proof that CA sucks...

[lytic]

SouthPark Cows - Rocket Dive 2 - 3

Date: 4/19/2004 at 01.00
MatchID: 17275946
Arena: Starks Pond
Crowd: 39463

39463 spectators had come to Starks Pond this cloudy day. SouthPark tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Tirado - An, Cronbom, Fredriksson - Mcnutt, Crain, Millard, Danhof, Guy - Dey, Orkola.

Rocket had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Decker - Moore, Kenyon, Bullard - Kiser, Ashley, Kan-Wee, West, Benavidez - Molbo, Crawley.

SouthPark were relying on their ability to counter-attack. It was obvious that Rocket were using pressing as their primary tactic. Rocket's ability to press their opponents all over the field paid off frequently. A free kick aimed at the keepers far post almost gave Rocket the lead in the 21st minute, but the ball just wasn´t able to squirm it´s way through the defensive wall. SouthPark showed their counterattack skill in the 23rd minute, with Jukka Orkola scoring uncontested for 1 - 0. SouthPark seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. Melvin Crawley made a run for the goal in the 35:th minute but the home teams far left defense managed to sort the situation out in the end. The visiting teams Morten Molbo could score the 1 - 1 equaliser in the 38:th minute with a header, after some good work on the right. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Rocket, bringing the final ball possession rate to 55 percent, dominated the battle.

SouthPark -coach had an extra briefing during the break, and after that his players looked a lot more organized. 54 minutes into the game Harvey Ashley was a hair´s breadth away from giving Rocket the lead. A prompt block by Fred Tirado saved the home team that time. SouthParks Steve Crain got himself booked after a foul. Morten Molbo the unlucky victim, couldn´t continue the game, so Sean Smith had to come off the bench. After 68 minutes SouthPark´s Jonas Cronbom contracted a slight foot injury, but could finish the game. Robert Dey gave his SouthPark the lead with 2 - 1, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. 78 minutes into the game Rocket´s Melvin Crawley found a gap in the home sides central defense scoring with a long shot, making it 2 - 2. Almost all the way down to the corner flag Allen Benavidez somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for Sean Smith who struck for 2 - 3. Wu Kan-Wee was, after 83 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors lead with a well placed diving header but home side keeper Fred Tirado saved. The defense of SouthPark resulted in a counterattack that gave Kenneth Millard a good look at the goal, but his shot glanced harmlessly off the crossbar. The referee showed Rockets Sean Smith the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Rocket held the ball, with a clear 54 percent possession rate.

The most dominating SouthPark player was without a doubt Fred Tirado. However, Steve Crain made a disastrous appearance. The most dominating Rocket player was without a doubt Wu Kan-Wee. However, Allen Benavidez made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 3.

HIGHLIGHTS

1 - 0 Jukka Orkola (23)
1 - 1 Morten Molbo (38)
2 - 1 Robert Dey (71)
2 - 2 Melvin Crawley (78)
2 - 3 Sean Smith (83)

Steve Crain (56)
Sean Smith (87)

RATING

SouthPark Cows
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Play it Cool
Tactic: Counter-attacks
Tactic skill: formidable

Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: titanic
Central Defence: world class
Left Side Defence: magnificent
Right Side Attack: outstanding
Central Attack: magnificent
Left Side Attack: brilliant

Rocket Dive
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Pressing
Tactic skill: weak

Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: solid
Central Defence: magnificent
Left Side Defence: magnificent
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: inadequate

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Rocket Dive - SouthPark Cows 2 - 4

Date: 4/26/2004 at 01.00
MatchID: 17275947
Arena: Rocket Dive Arena
Crowd: 39371

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 39371 to Rocket Dive Arena. Rocket had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Decker - Bullard, Moore, Moore - Kiser, Ashley, Kan-Wee, West, van den Heuvel - Isaac, Smith.

SouthPark started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Tirado - An, Fredriksson, Cronbom - Danhof, Torflod, Crain, Millard, Guy - Dey, Orkola.

Jukka Orkola had a good try in the 4:th minute, coming in on a fine move from the left, but the ball went wide. The referee showed Rockets Billy Moore the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Rocket were awarded a penalty 8 minutes into the game but Howard Moore produced a poor shot, quite easily saved by Fred Tirado. In the 15:th minute cheers broke out as Howard Moore found his way through the guests central defense line, clipping the 1 - 0 goal in for Rocket. The home side´s Cole Isaac came close to extending the lead in the 22nd minute. His shot came in off the right hand side but Fred Tirado managed saving with a fingernail. Halftime score was 1 - 0. Rocket held the ball, with a clear 51 percent possession rate.

SouthPark had obvious problems in finding their positions. Yuri Danhof was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the enemy box - Jukka Orkola managed to kick one of them into 1 - 1 in the 55:th minute. SouthPark´s Yuri Danhof gave the visitors a 1 - 2 lead in the 66:th minute with a superb strike from the right. Jonas Cronbom increased the visitors lead by putting a volley shot away on a pass from the right. 1 - 3. The visitors Robert Dey took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side´s goalie and central backs in the 75:th minute. 1 - 4 for SouthPark. A well placed freekick brought the home crowd new hope. Howard Moore reduced the away teams lead to 2 - 4. Rocket held the ball, with a clear 52 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Rocket player was without a doubt Harvey Ashley. Cole Isaac on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important SouthPark player was Fred Tirado. Tory Guy on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 4.

HIGHLIGHTS

1 - 0 Howard Moore (15)
1 - 1 Jukka Orkola (55)
1 - 2 Yuri Danhof (66)
1 - 3 Jonas Cronbom (71)
1 - 4 Robert Dey (75)
2 - 4 Howard Moore (86)

Billy Moore (8)

RATING

Rocket Dive
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: formidable
Central Defence: outstanding
Left Side Defence: outstanding
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: passable

SouthPark Cows
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Play it Cool
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

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

[TargetPractice6]

Everybody already knows CA sucks...

[YoSoySean]

...that really shouldn't happen.

[TheTrainisComming]

isn't it only effective if you have a weaker MF? looks fairly close.. to me.... but I'm still a rookie so...

[Vince]

You don't want to lose the midfield by too much, TTC.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by YoSoySean

...that really shouldn't happen.

...but it's HT, not real life, so we know it will. You can sit there and bitch about the system or work within it. Maybe they'll tweak it in a season or two, but I wouldn't put too many eggs in that basket.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Vince

You don't want to lose the midfield by too much, TTC.

You don't want to lose midfield, but isn't the main purpose to be an effective tactic when playing a team with midfield you can't match? Of course it's going to suck in this kind of situation.

[Vince]

To be honest, mck, this is almost my ideal midfield situation for CA. You want them to be getting the majority of the chances...but at the same time, it'd be nice to get some yourself, so you are not banking entirely on the counter-attack, which we know to be quite unreliable.

Personally, when I'm CA-ing, I want my possession to be between 38-48%.

[lytic]

My magic numbers in CA is 34-49%.

The CA skill itself doesn't even really seem to matter either. I could get really high CA ratings and the score probably would have been either the same or lower.

I just wanted to see what the difference would be between a normal 3-5-2 and a counter attacking 3-5-2.