Ultra Nox - Hattrick - Season III

[Qwikshot]

V.56 is the toughest series in Division 5. I am in it, with several competitive teams...new strategies, new faces...

Apologies for my previous attempt to merge mystery noir to hattrick...it ran out of gas, hopefully my team won't...

The team has changed...some faces are new, some the same, some are under the gun....

The board was pleased that I:

a)was out of debt by the end of the season
b)settled down to one form of training, strikers
c)placed 4th, and therefore, dipped into the prize money.

No real changes from that philosophy, though I will try hard to keep in check with a, and try hard to manage c again.

I love training strikers, it's fun, and I have some nice prospects...

Onward:

[Qwikshot]

Defenders:

I'm not going to post all attributes, but I have a nice core of defenders, I decided to compliment the team with some vets...

Starters are:

Ike Noe (defense=solid), a good core team member, and the only remaining member of the original team.

Ismael Gavin (defense=passable), I play him at wingback, he has inadequate experience and passable PM skills

Rob Dunn (defense=solid) youth pull who has inadequate PM skills as well

--others to note--

Adam Stark (defense=solid), youth pull, also has passable PM skills

Steve Delay (defense=passable, passing=passable) Steve plays midfielder, currently injured.

[Qwikshot]

Midfield:

Claude Karetu (playmaking and passing=solid), new acquistion will spearhead the offense, weak offense should help, he's 30, so he'll slowly erode, but for one season he may keep us in the game.

Frederic Amoudry (PM =solid), secondaries are both inadequate, was top dog till Karetu showed up, will play the added middie position.

Steve Delay (PM=passable), secondaries are passable, nice well rounded player, currently injured for 3 weeks

---others to note---

Jorge Urioste (PM=solid), has weak passing, but is still decent, will play while Delay is hurt

Lucio Cabras (PM and defense=passable), has weak experience, but now has been relegated to B team, we need offense, not defense

Charles Magennis (PM and passing=inadequate) has weak experience, but solid set pieces...relegated to team B

Guillermo Sala (PM and passing=inadequate), pseudoclown who will get limited time

[Qwikshot]

Wingers:

All three play wing offensive

Bay Farr (winger=solid, PM=passable), my starter, has weak passing

--others to note--

Davor Madja (winger and PM=passable), starts on the B-team, for cups

Siem Herben (winger=passable, PM=solid) would be starting if his form could improve from poor, perhaps this week.

[Qwikshot]

Strikers:

Oscar Alvarez (scoring=excellent, passing=passable) my pride and joy youth pull, and only 19

Gary Grewar (scoring=solid), somewhat a defensive forward, he's a high solid, and a favorite player

Xu Hey-You (scoring=passable, passing=solid) bought him for the name and passing, is just catching up on scoring...

-others to note-

Branko Manenica (scoring=solid) will probably have to sell to put a dent in the new acquistion...good player though

Erick Weller (scoring=passable) also has passable defense, but he's quick, nice prospect, only 18

Tudor Lazor (scoring=passable) also has passable defense, but he's quick and 17.

[Qwikshot]

Coach Amici is a solid with wretched leadership and inadequate experience, I'm hoping he holds out one more season for me.

[Qwikshot]

We win our first game of the season in the Cup 7-0 against a bot team...it was nice...

[Qwikshot]

Against our series, sadly that's another story:

Due to an all-day shower, 23133 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at The Swamp. Nationals started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Nielsen - Jackson, Cisneros, Wilson - Davenport, Tobiasson, Connelly, Martínez Bueno, Rojas - Caffe, Wai-Kong.

Ultra started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. They fielded: Cambra - Sivit Gañán, Noe, Dunn - Amoudry, Delay, Urioste, Farr - Grewar, Hey-You, Alvarez.

Nationals were mostly trying to use the flanks for their attacks. Ultra seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. In the 31st minute the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as Kees Caffe flipped the ball after a cross pass from the right. After 41 minutes Qiu Wai-Kong put Nationals ahead 2 - 0 as he rose to head in a hooked ball, the result of an effort from the right side. The referee showed Nationalss Qiu Wai-Kong the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The Ultra player was Steve Delay who had to be helped off the pitch, unable to finish the game. Unsportsmanlike behaviour by Qiu Wai-Kong rendered him his second booking of the match, and Nationals had to finish the game with a reduced squad. After 43 minutes Ultra´s Gary Grewar contracted a slight foot injury, but could finish the game. The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 0. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Nationals, with an impressive 62 percent possession of the ball.

Nationals put their lead ahead another goal as Edwin Rojas struck home the 3 - 0 goal, after an attack from the left setting him up unmarked with the keeper. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Nationals´s Christian Tobiasson got himself booked. Everett Jackson made several blunders at the end of the game, causing a good deal of unrest in the defensive line. With 69 minutes played Kenneth Cisneros could have brought this one home for Nationals, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. Nationals held the ball, with a clear 63 percent possession rate.

Most important Nationals player was Rob Connelly. Edwin Rojas was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Ultra player was without a doubt Óscar Alvarez. Gary Grewar was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 0.

[Qwikshot]

We get killed shutout and destroyed, we plan for revenge at the end of the season...

This is where we acquire Claude Karetu, we now face a weak team called the Flaming Weasel, we'll see how we fare against them tomorrow...

[Havok]

dam... i need to get a youth squad like yours :)

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by Havok
dam... i need to get a youth squad like yours :)

I actually had another 18 year old besides Branko, who was also a solid striker, but sold him when his form got unstable, and too make room for Tudor...Branko and my previous solid striker I bought cheap prior to the end of the season (they were both 17)...my entire striker team is young, Grewar is the vet at 20/21. I want to keep him as long as I can because I've grown rather fond of him, he almost won the lead scoring title once and just has been very reliable...

[Qwikshot]

Goalies

Cambra (solid keeper)
Saphou (passable keeper)

Both are durable, reliable and good, Saphou (first name) is a high passable, Cambra is mid to high solid...Cambra is my starter for league games, Saphou will start my early cup games, and all friendlies...

[Qwikshot]

The Flaming Weasels FC - Ultra Nox 2 - 3





Date: 11/20/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 13157088
Arena: The Flaming Weasels FC Arena
Crowd: 4128


Due to an all-day shower, 4128 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at The Flaming Weasels FC Arena. Flaming started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Dijkman - Stringer, Holt, Ernst - Chandler, Runyon, Simpson, Irwin, Amador - Hyman, Vargas.

Ultra had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Supriyadi - Stark, Sivit Gañán, Noe - Karetu, Cabras, Magennis, Herben - Manenica, Weller, Lazãr.

Ultra mostly ignored the flanks in favour of attacks in the middle. After a fine move down the middle Bruce Vargas nearly gave the home side one up in the 1st minute. The finishing shot went just wide, though. With 2 minutes played Casey Chandler almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but visitors Saphou Supriyadi was onto it, grabbing the would be break through ball. Ultras Charles Magennis got himself booked after a foul. Flamings Bruce Vargas gave, after 11 minutes, the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. The teams went for a half-time break at 1 - 0. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 53 percent possession rate.

In the 47:th minute Flaming put themselves up 2 - 0. The visitors defenders lost the ball to Bruce Vargas coming up from the left, who proceeded to cooly round the goaltender and knock the ball home. The referee showed Ultras Ismael Sivit Gañán the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 65 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Flaming. However, Saphou Supriyadi made a spectacular save. Flaming appeared unsure on how to play. Ultra showed some good morale and were, in the 79:th minute, able to reduce the score to 2 - 1 as Claude Karetu got past the home sides full backs straight in front of the goal. Jim Ernst behaved like an inexperienced youth player in the 81st minute as he gave the ball away to an opponent. Lucky for him though, there was no goal. Some brilliant football from the visitors right wing resulted in a 83rd minute levelling of scores as Ultras Lucio Cabras equalised to 2 - 2. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 72 percent possession rate.

After the regular 90 minutes, the agony of overtime followed. Ultra took the lead in the games 97:th minute with 2 - 3 after some elegant plays down the middle. Branko Manenica was the scorer. This put an end to extra time, making Ultra the winners. The most dominating Flaming player was without a doubt Cornell Runyon. Andrew Simpson was a disappointment, however. Most important Ultra player was Claude Karetu. Siem Herben on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 3.

Almost upset, but rally back to win, exciting and too damn scary, I need a long cup run to pay for Karetu, but he earns his money starting our rally

[Qwikshot]

The Flaming Weasels FC
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: inadequate
Central Defence: passable
Left Side Defence: weak
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: inadequate

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: outstanding
Left Side Defence: inadequate
Right Side Attack: poor
Central Attack: excellent
Left Side Attack: passable

Home team advantage, bad weather, and almost even midfields almost led to this disaster, guess our stamina held out

[Qwikshot]

Stars:
Supriyadi (GK), Magennis(IM), Lazar(F), Weller(F)=2 stars
Stark (WB), Manenica (F), Cabaras (DMid) =2.5
Karetu (OffMid), Noe (Def), Ganan(Def)=3.0
Herben (Wing) =1.5

Ganan and Cabras get experience improvements with Ganan going to passable and Cabras to inadequate.

I've placed Cabras on the market for 70k, I may regret it.

Herben had poor form, hopefully this cup match will boost him to a more playable form, if not he'll be on the bench till cups turn to friendlies.

[Qwikshot]

V.56 teams still in cup:

Ring of Fire
Nationals
Heavy Metal
Ultra Nox

Out of the Cup:

Riddle
Mesa Mehados
PA Tall Trees
bangeranger

Riddle is an upset, Mesa still has no offense, PA and bang are upstarts who ran into better teams.

[Qwikshot]

What do I do now?

Here's the rub...I'm playing a good team this week in the league, I'm playing a good team in the cup. I have two decent wingers.

Should I go back to a 3-5-2 for league games.

The 3-4-3 while fun and gun, is no match for a well equipped midfield team, (See Nationals game)...I get sliced and diced, and with 3 decent middies now, I can toe the line.

The disadantage is obvious, 3-4-3 would have to be in my cup games, and one player would be removed from training, never a good thing...the added problem, once an excellent in the 3-5-2, I'm a poor, so I'm left with bringing an intangible to the front, if any confusion occurs, I could be sunk before I leave the dock.

Now if I hold out, I have to better prep and use different strategies to combat my opponents...

Pressing=I have a good stamina team, plus I have a powerful defender, which is a bonus...The other added bonus is that defense is taken into account for the entire team...

check it:

Noe (solid def, excellent stamina)
Stark (solid def, inadequate stamina)
Dunn (solid def, solid stamina)
-nice back defense, though Stark needs a tiny bit better stamina-

Gavin (passable def, excellent stamina) plus passable PM
Delay (passable def, solid stamina) plus passable PM (hurt)
Amoudry (inadequate def, excellent stamina) plus solid PM

That's a decent midfield

None of my starting wingers has any defense to consider but that's the bonus of having this guy...

Claude Karetu (inadequate def, solid stamina) plus solid pm, passing and inadequate winger (his previous owner used him at this spot, and got 3.5 stars out of him)

This leaves us to the front...

Grewar (inadequate def, solid stamina) solid striker
Hey-You (inadequate def, inadequate stamina) passable striker
Weller (passable def, poor stamina) passable striker

Probably not the best but Alvarez my star only has a poor defense, and probably would be best used during the CUP.

Just a thought...



Counterattack=There is a formula you can use to figure out how good you would be in the counterattack, with Delay, Hey-You (my one forward), and Noe...(for a 3-4-3) if I wanted to stack it with a 5-3-2, I may have a better chance, but at the risk of a terrible midfield (too much loss of possession).

AIM-What I've been using and it's not going to help if I constantly use it.

AOW-Hard to use this for a 3-4-3 unless I go two wingers instead of one, which hurts my midfield then. (I use 3 inner mids)

Normal-always an option.

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox - Riddle 1 - 3





Date: 11/24/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048836
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 16951


At Ultra Nox Arena, 16951 punters turned up, and despite threatening clouds at the horizon, no rain came. Ultra had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Supriyadi - Noe, Dunn, Stark - Farr, Sivit Gañán, Karetu, Amoudry - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Riddle tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Gottfried - Foster, Hermoso de Mendo, Matsson - Tijssen, Wilde, Looney, Domínguez, Reed - Håkansson, Staples.

Ultra seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. Riddle saw most attack opportunites on the wings and were directing their passes that way. What was Claude Looney thinking? That's what everyone wondered when he for no apparent reason shot a cross pass over his own penalty area, giving Bay Farr an extra chance, but he didn't get the shot right.. Some quick foot work on the left side of the field in the 4:th minute left Riddle´s Dan Staples completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. Ultra will have to do without Óscar Alvarez for a time due to a bad foot injury. He was substituted by Gary Grewar. After 27 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Alexander Wilde who increased Riddle´s lead to 0 - 2. A couple of inches to the right and Ike Noe´s free kick in the 30:th would have resulted in the goal of the year for Ultra. After the ball got lifted in from the left Alexander Wilde was on his own in the home side´s penalty area 32 minutes into the game, and should have scored, but missed, probably due to lack of concentration. Ultra had a brilliant opportunity to reply as Adam Stark received a high ball from the right, striking the ball still in the air. Only Julian Gottfried´s reflexes saved him. Halftime score was 0 - 2. Riddle held the ball, with a clear 59 percent possession rate.

In the 48:th minute Ismael Sivit Gañán passed through the guests central line of defense, scoring the 1 - 2 goal. In the 69:th minute the visitors put themselves ahead 1 - 3 as Dan Staples finished off an attack from the left with a spectacular scissors kick. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Riddle, with an impressive 57 percent possession of the ball.

Most important Ultra player was Frédéric Amoudry. Gary Grewar was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Riddle player was without a doubt Alexander Wilde. Peter Matsson on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 3.

[Qwikshot]

RATING

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: formidable
Central Defence: outstanding
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: excellent
Left Side Attack: weak

Riddle
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: solid
Right Side Defence: solid
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: solid
Left Side Attack: formidable

[Qwikshot]

We actually pull an inadequate defense on a 3-4-3, very nice.
We lose 3-1, very bad.
We score our first league goal of the season, very nice.
Only one team has fewer goals, and they sit above us in the standings, very bad.
We are getting our star midfielder, defender back in a week, very nice.
We lost our star striker for the next 3 weeks, very very bad.

We play a tough 4-4-2 team in the cup match this week, sans Delay and Alvarez...so I've been doing some tactical thinking...

more on this after the stars...

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

Saphou (keeper), Hey-You (striker), Manenica (striker), Karetu (offmid), Stark (wingback) all had 2.5 stars

Noe (wingback), Dunn (defender), Amoundry (mid), Ganan (defmid), Farr (wing) all had 3 stars

Grewar (sub striker) and Alvarez (injured striker) both had 2 stars.

The nice thing is that Ganan can play better at the defensive mid than Cabras (who is on the bench), he can also play defender, and has passable experience now, so he starts wherever I can plug him in.

I should've gone with a 2 central defender, one wingback format, over two wingbacks, one central defender, but can't cry over it now...

I play the goalless Mehados this week (they use pressing for everything, and have yet to do anything with offensive)...if I win, I can move from the automatic relegation spot to playing against a team relegation spot...critical right now, because after this match, I play Ring of Fire, and unless I get a ringer, there's no way I can beat this team.

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Nationals 2 8 - 1 6

Good team that has become very potent in scoring...could be the leader of the division.

2. Riddle 2 5 - 1 6

Smoke and mirrors team, they're good but not that good.

3. Ring of Fire 2 4 - 1 4

I'm not the only team that is having a tough start, but at least Ring is on the good side of the table.

4. bangeranger 2 4 - 3 3

Surprise, but not really, their inagural game was against Tall Trees, and they slaughtered them...their results against Heavy Metal show them for what they really are, just a little fish in a big fish pond.

5. Heavy Metal Superst 2 3 - 4 3

First game was against Ring of Fire, this is a tough team, who will have no problem slicing through everyone but Ring, though I'm curious to see how they handle the Nationals.

6. Mesa Mehados 2 0 - 2 1

No goals people, this guy needs to sell one of his defenders to get a potent striker, then you have a dangerous team...only proves that defense isn't as relevant as midfield or scoring. Riddle beat them, I should be able to as well.

7. Ultra Nox 2 1 - 6 0

Well we aren't the worst team in the division, but this is a black day, needless to say, I'm amazed because our fans have been very understand, 6 just signed up...so we still have support, but for how long.

8. PA Tall Trees 2 2 - 9 0

This team is going to be chopped apart...

[Qwikshot]

Mesa Mehados - Ring of Fire 0 - 0

Mehados shut down our toughest team, but that means they'll be hungry in a few weeks for fresh meat.

PA Tall Trees - Nationals 1 - 5

Tall Trees is an unmanned human team, Nationals made quick work with them, and pushed into first place.

Heavy Metal S - bangeranger 2 - 0

Heavy Metal had no problems with bangeranger, but they are a dangerous team who had a nice schedule to work with early this season...I really need to trounce banger to stay floating in div.56

Ultra Nox - Riddle 1 - 3

This was not unexpected, but I really wish that I could've inched out a win...

[Qwikshot]

I know that against the evil weasel (this week's cup match), that I have to at some point change my game to better adjust to my more formidable opponents...I figure two more weeks of winning and I break even in expenses, and may be back in black...which should be worth inking it out a few more weeks...just as long as it isn't at the expense of my training.

We lucked out (?) if you could call it that, and had four strikers play last Sunday, that means training for four, instead of 3, so I can greenlight a formation which requires only two strikers, instead of 3.

I thought about the 3-5-2, once we were a bastion of the 3-5-2 but now we are poor at it, so I'm opting for the same philosophy as my opponent, 4-4-2 with wingbacks towards the mid. But, I'll add my own wrinkle to it, my two inner mids will be offensive, and my two wingers will be as well. I plan to attack on the wings...

Now if anyone else is reading this (anyone, anyone) and see some other insight, I'll be more than happy to oblige.

I use Hattrick Organizer religiously...

4-4-2 gets me 58.5 total strength. And since I have a good knowledge of the 4-4-2, no confusion chances...

Now I could get creative and have 3 inner mids, and one less winger, and that gets me a 59.5. So I may just have to do that, but then the AOW is useless, so I'll play normal.

I'm MOTSing, simply because I need the cash and I can PIC this week against the Mehados (gamble, but it's going to be a rough game anyway, or I'll PIC against ring since I have no hope).

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox - Evil Weasels 2 - 3





Date: 11/27/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 13217079
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 14779


Due to an all-day shower, 14779 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Ultra Nox Arena. Ultra had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Cambra - Sivit Gañán, Noe, Dunn, Stark - Farr, Karetu, Magennis, Majdic - Weller, Lazãr.

Weasels had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Pyle - Baca, Michaud, Parks, Vann - Jeffrey, Geiger, Ackerman, Mott - Forman, Cooney.

Ultra were mostly trying to use the flanks for their attacks. A crazy pass by Zack Parks towards his own goalie almost caused a goal for Ultra, but Davor Majdic didn't get the finish right. In the games 19:th minute Tim Cooney almost gave the visitors the lead, as he clipped a spectacular scissors shot just past the bar. Many thought Tudor Lazãr ought to have been awarded a penalty shot in the 26:th minute, as he went down trying to circle the visitors keeper Jarrett Pyle. Weasels took the lead in the games 30:th minute with 0 - 1 after some elegant plays down the middle. Tim Cooney was the scorer. 0 - 1 was the half-time score. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 51 percent possession rate.

After 55 minutes of play Erick Weller equalised for Ultra after an elegant attack from the right. The home side put themselves ahead 2 - 1 in the 62nd by a breakthrough from Tudor Lazãr, who unaided came in out of the right wing hooking the ball over the visitors keeper. In the game's 74:th minute Weasels´s Heath Baca limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. Visitors Daniel Forman was alert on a play coming in from the left, making the score a tie at 2 - 2 in the 75:th minute. In the games 79:th minute Weasels´s Leo Jeffrey fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Leo Jeffrey for taking a dive. Weasels's Tim Cooney scored 2 - 3 by shooting accurately and hard from a long distance, leaving the opponent goalie no other option than to pick up the ball from the net. Weasels had, after 82 minutes of the game, worked the left side industriously, creating several opportunities to add to their lead, but somehow didn´t achieve closure. Weasels held the ball, with a clear 53 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Ultra player was without a doubt Rob Dunn. Adam Stark on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Weasels player was without a doubt Heath Baca. Sylvester Vann was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 3.


We lose, we still don't have our best player, and of course, I MOTS'd, so we lose spirit...fun fun fun

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

3 stars: Bay Farr (wing), Dunn, Noe (central defenders)
2 stars: Weller, Lazar (stikers)
2.5 stars: everyone else.

Bay Farr is proving to be a strong signing, Claude Karetu is proving to be a free agent blunder of colossal squidlike proportions...

form is still in the crapper.

No training boosts, but I did up my physios and doctors to get Delay and Alvarez back...

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: excellent
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: passable

Evil Weasels
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: passable

It could've gone either way, it was an exciting game, just sad to be on the losing end.

[Qwikshot]

Mesa Mehados - Ultra Nox 3 - 0





Date: 12/1/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048852
Arena: The Rio
Crowd: 18699


A scorching day at The Rio, where 18699 spectators were in place for today´s match. Mehados started off with a 5-4-1 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Best - Fischer, Hamlin, Hatcher, Buendía, Lomax - Velazquez, Paulson, Taylor, Molina - Heng-suan.

Ultra had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. They fielded: Cambra - Noe, Sivit Gañán, Dunn - Farr, Karetu, Amoudry, Urioste - Hey-You, Manenica, Weller.

Mehados tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but kept getting stuck on the visitors defenders. A well placed corner kick from Robert Taylor was followed by Casey Lomax´s hard but accurate header. The nice combination meant goal for Mehados. The result now 1-0. In the 31st minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Robert Taylor dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Mehados. The home sides Robert Taylor twisted a free kick home in the 36:th minute, putting Mehados ahead 3 - 0. The structure of the game started to change as Mehados decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. Halftime score was 3 - 0. Mehados held the ball, with a clear 60 percent possession rate.

After an industrious effort down the middle Robert Fischer could have closed the game off in the 55:th minute, but his finishing shot hit the post. A great save by goaltender Antonio Cambra in the 55:th minute kept the visitors in the game as Buchaca Buendía struck from the left with a real cannonball. In the games 57:th minute Mehados´s Yin Heng-suan fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Yin Heng-suan for taking a dive. A great save by goaltender Antonio Cambra in the 67:th minute kept the visitors in the game as Robert Taylor struck from the left with a real cannonball. Mehados held the ball, with a clear 63 percent possession rate.

Most important Mehados player was Buchaca Buendía. Robert Taylor was a disappointment, however. Ultra´s best player was Rob Dunn. Erick Weller was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 0.


Bad to worse...just horrible

[Qwikshot]

Mesa Mehados
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: titanic
Central Defence: mythical
Left Side Defence: magnificent
Right Side Attack: wretched
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: poor

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: formidable
Left Side Attack: weak

[Qwikshot]

I'm not going to bother listing stars right now...we play ring of fire this weekend...it's going to be bad if we don't get some key players back into shape.

[Qwikshot]

Stars against Mehados

3.5: Dunn (defender),
3: Cambra (gk), Amoudry (middie), Ganan (Defender), Farr (Winger),
2.5: everyone else

Dunn was a surprise, but I think his form is really good right now...form has been rough this season.

We lose our friendly as well, can't seem to win at all.

Ring of Fire is next, I'm hoping for a good youth pull.

[Qwikshot]

Steve Muse
145 000 US$, 17 years, passable form
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities

Stamina: weak Keeper: disastrous
Playmaking: excellent Passing: poor
Winger: weak Defending: inadequate
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: poor


So just when things look their bleakest I get a great youth pull...he'll be a decent defensive middie, but we have to up that stamina, at this point, I'm dedicated to forward training, so he'll go on the market, but I'm figuring out a price, at least my youth squad is not failing me.

[Desnudo]

Any thoughts on what you'll do with the money?

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by Desnudo
Any thoughts on what you'll do with the money?

Well I have to sell him first...and from what the board informs me, he should be around 1 million.

My first option is to probably up my stadium again, not a lot, I'm near sellout now, (even with not winning a game yet).

2nd option is to upgrade my midfield, and perhaps another good winger and go with a 3-5-2 in leagues, and 3-4-3 in friendlies...

I would also sell off any undesirables, and one of my strikers (since I'll only be training 5 instead of 6).

Let's face it, I'm deep in a hole right now. Nationals leads with 9 points to my zero, I would have to really impress in the next 10 games (plus I'm going to lose this weekend to Ring).

I take it, dependant on the sale,
1. Stadium expansion
2. One very good midfielder
3. Keep the remainder and see what happens the next few fixtures, if I can get back in the run, I'll buy another midfielder, if I'm out, I'll save up for another good striker trainee.

But we'll see, my head is swimming right now.

[sterlingice]

Just remember, series aren't won in a day. Upgrade that stadium if you need it, plug that midfield hole if you need it, and upgrade your trainees if they need help (i.e. you have a bunch of 19 and 20yos who are only solids).

Just don't let that money go to your head or you'll make silly purchases. We've all done it ;)

SI

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by sterlingice
Just remember, series aren't won in a day. Upgrade that stadium if you need it, plug that midfield hole if you need it, and upgrade your trainees if they need help (i.e. you have a bunch of 19 and 20yos who are only solids).

Just don't let that money go to your head or you'll make silly purchases. We've all done it ;)

SI

My trainees are actually quite young but I concur they're nowhere near some groups.

Weller passable striking/inadequate passing 18 y.o

Tudor passable striking/poor passing 17 y.o

Alvarez excellent striking/passable passing 19 y.o.

Grewar sold striking/poor passing 21 y.o.

Manenica solid striking/poor passing 18 y.o.

Hey-You passable striking/solid passing 20? y.o.

I could perhaps buy an excellent striker, and a decent midfielder, and forgo the stadium expansion...

True, about winning the series, but v.56 is the toughest (a least top three of all div 5), every year gets harder as these teams already have at least 2 to 3 levels of midfield on me, and none have made the jump to div 4.

Looking over prices I overestimated midfielder prices, so I'm going to look for a decent high solid with good secondaries, over splurging for an excellent...

I'll be looking over 17 y.o. strikers...maybe I'll find a diamond in the rough (or just in the offhours).

[sterlingice]

I'm firmly in the "incremental increases" category of building a team. However, sometimes you need to make a big jump at one position or another, going from below average to above average (I just don't advocate going from average to super above average when that cash could probably be spent putting 3 positions to above average instead). You should be able to get a solid/solid (stam/pm) with good secondaries for well under $500K (don't know the exact price- it may be as low as $200K considering all the deflation in the middie market). Basically, be on the lookout for someone who you will be able to use at the next level- someone who will be your star now and a serviceable second or third option on the next level (at which point, you'll do an upgrade from below average to above average on your other middie).

No reason to run out and get an excellent striker since that's what your training and your guys will be there soon enough. And, I'd really stay away from trying to grab a 17yo excellent striker just to have one. U20 players aren't all they are cracked up to be. Just ask TP and his army of doctors working on the guy he spent millions on. I would certainly sell Grewar as soon as he gets to excellent striking just because he's kindof old to train and not that much better than a trainee who can step in and replace him. Then you can grab another trainee who's 17 instead. Maybe even snag one with passable passing, if they're affordable. I've been looking for an excellent striker with higher than poor passing and there's a huge gap there! You can buy a exc/poor for ~300K but to get one with passable passing runs 600K+

Oh, and about stadium expansions- if you have the cash to do it and think you can fill it- do it sooner rather than later. That'll make you money and it's a lot easier to pull the trigger on it when you have $1M in the bank instead of when it would put you $300K in the hole in the offseason.

SI

[Qwikshot]

Ring of Fire - Ultra Nox 3 - 1





Date: 12/8/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048861
Arena: Ring of Fire Arena
Crowd:


27086 spectators had come to Ring of Fire Arena this cloudy day. Ring had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Lineup: Nilsson - Philippens, Sahllius, Knapp - Norton, Martin, Staicu, Boston, Ellis - Duncan, Corbett.

Ultra tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. The following players had been chosen: Cambra - Noe, Sivit Gañán, Dunn - Karetu, Cabras, Amoudry, Farr - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Ultra mostly ignored the flanks in favour of attacks in the middle. Ring were very close to putting themselves one up in the 6:th minute as Dirk Martin got through, but failing in concentration, he shot the ball wide. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Ring´s Rich Boston got himself booked. Ring took the lead in the 13th minute after a magnificent free kick. Gil Norton adjusted the score to 1 - 0. In the 17:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Oscar Duncan dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Ring. A great save by goaltender Antonio Cambra in the 20:th minute kept the visitors in the game as Gheorghe Staicu struck from the left with a real cannonball. Ring´s Oscar Duncan left the field after 30 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was Tomás Biglino. The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 0. Ring, bringing the final ball possession rate to 75 percent, dominated the battle.

The referee showed Rings Glenn Knapp the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Xu Hey-You went down after a savage challenge, but could keep on playing after some medical attention. Glenn Knapp increased Rings lead to 3 - 0 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right. A bit later Ultra´s Ismael Sivit Gañán easily reduced to 3 - 1 after a misunderstanding in the home sides central defense line. A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 90 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Ring. However, Antonio Cambra made a spectacular save. Ring, bringing the final ball possession rate to 76 percent, dominated the battle.

Ring´s best player was Rich Boston. Tomás Biglino on the other hand, had a terrible day. Ultra´s best player was Rob Dunn. Xu Hey-You was a disappointment, however. The match ends 3 - 1.

Not unexpected, nothing can keep me down after watching the Eagles win from section 102, row 9, a mere 9 rows from the field...nice belated birthday gift from my brother, and of course, Steve Muse, a nice belated birthday gift from hattrick

[Qwikshot]

Ring of Fire
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: excellent
Right Side Defence: outstanding
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: magnificent
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: solid
Left Side Attack: inadequate

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: outstanding
Central Defence: magnificent
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: weak
Central Attack: formidable
Left Side Attack: excellent


Hard to top an excellent midfield, and this team is still chasing the Nationals for first place, go figure.

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

3 stars: Cambra (GK), Noe (WB), Ganan (Def), Amoudry (Mid), Karetu (OffMid), Cabras (DefMid), Alvarez (striker), Manenica (striker),
3.5 stars: Dunn (def)
2.5 stars: Hey-You (striker), Farr (wing)

Dunn is in high form with an excellent form...a good effort by the team, just a better one by the opponents...for a 3-4-3 were sure aren't scoring much, but our opponents' are.

[Qwikshot]

V.56 results for the week:

PA Tall Trees - Mesa Mehados 0 - 1

Mehados probably PIC'd, still, I'm amazed they couldn't score more against this team.

Heavy Metal Supersta - Riddle 1 - 3

Every year there is a surprise team, Riddle got a relegation match last season, this season they're battling for 1st place, and Heavy Metal, a top favorite, is having a rough season (though not as rough as mine).

bangeranger - Nationals 0 - 7

'Nuff said, bangeranger is not a team that can compete with the big fish, now we'll have to see in a faceoff, whether I can compete with them.

[Qwikshot]

My youth pull sold for a little under 1 million:

1. Expanded stadium
2. Paid bills
3. Grabbed an excellent midfielder

1a. Should be about 27k seater, very nice, I chose the middle option because one never knows how tough the remainder of the season will be.

2a. I'll have 24k sitting in the bank after this week, not counting a cup rules friendly this evening.

3a.

Avi Abutbool (12935740)
23 years, passable form, healthy
A nasty fellow who is balanced and upright.
Has poor experience and poor leadership abilities.

Nationality: Israel
Assessed value: 250 000 US$
Wage: 2 172 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Ultra Nox
Warnings: 0


Stamina: excellent Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: excellent Passing: weak
Winger: weak Defending: inadequate
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: solid

Career Goals: 6
Career Hattricks: 0
League goals this season: 1
Cup goals this season: 1

He's mean but he'll be a decent playmaker for the team, the solid set pieces will help, and I'll set him up as a defensive mid, now I can only hope Karetu's form betters, otherwise he's on the market soon.

The bonus is that Avi is only 23 which means his skill decrease isn't for a while unlike if I went after a 28,29 y.o. Avi should be the anchor for the midfield for the next few seasons.

[Qwikshot]

Due to expenses, and the fact that I have yet to win a game this season (or draw), I've decided to sell off some remnants...


Claude Karetu
184 000 US$, 30 years, weak form
Has weak experience and weak leadership abilities

Stamina: solid Keeper: disastrous
Playmaking: solid Passing: solid
Winger: inadequate Defending: inadequate
Scoring: poor Set Pieces: passable

On sale for $250k, Claude was supposed to be my offensive juggernaut, but he's mostly a whimper, I don't recommend him for anyone on FOFC, but if you want to gamble, here you go, in his defense, he didn't get a lot of playing time with his prior team, but I was sure form would go up by now, he hovers around weak. His age is at a dangerzone point, so I'm selling him now.



Jorge Urioste (17746192)
28 years, inadequate form, healthy
A controversial person who is balanced and honest.
Has poor experience and wretched leadership abilities.


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: wretched
Playmaking: solid Passing: weak
Winger: weak Defending: poor
Scoring: poor Set Pieces: inadequate

Jorge isn't a bad player, just adequate, so I'm selling him off to use the cash on a better upgrade, he's 28, getting close to the big 3.0. I don't recommend unless you need to plug in, form stays around inadequate/passable. A bargain at 60k.

Siem Herben
27 000 US$, 31 years, wretched form
Has wretched experience and poor leadership abilities [Unpredictable]

Stamina: excellent Keeper: wretched
Playmaking: solid Passing: weak
Winger: passable Defending: wretched
Scoring: disastrous Set Pieces: poor

I don't recommend Siem to anyone here, his form went from poor to wretched and has not rebounded, even with playing time in friendlies, he's a bargain at 20k, but I doubt he'll be bought except by some greenhorn...he was a worthy gamble when he was at poor form, but he just never rebounded...and I found two better wingers to boot.

Blue Plate Special

This is the guy I recommend to all of you, but he comes with a big cost....I can't plug him in anywhere, and he won't get training anymore, so I'm shipping him off...great as a defender (counterattck potential) or midfielder...

Here he is:



Steve Delay (10754003)
19 years, inadequate form, healthy
A controversial person who is fiery and dishonest.
Has wretched experience and inadequate leadership abilities.

Nationality: Oceania
Assessed value: 109 000 US$
Wage: 1 308 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Ultra Nox
Warnings: 0


Stamina: solid Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: passable Passing: passable
Winger: poor Defending: passable
Scoring: wretched Set Pieces: poor

At 19, he's still trainable, he did get training time at playmaking. passing and defending skills are passable. He's posted forms as high as excellent, but has inadequate due to lack of playing time or a slight injury...generally solid/passable.

It comes with a cost, 450k. But that's because I really don't want to part with him.

Hope some read this, all players to be sold (or fired) or (welcomed back) by 12/13 @ 18:28 hours (Delay was the last posted, so the other guys have earlier times).

[Qwikshot]

Everyone I put up for sale was sold...so I went on the hunt for some midfielders...

Grabbed this one before my league match:

Avi Abutbool
249 000 US$, 23 years, passable form
Has poor experience and poor leadership abilities

Stamina: excellent Keeper: disastrous
Playmaking: excellent Passing: weak
Winger: weak Defending: inadequate
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: solid

I felt this was a good grab...I needed a playmaker, and Avi has it...the Israeli has experience, playmaking and a dash of just about everything else...solid set pieces, very nice...he was a pretty penny, but at 23, he should have plenty of seasons with me.

[Qwikshot]

Onto the match against dead team PA Tall Trees, this really shouldn't have been a contest, and it wasn't, my team got its first win of the season, and jumped from automatic relegation, to match relegation, which made the board happier, and the fans as well

Ultra Nox - PA Tall Trees 8 - 1





Date: 12/15/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048882
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 12921


12921 spectators arrived at Ultra Nox Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Ultra had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Cambra - Stark, Noe, Dunn - Sivit Gañán, Cabras, Abutbool, Hanssen - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Trees had chosen a strategic 2-5-2 formation. Lineup: Walls - Oakes, Hanley - Sanborn, Perez, Ainsworth, Butts, Conway - Gould, Gil.

Ultra clearly preferred attacks in the middle. Avi Abutbool gave his Ultra the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. The referee showed Ultras Lucio Cabras the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Treess Michael Oakes had to leave the pitch, the team having noone to substitute him with! Trees seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. Rob Dunn got left behind when Trees´s Mitch Sanborn made a sudden pull forward in the 27:th minute, finishing off with a swift strike. 1-1! Branko Manenica gave his Ultra the lead with 2 - 1, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. A speedy charge from the left side of the field put Ultra lead up with 3 - 1. Branko Manenica finished that one off competently, firing from an acute angle. Trees had obvious problems in finding their positions. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. Ike Noe squirmed himself through the central defense line in the 40:th minute, asserting the lead to 4 - 1. The structure of the game started to change as Ultra decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. In the 42nd minute Treess Francisco Gil received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Ultras Branko Manenica got himself booked after a foul. Mitch Sanborn went down after a savage challenge, but could keep on playing after some medical attention. The teams went for a half-time break at 4 - 1. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 71 percent possession rate.

The Trees players spent the half-time break getting a rerun of the teams tactical organization. Almost all the way down to the corner flag Dennis Hanssen somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for Branko Manenica who struck for 5 - 1. By then Branko Manenica was a three time scorer - a hat trick! Ultra´s Adam Stark had an excellent opportunity in the 59:th minute, shooting on a through ball, but he missed the goal by miles! In the 70:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Lucio Cabras dashed through, knocking home 6 - 1 for Ultra. The home sides Avi Abutbool twisted a free kick home in the 78:th minute, putting Ultra ahead 7 - 1. In the 83rd minute Ultras Óscar Alvarez received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Trees had made all their substitutions when Mitch Sanborn had to leave the game in the 86:th minute because of a pulled tendon, leaving the team a man short. In the 88:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Xu Hey-You dashed through, knocking home 8 - 1 for Ultra. Trees had obvious problems in finding their positions. Trees had made all their substitutions when Franklyn Gould had to leave the game in the 89:th minute because of a pulled tendon, leaving the team a man short. Trees had obvious problems in finding their positions. Ultra, bringing the final ball possession rate to 86 percent, dominated the battle.

The most dominating Ultra player was without a doubt Antonio Cambra. Dennis Hanssen was a disappointment, however. Trees´s best player was Ernest Ainsworth. However, Thad Walls made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 8 - 1.

The guy didn't even have a legal lineup in, I'm still ticked we gave up a goal, no matter, this was a nice win, a nice boost after some terrible battles...the beauty is we play them again...

[Qwikshot]

I forgot I purchase a winger/wingback...a frenzy buy if you will, but he will make some strides into the team, he already replaced Bay Farr, which brings me to this, I'll probably be selling one of my strikers, and going 3-5-2 in matches, and 3-4-3 in friendlies...it seems insane to go against these teams with anything but a 3-5-2.

He'res that acquisition:

Dennis Hanssen
199 000 US$, 25 years, inadequate form
Has wretched experience and poor leadership abilities

Stamina: inadequate Keeper: disastrous
Playmaking: solid Passing: weak
Winger: passable Defending: passable
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: poor

He's got playmaking skills, winger and defending skills, with a dash of passing...I'm hoping the form improves...he would be one of my wingers, Bay Farr to be the other, Davor to play on the friendly team.

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: formidable
Central Defence: world class
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: weak
Central Attack: formidable
Left Side Attack: solid

PA Tall Trees
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: wretched
Right Side Defence: poor
Central Defence: weak
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: poor
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: poor

[b]Really no match here, first world class has shown up to my knowledge, a good team...we're becoming that, it has to do to those youth pulls, best not squander them, I'm hoping the players purchased will help, and that I'll avoid the Karetu curse, keep the picks middle of the road (21-27) with good form...and I should be okay.

Stars next:

[Qwikshot]

3.5= Cambra (GK), Dunn (CD)
3.0= Abutbool (DefMid), Alvarez (S), Manenica (S), Hey-You (S), Noe (CD), Ganan (Mid)
2.5=Cabras (Mid), Stark (WB), Hanssen (W)

Our three strikers all with 3 stars, very nice...Alvarez should be close to formidable.

[Qwikshot]

LAST ROUND

Nationals - Ring of Fire 0 - 3

Upset and probably will cost the Nationals their shot at promotion, Ring of Fire just destroyed them.

Riddle - bangeranger 6 - 0

bangeranger is proving to be too small a fish for this pond, I'll be one guard though. Riddle is just tough this year.

Mesa Mehados - Heavy Metal S 0 - 0

Heavy Metal is just not getting a break, and Mehados are Hattrick's version of the New Jersey Devils, they play pressing and hope for surprises...they beat me easily but a better team like Heavy or Riddle battles them to a draw or victory.

Ultra Nox - PA Tall Trees 8 - 1

Nice to see that figure but we got Heavy Metal next week...rough game.

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Riddle 5 18 - 3 15
2. Ring of Fire 5 15 - 2 13
3. Nationals 5 18 - 6 12
4. Mesa Mehados 5 4 - 2 8
5. Heavy Metal Superst 5 6 - 10 4
6. Ultra Nox 5 10 - 13 3
7. bangeranger 5 4 - 21 3
8. PA Tall Trees 5 4 - 22 0

This could be Riddle's year...but Ring of Fire and Nationals are tough opponents...I'm hoping to play spoiler this year, as I doubt I have any chance.

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Top scorers
Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 6
2. Oscar Duncan Ring of Fire 4
3. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 3
4. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 3
5. Roscoe Davenport Nationals 3
6. Rob Connelly Nationals 3
7. Virgil Gavrilescu Nationals 2
8. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 2
9. Tore Pålsson Heavy Metal Superstars 2
10. Avi Abutbool Ultra Nox 2

You know it's a tough division when the leading scorer just has six, Manenica is threatening...Abutbool surprises making this list on his league debut. This is very attainable for us with Manenica...he could be this years' Gary Grewar.

[sterlingice]

World class defense with a 3-4-3. Now, I don't endorse this kind of thing as that should be on offense, but that's pretty nice. ;)

SI

[Qwikshot]

Ring of Fire - PA Tall Trees

Ring of Fire will dominate the Trees.

Nationals - Riddle

Another good match, will Riddle fend of a hungry Nationals team, they must know Ring has an easy match this week, they need a win. Riddle needs this one to stay on top.

Heavy Metal S - Ultra Nox

Battle of the disappointments.

bangeranger - Mesa Mehados

Mesa should have this easy.

[Qwikshot]

I had a rough going trying to find another midfielder to join Abutbool and Ganan. I seemed to never have enough cash, there were a lot of big fish out there grabbing quality midfielders...so I figured I'd wait till after my match with trees and found this guy one the transferwire in the U.S. of A.


Dennis de Waal
179 000 US$, 24 years, inadequate form
Has poor experience and passable leadership abilities

Stamina: excellent Keeper: wretched
Playmaking: excellent Passing: weak
Winger: wretched Defending: inadequate
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: passable

Form is tricky, but he's got experience, nice stamina and playmaking skills, a dash of passing, and defense. Good set pieces too. I was glad to grab him...now I'm complete for now. I figure with this midfield of Avi Abutbool, Ismael Ganan, and de Waal, along with wingers Bay Farr and David Hannsen, I have a midfield that can compete or excel over my opponents, I think I'm going to shock the hell out of my fellow opponents on the backside set of fixtures, I don't think these guys will know what hit them...

[vex]

wooot!!! Got a win, congrats!

One suggestion for your dynasty I would make would be to include the NSI's for the teams in the series when your post their scores.

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by vexroid
wooot!!! Got a win, congrats!

One suggestion for your dynasty I would make would be to include the NSI's for the teams in the series when your post their scores.

What is the formula and I will add it...of course, I could always wait for hatstats to update and then post as well.

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by sterlingice
World class defense with a 3-4-3. Now, I don't endorse this kind of thing as that should be on offense, but that's pretty nice. ;)

SI

Probably because of my solid defensive coach.

[Qwikshot]

I'm in the process of looking for another defender to bolster my defense, but this is probably overkill (or overspending), as of now I have 3 solid defenders, and I can rotate in one experienced passable defender (Ismael Ganan).

I know that upgrading at goalie would be smart too, while Cambra is a high solid (I think), perhaps I should start saving for a formidable (excellent would be too small a bump up).

I'm going to stick with a 3-4-3 all the way, there is no point in selling off Grewar now, when next season he could potentially be a formidable 22 y.o.

[vex]

I say go with a formidable-up Keeper.

[vex]

Originally posted by Qwikshot
What is the formula and I will add it...of course, I could always wait for hatstats to update and then post as well.


Well you go with the basic:


disastrous = 1
wretched = 2
poor = 3
weak = 4

and so on


For the midfield you multiply the number by 3, so your inad midfield this week for instance would be "15".

then you just add everything else up. Your NSI would calculate up like this:


Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: inadequate (5) * (3) = 15
Right Side Defence: formidable (9)
Central Defence: world class (12)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: weak (4)
Central Attack: formidable (9)
Left Side Attack: solid (7)

NSI = 64

[Qwikshot]

NSI Ratings of the Week( in order of standings):

Riddle: 71 (Win) 6
bangeranger: 40(L) 0

Ring of Fire: 80 (W) 3
Nationals: 65(Loss) 0

Mesa Mehados: 76 (Draw) 0
Heavy Metal Superstars: 64 (Draw) 0

Ultra Nox: 65 (W) 8
PA Tall Trees: 29 (L) 1

Rankings in NSI this week:
1. Ring of Fire 80 -W
2. Mesa Mehados 76 -Draw
3. Riddle 71- W
4. Ultra Nox 65 - W
5. Nationals 65 - L
6. Heavy Metal Superstars 64 -Draw
7. bangeranger 40 - L
8. PA Tall Trees 29 - L

(Incidently Vex, I checked and World Class is 13th between Magnificent and Supernatural)

[vex]

heh, you're right, I forgot magnificent.:)

[Qwikshot]

Originally posted by vexroid
heh, you're right, I forgot magnificent.:)

No problem, hope the addition information helps.

[Qwikshot]

Well, before anything, I purchased another excellent midfielder for a cool 300k. I figured if I'm going to do to this right I'm going to do this right, so that leaves me with 3 excellent midfielders.

Here's the guy:



Sören Gyllengren (16848057)
27 years, passable form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is temperamental and dishonest.
Has poor experience and weak leadership abilities.


Speciality: Unpredictable

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 170 000 US$
Wage: 1 884 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Ultra Nox
Warnings: 1


Stamina: inadequate Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: excellent Passing: weak
Winger: poor Defending: poor
Scoring: inadequate Set Pieces: inadequate

He's older, has some experience and nothing really in the secondaries but it's better than nothing, hopefully in the offseason we can improve that stamina.
I'm not sure if the unpredictable skill is going to be a blessing or a curse.

[Qwikshot]

Onto the match, with very tough Heavy Metal team in their home

Heavy Metal Superstars - Ultra Nox 1 - 3





Date: 12/22/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048893
Arena: Heavy Metal Superstars Arena
Crowd: 26713


The 26713 spectators at Heavy Metal Superstars Arena were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Superstars tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Melia - Schaefer, Buchanan, Doty - Phipps, Numbers, Fowler, Elias, Miller - Pålsson, Ramirez.

Ultra had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. The following players had been chosen: Cambra - Noe, Dunn, Hanssen - de Waal, Abutbool, Gyllengren, Sivit Gañán - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Superstars created a good opportunity to score in the games 19:th minute when Steve Ramirez`s hooked ball created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors defenders had a hard time clearing the ball. Superstars made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in from the right hand side left Sebastian Elias completely alone with keeper Antonio Cambra, who made a spectacular block. After 34 minutes Ultras Antonio Cambra had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. Saphou Supriyadi came in instead of him. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Ultra´s Sören Gyllengren got himself booked. Halftime score was 0 - 0. Superstars, bringing the final ball possession rate to 62 percent, dominated the battle.

0 - 1 was a funny story: the seemingly nonchalant lob from Ultra´s Sören Gyllengren landed at the feet of Óscar Alvarez who sent it into the net - goal! The away team´s Branko Manenica took advantage of a mistake to the home side´s right in the 69:th minute increasing Ultra´s lead to 0 - 2. By now Ultra were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead. In the 71st minute Superstarss Todd Doty received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Óscar Alvarez seemed to be floating in the air at will as he elegantly headed in 0-3. The previous Ultra corner kick was executed by Avi Abutbool. 72 minutes into the game Superstars broke through on the left wing and Steve Ramirez managed to reduce the lead to 1 - 3. The referee showed Superstarss Sebastian Elias the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Superstars, with an impressive 64 percent possession of the ball.

The most dominating Superstars player was without a doubt Dick Fowler. Steve Ramirez on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important Ultra player was Óscar Alvarez. Dennis Hanssen was a disappointment, however. The match ends 1 - 3.

Good news we win, bad news we lose our starting goalie for 5 weeks, already called on doctors

[Qwikshot]

Heavy Metal Superstars
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: formidable
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: passable

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: solid
Central Defence: outstanding
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: outstanding
Left Side Attack: solid

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

1.5 injured Cambra This is why you have a decent backup

3 stars: Noe (CD), Dunn (CD), Supriyadi (GK-substitute), de Waal (mid), Abutbool (mid offensive), Ganan (wing to mid), Manenica (S), Hey-You (S)

2.5 stars: Gyllengren (mid)

2 stars: Hanssen (WB offensive)

3.5 stars: Alvarez (S)

Alvarez is/must be getting closer to formidable status.
My tactic after consulting members of this board was to play normal 3-4-3 (3 inner mids), but Heavy Metal's one side was poor (I believe his right), so I stacked the winger and wingback, it just so happened that Ganan had excellent form and with his experience and his abilities was placed at winger towards mid (did a bangbang job), Hanssen would rush though the side as an offensive wingback, don't know how good that did, but we did win

[Qwikshot]

Scores :

Ring of Fire - PA Tall Trees 5 - 2

Ring probably PIC'd and Tall Trees managed do score two, not bad for using a 2-5-2

Nationals - Riddle 1 - 4

Riddle is the leader, handled Nationals rather easily.

Heavy Metal S - Ultra Nox 1 - 3

I'm so happy but I play them again soon.

bangeranger - Mesa Mehados 0 - 1

Mehados probably PIC'd

[Qwikshot]

Team Played Goals Points
1. Riddle 6 22 - 4 18
2. Ring of Fire 6 20 - 4 16
3. Nationals 6 19 - 10 12
4. Mesa Mehados 6 5 - 2 11
5. Ultra Nox 6 13 - 14 6
6. Heavy Metal Superst 6 7 - 13 4
7. bangeranger 6 4 - 22 3
8. PA Tall Trees 6 6 - 27 0

[Qwikshot]

Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 7
2. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 5
3. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 4
4. Oscar Duncan Ring of Fire 4
5. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 4
6. Rob Connelly Nationals 3
7. Dan Staples Riddle 3
8. Roscoe Davenport Nationals 3
9. Óscar Alvarez Ultra Nox 2
10. Ben Mcarthur Mesa Mehados 2

This award is quite attainable, let's hope

[Qwikshot]

NSI standings for the week:

1. Mesa Mehados -W- 74
2. Riddle -W- 73
3. Ring of Fire -W- 72
4. Heavy Metal -L- 66
5. Ultra Nox -W- 62
6. Nationals -L- 62
7. bangeranger -L- 40
8. PA Tall Trees -L- 34

[Qwikshot]

Pretty much it for now, I have no cash to do much of anything else, nor am I interested in doing anything else, the youth pull was unsubstantial so I won't mention him here.

Pleased with our new success, I just hope it's not too much of a stopgap, a team like the Mehados if it is training defenders will be a nightmare in a few seasons if they upgrade...Riddle looks poised to advance.

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox - bangeranger 4 - 0





Date: 12/29/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048912
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 16113


Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 16113 at Ultra Nox Arena today. Ultra started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. They fielded: Supriyadi - Noe, Sivit Gañán, Dunn - de Waal, Abutbool, Gyllengren, Hanssen - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

bangeranger had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Choquet - Jones, Cheng, Bernal, Brown - Jeremy, Bullock, García Delgado, Russo - Owens, Lopez.

Ultra seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. After a fine move down the middle Branko Manenica nearly gave the home side one up in the 4:th minute. The finishing shot went just wide, though. 21 minutes into the game Alipio García Delgado was a hair´s breadth away from giving bangeranger the lead. A prompt block by Saphou Supriyadi saved the home team that time. In the 28:th minute cheers broke out as Branko Manenica found his way through the guests central defense line, clipping the 1 - 0 goal in for Ultra. What was Sören Gyllengren thinking? That's what everyone wondered when he for no apparent reason shot a cross pass over his own penalty area, giving Hans Jeremy an extra chance, but he didn't get the shot right.. Haywood Lopez came close to levelling the score in the 35:th minute, as he was set up with a through ball coming in from the left, but his shot hit the post. The teams went for a half-time break at 1 - 0. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 61 percent possession rate.

After 50 minutes Xu Hey-You put Ultra ahead 2 - 0 as he rose to head in a hooked ball, the result of an effort from the right side. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. Xu Hey-You squirmed himself through the central defense line in the 56:th minute, asserting the lead to 3 - 0. In the 69:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Xu Hey-You dashed through, knocking home 4 - 0 for Ultra. At that, Xu Hey-You was noted down for a hat trick. The structure of the game started to change as Ultra decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 74 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Ultra. However, Nicolas Choquet made a spectacular save. Hans Jeremy of bangeranger received a yellow card in the 74:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Ultra, with an impressive 70 percent possession of the ball.

Ultra´s best player was Óscar Alvarez. Dennis Hanssen on the other hand, had a terrible day. Most important bangeranger player was Giacomo Russo. Graham Cheng on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 0.

[Qwikshot]

This was not a game to be scared about, I PIC'd and enjoyed the barrage. Biggest surprise was Hey-You's hattrick. Nice goal by Manenica to stay near the lead for leading goal scorer.

[Qwikshot]

SOLD SEATS

Terraces: 9331
Basic seats: 4760
Seats under roof: 1617
VIP seats: 405

TEAM ATTITUDE

Team Attitude: Play it Cool

TEAM INFORMATION

Ultra Nox
bangeranger

HT Live
RATING

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: formidable
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: outstanding
Left Side Attack: excellent

bangeranger
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: inadequate
Central Defence: passable
Left Side Defence: inadequate
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: inadequate
Left Side Attack: passable

[Qwikshot]

Biggest disappointment was the fact that my stadium didn't sell out, even after a great win over Heavy Metal last week. Though I am hoping that after playing bangeranger again, Heavy Metal comes to our house, I'm expecting sellout then.

It's very nice when even on the off-stadium week, I'm in the black.

Even more amazing, I have no desire to raid the transfer market for players...strange but true, I know I need a better winger, but I couldn't afford one now if I tried, so I'm content with what I got, can't upgrade the youth squad, so the only need to buy would be due to injury and Saphou has played well in Cambra's absence.

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

4 stars: Alvarez (f)
3.5 stars: Abutbool (offmid)
2.5 stars: Gyllengren, Hanssen
3 stars: everyone else

Gyllengren had his second unpredictable event, this time it wasn't good, but that's the risk that I take. Hanssen is okay, but I expected better...Alvarez is close to formidable status.

[Qwikshot]

LAST ROUND

Riddle - Ring of Fire 1 - 1

Tough draw

Mesa Mehados - Nationals 1 - 1

Expected draw

PA Tall Trees - Heavy Metal S 0 - 7

Expected blowout

Ultra Nox - bangeranger 4 - 0

Nice win against a bot opponent

[Qwikshot]

From the 2nd toughest series in DivV.


Team Played Goals Points
1. Riddle 7 23 - 5 19
2. Ring of Fire 7 21 - 5 17
3. Nationals 7 20 - 11 13
4. Mesa Mehados 7 6 - 3 12
5. Ultra Nox 7 17 - 14 9
6. Heavy Metal Superst 7 14 - 13 7
7. bangeranger 7 4 - 26 3
8. PA Tall Trees 7 6 - 34 0

Riddle has been dominant this year, Ring is close. Nationals and the Mesa Mehados are tight too.

[Qwikshot]

NSI rankings for this week:

Mesa Mehaods 81 -draw
Ring of Fire 79 -draw
Riddle 73 -draw
Ultra Nox 61 -win
Heavy Metal 61 -win
Nationals 55 -draw
bangeranger 42 -loss
PA Tall Trees 36 -loss

The most glaring note, Nationals, who seem to be far more dominant had a low NSI this week (62 last week). Either they PIC'd, or something else happen (due to lag on hattrick I'm not checking their roster for injuries or sales).

[Qwikshot]

Top Scorers:


Top scorers
Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 7
2. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 5
3. Oscar Duncan Ring of Fire 5
4. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 5
5. Xu Hey-You Ultra Nox 4
6. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 4
7. Dan Staples Riddle 3
8. Tore Pålsson Heavy Metal Superstars 3
9. José Katz Riddle 3
10. Qiu Wai-Kong Nationals 3

Hey-You's hattrick puts him on the list, while Menenica has been breathing down the leader's neck for the past few weeks, games against bangerrangers, Heavy Metal, and PA Tall Trees loom in the horizon

[Qwikshot]

Training yielded some high boost forms, and one striker 18 y.o. American (youth pull), defensive forward Erick Weller went to solid.

NEXT ROUND

bangeranger - Ultra Nox
Heavy Metal S - PA Tall Trees
Nationals - Mesa Mehados
Ring of Fire - Riddle

[Qwikshot]

bangeranger - Ultra Nox 0 - 7





Date: 1/5/2004 at 01:00
MatchID: 11048915
Arena: KFC Bucket
Crowd: 5939


Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 5939 at KFC Bucket today. bangeranger tactics involved an interesting 4-4-2 combination. They fielded: Choquet - Mcmullen, Grier, Robb, Brown - Cheng, Bullock, García Delgado, Russo - Owens, Lopez.

Ultra tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. Lineup: Supriyadi - Sivit Gañán, Noe, Dunn - de Waal, Abutbool, Gyllengren, Hanssen - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Ultra seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. Ultra´s Óscar Alvarez gave the visitors a 0 - 1 lead in the 10:th minute with a superb strike from the right. That Sören Gyllengren has the ability of doing what no one expects him to do was shown as he ran over an opposing defender, snatched the ball and passed Xu Hey-You who hit it hard into the wide open goal: 0 - 2! The visitors Branko Manenica took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side´s goalie and full backs in the 15:th minute. 0 - 3 for Ultra. The structure of the game started to change as Ultra decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Ultra´s Xu Hey-You got himself booked. bangeranger will have to do without Alipio García Delgado for a time due to a bad foot injury. He was substituted by Jimmie Bernal. The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 3. Ultra, bringing the final ball possession rate to 64 percent, dominated the battle.

Nicolas Choquet kept the home side in the game with a magnificient save, as Avi Abutbool delivered an almost perfect free kick to the far cross bar. After 74 minutes bangerangers Haywood Lopez had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. Joseph Jones came in instead of him. Ultra´s Branko Manenica received a play slashing through the home side´s defense in the 74:th minute, chipping it past the keeper scoring 0 - 4. The home crowd was not pleased with that one. Carlos Robb was suffering from cramps and had big difficulties keeping up as the opponentes pushed forward. Ismael Sivit Gañán had no problems getting through and hit home the 0 - 5 goal. In the games 78:th minute Ultra´s Ike Noe head butted an opponent nastily and so the referee sent him off immediately. After 80 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Xu Hey-You who increased Ultra´s lead to 0 - 6. Ultra´s Dennis de Waal received a play slashing through the home side´s defense in the 86:th minute, chipping it past the keeper scoring 0 - 7. The home crowd was not pleased with that one. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 74 percent possession rate.

The most dominating bangeranger player was without a doubt Grady Grier. Graham Cheng on the other hand, had a terrible day. Ultra´s best player was Óscar Alvarez. Saphou Supriyadi was a disappointment, however. The match ends 0 - 7.

[Qwikshot]

bangeranger
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: wretched
Right Side Defence: inadequate
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: weak
Central Attack: inadequate
Left Side Attack: passable

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: outstanding
Left Side Defence: inadequate
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: brilliant
Left Side Attack: excellent

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

4: Alvarez (F)
3.5: Abutbool (Mid), Ganan (WB-def)
2.5: Hanssen (OffWing), Supriyadi (GK)
3: everyone else

Hanssen again with the 2.5, Gyllengren with another unpredictable event, and 7 goals...

[Qwikshot]

bangeranger - Ultra Nox 0 - 7
Heavy Metal S - PA Tall Trees 5 - 0
Nationals - Mesa Mehados 0 - 0
Ring of Fire - Riddle 2 - 0

--------------



Series: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Ring of Fire 8 23 - 5 20
2. Riddle 8 23 - 7 19
3. Nationals 8 20 - 11 14
4. Mesa Mehados 8 6 - 3 13
5. Ultra Nox 8 24 - 14 12
6. Heavy Metal Superst 8 19 - 13 10
7. bangeranger 8 4 - 33 3
8. PA Tall Trees 8 6 - 39 0

Just like that Riddle is ousted from the topspot by last year's champions, Ring of Fire. Mesa Mehados defense has a way of shutting down the most powerful of opponents, Heavy Metal had a nice concert with Tall Trees, and well Ultra Nox boosted its morale and confidence, finishing off bangeranger quite easily

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Top scorers
Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 7
2. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 7
3. Xu Hey-You Ultra Nox 6
4. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 6
5. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 5
6. Tore Pålsson Heavy Metal Superstars 5
7. Blaz Bulat Heavy Metal Superstars 5
8. Oscar Duncan Ring of Fire 5
9. Roscoe Davenport Nationals 3
10. José Katz Riddle 3

Branko and Xu have exploded on scene, the three pronged attack seems to be doing a number on teams now that I have a midfield that is equipped to pass the ball. Heavy Metal will be tough, but I have PA Tall Trees right after that.

[Qwikshot]

NEXT ROUND

Mesa Mehados - bangeranger

Mehados might actually put in a few goals while keeping some out.

Ultra Nox - Heavy Metal S

A win here would be nice, but let's face it, I got to play Ring of Fire, the Mehados (that 3-0 loss is haunting me), Riddle, and the Nationals after Tall Trees next week, a very rough schedule. I think I'm locked into a relegation match

Riddle - Nationals

Battle of the toppled, if Riddle rebounds they're still in the hunt, if they fall I could see Ring running away with the prize.

PA Tall Trees - Ring of Fire

Ring has a light schedule, Tall Trees or whatever team replaces them is in for a big nightmare.

[Qwikshot]

NSI Rankings:

Ring of Fire 83 -W
Riddle 78 -L
Mesa Mehados 76 -D
Heavy Metal 69 -W
Nationals 62 -D
Ultra Nox 59 -W
bangeranger 39 -L
PA Tall Trees 39 -L

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox - Heavy Metal Superstars 2 - 2





View game: HT Live
Date: 1/12/2004 at 01.00
MatchID: 11048935
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 26924


26924 spectators had come to Ultra Nox Arena this cloudy day. Ultra tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. They fielded: Cambra - Stark, Lazãr, Dunn - de Waal, Amoudry, Abutbool, Hanssen - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Superstars had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Melia - Schaefer, Buchanan, Doty - Phipps, Numbers, Fowler, Elias, Miller - Pålsson, Ramirez.

Superstars had a good opportunity to score the lead goal but the home team goaltender Antonio Cambra saved Dick Fowler´s shot headed for the top corner. A well placed corner kick from Bryan Numbers was followed by Chester Phipps´s hard but accurate header. The nice combination meant goal for Superstars. The result now 0-1. The referee showed Ultras Dennis de Waal the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 1. Superstars held the ball, with a clear 55 percent possession rate.

62 minutes into the game Branko Manenica had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Gary Grewar. Avi Abutbool equalised for Ultra on a free kick carving through the defensive box making the score 1 - 1. In the 75:th minute cheers broke out as Óscar Alvarez found his way through the guests central defense line, clipping the 2 - 1 goal in for Ultra. Visitors Tore Pålsson was alert on a play coming in from the left, making the score a tie at 2 - 2 in the 77:th minute. Superstars held the ball, with a clear 56 percent possession rate.

Most important Ultra player was Óscar Alvarez. Tudor Lazãr on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Superstars player was without a doubt Dick Fowler. However, Steve Ramirez made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 2.

[Qwikshot]

HIGHLIGHTS

0 - 1 Chester Phipps (17)
1 - 1 Avi Abutbool (74)
2 - 1 Óscar Alvarez (75)
2 - 2 Tore Pålsson (77)

Dennis de Waal (18)

RATING

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Normal
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: solid
Right Side Defence: solid
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: magnificent
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: outstanding
Left Side Attack: solid

Heavy Metal Superstars
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: excellent
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: inadequate
Left Side Attack: solid

[Qwikshot]

LAST ROUND

Mesa Mehados - bangeranger 1 - 0
Ultra Nox - Heavy Metal S 2 - 2
Riddle - Nationals 3 - 0
PA Tall Trees - Ring of Fire 1 - 3

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Ring of Fire 9 26 - 6 23
2. Riddle 9 26 - 7 22
3. Mesa Mehados 9 7 - 3 16
4. Nationals 9 20 - 14 14
5. Ultra Nox 9 26 - 16 13
6. Heavy Metal Superst 9 21 - 15 11
7. bangeranger 9 4 - 34 3
8. PA Tall Trees 9 7 - 42 0

[Qwikshot]

PA Tall Trees - Ultra Nox 2 - 5





View game: HT Live
Date: 1/19/2004 at 01.00
MatchID: 11048946
Arena: Vikings metrodome
Crowd: 4969


Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and Vikings metrodome saw a crowd turnout of 4969. Trees tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Walls - Oakes, Durazo, Hill - Frye, Perez, Ainsworth, Hanley, Conway - Gould, Gil.

Ultra tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. Lineup: Cambra - Noe, Stark, Dunn - Hanssen, de Waal, Amoudry, Abutbool - Hey-You, Alvarez, Manenica.

Ultra seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. Treess Franklyn Gould gave, after 8 minutes, the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. Ernest Ainsworth should probably have put his team up another goal in the 21st minute, but some great goaltending by Antonio Cambra kept the visitors in the game. The referee showed Ultras Xu Hey-You the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. One of many good passes from Al Conway at the wing was recieved and skillfully taken care of by Francisco Gil, scoring for Trees to 2 - 0. The guests got an opportunity to reduce after 30 minutes to 2 - 1, and Avi Abutbool took it from the penalty spot, scoring easily. Trees appeared unsure on how to play. 2 - 1 was the half-time score. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 67 percent possession rate.

The Trees players spent the half-time break getting a rerun of the teams tactical organization. 52 minutes into the game Ultra´s Adam Stark found a gap in the home sides central defense scoring with a long shot, making it 2 - 2. Trees seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. Fine winger Dennis Hanssen made one of his many passes from the wing into the middle in the 68:th minute. Óscar Alvarez went to the air and hit the ball firmly with his forehead for 2 - 3. In the 79:th minute Ultra put themselves up 2 - 4 after an attack from the right, caused by a defensive blunder. Scorer was Branko Manenica. Trees had made all their substitutions when Al Conway had to leave the game in the 81st minute because of a pulled tendon, leaving the team a man short. The visitors Óscar Alvarez took advantage of an error due to a misunderstanding between the home side´s goalie and full backs in the 82nd minute. 2 - 5 for Ultra. The structure of the game started to change as Ultra decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. In the 86:th minute Treess Dominic Hill received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Ultra, with an impressive 84 percent possession of the ball.

The most dominating Trees player was without a doubt Ernest Ainsworth. Steve Hanley on the other hand, had a terrible day. Ultra´s best player was Avi Abutbool. Dennis Hanssen was a disappointment, however. The match ends 2 - 5.


The last game of the PA Tall Trees career, as they have now changed to a different team, I was concerned at the start but our endurance finally allowed us to put this game away with some last minute flurries

[Qwikshot]

HIGHLIGHTS

1 - 0 Franklyn Gould (8)
2 - 0 Francisco Gil (26)
2 - 1 Avi Abutbool (30)
2 - 2 Adam Stark (52)
2 - 3 Óscar Alvarez (68)
2 - 4 Branko Manenica (79)
2 - 5 Óscar Alvarez (82)

Xu Hey-You (23)
Dominic Hill (86)

RATING

PA Tall Trees
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: poor
Right Side Defence: solid
Central Defence: excellent
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: weak
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: poor

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Play it Cool
Tactic: Attack in the middle
Tactic skill: excellent

Midfield: inadequate
Right Side Defence: outstanding
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: passable
Central Attack: brilliant
Left Side Attack: inadequate

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

3.5: Abutbool (middie), Alvarez and Hey-You (strikers)
3.0: Noe (WB), Cambra (GK), Manenica (striker), de Waal and Amoudry (middies)
2.5: everyone else

[Qwikshot]

LAST ROUND

PA Tall Trees - Ultra Nox 2 - 5

No surprise here

Heavy Metal S - Mesa Mehados 1 - 0

Upset, but then again Heavy Metal is a tough team

bangeranger - Riddle 0 - 6

No surprise here either

Ring of Fire - Nationals 1 - 1

Draws hurt in a league as competitive as this one


NEXT ROUND

Nationals - bangeranger

Nationals should explode with some goals against this dead team

Riddle - Heavy Metal S

Hopefully Heavy Metal can continue to win

Mesa Mehados - PA Tall Trees

Let's see if the Falcons can play better than Tall Trees

Ultra Nox - Ring of Fire

I'm confident that I can play Ring competitively, not sure if I can win

[Qwikshot]

eries: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Riddle 10 32 - 7 25
2. Ring of Fire 10 27 - 7 24
3. Ultra Nox 10 31 - 18 16
4. Mesa Mehados 10 7 - 4 16
5. Nationals 10 21 - 15 15
6. Heavy Metal Superst 10 22 - 15 14
7. bangeranger 10 4 - 40 3
8. Falcons247 10 9 - 47 0

Amazed that I bump to 3rd, but for how long, and do I really have a shot at moving further up the line?

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Top scorers
Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 9
2. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 8
3. Xu Hey-You Ultra Nox 6
4. Óscar Alvarez Ultra Nox 6
5. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 6
6. Tore Pålsson Heavy Metal Superstars 6
7. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 6
8. Oscar Duncan Ring of Fire 5
9. Blaz Bulat Heavy Metal Superstars 5
10. Avi Abutbool Ultra Nox 4

Four in the top ten, nice, but the leader spot is the only one that counts and we're not there yet

[Qwikshot]

Nationals - bangeranger 7 - 0
Riddle - Heavy Metal S 4 - 1
Mesa Mehados - Falcons247 3 - 0
Ultra Nox - Ring of Fire 1 - 1

[Qwikshot]

It's a good feeling when you tie the top team in the division, I'm sure he'll be cussing up a storm concerning the pressing tactic, but I have many high stamina players, and so I figured it was time to up and use them.

[Qwikshot]

Ultra Nox - Ring of Fire 1 - 1





View game: HT Live
Date: 1/26/2004 at 01.00
MatchID: 11048974
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 26924


Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 26924 at Ultra Nox Arena today. Ultra started off with a 3-4-3 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Cambra - Noe, Sivit Gañán, Dunn - Bernmar, de Waal, Amoudry, Abutbool - Grewar, Hey-You, Alvarez.

Ring started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Nilsson - Philippens, Sahllius, Mejías - Norton, Martin, Staicu, Boston, Ellis - Duncan, Corbett.

Ultra immediately set off pressing their opponents. Ultra were able to press their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. Gary Grewar gave his Ultra the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post. 12 minutes into the game Ring´s Kenny Sahllius found a gap in the home sides central defense scoring with a long shot, making it 1 - 1. In the 18:th minute Rings Ramón Mejías received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The teams went for a half-time break at 1 - 1. Ring held the ball, with a clear 57 percent possession rate.

The referee showed Ultras Gary Grewar the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. In the game's 65:th minute Ring´s Thom Philippens limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. Ring had to manage with a reduced squad from the 71st minute on, as Dirk Martin got sent off for a foul in a free situation. Ultra tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but kept getting stuck on the visitors defenders. Ultra were able to press their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 52 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Ultra player was without a doubt Avi Abutbool. Olle Bernmar on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Ring player was without a doubt Rich Boston. Gil Norton on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 1 - 1.

[Qwikshot]

1 - 0 Gary Grewar (5)
1 - 1 Kenny Sahllius (12)

Ramón Mejías (18)
Gary Grewar (58)
Dirk Martin (71)

RATING

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Normal
Tactic: Pressing
Tactic skill: weak

Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: brilliant
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: outstanding
Left Side Attack: inadequate

Ring of Fire
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Normal
Tactic skill: (Unlimited)

Midfield: solid
Right Side Defence: outstanding
Central Defence: brilliant
Left Side Defence: brilliant
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: solid
Left Side Attack: inadequate

Course the guy who scores the goal is Scotsman, Gary Grewar, I guess he was glad to be back on the A-team

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

3.5: Abutbool (IM), Alvarez(S), Grewar(S)
3.0: Amoudry (IM), Hey-You (S), Noe (WB), Cambra (GK), de Waal (IM)
2.5: Dunn (CD), Ganan (CD), Bernmar*(Wing)

Ganan was coming back from injury.
*Bernmar was purchased as a stopgap winger since my other two wingers were poor stamina, and poorer form, he has since been fired...(he was an inadequate/inadequate winger with poor passing and excellent stamina, at passable form and 35 y.o.)

[Qwikshot]

N.S.I.

Mesa Mehados 78 W
Riddle 72 W
Ring of Fire 72 D
Ultra Nox 70 D
Nationals 63 W
Heavy Metal 62 L
bangeranger 41 L
Falcons 247 (formerly PA Tall Trees) 33 L

Nice improvement...but I'm still on the lower end of the elite...an underdog if you will.

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Top scorers
Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 10
2. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 8
3. Xu Hey-You Ultra Nox 6
4. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 6
5. Tore Pålsson Heavy Metal Superstars 6
6. Kees Caffe Nationals 6
7. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 6
8. Óscar Alvarez Ultra Nox 6
9. Blaz Bulat Heavy Metal Superstars 5
10. Gunnar Rundquist Riddle 5

I've benched Branco for Grewar, I don't regret it...I play some very tough opponents to end the season and Grewar with his skills and better form are better suited (excellent stamina, solid form, and inadequate defense skills for pressing, plus he's also a high excellent striker)

[Qwikshot]

This week we play the defensive awesome/offensively challenged Mesa Mehados...our first game of the season they beat us on their turf pretty easily...so it was time for revenge. They shut us out 3-0, so I expected our team to go out and play hard...they are known for their pressing, so we decided to battle them out 3-4-3 pressing (hey it worked against Ring for a draw)...and the bonus besides home field...it was pouring baby...makes for an even tougher game...

Ultra Nox - Mesa Mehados 4 - 1





View game: HT Live
Date: 2/2/2004 at 01.00
MatchID: 11048980
Arena: Ultra Nox Arena
Crowd: 24809


Due to an all-day shower, 24809 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Ultra Nox Arena. Ultra had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. Lineup: Cambra - Hanssen, Noe, Stark - Galli, de Waal, Amoudry, Abutbool - Grewar, Hey-You, Alvarez.

Mehados had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. Lineup: Best - Fischer, Hamlin, Hatcher, Buendía, Lomax - Velazquez, Paulson, Schwarz, Molina - Mcarthur.

Ultra immediately set off pressing their opponents. Mehados immediately set off pressing their opponents. At this time in the match, Ultra were using their skills at the press to successfully put pressure on their opponents. Ultras Óscar Alvarez gave, after 9 minutes, the home team a 1 - 0 lead after an attack coming in from the right. Mehados were able to press their opponents, causing the game to be a bit of a stalemate at times. With clinical precision the cross pass from winger Jack Molina found it's way to Ben Mcarthur's head, and a screaming header gave Mehados 1 - 1. Ultras Óscar Alvarez gave, after 22 minutes, the home team a 2 - 1 lead after an attack coming in from the right. 2 - 1 was the half-time score. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Ultra, with an impressive 59 percent possession of the ball.

The muddy pitch made the game a gritty affair, which seemed to suit Ike Noe just fine. Frédéric Amoudry increased Ultras lead to 3 - 1 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right. With 61 minutes played Frédéric Amoudry could have brought this one home for Ultra, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. Sean Hatcher made several blunders at the end of the game, causing a good deal of unrest in the defensive line. A bit later, a magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Ultra´s Óscar Alvarez putting the lead up to 4 - 1. By then Óscar Alvarez was a three time scorer - a hat trick! With 83 minutes played Óscar Alvarez could have brought this one home for Ultra, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. Ultra held the ball, with a clear 60 percent possession rate.

Most important Ultra player was Ike Noe. Dennis Hanssen on the other hand, had a terrible day. Mehados´s best player was Casey Lomax. Sydney Schwarz on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 1.

[Qwikshot]

A strong win...let's look at the reviews:

HIGHLIGHTS

1 - 0 Óscar Alvarez (9)
1 - 1 Ben Mcarthur (16)
2 - 1 Óscar Alvarez (22)
3 - 1 Frédéric Amoudry (61)
4 - 1 Óscar Alvarez (77)


RATING

Ultra Nox
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: Normal
Tactic: Pressing
Tactic skill: weak

Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: brilliant
Central Defence: magnificent
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: formidable
Central Attack: outstanding
Left Side Attack: inadequate

Mesa Mehados
Player rating and Team formation
Team Attitude: (Hidden)
Tactic: Pressing
Tactic skill: solid

Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: mythical
Central Defence: divine
Left Side Defence: titanic
Right Side Attack: poor
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: weak

If the Mehados ever sold one of their defensive players for a striker or two, or a midfield, they would be dangerous, their biggest acquistion this year was a goalie...it's not helping...

Alvarez with a hattrick on a defense that mythical/divine/titanic is going to be talked about for a while...he's the offensive star, and it helps to have veteren Grewar and skillful passer Hey-You to assist...

[Qwikshot]

Stars:

4: Ike Noe (WB)
3.5: Abutbool (IM), Grewar (S), Alvarez (S)
3: Galli*(Winger), de Waal (IM), Amoudry (IM), Hey-You (S), Stark (CD), Cambra (GK)
2.5: Hanssen

Ike Noe got a four, but he's a powerful defender, so I'm sure the .5 was due to that.
Abutbool is now our biggest MVP, he is the anchor of the midfield...worth the price I paid. de Waal is a nice find too, I'm happy with him, they've been consistent.



Ferdinando Galli (21494395)
28 years, solid form, healthy
A controversial person who is balanced and dishonest.
Has inadequate experience and passable leadership abilities.

Nationality: Italia
Assessed value: 94 000 US$
Wage: 1 008 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: Ultra Nox
Warnings: 0


Stamina: weak Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: passable Passing: weak
Winger: passable Defending: inadequate
Scoring: weak Set Pieces: weak

Career Goals: 0
Career Hattricks: 0
League goals this season: 0
Cup goals this season: 0

Galli replaced Bay Farr due to form, he's future coach material as well...I was concerned playing him in the press simply because of his stamina but he did fine, on hot weather days I'll be more concerned...

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Riddle 12 42 - 8 31
2. Ring of Fire 12 32 - 9 28
3. Ultra Nox 12 36 - 20 20
4. Mesa Mehados 12 11 - 8 19
5. Nationals 12 28 - 17 18
6. Heavy Metal Superst 12 25 - 19 17
7. bangeranger 12 5 - 51 3
8. Falcons247 12 9 - 56 0

[Qwikshot]

LAST ROUND

Ring of Fire - bangeranger 4 - 1

No surprise

Ultra Nox - Mesa Mehados 4 - 1

Nice win, makes the board happy...and the fans.

Falcons247 - Riddle 0 - 6

A mauling of the new team...welcome to v.56

Heavy Metal S - Nationals 2 - 0

Nice upset...helps us out.

[Qwikshot]

<pre>
Series: V.56 (8429)

Country: USA
Level: 5 out of 6

Team Played Goals Points
1. Riddle 12 42 - 8 31
2. Ring of Fire 12 32 - 9 28
3. Ultra Nox 12 36 - 20 20
4. Mesa Mehados 12 11 - 8 19
5. Nationals 12 28 - 17 18
6. Heavy Metal 12 25 - 19 17
7. bangeranger 12 5 - 51 3
8. Falcons247 12 9 - 56 0

</pre>

[Qwikshot]

The standings eliminate us from the chance to compete for div4, but we can play spoiler, we play Riddle next week. Ring plays the Mehados...

[Qwikshot]

Series: V.56 (8429)

Top scorers
Player Team Goals
1. Mats Håkansson Riddle 10
2. Óscar Alvarez Ultra Nox 9
3. Gunnar Rundquist Riddle 8
4. Branko Manenica Ultra Nox 8
5. Chris Corbett Ring of Fire 7
6. Xu Hey-You Ultra Nox 6
7. Blaz Bulat Heavy Metal Superstars 6
8. Gil Norton Ring of Fire 6
9. Tore Pålsson Heavy Metal Superstars 6
10. Kees Caffe Nationals 6

Alvarez with that hattrick now chases for the lead spot...Abutbool has six so he's also in the chase...just not on the board.

[sterlingice]

Holy crap- a divine central defense for them! Too bad my grandmother is better at offense.

SI

[Qwikshot]

Holy crap- a divine central defense for them! Too bad my grandmother is better at offense.

SI

Yeah, they have no firepower, I am waiting for the one season he/she sells his defenders for midfield/strikers...he should easily go to div 4...