advice please

[saintjo]

ok, well my plans were destroyed with my upset tie yesterday, so i need some advice. My team is the St Louis Saints (71006) in div V.147
With 2 games left in the season, Im 3 points out of first and I play the team in first (Lowgun Leeches) at home next week.
I could go 2 ways. One, I could throw the match. The guy is above the autopromotion line. Just let him go and focus on next season. Unfortunately, I cant in good conscious throw a match. So option two is go for it.
Rather than fill this post with his and my recent ratings, it might be easier to look them up on hattrick. Also note, I just bought a formidable midfielder today, so my midfield should be boosted a bit from the previous excellent midfielder that he is replacing.
Right now, Im thinking I should play normal (TS is currently at composed) with maybe a winger towards the middle. If I win, we will be tied in points and at least tied in goal differential. Then pic next week to prepare for the qualifier and hope I beat him out in goal differential again after that week. My 14 week match should be a blow out and his should be a little tighter.
Any suggestions?

[YoSoySean]

Originally Posted by saintjo

Right now, Im thinking I should play normal (TS is currently at composed) with maybe a winger towards the middle. If I win, we will be tied in points and at least tied in goal differential. Then pic next week to prepare for the qualifier and hope I beat him out in goal differential again after that week. My 14 week match should be a blow out and his should be a little tighter.
Any suggestions?

That plan sounds like a solid one to me. If you have a shot to win playing normal, you should take it because you'll probably be playing a qually and it's better then just plain throwing the match.

[Airhog]

never throw a match, you have no idea how good the guy will be that replaces him!

[saintjo]

yeah, im not throwing the match. im more looking for advice on how to handle the next team and prepare for the qualifier.

[Desnudo]

If you think you can win playing normal then play normal. The plan sounds solid. Keeping in mind that getting to the qualifier in the first place is the actual goal.

[saintjo]

im also thinking of training set pieces or maybe passing this week as well. i think set pieces will give me the biggest help with only 1 week of training. but i didnt know if i should try passing since it will help my overall attack. the only problem is most of my midfielders and forwards are in their mid-late 20's.
i have 2 solid set piece players. so i figure 1 of them will probably pop to excellent. any advice on this? or should i stick with defending training this week?

[Alf]

Stick with defending !!!! Training is where you make money ! And money is key in Hattrick !

[saintjo]

you dont think having an excellent set piece taker will help much compared to a solid on?

[finkenst]

saintjo, i am in the same position as you... 2nd in my series. 3 points behind. he beat 4-2 in the first match at his home with 3 goals in the last 7 minutes.

I'm planning on MOTSing and see what happens.. if i win, i can pic against the 7 or 8th place team and get a qually if not autopromotion depending on what happens in the rest of V... i thought about throwing the match if i had lost this week but like airhog and you, i can't throw the match and you don't know how good that person would be on the way down.

[McSweeny]

just stick with your defending programing. One week of training won't help much at all. Well maybe except for stamina, but then form would give you fits... but anyway, your plan sounds pretty solid. And i know you aren't going to throw the game, but shame on you for even mentioning it

[saintjo]

yeah, it never was a real option for me. but it technically is an option. i know the other guy is going to MOTS me though. im not sure i can pull it off if I normal, but i dont think my TS can recover enough for the qualifier. plus next weeks game, i need as many goals as possible because it will come down to the goal differential.

[McSweeny]

Originally Posted by saintjo

yeah, it never was a real option for me. but it technically is an option. i know the other guy is going to MOTS me though. im not sure i can pull it off if I normal, but i dont think my TS can recover enough for the qualifier. plus next weeks game, i need as many goals as possible because it will come down to the goal differential.

i'm sort of in the same position. I'll be playing for the series title in the last week of the season. I'll be on the road and if i draw or lose i'll finish second. A win and the series is mine. I'm leaning towards MOTSing because i don't think i'll be able to win on the road with a normal. It'll totally ruin my TS for the qualifier, but i don't really care. I figure i need to win the series before i can even worry about a qualifier. And DIII scares the hell out of me

[YoSoySean]

I am also in sort of the same boat as you all. I'm gonna be MOTSing anyway, as I'm not sure I will even win with a home MOTS against this team. I also have a fairly good chance at auto-promoting if I do win out. If I were in first, I'd currently be 36th on the Promotion to III list...

[saintjo]

well, if im at composed now. and i mots this match, any idea of the range my TS would be in by the next weeks league match? i will have a solid coach with passable leadership as of saturday evening. i know passable leadership really helps speed up TS recovery. oh and yes, i have a popular/solid clown.

[finkenst]

Originally Posted by saintjo

well, if im at composed now. and i mots this match, any idea of the range my TS would be in by the next weeks league match? i will have a solid coach with passable leadership as of saturday evening. i know passable leadership really helps speed up TS recovery. oh and yes, i have a popular/solid clown.

furious..
poor leadership coach, symp/solid team leader.

[Mr. Wednesday]

An outside consideration is, if winning a qualifier is more important to you than full training, you can sacrifice training (and a big form hit) for team spirit by dropping your training % prior to the qualifier.