weak leadership abilities.

Nationality: België
Assessed value: 41 000 US$
Wage: 912 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: poor Passing: poor
Winger: weak Defending: passable
Scoring: wretched Set Pieces: wretched

Bart's no one's idea of a star, but he gives me two things. First, I won't feel nauseous playing him in a league game should a starter be suspended or injured. Second, he allows me to start cultivating a second formation, the 4-5-1. We're excited about this possibility, as it will let us turtle up against better teams and play for a draw.

We would have a new wingback trainee by now, but with the site problems, we couldn't get one in for the friendly, so we decided to put that one off till next week.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Friendly

obeluxerne vs. Frankfort United

Date: December 17, 2003
Arena: obeluxerne Arena (København, Denmark)
Crowd: 2,995 (45,000)
Weather: Partly Cloudy

Friendly time. We're in healthy financial shape, so, except for the FOFC Cup and other FOFC challenge matchups, we'll be playing international friendlies for the experience. Key here: stay injury free and get some experience in the 4-5-1. Hell, we ended up making 3K on the trip anyway, not bad.

Starters (4-5-1):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: Demitri Makris
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Central Defender: Bart Borkhorst
Left Defender: Bill Henry

Right Wing: Per Pettersson
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Borislav Sakic
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Left Wing: Mariano Gómez

Striker: Jacob Knapp

Not bothering playing the backup goalie here, and won't until we get the permanent backup. Makris will be played offensively, since he is just barely qualified to play defense. Nothing notable other than that. I am interested to see our defensive ratings; even Makris as a hole of the right side, they should be awesome.


The Match

2995 spectators arrived at obeluxerne Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. obeluxerne tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Bäckstedt - Nyhander, Shepherd, Ebbesen - Villumsen, Brogaard, Gade, Teilmann, Børgh - Schroth, Sumereder.

Frankfort tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. The following players had been chosen: Matlock - Makris, Eaton, Bokhorst, Henry - Pettersson, Mullineux, Chopin, Sakic, Gómez - Knapp.

obeluxerne immediately set off pressing their opponents. Borislav Sakic received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly, probably out of lack of experience, in the 10:th minute and almost caused an opponent to score. obeluxerne took the lead by 1 - 0 after a penalty in the 34:th minute. Luis Schroth scored from the penalty spot. A well placed corner kick from Luis Schroth was followed by Valentin Sumereder´s hard but accurate header. The nice combination meant goal for obeluxerne. The result now 2-0. After an industrious effort down the middle Laust Teilmann could have closed the game off in the 41st minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. Frankfort had obvious problems in finding their positions. Mariano Gómez of Frankfort received a yellow card in the 41st minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 0. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 51 percent possession rate.

The Frankfort players spent the half-time break getting a rerun of the teams tactical organization. The referee showed obeluxernes Steven Shepherd the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The visitors got a chance of pulling one back in the 75:th minute, due to a defensive blunder leaving Jacob Knapp completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side´s keeper. Frankfort appeared unsure on how to play. Frankfort managed to reduce a bit later to 2 - 1 as Borislav Sakic finished off a well played combination from the left, carving through the defensive box. Frankfort could level the score in the 85:th minute at 2 - 2, as Jacob Knapp struck home after a fine midfield combination, leaving him completely unmarked. In the games 86:th minute obeluxerne´s Per Nyhander fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Per Nyhander for taking a dive. At this time in the match, obeluxerne were using their wretched skills at the press to successfully put pressure on their opponents. Frankfort, bringing the final ball possession rate to 66 percent, dominated the battle.

Most important obeluxerne player was Luis Schroth. Laust Teilmann on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Frankfort player was without a doubt Matthew Matlock. However, Mariano Gómez made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 2.


Goals: Sakic, Knapp
Yellow Cards: Gómez


Matlock: *****

Makris: **~
Eaton: ***~
Borkhorst: **~
Henry: **~

Pettersson: **~
Mullineux: ***~
Sakic: **
Chopin: **~
Gómez: **

Knapp: **~


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock


obeluxerne

Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: passable (6)
Central Defence: inadequate (5)
Left Side Defence: weak (4)
Right Side Attack: weak (4)
Central Attack: passable (6)
Left Side Attack: weak (4)


Frankfort United

Midfield: inadequate (5)
Right Side Defence: formidable (9)
Central Defence: outstanding (10)
Left Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Right Side Attack: formidable (9)
Central Attack: weak (4)
Left Side Attack: poor (3)

Not bad at all, good second half effort from our guys. Those defensive efforts are very solid, and we still managed a formidable wing attack. Makris continues to surprise me, he obviously liked that offensive instruction to pull a **~. I haven't quite decided how I want to handle Sunday's game, whether I will use Pettersson, Collier or perhaps even both. Form may dictate that. Good thing: we're already to passable formation experience, so we're good to go with that.


Only other news is that ole was predictably bounced from the Cup, leaving IV.53 out of it completely.

Next up: Training, youth pull, and financial update.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Training News

Very good training week.

Felix Hylind (17864211)
18 years, solid form, healthy
A sympathetic guy who is balanced and dishonest.
Has disastrous experience and passable leadership abilities.


Speciality: Head

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 123 000 US$
Wage: 1 044 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: solid Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: solid Passing: weak
Winger: passable Defending: poor
Scoring: poor Set Pieces: weak

Per Pettersson (20555779)
17 years, solid form, healthy
A sympathetic guy who is tranquil and honest.
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities.


Speciality: Quick

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 187 000 US$
Wage: 1 272 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: wretched Passing: solid
Winger: solid Defending: poor
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: poor

Hylind is, aside from Matlock, out most irreplacable player. By next season at this time, he's going to be a complete beast, and already he is crucial to our midfield. Pettersson is a week later than I expected, but we still like him a lot. He probably will start on Sunday if the weather is right.

Also, brand new acquisition Daniel Aguado popped to Wretched experience. We're very happy with that.


Form Update

Starters Going Up: 2 (Hylind, Chopin to Solid)
Starters Going Down: 2 (Hawkins to Solid, Matlock 2 levels to passable)
Reserves Going Up: 1 (Knapp to Solid)
Reserves Going Down: 2 (Sellers, Sakic to Passable)

We were due to come off of our great form. No real big deal here, just hope Matlock doesn't enter a form slump (he's gone into one before). Our midfield rating shouldn't be too awful with the form as well (Exc, Solid, Solid, Solid among the 4 who contribute).

Total Team Value (Before Training): $3,022,000 (3,131,000)

Matlock dropping 2 levels of form = We're gonna drop in value.

Coming up next: Youth pull and finances.

[GoldenEagle]

I just wanted to point out that if the season ended today, I would be promoted to this series repalcacing ole.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Hehe...it's a pretty active series, but this year it's not really very good. Lotta teams starting new training programs, one walkover, etc.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Youth pull

Week 2 of Operation: Backup Goalie flopped even harder than the first week.

Wang Po-Hsin (22260965)
20 years, passable form, healthy
A controversial person who is calm and honest.
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 10 000 US$
Wage: 540 US$/week
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: wretched Goaltending: poor
Playmaking: disastrous Passing: wretched
Winger: disastrous Defending: disastrous
Scoring: disastrous Set Pieces: poor


Like last week's pull, he'll be kept around to back up through Wednesday's friendly, then canned.


Economy

Income

Crowd: 123,609
- 113,783 (vs. ole)
- 9,826 (at obeluxerne)
Sponsers: 73,260
Interest: 400
Temporary: 780 (New Supporters)

Total revenues: 198,049

Expenditures

Youth Squad: 20,000
Wages: 25,900
Staff: 49,500
Arena: 18,830
Temporary: 60,500
- 2,000 (Youth Pull)
- 6,000 (Travel for Friendly)
- 51,000 (Purchase of Borkhurst)
- 1,500 (Firing of Economist)

Total Expenses: 174,730

Profit (Loss): 23,319
New Balance: 173,105

OK, *this* week we're gonna get thatnew wingback trainee. I almost promise.

I blew 2,600 on the botched hiring of an economist, but I'll screw up in much larger ways than that over time, so no biggie.

Other stats

Team Spirit: Content (down from Satisfied)
Confidence: Strong (up from Decent)

Sponsers: Dancing in the Streets
Supporters: High on Life (up from Decent)
# of Supporters: 1281 (Up from 1255)

I actually figured our TS would go down more than one level after the norm (and noCup game on Wednesday to PIC); hopefully, we'll be able to coax it back to satisfied by the rematch against ole in 4 weeks.

IV.53 Preview

Vampires - Jumpers

Vampires gets to pic the walover coming into two matches with me.

FC Parkersburg - Frankfort United

FCP is atop the table right now. They don't have much attack, but their midfield is generally better than mine, especially with this being a road game, and their defense is off the charts (they pulled two divine ratings last week). We hope to keep it a tight, one goal game and pray for a miracle.

Byzantines - AC Weezer

ACW continues to struggle, and this isn't a good matchup against which to recover. Byzantines should take this handily.

ole - The Little Pretties

TLP ripe for an upset? Maybe, but not against these chumps.


Up Next: Frankfort visits the series leaders.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Game 6

FC Parkersburg vs. Frankfort United

Date: December 21, 2003
Arena: United National Bank Stadium (West Virginia)
Crowd: 56,915 (58,000)
Weather: Cloudy

FCP currently leads the series, and consistently pulls the best NSIs in the series. Plus we're PICing on the road. So why is this not as hopeless as some of our other matches? Because this is a team way unbalanced toward defense. Their midfield is decent, perhaps slightly better than mine. Their defense is incredible, having put up two divines last week. But their offense is quite so-so, never having any significant wing attack due to their 5-3-2 formation, and, really, their central attack isn't much to write home about either.


Starters (4-5-1):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: Bill Henry
Central Defender: Bart Bokhorst
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: William Hawkins

Right Wing: Felix Hylind
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Central Midfield: Theodore Arnold
Left Wing: Per Pettersson

Striker: Daniel Aguado

As expected, we are bunkering down. Our defensive form isn't nearly as good as it has been, but we should still put up some nice ratings here playing with our 4 best defenders at once for the first time in team history. Aside from that, Pettersson gets the nod at attacking wing over Collier, as the weather looks good for his quick specialty, and we need an event goal. Hopefully, either he or Aguado can provide it.


The Match

56915 spectators had come to United National Bank Stadium this cloudy day. Parkersburg had chosen a strategic 5-3-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Villa - Alexandersson, Palfrey, Rodriguez, Igelbeck, Ibarra - Rosenbauer, Swärdbom, Milner - Nesstedt, Labastida.

Frankfort had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. They fielded: Matlock - Henry, Eaton, Bokhorst, Hawkins - Hylind, Arnold, Mullineux, Chopin, Pettersson - Aguado.

Parkersburg took the lead in the 24:th minute of the game by 1 to 0, as José Luis Labastida elegantly received a pass going deep, finishing off with a half-volley shot just below the bar. Parkersburg´s José Luis Labastida refused to leave the field after injuring his achilles tendon in the 30:th minute. Roger Milner should probably have put his team up another goal in the 34:th minute, but some great goaltending by Matthew Matlock kept the visitors in the game. Frankfort had obvious problems in finding their positions. A really bad tackle inside the penalty area in the 34:th minute gave the referee no other choice but to award visiting Frankfort the penalty shot. Daniel Aguado knocked home 1 - 1. The referee showed Frankforts William Hawkins the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Parkersburg were forced to a substitution as Nicholas Villa couldn´t continue playing due to the rough treatment, forcing Mick Nelissen to come in from the sidelines. Parkersburgs Stellan Nesstedt gave, after 37 minutes, the home team a 2 - 1 lead after an attack coming in from the right. 2 - 1 was the half-time score. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Parkersburg, with an impressive 60 percent possession of the ball.

The Frankfort players spent the half-time break getting a rerun of the teams tactical organization. 75 minutes into the game Felix Hylind had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Mariano Gómez. In the 78:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Stellan Nesstedt dashed through, knocking home 3 - 1 for Parkersburg. Mitch Palfrey almost managed to score another goal for Parkersburg, but his header was tipped to a corner by the visitors goalie. Daniel Igelbeck of Parkersburg received a yellow card in the 84:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Frankfort appeared unsure on how to play. In the 87:th minute of the game, Parkersburg´s Daniel Igelbeck had to leave the pitch after receiving his second booking. Parkersburg, bringing the final ball possession rate to 59 percent, dominated the battle.

The most dominating Parkersburg player was without a doubt Tony Ibarra. Mick Nelissen on the other hand, had a terrible day. Frankfort´s best player was Matthew Matlock. Mariano Gómez was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.


Goals: Aguado (3)
Yellow Cards: Hawkins

(Note: Goal totals are for all competitive games this year, not just for the league)


Matlock: ****~

Henry: **~
Bokhorst: **~
Eaton: ***~
Hawkins: ***

Hylind: **
Gómez (In for Hylind: **
Mullineux: ***~
Chopin: **~
Arnold: ***
Pettersson: **~

Aguado: ***



Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock

FC Parkersburg

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: utopian (19)
Central Defence: divine (20)
Left Side Defence: extra-terrestrial (16)
Right Side Attack: poor (3)
Central Attack: passable (6)
Left Side Attack: weak (4)


Frankfort United

Midfield: inadequate (5)
Right Side Defence: outstanding (10)
Central Defence: brilliant (11)
Left Side Defence: formidable (9)
Right Side Attack: weak (4)
Central Attack: inadequate (5)
Left Side Attack: excellent (8)

Well, that's about what was expected. I'd like to have given up less goals, but look at his defensive ratings! We were lucky to get the event goal we got. In 3 weeks, we should match up just a touch better, as we'll be in better TS and at home, and could win the midfield. Also, the 4-5-1 should have a touch more experience, so no bad formation events.

Hylind's injury was one of the good ones. He's already to bruised, but playing, so both he and Gómez get their training for the week out of this game. Makris will get a rare full training week by playing winger on Wednesday. Aside from that, very little notable. This was our first ever brilliant rating, and Aguado continues to be a very solid pickup.

Elsewhere in IV.53, AC Weezer got it together, and upset Byzantines by a strong 4-1 score at Byzantines! This really throws the division into a bit of disarray. Also, Little Pretties took out ole 4-1, and continues to surprisingly contend. The table:

 	Team 			Played 	Goals 	Points 
1. 	FC Parkersburg 		6 	14 - 2 	16 
 
2. 	The Little Pretties 	6 	18 - 5 	15 
3. 	Byzantines 		6 	14 - 9 	13 
4. 	Vampires 		6 	13 - 6 	9 
 
5. 	Frankfort United 	6 	12 - 8 	7 
6. 	AC Weezer 		6	12 - 15	7 
 
7. 	ole 			6 	8 - 16	3 
8. 	Jumpers 		6 	0 - 30	0

Next up: Frankfort hosts FOFC's MoKan Mighty Bastards in a friendly.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Lennart Högskär (22285485)
17 years, passable form, healthy
A sympathetic guy who is temperamental and dishonest.
Has disastrous experience and inadequate leadership abilities.


Speciality: Quick

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 27 000 US$
Wage: 744 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Frankfort United
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: weak Passing: wretched
Winger: passable Defending: inadequate
Scoring: wretched Set Pieces: wretched

Thus I've filled all my training slots. Lennart is nothing special, but I was pressed for time, and he carries the prerequisites I like to see in my reserve wingback trainees.

[DukeRulesMAB]

Season 3 - Friendly

Frankfort United vs. MoKan Mighty Bastards

Date: December 24, 2003
Arena: F.U. Field (Kentucky)
Crowd: 1,723 (29,424)
Weather: Sunny

Friendly time again, and we welcome fellow FOFC'er MoKan to F.U. Field. He's to an injury-free game.

Starters (Balanced 3-5-2):

Keeper: Matthew Matlock

Right Defender: Lennart Högskär
Central Defender: Arthur Eaton
Left Defender: Bill Henry

Right Wing: Jesse Collier
Central Midfield: Robert Mullineux
Central Midfield: Borislav Sakic
Central Midfield: Michael Chopin
Left Wing: Demitri Makris

Striker: William Morales
Striker: Jacob Knapp

Nothing much notable here, except that with Gómez having gotten some sub action on Sunday, Makris is getting a full training week.


The Match

A scorching day at F. U. Field, where 1723 spectators were in place for today´s match. Frankfort tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Matlock - Högskär, Eaton, Henry - Collier, Mullineux, Chopin, Sakic, Makris - Knapp, Morales.

Bastards started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Tang - Mabry, Lackey, Carver - Major, Griffiths, Rönntorp, Timmons, Phillips - Mclaughlin, Sa.

In the 20:th minute the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as Jacob Knapp flipped the ball after a cross pass from the right. William Morales struck a 30 metre free kick home in the 25:th minute. 2 - 0 for the home team. A great save by goaltender Sean Tang in the 34:th minute kept the visitors in the game as William Morales struck from the left with a real cannonball. The referee showed Bastardss Marcel Timmons the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Arthur Eaton the unlucky victim, couldn´t continue the game, so Bart Bokhorst had to come off the bench. Almost all the way down to the corner flag Jesse Collier somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for William Morales who struck for 3 - 0. The structure of the game started to change as Frankfort decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. Halftime score was 3 - 0. Frankfort, bringing the final ball possession rate to 67 percent, dominated the battle.

Frankfort made a substitution in the 48:th minute. William Morales limped off the field and was replaced by Daniel Aguado. Daniel Aguado wasn´t much help defensively. His energy-consuming forward pulls proved quite costly in the pressuring heat. Sean Tang was caught napping a bit later as Jacob Knapp lifted a ball over him after a free kick, but the ball hit the bar, rebounding into the keepers arms. Lennart Högskär made several blunders at the end of the game, causing a good deal of unrest in the defensive line. With 72 minutes played Borislav Sakic could have brought this one home for Frankfort, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. The game was close to savage at times, and Bastards`s Marcel Timmons received a second yellow card in the 74:th, his ticket out of the game. Frankfort held the ball, with a clear 87 percent possession rate.

Frankfort´s best player was Matthew Matlock. However, Borislav Sakic made a disastrous appearance. Most important Bastards player was Sean Tang. However, Major Major made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 0.



Goals: Morales 2, Knapp
Yellow Cards: None


Matlock: ****~

Högskär: **
Eaton: **
Bokhorst (In for Eaton): **~
Henry: **~

Collier: ***
Mullineux: ***~
Sakic: **
Chopin: **~
Makris: **~

Morales: **~
Aguado (In for Morales): ***
Knapp: **~


Team Match MVP: Matthew Matlock

Frankfort United

Midfield: passable (6)
Right Side Defence: excellent (8)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: outstanding (10)
Central Attack: solid (7)
Left Side Attack: excellent (8)


MoKan Mighty Bastards

Midfield: poor (3)
Right Side Defence: excellent (8)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: solid (7)
Right Side Attack: weak (5)
Central Attack: inadequate (5)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (5)

Ouch...bad, bad game. Eaton's out 3 (!) weeks. Morales out 1. Morales isn't such a big deal, but Eaton is my best defender, and 32 years old, so he won't heal fast. Bokhorst should be able to step in OK, but the 4-5-1 is out (except in exhibitions where we'll continue to keep our formation experience up) until Eaton is back.

Other than that...oddly enough, we had better ratings than our game Sunday.

Next up: Training Update