To promote or not...

[Chubby]

Well it looks like I've locked up 1st in my series and I'm the #19 stud in all of Div V (and have the 17th best manager rating in Div V) but I'm torn about tanking matches to stay in Div V. I know we're not ready for the majority of Div IVs but we were a new team in Div V when I started and look where we are in our 5th season of HT and Div V.65 I really don't want to go up to a Div IV, get pounded, then drop into a tough Div V and languish in suckitude especially since we are switching training this off-season. On the other hand, if Lala actually logged in and/or spent their money they could promote any season and our series will only get tighter IMO so who knows if we'll get another chance to promote. I figure we'll be above the auto-promote line if we win out (which would give us 39 pts and it's possible) and maybe even above it if we lose 1 more match and finish at 36. With a 3 pt lead, I know we can lose 1 and still win the series on GD but that is probably it.

What do to, what to do...

[Mr. Wednesday]

Unless you upgrade (a lot), you're going to get pounded in even an average IV series. You'd easily autorelegate in mine, and it's no better than midrange.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Dola, I won't get into whether you should throw matches or not... I don't think your team is good enough that you would be holding your series back, so to speak, by doing so.

[Mr. Wednesday]

Double dola, Lala certainly isn't your only concern. It looks like there are a couple of other teams in there who are capable of beating you, although their longterm improvement schedule is certainly open to question.

[Chubby]

I totally agree, we've caught the all the breaks this season to go along with us catching up to the older teams a little more than usual. I just don't want to go into IV and get hammered (which I'm pretty sure we will since I've looked at the Div IV series strength things a lot the last couple of weeks) but I also don't want to have to throw matches to stay in my kinda easy Div V series. I DO want to win the series and hopefully get a quali so I can see if I'd hang around in the series before getting into it.

[terpkristin]

Oh POOP on that!
I say always promote. You never know what will happen. Even if you get into a hard IV, who knows what'll happen in the next season. Look at hobbes-. He's done well in IV.19 for many seasons and all of a sudden this season he's losing games. Or look at Gryndal (hiccup). Many wrote him off his first season in IV.19, but he's hung on and done well (well, until some unfortunate matches this season). Then there are players like myself and fink, who've been in some odd situations. The first time I went to IV I wasn't ready, but the 2nd, I got more than a few WTF matches that forced me back down to V. Or, look at FrogMan. He made it to III in Canada, and did really well his first season there (as expected). Then, his second season had a BUNCH of WTF matches, he ended up back down in IV, only to jump right back up to III and is now leading his series.

Point of it all is, promoting is good. Who knows what will happen when you do. Even if you demote, it's not the end of the world. I say promote.

/tk

[PilotMan]

I agree with TK. That has always been my theory as well. You have a long time to try and make yourself competetive enough to stay. When I was in IV.6 we have had teams (aka Confederates, and others) who were no where up to the task of staying, but ended up winning some matches and hanging in there.

When I promoted into DIII I was easily the worst team in the division, and although my ratings aren't as high as some others I have a possiblility to stay in DIII.

You have no idea how things are going to work out. If you pass on a chance it could take years to get back again. And who cares if you get sent back down again. You will learn a lot from the other teams, and each and every match that you play will mean something. It would be a change of scenery as well. Two seasons ago IV.6 sent down a team so good that in its very next year they were the #1 seed coming out of D.V again.

In the end you need to do what you want, but I think that you need to take the opportunity when it comes to you.

[finketr]

Chubby,

promote. You'll learn far more in IV, even getting pounded week in and week out... i've done this twice.

It only takes a WTF match or two and you can hang around.

I ended with 3 wins and a tie in both seasons. Once i finished in 7th, the other 8th. Lytic has finished with 10 points in IV.19 and got a qualifier... of course, he got WTF'ed out of iv.19 one of those years.

I've promoted when possible... probably because it's nice having those shiny medals in the cabinet...

Just thinking back, IV.60 season 22: AC Bair finished in 2nd. Season 23: 8th...

just the vagaries of hattrick.

so, in summary:


PROMOTE!

[MikeVick7]

Yes, I asked this question once and got the same replies. So don't be a dope...and promote. Or something like that. :)

[saintjo]

promote and start saving all your money to upgrade your midfield asap ;)

honestly, with those ratings it will be difficult to stay in div iv, but you can upgrade those really quick with a few descent purchases.

[Coffee Warlord]

Don't be a pussy. Promote.

[BreizhManu]

promote

[mrkilla22]

Definately promote. I agree, you learn a lot more from being in IV.

[thealmighty]

PROMOTE!!!

Ask akickku, among others, how it feels to be stuck in a series (though yours isn't that good, really). I am in my second tour in iv as are many others. I'm holding on to 5th right now and hope to stay around this time.

However, if I go down again, I'll fight like hell to get back again...and again, and again, etc... Eventually, I'll stick, but I don't wanna be in a series for 5 or 6 seasons, fail to promote when I could, then maybe be stuck there for seasons more.

[finkenst]

Don't be a pussy. Promote.
That was going to be my initial response. :D

[Chubby]

my initial feeling is to go up and try and stick around like I did when I first got my team (in Div V, tho it's an easy one IMO) I will have a few million to spend at the end of the season for upgrades since when I sell off my last MF trainee and switch to scoring training (I like the cup benefits), I still need to get new trainees but Becky is training up some guys for me :)

[TazFTW]

Promote. I hate staying in the same series for multiple seasons.

I'm fourth on the autopromote list to IV and I'm debating whether to keep going undefeated or tank a game and get an 'easier' IV.