Disaster Game

[Vince]

In the pit of FOFC-er destruction that is IV.3, my Vandals have been flirting with 6th place all season long -- avoiding that sad position of auto-demotion that the Oklahoma Rednecks (Season 23) and Spring Grove Fighting Eagles (Season 22) faced in previous seasons. With two matches left and only a scant two points behind 6th place, a qualification match was in sight if I could only win my last two games -- against fellow FOFC-er ausonny and his mighty Bees at home, and against the Lost Planet Airmen, fellow auto-promotee who has been in last place all year, away. A tall order, but do-able. Then, disaster struck.

Against the Bees, in the 24th minute we lost great young winger Kent Nyhen to an immediate red card for sweeping the legs out from under a player, completely unprovoked. Then, in the 75th minute, already down a goal 3-2, our fifth card of the match was handed to Marco Levratti, our star midfielder, who was forced to leave the pitch as it was his second booking. Shortly thereafter, the Bees nailed the coffin shut with a fourth goal by forward Mats Witzig.

Though a loss there did not completely eliminate us (6th place team lost as well) -- we now need a victory next week away, as well as a Cleveland Force loss at home against the 5th place team. And we're minus a Magnificent midfielder and a Solid/Formidable Wing/PM winger, due to the red cards they just received. I guess there could have been injuries...but man this match couldn't really have gone much worse :(

[TargetPractice6]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>MatchID: </TD><TD>8324794</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I know how you feel as far as the card situation goes...
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3></TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Ryan Jude (http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=2585500)</TD><TD>(4)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Mitchell Bautista (http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=2585515)</TD><TD>(9)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Ward Hardman (http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=7136238)</TD><TD>(64)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Víctor Carrillo (http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=3536153)</TD><TD>(72)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Anders Johansson (http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=4945640)</TD><TD>(78)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/images/disqualified.gif</TD><TD>Ryan Jude (http://www13.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=2585500)</TD><TD>(78)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

All from my team.

[Vince]

Yup. Ugly.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3></TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Stefan Erler (http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=16645064)</TD><TD>(14)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/images/disqualified.gif</TD><TD>Kent Nyhén (http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=23175072)</TD><TD>(24)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Marco Levratti (http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=22751505)</TD><TD>(35)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Robert van den Wildenberg (http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=16278968)</TD><TD>(41)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/images/warned_1.gif</TD><TD>Ulf Vedström (http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=159648)</TD><TD>(69)</TD></TR><TR><TD>http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/images/disqualified.gif</TD><TD>Marco Levratti (http://www12.hattrick.org/Common/playerDetails.asp?actionType=view&playerID=22751505)</TD><TD>(75)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Only van dn Wildenberg is not on my team.

Who knows -- this could be a blessing in disguise. For my team's long term health, I should probably demote. I really, really, really want to stay though. I guess I'm kind of impressed that I could lose a Formidable PM Wing and a Magnificent PM middie and still put up a Passable (Very Low) midfield.

[lytic]

I rested all my important people for week 14.

[ausonny]

Yeah, I knew there was no way you could be happy with the way things were going. I PICed, and had to play my no skill having clown at wingback, so I thought you had a good chance to win, which would have been great, since, as you say, IV.3 has become a graveyard for FOFCers. Best of luck next week!

[Vince]

Thanks for the well-wishes ausonny. Nothing to be done about the game -- hopefully I can win next week, and Hazzard Hotrods can as well. Even if they tie, I have goal differential, so it should be close...