Does scouting actually work?

[Mr. Wednesday]

Serious question. In the last season or so, I've been pretty diligent about scouting my opponents, and I think I've had a matchup to exploit in the majority of them. In the matches where I've actually needed to gain an advantage this way (i.e. the ones where it's either close with my opponent, or I'm at a disadvantage), my team has underperformed. The most remarkable result I obtained last season (a 2 - 1 loss against a III side in the cup where I was not playing for the win), I actually messed up my defensive orders and set my weak side against their strong side.

So I'm starting to seriously consider advising against bothering with scouting an opponent, since it doesn't seem to actually work.

Contrary or supporting thoughts?

[finkenst]

i'll let you know in 15 weeks when i, at least, stand a chance to win without the other guy getting in the ass from the HT-RNG.

[PilotMan]

I scout, but sometimes I outthink myself and it ends up hurting me. Certainly worthwhile, the more you know about your opponent the better chance you have to stack the table in your favor.

[BillyNYC]

I don't think it HURTS. For example, if a team has only one good side attack or D, and uses that same side consistently, it would be silly to not try to exploit/prepare for that. (While not OVERpreparing, in case they switch sides or whatever).

For example, I usually run with 3-5-2 like this:
D wingback/extra inner/D/normal wingback

This gives me balanced D ratings.

Tombstone normally attacks in middle, and has weaker wing attacks. so today I ran my 3-5-2 like this:
extra inner/D/D/normal wingback.

This helped my central D. I still gave up 1 there (and one on the wing I abandoned; and a set piece goal), but I feel this was a better result than I would've gotten using my "default")

If I didn't have overconfidence (on ROAD, at TITANS? wth...), I could've maybe stolen a point that I likely would not have otherwise.

Preparing is fine; overcompensating isn't.

Preparing also works better when you're the underdog. If you're the favorite, run your normal tactic and you should normally be ok, I'd guess.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Overconfidence in the second game of the season? Um, OK.

Seems like it might be worth a squawk somewhere.

[BillyNYC]

Spanking Cyclones 7-1 in week 1, sandwiched between two 0-9 Cup wins, and with 5 sports psychs (figured would be useful for tough times), combined with Titans losing last week (putting them in 5th or 6th).

It's understandable, sort of. The game AI doesn't distinguish for last season's 2nd place team (Titans). Maybe not for a road game either (nor sure about that). It just saw me in 1st, Titans in 5th or 6th, and my other blowout wins.

Still, I don't think overconfidence should really come into play this early either.

But I don't want to threadjack :)

[Alf]

Like Billy said, I always scout my opponent and see if they have a tendency on a side or note. This way, this season, ion week 1, I was able to score 5 goals on my great attacking side vs his poor defensive side, for a 6-0 result best result in D3 so far for me).

So, yep, scouting is indeed worthwile.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Hmm, that's the best result I've seen so far. Did it turn a relatively even game, ratings-wise, into a rout, or were you already decisively better?

[KevinNU7]

I always scout, but I do not always change my tactics.

For example a team in my league plays a 3-5-2 with two defensive WBs. This ofcourse makes one of his wing defenses much better then the other. I play a 3-4-3 with a solid (high) central attack an outstanding (very high) wing attack and then a weak (high) wing attack.

Conventional wisdom would say to attack his low wing defense (only inadequate) with my great wing attack. However since his other Wing defense is "only" Excellent I know my outstanding attack should still score against him. And by attacking that way, my weak attack has a chance against his inadequte wing defense.

Some times scouting your opponent mean nothing if you can't analysize the situation to create the best lineup.

[Alf]

Hmm, that's the best result I've seen so far. Did it turn a relatively even game, ratings-wise, into a rout, or were you already decisively better? I owned the midfield too. And I agree, that's a bit loopsided. Honestly, I expected something like a 4-2 or 3-1 win.

Alf Trickers (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/teamDetails.asp?teamID=47201)
Player rating and Team formation (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/matchLineup.asp?matchID=34191901&teamID=47201)
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top">Team Attitude:</td> <td valign="top">Normal</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Tactic:</td> <td valign="top">Normal</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Tactic skill:</td> <td valign="top">(no tactic)</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Midfield:</td> <td valign="top">solid (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=7#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">inadequate (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=5#skill) (very low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Defence:</td> <td valign="top">inadequate (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=5#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">outstanding (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=10#skill) (very low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Attack:</td> <td valign="top">inadequate (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=5#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">poor (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=3#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr><td style="padding-top: 8px;">HatStats</td><td style="padding-top: 8px;">208 </td></tr><tr></tr></tbody> </table>
GOB FC (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/teamDetails.asp?teamID=47292)
Player rating and Team formation (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/matchLineup.asp?matchID=34191901&teamID=47292)
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top">Team Attitude:</td> <td valign="top">(Hidden)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Tactic:</td> <td valign="top">Normal</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Tactic skill:</td> <td valign="top">(no tactic)</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Midfield:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">excellent (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=8#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Defence:</td> <td valign="top">solid (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=7#skill) (low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Defence:</td> <td valign="top">passable (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=6#skill) (very low)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Right Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">inadequate (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=5#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Central Attack:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (high)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top">Left Side Attack:</td> <td valign="top">weak (http://www8.hattrick.org/common/gameRules.asp?find=labels&labeltype=skill&labellevel=4#skill) (very high)</td> </tr> <tr><td style="padding-top: 8px;">HatStats</td><td style="padding-top: 8px;">177</td></tr></tbody> </table>