Re: How's Your 'Become A Legend' Mode Going?
Some signs of life in my second training match after a lackluster showing in the first. To be fair to myself, I haven't played much PES in a while, so the rust is apparent. Esteban was out on the left flank in a 4-5-1 in this match and was able to find some space behind the right back, whipping in a few crosses that ultimately did not connect. I had two excellent scoring chances as well -- one in the first 45 that just missed curling in the far top corner after cutting in from the wing after a nice first touch put me clear of the defender and a second on a through ball (a good pass from an AI teammate!?!) that was rocketed right at the keeper...
TRAINING MATCH 3: Coach likes me on the left, as I'm back there for the next training match. Although it's in a 4-4-2, so I'll have to play a little more D... and Esteban's first assist as he plays Garmendia through for a breakaway goal! I feel like I'm getting in good positions around the box, but my teammates are either A) selfish bastards, or B) visionless dopes...
TRAINING MATCH 4: Well, well, well... Esteban gets a shot at CF in a 4-3-3. Should be interesting... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Esteban! Tenacious pressure on the CB, who showed too much of the ball in his own box, allowing the young Spaniard to tap it past a helpess keeper. Certainly not a pretty goal, but perhaps finding the scoresheet will open the coach's eyes... A little more composure in front of goal and it could've been numero dos. A first-time shot attempt from the edge of the 6-yard box goes a little high & wide... Perhaps Esteban has found a home! A well-won header by Esteban from a FK is saved by the keeper, the rebound is collected & played again to Esteban near the penalty spot and while his shot is saved, the rebound hits Etxeberria & caroms across the goalline... In the end, a hotly-contested match for training featuring four yellows (one to Esteban) and a straight red ends 3-2 in favor of the first-teamers. A missed PK by Garmendia after Etxeberria was brought down from behind in the box (played through by Esteban) could have put the reserves in the lead, but it was blown over the goal...
TRAINING MATCH 5: Despite a strong showing at striker, Esteban has been moved back to LMF. If I must say the offense looked much more potent with Esteban leading the line, as he did a fine job of laying the ball off to supporting players as opposed to some of the other fowards, who seem to have quite the selfish streak... Another good showing by the reserves, again falling 3-2, mostly due to their inability to defend aerial passes (accounted for 2 of the 3 goals allowed). Esteban registered only a shot -- a nice effort to make something out of nothing by turning the defender at the edge of the box -- but was active defensively and again distributed the ball well. He earned a 6.5 match rating, his highest yet...
TRAINING MATCH 6: Again at LM in the 4-4-1-1, as it appears el tecnico was not as impressed with Esteban's performance at striker as I was... A 6.0 rating and a fine 23/25 passing display for Esteban. He nearly had a chance for a rebound goal, but Ion Velez beat him to the ball by a step and deposited it in the empty goal...
This is about where I was at last time I played BAL. Six matches in and incredibly frustrated with the idiotic teammate AI. Offensively, in the midfield they dribble backwards, pass backwards, turning it over because of it -- all the while there are people open up the field, notably me, but they won't/can't make the pass. Meanwhile, the forwards -- who should be holding the ball up & passsing back when nothing is open -- plow towards the goal with little to no thought to laying it off for a player in space. Defensively, the majority of goals conceded are through the air, notably on corners. I try to sag bag to help, but no one seems to concerned with getting a head to the ball. They must have all went to the William Gallas school of defense...
TRAINING MATCH 7: Over to RM as regular first-team LM Yeste trains with the reserves. Esteban feels that a good showing is needed, especially if he gets a chance or two in the box. He's been somewhat panicked on the few chances he's had to this point... Well, one chance, one goal! Yeste plays a nice lofted ball into space on the right, Inigo drifts wide to collect it, Esteban smartly runs to the top of the six-yard box, where a perfect ground cross finds him. He slams it first-time past a helpless keeper for training goal #2... A clever shield & turn shakes two defenders in the box gives Esteban the space to put one on goal with his left foot, but the keeper makes a leaping save. A familiar story here, as once again, his shot is right at the goalie... Esteban blazes a header just over the bar from a corner, which came after he curled a dangerous cross into the box... Fine defensive work to dispossess the attacker precedes a scintillating box-to-box sprint down the right flank by Esteban which is followed by a perfectly placed pass into the path of Etxeberria, who hammers one past the keeper. A goal & an assist, perhaps playing with a few of the starters is giving the youngster a chance to show what he's got... A 3-1 win for the reserves, albeit with a few of the starters in the squad. Esteban looked dangerous today (6.5 MR) and his defensive play in particular is rounding into form. A winger by trade, he's been tracking back diligently and has made several nice steals & interceptions in the past few games...
TRAINING MATCH 8: Back to the left flank in the 4-4-1-1. An early red to DM Iturragapse leaves the reserves with 10 men. A few nice long passes by Esteban, the second nearly playing Inigo in alone. From the ensuing corner, Esteban gathers the a loose ball, squares it for Etxeberria across the box and he somehow puts it through a maze of bodies for a 1-0 lead. Surely the coach is impressed... A second red in a training match!?! The reserves are down to 9, with both CMF off... Not much offense from the reserves in the second half, but a FK from near the right touchline leads to a powerful header by Esteban that is saved by the GK... And Esteban is sent off in stoppage time! A terrible call if I may say so, as while the tackle may have been somewhat from behind, he clearly made contact with the ball prior to the player. What a way to ruin a good display, hopefully the manager understands that the tackle was made only to save what may have been the winning goal (finished 1-1)...
TRAINING MATCH 9: And back to the right in a traditional 4-4-2. Minutes into the game Esteban pounces on a rebound and puts in the net! But he's flagged for offsides!?! Another dubious call, as the replay shows him level at the time of the shot (and there was no marker above me). At least he's around the ball and appears to be finding his touch in front of goal... This one won't be waved off!!! Esteban runs onto a hopeful cross in the box and toe-pokes it past the keeper! However, the match ended a disappointing 4-1 loss, as Esteban's teammates decided not to play defense. Of the four conceded, he was involved in only one and it's hard to find fault even on that play. The RB inexplicably left him alone with two attackers on the flank, allowing one to make a perfect cross into the box that was headed home by Llorente, who scored 3 of the 4 goals.
Some signs of life in my second training match after a lackluster showing in the first. To be fair to myself, I haven't played much PES in a while, so the rust is apparent. Esteban was out on the left flank in a 4-5-1 in this match and was able to find some space behind the right back, whipping in a few crosses that ultimately did not connect. I had two excellent scoring chances as well -- one in the first 45 that just missed curling in the far top corner after cutting in from the wing after a nice first touch put me clear of the defender and a second on a through ball (a good pass from an AI teammate!?!) that was rocketed right at the keeper...
TRAINING MATCH 3: Coach likes me on the left, as I'm back there for the next training match. Although it's in a 4-4-2, so I'll have to play a little more D... and Esteban's first assist as he plays Garmendia through for a breakaway goal! I feel like I'm getting in good positions around the box, but my teammates are either A) selfish bastards, or B) visionless dopes...
TRAINING MATCH 4: Well, well, well... Esteban gets a shot at CF in a 4-3-3. Should be interesting... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Esteban! Tenacious pressure on the CB, who showed too much of the ball in his own box, allowing the young Spaniard to tap it past a helpess keeper. Certainly not a pretty goal, but perhaps finding the scoresheet will open the coach's eyes... A little more composure in front of goal and it could've been numero dos. A first-time shot attempt from the edge of the 6-yard box goes a little high & wide... Perhaps Esteban has found a home! A well-won header by Esteban from a FK is saved by the keeper, the rebound is collected & played again to Esteban near the penalty spot and while his shot is saved, the rebound hits Etxeberria & caroms across the goalline... In the end, a hotly-contested match for training featuring four yellows (one to Esteban) and a straight red ends 3-2 in favor of the first-teamers. A missed PK by Garmendia after Etxeberria was brought down from behind in the box (played through by Esteban) could have put the reserves in the lead, but it was blown over the goal...
TRAINING MATCH 5: Despite a strong showing at striker, Esteban has been moved back to LMF. If I must say the offense looked much more potent with Esteban leading the line, as he did a fine job of laying the ball off to supporting players as opposed to some of the other fowards, who seem to have quite the selfish streak... Another good showing by the reserves, again falling 3-2, mostly due to their inability to defend aerial passes (accounted for 2 of the 3 goals allowed). Esteban registered only a shot -- a nice effort to make something out of nothing by turning the defender at the edge of the box -- but was active defensively and again distributed the ball well. He earned a 6.5 match rating, his highest yet...
TRAINING MATCH 6: Again at LM in the 4-4-1-1, as it appears el tecnico was not as impressed with Esteban's performance at striker as I was... A 6.0 rating and a fine 23/25 passing display for Esteban. He nearly had a chance for a rebound goal, but Ion Velez beat him to the ball by a step and deposited it in the empty goal...
This is about where I was at last time I played BAL. Six matches in and incredibly frustrated with the idiotic teammate AI. Offensively, in the midfield they dribble backwards, pass backwards, turning it over because of it -- all the while there are people open up the field, notably me, but they won't/can't make the pass. Meanwhile, the forwards -- who should be holding the ball up & passsing back when nothing is open -- plow towards the goal with little to no thought to laying it off for a player in space. Defensively, the majority of goals conceded are through the air, notably on corners. I try to sag bag to help, but no one seems to concerned with getting a head to the ball. They must have all went to the William Gallas school of defense...
TRAINING MATCH 7: Over to RM as regular first-team LM Yeste trains with the reserves. Esteban feels that a good showing is needed, especially if he gets a chance or two in the box. He's been somewhat panicked on the few chances he's had to this point... Well, one chance, one goal! Yeste plays a nice lofted ball into space on the right, Inigo drifts wide to collect it, Esteban smartly runs to the top of the six-yard box, where a perfect ground cross finds him. He slams it first-time past a helpless keeper for training goal #2... A clever shield & turn shakes two defenders in the box gives Esteban the space to put one on goal with his left foot, but the keeper makes a leaping save. A familiar story here, as once again, his shot is right at the goalie... Esteban blazes a header just over the bar from a corner, which came after he curled a dangerous cross into the box... Fine defensive work to dispossess the attacker precedes a scintillating box-to-box sprint down the right flank by Esteban which is followed by a perfectly placed pass into the path of Etxeberria, who hammers one past the keeper. A goal & an assist, perhaps playing with a few of the starters is giving the youngster a chance to show what he's got... A 3-1 win for the reserves, albeit with a few of the starters in the squad. Esteban looked dangerous today (6.5 MR) and his defensive play in particular is rounding into form. A winger by trade, he's been tracking back diligently and has made several nice steals & interceptions in the past few games...
TRAINING MATCH 8: Back to the left flank in the 4-4-1-1. An early red to DM Iturragapse leaves the reserves with 10 men. A few nice long passes by Esteban, the second nearly playing Inigo in alone. From the ensuing corner, Esteban gathers the a loose ball, squares it for Etxeberria across the box and he somehow puts it through a maze of bodies for a 1-0 lead. Surely the coach is impressed... A second red in a training match!?! The reserves are down to 9, with both CMF off... Not much offense from the reserves in the second half, but a FK from near the right touchline leads to a powerful header by Esteban that is saved by the GK... And Esteban is sent off in stoppage time! A terrible call if I may say so, as while the tackle may have been somewhat from behind, he clearly made contact with the ball prior to the player. What a way to ruin a good display, hopefully the manager understands that the tackle was made only to save what may have been the winning goal (finished 1-1)...
TRAINING MATCH 9: And back to the right in a traditional 4-4-2. Minutes into the game Esteban pounces on a rebound and puts in the net! But he's flagged for offsides!?! Another dubious call, as the replay shows him level at the time of the shot (and there was no marker above me). At least he's around the ball and appears to be finding his touch in front of goal... This one won't be waved off!!! Esteban runs onto a hopeful cross in the box and toe-pokes it past the keeper! However, the match ended a disappointing 4-1 loss, as Esteban's teammates decided not to play defense. Of the four conceded, he was involved in only one and it's hard to find fault even on that play. The RB inexplicably left him alone with two attackers on the flank, allowing one to make a perfect cross into the box that was headed home by Llorente, who scored 3 of the 4 goals.
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