cup advice

[saintjo]

My next cup match up is against a very strong div iv team. I have been debating this week about whether to go out of the cup and play my 5-3-2 to get full defender training, or to go for it. Im leaning towards going for it.
My TS is at WOC and my confidence is wonderful. My last cup match ratings were...

St Louis Saints
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Play it Cool
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: inadequate (low)
Right Side Defence: passable (high)
Central Defence: inadequate (high)
Left Side Defence: weak (very high)
Right Side Attack: weak (low)
Central Attack: inadequate (very low)
Left Side Attack: poor (very high)

The only differences in this line up are now i have an outstanding keeper (ratings above are with a solid one) all 3 defenders will be solid/excellent skill (ratings abover were with 2 excellent and 1 formidable)

my opponents last cup match was

Running Bucks
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: passable (very low)
Right Side Defence: solid (very high)
Central Defence: passable (high)
Left Side Defence: inadequate (very low)
Right Side Attack: weak (low)
Central Attack: weak (high)
Left Side Attack: inadequate (very low)

He rarely logs in and has been playing the same line up in both cup and league matches.

So do I have any chance at winning? and if so, what strategies if any should I try?
My CA rating with this lineup will be around weak/inad. and the lineup above also has 1 of my wingers towards the middle. and yes, I need to pic again this week for my upcoming league match.
This line up also includes 2 head players, 3 powerful, 2 quick, and 1 unpredictable. So I usually get a special event goal or powerup in every match.
Thanks for the help :)

[nickfox45]

just from looking at the ratings id say your chances of beating him are not good, since he has a slight edge on you in most categories. however youre both strong defensive teams so it might come down to that one special event goal. id say go for the win, if you lose, how many guys training are you really losing out on? i think the possibly cup victory would be worth it. it would mean more cash, more supporters, more glory...

[Vince]

What's your league situation? If you're in a virtual walkover leage, sure, go for it...but I'd have to say with those ratings you're probably going to lose.

[saintjo]

my league isnt a walk over, but i am 4-0 with a goals for/against of 25/0. so im not overly concerned with a lot of my oppenents in my league.
so if i go for it, any thing i should try? my CA rating will be so low, i dont think its worth it, but im thinking maybe press because of my powerful players and stanima? maybe i can cut the chances of shots on goal and hope for special events to make the difference?

[terpkristin]

A couple of questions.

What was your TS prior to your last cup match? Are you planning on MOTSing this one? It strikes me that with a MOTS at home your midfield would go up from the low inadequate it was on the PIC, and he only had a very low passable, so that's only 3ish new levels of difference.

What lineup would you play? A "standard" 3-5-2? Maybe an attacking 4-4-2 or 3-4-3?

If he plays the same lineup every time, does he have anything you can exploit? Injuries, cards, really craptastic form you can stack your offense against?

I say if you MOTS and take advantage of his weaker form players and weaker positions (ie your stronger side attack his weaker defensive side, etc) you've got a real shot. Especially if you're not too worried about your league opponent this week.

~tk

[saintjo]

i cant mots. i have one of the harder league matches next week on the road. i should still win, but i dont want to risk it over a cup match.

my TS prior to last weeks cup match was POE (equivilant to WOC now). the ratings were with a symetrical 3-5-2. thats what i was planning on playing again. i calucated my CA rating when playing a 4-4-2 and it was still pretty sad.

he has not cards or injuries to exploit. i was going to line up my strong attacking side against his weaker one.

[terpkristin]

Well I'd still say don't CA or Press. I'm not sold on either's effectiveness. In addition to playing strong attack vs. weak defense, look at the form of his players and see if anybody's in particularly ugly form that you might be able to put a strong attack on.

I still think you have a shot, I certainly wouldn't PIC.

Good luck!
~tk

[saintjo]

i looked again, and he does have an injury to a midfielder and his form is junk all around.
what about instead of playing my normal winger towards the middle that has solid PM, play my excellent backup middie in the wing spot towards the middle?
or playing both wingers towards the middle and doing a AIM?

[terpkristin]

I'd be a bit afraid to do the AIM since it weakens your wing defense, and it looks like his wing attack isn't too shabby.

Though both wingers TM would certainly help bolster your midfield rating. With your new gk, your defense stats should be about equal and your offense stats might favor him slightly.

I'd say it's a real shot.

~tk

[saintjo]

well, thanks for everyones help. turns out i won! :)
he had some big injuries and i think he mots'd his league match last week. regardless, its on to round 6 for the stl saints!