Cup ?

[Gwalyn]

I just looked at my next cup match opponent. HOLY CRAP!!! He had 3 players that had 5+ stars and everyone else but one player was 3+ stars. I can't compete with that. I am thrilled when I get a 3 star outing from one of my players.

So the question is, do I treat that game as a friendly and throw out my scrubs for the practice or do I actually try and compete for the match?

P.S. During the regular season do you mix in your scrubs in match play to try to get them experience or only use them in friendlies?

[MylesKnight]

I could be in that same Boat as well.. and the team I'm playing in only a "Middle of the Road" D-IV Squad. I am sooo far away from even thinking about D-IV it's not even funny (actually it is).

...Well, look at it this way, at least it's a Home Match. Gotta find something positive out of all of this..

[illinifan999]

I play a D5 guy. He posts really good defense ratings, but the rest of them suck.

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by Gwalyn
I just looked at my next cup match opponent. HOLY CRAP!!! He had 3 players that had 5+ stars and everyone else but one player was 3+ stars. I can't compete with that. I am thrilled when I get a 3 star outing from one of my players.

So the question is, do I treat that game as a friendly and throw out my scrubs for the practice or do I actually try and compete for the match?

P.S. During the regular season do you mix in your scrubs in match play to try to get them experience or only use them in friendlies?

If you really think you're out of his league, you could play starters, for the experience, and PIC. Be sure to PIC, to at least get the positive effect on your team spirit one last time...

FM

[The Afoci]

It is me and GM Spiderman. Interesting...

[Doug5984]

I am going to have to agree with FrogMan on this- if you were to play all starters and MOTS him you might have a very slim chance at the upset but it is just really not worth it. PIC get the experience and concentrate on your league, atleast that is what I would do in your situation.

[Nyarlahotep]

My next match hasn't come up yet for some reason.

[NAIWF]

I get to play the Arkham Avengers of FOFC. Looks like I won't be able to match last year's run at the 4th Round :(

I'm gonna have to play him normal so I don't get a shutout loss at home a few nights before a HUGE home game against the team that will probably be my prime opposition in the league.

[mckerney]

Crazy Cayotes (71429)

About on my level, though I have better D they have better attack, and they're probably a little better in the midfield. I should be able to take this one though.

[MylesKnight]

Originally posted by Doug5984
I am going to have to agree with FrogMan on this- if you were to play all starters and MOTS him you might have a very slim chance at the upset but it is just really not worth it. PIC get the experience and concentrate on your league, atleast that is what I would do in your situation.
I agree.. It's not as if any of us D-V'ers are going to actually Win the US Cup. The only positive out of a upset result, besides the victory of course, would be one more week of a bit more extra gate revenue due to the Home Crowd at the following week's Cup Match..

I'm definitely looking at going the Starters/PIC route in Round #3.

[YoSoySean]

Originally posted by The Afoci
It is me and GM Spiderman. Interesting...

Don't worry... Spidur's team sucks. He almost lost to a bot tonight (I talk to him often) ;)

I get to face a really bad VI team. Well, at least they get a weak midfield. They just got their team earlier this month. Really shouldn't be a problem. That beind said, I'll end up going into OT/PKs. I did set my PK takers just in case...

[Masked]

I got a dead div 5 team whose best rating is a weak midfield. Since I had to play a human team this week this seems fair to me. :)

[YoSoySean]

Originally posted by Nyarlahotep
My next match hasn't come up yet for some reason.

Try clicking on "Update with Cache-Refresh"

[mckerney]

I just noticed that I am the home team, so the revenue will help me get out of debt, though I think I'm gonna go normal and see if I can pull of the upset.

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by Doug5984
I am going to have to agree with FrogMan on this- if you were to play all starters and MOTS him you might have a very slim chance at the upset but it is just really not worth it. PIC get the experience and concentrate on your league, atleast that is what I would do in your situation.

Just to add to this, I'm playing a team from D.III that just posted a 64 NSI (compared to my 57) in his cup game tonight. He got a solid midfield while supposedly PICing (he won 7-0 over a bot team, whatcha think?). Next week, he'll see me coming and will be probably more prepared since I know he's not a dumb manager as I see him posting quite often in the conferences (username "Brandon_Elmes" ring a bell to anyone), so he'll probably switch a few things around, profit from a higher team spirit, so a 67 to 70 NSI isn't out of the question. I could try and MOTS him, maybe get a 64-65 and maybe, just maybe cause the upset, but for what, one more week, where I'd certainly get my arse handed to me by an All Canadian... I will PIC and play my starters in the best lineup possible to try and beat him, but I'm not holding my breath...

Whatever you do Gwalyn, Good luck!!!

FM

[TredWel]

I play a Div V opponent who puts up outstanding/magnifient/brilliant defensive ratings, but I hope I can bust through his poor midfield enough times to score.

For the coincidences file: I played and beat a team in his series last year in Round Three of the cup.

[Nyarlahotep]

Originally posted by NAIWF
I get to play the Arkham Avengers of FOFC. Looks like I won't be able to match last year's run at the 4th Round :(

I'm gonna have to play him normal so I don't get a shutout loss at home a few nights before a HUGE home game against the team that will probably be my prime opposition in the league.


Wonder why you don't show up on my schedule. And my team isn't all that great. All my best ratings came during last year's cup run, so you really don't have to worry about us;) Honestly though we really aren't all that great. Put up a midfield like you did last Sunday and we should be done with this years cup run. Just make sure you sell out so I can make some money.

[NAIWF]

I sold the main component of my solid midfield. His replacement didn't really light things up today, so it's gonna be a pick 'em type game. And considering I missed 5 shots today, I'm not confident. As far as selling out, that's doubtful unless we're both still in first following Sunday. I made about $93,000 this week, so if we can match that attendance, you'll get about $30,000 :)

[Easy Mac]

I'm playing a DV guy who put up 46 and 47 in his league and cup, respectively. The guys he used look to be his starters in each. I just put up a 47 using mostly my B-squad while PICing.

I face a brand new (will be 5 days old when I play them) team on Sunday. I think I'll PIC both games and hope I win both, then if I make it, PIC the next cup game in hopes I can raise my Spirit to POE, when I face my main competition on the road. Maybe MOTS that.

well, I now see he got a passable midfield in his last cup game, maybe not. might have to PIC that too.

[Nyarlahotep]

Originally posted by NAIWF
I sold the main component of my solid midfield. His replacement didn't really light things up today, so it's gonna be a pick 'em type game. And considering I missed 5 shots today, I'm not confident. As far as selling out, that's doubtful unless we're both still in first following Sunday. I made about $93,000 this week, so if we can match that attendance, you'll get about $30,000 :)

Not sure if I'll be in first or not. We play a new team who looks like he started out with good players and has been training general to keep most of them in solid or excellent form. Won't get him very far, but should be a pain in my ass this season.

[Fonzie]

I'm now in Div IV, but unfortunately I'm not a very good Div IV side. And my cup match next week requires me to travel to face a Div V team that's arguably better than mine. Sadly, I'm in desperate need of the revenue generated by a home cup match, so I'll probably have to MOTS him.

Ugh. :(

[Brillig]

I've drawn GHz, from terpk's V.237 ... They play their starters in Cup and League alike, so a B-team PIC is iffy, even though he isn't a very strong side.

Decisions, decisions...

[vex]

I couldn't decide whether to PIC or not next week.

This was the team:



Gilbride FC
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: wretched
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: inadequate
Left Side Attack: inadequate



And then my Cup ratings:


NE Oklahoma Sidekicks
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: weak
Central Defence: inadequate
Left Side Defence: inadequate
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: solid
Left Side Attack: weak






Then I just remembered, I have a walkover this week in league play, so I get 2 more PICS since I'll use my "B" team in league play and PIC my starters in the Cup game:)

[daedalus]

Originally posted by FrogMan
Just to add to this, I'm playing a team from D.III that just posted a 64 NSI (compared to my 57) in his cup game tonight. He got a solid midfield while supposedly PICing (he won 7-0 over a bot team, whatcha think?). Next week, he'll see me coming and will be probably more prepared since I know he's not a dumb manager as I see him posting quite often in the conferences (username "Brandon_Elmes" ring a bell to anyone), so he'll probably switch a few things around, profit from a higher team spirit, so a 67 to 70 NSI isn't out of the question. I could try and MOTS him, maybe get a 64-65 and maybe, just maybe cause the upset, but for what, one more week, where I'd certainly get my arse handed to me by an All Canadian... I will PIC and play my starters in the best lineup possible to try and beat him, but I'm not holding my breath...To me, this is when you dust off the ol' 4-5-1 and hope to take it to PK. :D

Defense seems to be stronger this year and midfield's dominance seems a fair bit smaller.

[daedalus]

Originally posted by Brillig
I've drawn GHz, from terpk's V.237 ... They play their starters in Cup and League alike, so a B-team PIC is iffy, even though he isn't a very strong side.What's the possibility of playing a mix side or at least mostly starters in non-training positions?

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by daedalus
To me, this is when you dust off the ol' 4-5-1 and hope to take it to PK. :D

Defense seems to be stronger this year and midfield's dominance seems a fair bit smaller.

Deady, you may be on to something here. I have not played 4-5-1 in some weeks, but the kind of defense I'm able to put out there with only 3 defenders, I may be able to shut him out with 4 :)... I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the idea!

FM