The Colonial Football League

[lionden_56]

Week 10 News & Notes

League Table - Week 10

It looks like things have boiled down to 5 teams for 4 spots, as it would take a miracle effort plus a lot of help for Caprica to break into the top 4. More analysis at the end of this post.

Player of the week

Our player of the week this week is Lukas Podolski of Virgon. Podolski had a hand in each of Virgon's two goals, scoring the first and assisting the second. He's helped the United have a monster second half of the season, vaulting themselves into third place in the table and almost assuredly qualifying for the Colonial Cup.

Keeper of the Week

Our keeper of the week is Aquarion's Nicolas Douchez. His clean sheet against Picon helped keep Aquarion in the final playoff spot. Despite his team never really finding an offensive rhythm, he kept the opposition off the board, ensuring that one goal was enough to secure the victory.

Injury Report

No injury news this week. (I may need to tweak that slider a bit for next season)

The final push

With just two matches left, the hunt for the top four spots has been effectively narrowed down to 5 teams. Caprica is still hanging around in 6th, but needs to win out and get a lot of help in the process.

Let's take a look at the path for each of the 5 teams still in the hunt:

Sagittaron - Remaining matches: @ Caprica, vs. Virgon - Probably the toughest schedule of the top 5, but also the simplest clinching scenario. Win one of the next two and you're in. An Aquarion loss in either of their next two matches will clinch a spot as well. The number 1 overall seed is still up for grabs, though, so there is still plenty for the Archers to play for.

Libran - Remaining matches: @ Leonis, vs. Gemenon - Libran can't quite clinch with a single win, but they can get right on the cusp. They need to be careful in their week 11 matchup with Leonis, a team that desperately wants to win out to try and sneak into the top 4. Being drawn against the bottom team in the league in the last week is a huge boost to their chances of making it in.

Virgon - Remaining matches: @ Canceron, @ Sagittaron - The United finish out their campaign on the road, which they are probably just fine with. They won just one match on their home pitch. The hottest team in the league right now will be looking to strike against Canceron, as they certainly don't want to be forced to chase three points against the Archers. Virgon drew with Sagittaron in their first meeting. If the United get three points against Canceron, that result will probably be good enough again.

Aquarion - Remaining matches: @ Aerilon, @ Tauron - The Whalers have two matches on the road, but both against teams who have been eliminated from contention. Aerilon was in buy mode during the trade deadline, so they will most likely put up a fight for Aquarion. Tauron was in full-on sell mode, and may try to earn a better draft pick with their performance in the final week of the season.

Leonis - Remaining matches: vs. Libran, @ Picon - Currently on the outside looking in, they are the only team of the 5 that don't control their own destiny. While they only sit one point out of 4th place, it is most likely a certainty that they need at least 4 points over the next two weeks. That result is certainly possible. Their toughest challenge will obviously be against Libran, who are in their own hunt for the top spot in the league.

[lionden_56]

Hey everyone, no update this week. No matches were played (I'm in the process of setting up a move and transitioning jobs...life's a little hectic right now).

Things are settling down a bit today, and I'm hoping to get them played tonight/tomorrow, which means we'll be back and operational next week. It's the most exciting time of the season, and I'm sorry to draw it out.

Meanwhile, I'm still looking for people to create a CAP for the Rookie Draft in the offseason. Just fill out the form below and you'll be in the draft class.

Spoiler

Basics
Name:
Height:
Weight:
Birthplace (one of the 12 colonies, or Troy):

Tactics
Prefered Position:
Secondary Position:
Footedness (Righty or Lefty):

Appearance (feel free to leave any blank if you don't have a preference)
Hair Style:
Hair Color:
Facial Hair:
Eye Color:
Shirt style (tucked/untucked, long/short sleeves):
Sock Style (short, medium, long):
Boots:

Skills (Position players)
Rank the skillsets in order of best to worst:
Attacking, Defending, Mentality, Movement, Power, Ball Skill



Skills (Keepers)
Rank the skills in order of best to worst
Diving, Handling, Kicking, Positioning, Reflexes


Other
Weakfoot Ability (1-5, 5 is best):

Personality
What does this player care about most (rank in order of most to least):
A good locker room, Money, Winning Championships

Locker Room Demeanor (pick one):Quiet, Leader, Self-Confident, Team Player, Selfish


Any other notes you'd like to leave about your player:

[lionden_56]

Meet the Year 1 Draft Class!

We're still in the middle of the hunt for the Colonial Cup. But for some managers, the focus has turned to who they can add to their squad in the draft that will get them over the hump next year. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be introducing you to the new faces that will be populating the Colonial Football League next year.

We start today with 7 names that should be called in either the first round or very early in the second. These names have all shown great promise in the Colonial Youth Leagues, and have owners eagerly sending scouts to their practices and matches. Let's meet the first seven.

Ocho Ocho

Vitals:
Striker/Center Forward
6'5
185 lbs

Background: Ocho Ocho hails from an extremely traditionalist part of Canceron, and his name reflects that. Many centuries ago, holding the tribal name with both your first and last name was the highest sign of honor. Thus far, Ocho has lived up to that honor with his play on the pitch. He is expected by most experts to be a top 3 draft selection.

Play Style: Ocho is very much a front of the net target. He has shown great finishing skill in his youth league matches, both with the head and with his feet. He's a danger anywhere around the box, as he can choose to drive in shots from distance, or he can take defenders one-on-one. There are some concerns about his ability to see passing lanes when a shooting alley isn't available, and he isn't the quickest or most agile striker on the pitch. But his pure determination to get to the net and put the ball in the back of it makes him a shining prospect in the draft.

Off the field: Some managers have expressed concern about Ocho's off the pitch attitude, but most have said that would not stop them from drafting him highly if they have the opportunity.

Josiah Cohen

Vitals:
Center Attacking Mid/Center Mid
5'11
185 LBS

Background: Cohen was a staple on the Troy Warriors before the team disbanded at the creation of the CFL. Many believe he would have been a high draft choice had native Troy players been allowed in the Inauguration draft. As it stands, Cohen appears ready to be drafted in the first round of the year one entry draft, alongside many of his fellow Troy teammates.

Play Style: Cohen is the play-maker in the middle. He has been known to crash the box when needed, but his main contributions to his team come from getting his foot to the ball 30 yards away. His skill over the ball has left defenders looking foolish and allowed him to lead Troy is assists for 3 years in a row.

Off the Field: Cohen is a bit older than the rookies in the field, so that should make his stock rise, as he provides great locker room leadership to the younger players around him.

Cosme Elliot

Vitals:
Center Back/Right Back
5'9
148 LBS

Background: Don't let his small size fool you, Cosme Elliot is a fierce defender. The Caprica native is ferocious around the ball, making tackle after tackle. He led the Caprican youth league in tackles two years in a row.

Play Style: Elliot's defense is second to none in this draft class. He prefers the middle, but can move to the right side if need be. His shorter height can cause problems for him on set pieces, but his excellent vision and positioning skills have done a decent job of nullifying that throughout his career. His greatest weakness is his ball skill: once he wins the ball from the opposition, his passing leaves a lot to be desired. If he can get that figured out, he has the potential to be a defensive star in the CFL.

Of the Field: Elliot is pretty quiet in the locker room. He talks to the media when they request it, but other than that has been known to keep his head down and his mouth shut. He's not the most inspirational leader to his team, but doesn't cause any off the field problems either. That being said, teammates report that he is a fun person to be around, and really is looking for a locker room with a lot of chemistry.

Marko Hutson

Vitals:
Left Back/Left Mid
6'0
165 LBS

Background: The second defensemen profiled, and the second player from Troy as well, Marko Hutson has a bit to prove. He was a on/off starter for the Troy Warriors, but has dedicated himself this year to training and getting into much better shape for his chance in the Colonial Football League. Like Josiah Cohen, Hutson is a bit older than the youth league players in this draft class, and has experience playing against the players in the CFL.

Play Style: Like Cosme Elliot, Hutson is a great defender with a nose for the ball. He's a step or two slower than most defenders, but he more than makes up for it with his tackling ability as well as his ability to control the ball after he wins it. Stamina can be a bit of a concern for Hutson, as he subbed out quite a bit during his time with the Warrior.

Off the Field: Hutson has made it clear already that his goal is to win a title, and he wants to be on a team that has a chance to do that. Not normally known for making waves in the media room, that statement may deter some early-picking squads from spending a draft choice on him.

Isaiah Gerhardt

Vitals:
Striker/Center Forward
6`2
190 LBS

Background: You can't miss Isaiah Gerhardt on the pitch. Between his bright blue hair and imposing demeanor, everyone is always aware of just exactly where he is. Originally from Leonis, he played in the Gemenon youth leagues after a family move. He defied a lot of nay-sayers with his ability to score goals despite his larger size.

Play Style: The Striker from Leonis will not beat anyone with his speed or dazzle anyone with his amazing ball control. What he will do is drill shots left and right at the net. On set pieces, he'll throw his weight around in the box to get into optimal position to get a header on frame. He can be a force to be reckoned with if the defense is not ready for his style of play. Stamina is a bit of an issue for Gerhardt, but he is subbed relatively infrequently.

Off the Pitch: If the blue hair didn't give it away, Gerhardt is known for his large personality. Not that it is necessarily a bad thing; he has not had any major altercations or off the field incidents. But it is no secret that he wants to be well compensated for his on the field performance.

Adam Hamilton

Vitals:
Goalkeeper
6`1
195 LBS

Background: The first of the two keepers spotlighted in this edition is the third player from Troy. His trek to a starting position was a little bit more difficult than most, but he has solidified himself as one of the best keepers in the colonies over the past few years. He's made great strides in getting his skill level to match that of his natural talent.

Play Style: Hamilton has had to work hard to get to the level of consistency between the posts that he now has. An extremely gifted natural athlete; the mechanics of goal keeping came a bit less naturally. His positioning on some efforts still isn't quite where it should be, but his reaction time and reflexes keep out a lot of shots that would probably otherwise be in the back of the net.

Off the Field: Hamilton is in charge both on the field and off. He is known for yelling and controlling his defenders on the pitch, while taking charge of the speeches in the locker room.

Randall David

Vitals:
Goalkeeper
6`6
150 LBS

Background: David hails from Tauron, and came to the game later in life. He did not start in the lowest levels of the youth leagues. He has had a lot of work to do to get to the level of first round pick, but seems to have gotten himself there.

Play Style: David mirrors Adam Hamilton in a way: His tall lanky frame allows him to get to a lot of balls most couldn't, but his mechanics and positioning aren't quite to the level you'd hope for. In David's case, it might actually be worse. That being said, he is said to have more natural talent than most of the rest of the keepers in this draft, and is expected to be drafted much more highly because of it.

Off the Field: Reports indicate that David has an ego problem, and he has caused some controversy off the field from time to time. That could be a red flag for some managers, and along with his mechanical issues may cause him to slip in the draft.


Be sure to check back next week as we continue to take a look at the draft class.

Editors Note: Again, if you didn't see my post from earlier...I don't know the actual stats for any of these players yet. Right now they all have grades at each position. Each grade is a range of possible stats (A = 95-84 for example). After the draft, I'll go to random.org and generate all the stats. That way there is a bit of unknown during the draft and I don't just go down the line picking the best players in order. I feel like that makes it a bit more true to life. Real life GM's don't have a OVR number for each draft pick.

Also, for those of you who submitted CAPs, if you don't like the appearance of your CAP, I can still change it.

[lionden_56]

Week 11 Update

Libran @ Leonis

It wasn't the first match on the docket, but it was the match with the most implication, so that is where we begin.

Unfortunately for both sides, the only major event of note was Rasmuss Elm leaving the pitch in the 27th minute with an ankle injury. The severity is unknown, but we should know more later in the week.

Dossevi got the scoring started for Libran in the 55th minute. The sub for Elm got a pass near the top of the 18, moved to his right around the defender, and let fly from the top of the box. Lloris got a late jump on it, and could only watched as it sailed past him and into the net.

Libran clinched it in the 73rd minute with a David Villa goal. Villa worked his way into the box, and managed to draw Lloris off his line. All it took was a simple chip shot over the keeper and the Thunder were up 2-0.

Leonis never really managed to threaten Buffon on the other side of the pitch, and fell 2-0.

With the Leonis loss, Sagittaron and Libran both clinch their places. Virgon and Aquarion both only need to win their matches to secure their places as well.

Jan 1, - Libran vs Leonis
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Libran ()	0	2	2
Leonis ()	0	0	0

Team Stats Comparison
Libran		Leonis
2	Goals	0
5	Shots	4
3	Shots on Target	3
30	Tackles	37
1	Fouls	2
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
1	Injuries	0
60	Shot Accuracy	75
80	Passing Percentage	85

Virgon @ Canceron

The United came out looking a little flat on the offensive side of the ball, only recording a single shot in the first half that wasn't on target. Canceron didn't look much better, but did manage to score the lone goal of the first period.

In the 40th minute, Fernandinho made a run with the ball down to the endline, then cut back towards the middle of the pitch. He made a defender miss, then took a tough angle shot that he bent beautifully towards the back post for the goal.

Virgon leveled things in the blink of an eye to start the second period. They took the opening kick and possessed all the way to the Canceron box. Biglia's shot from the right side was punched away by Joe Hart, and Ashley Young was holding the box for Virgon. He drove the rebound home easily.

Virgon would take the lead on a similar situation ten minutes later. This time it was Lars Stindl who took the initial shot. Again, Joe Hart gave up the rebound. This time Schweinsteiger found the ball at his feet, and put home the easy goal.

Virgon secure their place in the top 4 with a 2-1 victory over Canceron.

Jan 1, - Virgon vs Canceron
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Virgon ()	0	2	2
Canceron ()	1	0	1

Team Stats Comparison
Virgon		Canceron
2	Goals	1
7	Shots	11
4	Shots on Target	7
32	Tackles	49
3	Fouls	0
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
57	Shot Accuracy	63
87	Passing Percentage	77

Sagittaron @ Caprica

Caprica got things going right off the bat with an Arjen Robben goal in the 2nd minute. Robben took the pass from Costa near the top of the 18 and struck it with his dangerous left foot. Baumann made a valiant dive, but the strike was perfect, and Caprica stunned the Archers with an early goal.

The Bucs proved that they had something to prove when they scored just 6 minutes later. In the 8th, Robben netted his second goal with a little help from Wilson Eduardo. After taking the pass from Eduardo, Robben made a nice spin move around his defender in the box, and once again drove the shot home with his left.

Sagittaron, not to be outdone on the offensive end, got one back just a minute later. Larsson had the ball out wide for the Archers. His centering pass looked to be seeking out Ibrahimovic. The defense noticed this as well, and crashed in hard on the striker. Instead of trying to put it goalwards, Ibrahimovic instead flicked it on to Nani, who was all alone near the back of the box. A simple header from Nani cut the deficit to one.

Caprica found the back of the net again in the 21st minute. This time it was Fred, who was just barely onside to receive the through ball from Morata and redirect it into the goal.

Things got even worse for the Archers when Fabian Johnson put the ball in his own net in the 36th minute. Caprica was building pressure, and Archer keeper Baumann found himself caught off his line. Johnson intercepted a pass to the middle, and tried to possess inside his own area. But his first touch let him down, and caromed right into the empty net.

Sagittaron wasn't quite done, however, as they managed to get another one back right before the break. Ibrahimovic scored on a pass from Danny. Beto came off his line to try to snag the pass as it made its way across his box, but missed. Ibrahimovic had an easy tap in to make it 4-2 at half time.

Things settled down in the second half. The lone goal of the period was scored by Nani, in similar fashion to his first. Ibrahimovic drew three defenders as he dribbled into the box, leaving Nani all alone on the backside. A nifty little backheel pass from Zlatan left Nani one-on-one with Beto, and the striker beat the keeper high.

In the end, it just wasn't quite enough, though, as Caprica wins a high scoring contest with Sagittaron 4-3.

Jan 1, - Sagittaron vs Caprica
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Sagittaron ()	2	1	3
Caprica ()	4	0	4

Team Stats Comparison
Sagittaron		Caprica
3	Goals	4
12	Shots	14
6	Shots on Target	6
45	Tackles	26
1	Fouls	2
0	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
1	Injuries	0
50	Shot Accuracy	42
75	Passing Percentage	85

Aquarion @ Aerilon

Aquarion was the last team looking to punch their ticket to the Colonial Cup.

They got a little lucky in the 15th minute when Aerilon's Holger Badstuber put in the second own goal of the week. Neymar's shot was deflected by the keeper Casillas, but was still tracking towards the goal line. Badstuber slide to try and sweep the ball off his line, but wound up knocking it in the net. It goes down as an own goal, but was probably going to go in anyway.

The Whalers struck again in the 42nd minute. They won a corner, that was bent to the far post by Lucas. Gilardino skyed above everyone else in the box and got his head to it first, bouncing it to the back of the net.

The Threshers tried to mount a comeback in the second, led by the man they traded for, Ezequiel Lavezzi. In the 61st minute Lavezzi got his head to a ball served in by Omar Ramos and angled it just enough to get past the keeper.

But the equalizer never came, and Aquarion secures their spot in the Colonial Cup with a 2-1 victory over Aerilon.

Jan 1, - Aquarion vs Aerilon
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Aquarion ()	2	0	2
Aerilon ()	0	1	1

Team Stats Comparison
Aquarion		Aerilon
2	Goals	1
8	Shots	5
3	Shots on Target	2
38	Tackles	31
2	Fouls	2
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
38	Shot Accuracy	40
79	Passing Percentage	81

Picon @ Gemenon

It was, quite possibly, the battle for the number one selection in the draft. And maybe a little pride.

Lee Dong Gook continued his incredible season with a goal to start it off for Picon in the 29th minute. Frank Lampard drew two defenders, leaving Gook one-on-one in the box. Lampard's service was good, and Gook got hit head to it first to direct it into the net.

Gemenon tied it in the 35th minute. Miroslav Klose got a pass from Pizzi in traffic in front of the net, and somehow found the smallest sliver of space to sneak the shot through and angle it off the inside of the near post for the goal.

The Twins took the lead in the 67th minute, once again thanks to Miroslav Klose. This time Van Wolfswinkel set up the pass that led to the goal, a ground ball through the box that went right through the legs of one of the Picon's defenders. Klose was there on the back end to tap it across the line.

Gemenon finally moves out of the last spot in the table with a 2-1 victory over Picon.

Jan 1, - Picon vs Gemenon
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Picon ()	1	0	1
Gemenon ()	1	1	2

Team Stats Comparison
Picon		Gemenon
1	Goals	2
8	Shots	6
3	Shots on Target	5
36	Tackles	29
2	Fouls	0
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
00	Injuries	0
38	Shot Accuracy	83
81	Passing Percentage	76

Scorpia @ Tauron

Thierry Henry got things going in the blink of an eye for this one, scoring in the 3rd minute. He recieved a pass forward from Mollo and dribbled through two defenders before getting clear on goal nd putting Scorpia up 1-0.

The joy was short lived, however, as Rossi tied things up for Tauron in the 12th minute. Bergessio took the ball out wide and hit a beautiful bending ball into the middle that Rossi managed to get his head to first and level the match at a goal apiece.

Tauron took a one goal lead into the break thanks to a goal in the 42nd minute. Ji Sun Park took a corner for Tauron that went over everyone and out to the back of the box. Bergessio was there to hold the 18, and drove back a shot that found the back of the net.

Scorpia leveled it in the 61st minute on a free kick taken by Henry. Huntelaar drew a found near the top of the penalty area, and Henry bent the free kick around the wall and just found to the top right corner of the net.

The Bulls took the lead for good in the 85th minute. Again on a corner kick. Park hit an inswinger this time, and Eduardo Salvio got his head to it for the game winning goal.

Tauron holds on to defeat Scorpia 3-2.

Jan 1, - Scorpia vs Tauron
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Scorpia ()	1	1	2
Tauron ()	1	2	3

Team Stats Comparison
Scorpia		Tauron
2	Goals	3
11	Shots	9
6	Shots on Target	4
34	Tackles	36
2	Fouls	1
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
55	Shot Accuracy	44
86	Passing Percentage	82

[lionden_56]

Week 11 News and Notes

League Table - Week 11

Playoff Scenarios

Leonis losing to Libran last week made the break a clean one: Libran, Virgon, Sagittaron, and Aquarion have all clinched their spots in the Colonial Cup. Had Virgon or Aquarion lost, Leonis would have still had a chance. However, with those wins, Leonis is eliminated from contention. All four qualified teams still have a shot at winning the Colonial Shield for having the best record in the regular season, and the #1 seed.

League Leaders - Week 11

Soccer Leaders - Updated: Jan 1,
Goals Scored	GS	Assists	AST
1. Ibrahimovic	13	1. Danny	7
2. Huntelaar	11	2. J. Park	6
3. Welbeck	9	3. Neymar	4
4. Robben	9	4. Podolski	4
5. Donovan & Gilardino	8	5. Nani	4
Saves	SV	Clean Sheets	CS
1. Baumann	72	1. Viviano	6
2. Diego Alves	70	2. Lloris	3
3. Hart	65	3. Romero	3
4. Douchez	64	4. Buffon	2
5. Howard	61	5. 3 players	1

Player of the Week

This week's player of the week is Gonzalo Bergessio of Tauron. He scored a goal and had an assist in the Bull's 3-2 victory over Scorpia.

Keeper of the Week

Our keeper of the week this week is Gigi Buffon of Libran. His clean sheet against clinched a spot in the Colonial Cup playoffs.

Week 12 Preview

First, a note on how these matchups were generated. Every team has now played every other team once. However since that is 11 matches, half of the teams have played six home matches, while half have played five. To balance this out, the teams that have played 6 were put into a pot and the teams that have played 5 were put into a second pot. The teams were drawn against each other, with the teams from pot 2 being the home team to ensure everyone plays six home matches.

Caprica @ Aerilon

These two teams kicked off the season at Atlas Arena. They battled to a 2-2 draw then. Aerilon looks quite different than they did when these two teams have met in week one, having acquired Lavezzi at the trade deadline. The deal hasn't worked out quite how Aerilon would have liked, but with no first round pick thanks to that trade, they have everything to play for as they try to figure out the chemistry and team composition for next season.

The C-Bucs are disappointed they won't be competing for the Cup in their home stadium, but can still secure a 5th place finish with a win over Aerilon and a little help. They looked as good as they have all year last week against Sagittaron, and if the offense clicks like that against Aerilon, they should be in good shape.

Gemenon @ Libran

The Thunder need to thank Caprica for their victory last week, as it opens the door for Libran to win the league with a victory over bottom-dwelling Gemenon. Rasmuss Elm is listed as questionable after his injury last week, but other than that, there are no indications that anyone is going to sit for Libran, as they look to secure the top seed for the tournament.

Gemenon picked up a good win last week, albeit against Picon. But Klose seems to have found his form, and the offense finally managed to score some goals. It will be a tough challenge against one of the best teams in the league, but situations like these are the ones that seem to most often provide surprising results.

Leonis @ Picon

In what is sure to be a disappointing mood for their match, Leonis is battling solely for league position in their finale against Picon. The Thunder shut down the Leonis offense last week, and the Wildcats are going to look to go out strong against Picon.

Focus on Picon really has turned to who they are going to select in the first round of the draft. Whether or not they get pick #1 or #2 is still in question, but with no clear stand out superstar it may not matter. Picon started the season decently well, but have been in a downward spiral for the past two months. This will be a decent final test to see what position needs the most help in the draft.

Virgon @ Sagittaron

Virgon have been absolutely untouchable for the past two months. The United only have one loss on the season, and with the additional offense they picked up at the trade deadline, they are the team no one wants to face come playoff time.

Sagittaron has been trending downward over the past two weeks. They drew with Aerilon and lost to Caprica, two teams who will not be playing in the post season. This could be a good final test for Sagittaron to see just where their mindset is heading into the Colonial Cup.

Canceron @ Scorpia

Scorpia sits in a similar situation to Aerilon. They traded away draft picks to tune up their offense and make a run at the playoffs, but didn't get there. They are, however, in a good place to make a run next year. This should be a match to test out different formations and get the team prepped for next season.

Canceron cannot get the #1 overall pick, but could potentially get pick number 2 depending on what happens with Gemenon's match. They also own Scorpia's first round pick, thanks to sending them Thierry Henry. Last week, Canceron did something only 5 other teams managed to do this season: score a goal on Virgon. They didn't win the match, but that little victory may give them the boost they need to at least come to play against Scorpia.

[lionden_56]

Meet the Draft Class - Part 2

Today we get to some of the players that GM's may or may not want to take chances on. There's a lot of talent here, but whether or not these players fit into a starting lineup is something that is yet to be seen.

Ki Yu

Vitals:
Right Winger/Right Mid
6'3
165 LBS

Background: Yu spent most of his youth league time out wide on the right side of the formation, but can sneak more towards the middle if need be. Aquarion hasn't been known as a hot spot for footballing talent, but Yu has put up the numbers against his competition that warrent getting some second looks by Colonial League scouts and GMs.

Play style: Yu is an extremely smart, calculated player. He sees passing lanes and crosses before they happen. He's usually more of an assist man than goal scorer, but he can set up some beauties. His first touches aren't always the best, and he lacks the leg strength to really drive the ball through the box. But his placement on crosses is second to none.

Off the field: Yu is very much a prankster in the locker room, and he enjoys having fun with his teammates. GMs say he's one of the funnier players they've had in for interviews.

Grahame Durand

Vitals:
Center Midfielder/Defensive Center
6'0
180 LBS

Background: Hailing for Sagittaron, Durand said in his interview that he was really excited about how well the Archers are doing and hopes he can wind up wearing the Orange on draft day. His defensive numbers in the Sagittaron youth leagues have been good, but his propensity for sliding challenges has led to a few more yellow cards than his coaches would like.

Play Style: Durand fills the role of pretty good at everything while not great at anything perfectly. His defensive ability, positioning, and speed are all acceptable, but none really shine. He passes well, but his through balls can often leave something to be desired. This may prevent him from going high in the draft, but he seems like a good consistent draft choice for probably the middle of the second round.

Off the field: Teammates say Durand has a big personality in the locker room, and is the first to offer encouragement after a loss. Sources also say that he hates to lose, and expects to win titles in the Colonial Football League.

Fred Garrett

Vitals: Right Back/Right Wing Back
5'11
160 LBS

Background: Managers have been trying to figure out what to do with Fred Garrett for years. The Aerilon native has always showed great physical skill, but what position he should actually play has always been a bit of a mystery. He seems to have finally figured it out on the defensive front.

Play Style: Garrett's defense isn't amazing. But his ability to think ahead makes up for it. Naturally left-footed, Garrett has become ambidextrous and can use his right foot just as well as his left. Managers see this as a huge plus in helping plug the holes on the defensive side of things. He prefers the right side, but since he can use both feet equally well, he can be put anywhere on the back line.

Off the Field: Gerrett isn't well known for his charitable spirit. Teammates say he is reserved in the locker room, although not to standoffish. Like Durand, he cares mostly about winning and expects to be successful once drafted.

Preston Howes



Vitals: Left Midfield/Left Winger
5'8
150 LBS

Background: The Virgon native has been bounced back and forth between midfield and back line through most of his young career. He has declared that he wants to make it in the Colonial League as a midfielder.

Play Style: Howes shoots the ball well. He also marks players and tackles well. But he leaves some to be desired with his speed and passing skills. His positioning can often use some work as well. Settling in to one specific role, be it midfield or defense, should help him focus and improve in some of those aspects, though.

Off the field: Howes said in an interview that he's really looking forward to cashing that first big check with his contract. GMs told us not to read too much into that: he's just an excited kid with what is potentially a bright future ahead of him. They said he is a good locker room body to have, and he has had few off-field issues.

Herberto Robustelli

Vitals:
Center Back/Right Back
6'2
175 LBS

Background: The youngest of three children, Robustelli joked that he was a defender since birth. He was always the one forced to play goalie or defense while his older brothers tried to score goals.

Play Style: Robustelli is similar to fellow draft class member Grahame Durand in that he has a lot of talent across the board, but isn't spectacular at any of it. His tackling is good, and his speed is good, but his touches and clearances could be better.

Off the field: He's known for giving back to the community that he plays in, having played for a couple different teams in the youth leagues. Winning is his number one priority, but he has said that locker room chemistry is important to him as well.

Franz Weiss

Vitals:
Center Attacking Mid/Left Winger
6'4
160 LBS

Background: Weiss has played both the midfield and forward positions during his time in the youth leagues, but prefers to play more of a midfielder role. He has more goals than assists in his career, and has been known for his offense first mentality.

Play Style: The Caprican native seems to want to invent the position of striking midfielder. He plays far forward for a midfielder, and will take more shots than passes. But he stays with the "midfielder" tag because he is good from distance and holds the penalty area well on set pieces.

Off the field: Weiss's teammates have glowing reviews for his locker room character and presence. Despite this, some GMs have expressed concerns about what he values himself at versus what teams value him at.

Rubem Guerra

Vitals:
Left Back/Left Wing Back
6'3
150 LBS

Background: A track star turned defender, Guerra has impressed scouts with his speed and tackling ability. He came to football a bit later than most, but that hasn't stopped him from wowing in the Tauroneese youth leagues.

Play Style: Guerra is an old Tauron word for "war" and he wages war on opposing strikers. He's lightning fast on the pitch, catching up to challenges and filling gaps in the line quickly. His vision and anticipation aren't always the best, but his catch-up speed helps negate these flaws.

Off the field: Teammates have stated he's fun in the locker room, but don't talk to him after a match where a goal was scored from his side. He's extremely tough on himself, and always looking for improvement.

[lionden_56]

Week 12 Recap

Caprica @ Aerilon

The C-Bucs came out fast and furious in their final match of the season, scoring the opening goal just 8 minutes in. Arjen Robben slipped a pass through the defenders to Fred who was making a run through the box. He got a touch to it and just managed to sneak it past the diving Sergio Romero for the first goal.

Caprica looked they were going to seal it up early thanks to an awarded penalty kick in the 16th minute. Fred stepped up to try and score his second of the match, but this time Romero was up to the task and saved the shot that went to the keeper's left.

That save seemed to turn something on for the Threshers, who took control of the match from there on out.

The equalizer came in the 35th minute. The dangerous combination of Xabi Alanso and Ezequiel Lavezzi worked in perfect harmony, as Alanso served a bending cross into the area and an unmarked Lavezzi headed it to the back of the net.

Aerilon punched in the go ahead goal in the 56th minute. Lavezzi gets the assist this time, as his shot was blocked by Beto, but the rebound fell to the feet of Max Kruse, who finished with a strike to the top left corner.

Caprica showed a little bit of fight in the later stages of the half, but Aerilon put the game on ice with a goal in the 80th minute. Jermaine Defoe made two very nice footwork moves to get free of his defenders, then let fly from 20 yards out to score the final goal of the match.

Aerilon picks up the victory over Caprica 3-1

Jan 1, - Caprica vs Aerilon
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Caprica ()	1	0	1
Aerilon ()	1	2	3

Team Stats Comparison
Caprica		Aerilon
1	Goals	3
8	Shots	11
3	Shots on Target	5
42	Tackles	32
2	Fouls	1
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
38	Shot Accuracy	45
78	Passing Percentage	83

Gemenon @ Libran

Any thoughts that the Thunder might rest some players for the upcoming Colonial Cup were very quickly extinguished. The Thunder scored early and often in their matchup against a Gemenon squad that will certainly be trying to rebuild in the offseason.

Libran's first goal came in the 10th minute. Rasmuss Elm sent in a corner that looked like it might clear the box, but David Villa was waiting for it on the back end and just got enough of a head on it to deflect the ball off the keeper and into the net.

The second goal of the contest came for the Thunder in the 29th minute. Landon Donovan took a pass from Matri near the top of the area, made a spin move around a defender, and curled a shot just inside the far post.

Libran added a third in the 54th minute. David Villa scored his second of the match thanks to a feed from Landon Donovan. Donovan drew the defense with him into the box, then back-heeled a pass to David Villa in the semi-circle. Tim Howard was slightly out of position, and Villa made him pay.

Gemenon did manage to save some pride in the 68th minute. Klose hit a rocket from distance that may have surprised Gigi Buffon, as he probably should have made the save, but instead watched it streak past his fingertips and find the back of the net.

The Thunder added the exclamation point in the 90th minute, when sub Stefan Ishizaki took a shot from the corner of the box that was deflected by a defenseman and ricocheted into the net. Tim Howard could only shake his head as the ball he had a clear beat on took a sharp left turn off his defender and crossed the goal line. It's been that kind of year for the Twins.

Libran wins and emphatically gains the #1 seed in the Colonial Cup 4-1.

Jan 1, - Gemenon vs Libran
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Gemenon ()	0	1	1
Libran ()	2	2	4

Team Stats Comparison
Gemenon		Libran
1	Goals	4
6	Shots	14
1	Shots on Target	8
50	Tackles	28
3	Fouls	0
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
17	Shot Accuracy	57
69	Passing Percentage	84

Leonis @ Picon

It is the old coaching conundrum. How do you get your team up to play when they know they have nothing to play for? Neither coach appeared to have done well with that question, as both teams came out flat and unenthused for their final match of the season.

The only goal of the match came in the 72nd minute. Kim Shin Wook, getting a rare start for Leonis, rewarded his manager by heading in a pass from De Rossi for the match winner.

Picon just looked defeated by the long season, only registering 2 shots, neither of which were on target. They will have the first pick in the draft. But for their finale, they fall 1-0 to Leonis.

Jan 1, - Leonis vs Picon
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Leonis ()	0	1	1
Picon ()	0	0	0

Team Stats Comparison
Leonis		Picon
1	Goals	0
5	Shots	2
2	Shots on Target	0
35	Tackles	31
2	Fouls	1
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
40	Shot Accuracy	0
78	Passing Percentage	74

Virgon @ Sagittaron

This may be the big budding rivalry in the Colonial League for years to come. These are two very solid sides, who have a real chance of meeting for a third time this season to determine a champion.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoreline right off the bat, putting home a shot in the 6th minute. Koo chipped a long ball over the defensive back line, Ibra got to the ball in space, and was all alone with the keeper Viviano. As well as Viviano has played this season, he wasn't able to get any sort of resistance to Zlatan's shot.

Virgon came extremely close to tying it just two minutes later. Biglia's shot from the corner of the box beat the diving Baumann, but just didn't quite beat the post, as the ball hit the woodwork and carromed off. Luckily for Virgon, Ashley Young was holding the far side of the box and had an easy rebound come to him. Unluckily for Virgon, his shot hit the crossbar and fell to the feet of the Archers defense, who cleared it.

The next excitement in the match came in the form of a pair of bookings. First, in the 16th minute, Biglia was given a yellow card for a late challenge on Danny from behind. Initial thought around the pitch was that the referee might go straight red, but Ronnie Zegers, the Piconeese official, only gave the yellow.

Danny then picked up a yellow card of his own in the 22nd minute, challenging the Virgon midfielder after the pass was already away. It is Danny's second yellow of the season, but since all yellow cards reset for the Colonial Cup, he does not have to worry about picking up a third and a one match suspension.

Sagittaron looked like they might be able to close out the 1-0 victory, but Virgon, as they have done so well this year, managed to steal a point thanks to an 86th minute goal from Altidore. Schweinsteiger hit an outswinging corner that Altidore got a foot to and drove to the back of the net. The corner was set up by a 40 yard blast from Young that handcuffed Baumann so badly all he could do was punch it out of play.

Virgon and Sagittaron battle to a 1-1 draw for the second time this season.

Jan 1, - Virgon vs Sagittaron
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Virgon ()	0	1	1
Sagittaron ()	1	0	1

Team Stats Comparison
Virgon		Sagittaron
1	Goals	1
17	Shots	4
11	Shots on Target	3
41	Tackles	65
3	Fouls	1
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
64	Shot Accuracy	75
84	Passing Percentage	74

Canceron @ Scorpia

These two squads were the opposite of Leonis and Gemenon. Even with nothing to play for, the offensive fireworks were fully lit for this battle.

It did take a little time for the teams to get into a rhythm, however. The first goal of the match was scored by Canceron in the 39th minute. Ronaldinho took a through ball from Fernandinho and tapped it to the far post for the tally.

Scorpia answered in stoppage time of the first half. Huntelaar took a pass from Henry on the far side of the box, turned around his defender, and found the back of the net.

Things opened up in the second half. In the 51st minute, Fernandinho sent a long ball to the end line that looked like it roll harmlessly out of play, but Ronaldinho ran it down just as it got to the line, turned back towards the goal, and scored a ridiculously harsh angle goal against Diego Alves.

Scorpia again answered in the 60th minute. Yohan Mollo drew a double team by dribbling into the box. He chipped a pass over both their heads to Henry who was out on the wing. He ran into the box to get it, took one dribble, and fired a shot to the top right corner. Joe Hart got a hand on it, but not enough to deflect it over the bar, and it was 2-2.

The Stingers led for the first time in the match thanks to a Lars Bender goal in the 72nd minute. Joe Hart made a terrible through out of his box that landed right at Bender's feet instead of the intended Hydra midfielder. Bender let the shot go from 30 yards away, and with Hart out of position from his throw, the net was gaping. Scorpia took a one goal lead.

Ronaldinho was not to be outdone, though. His hat trick would be completed on a free kick from 25 yards out in the 84th. He bent the shot over the wall and just managed to hit the inside of the near post for the tying goal. I wish I had the video, it was quite pretty.

Scorpia and Canceron battle to a 3-3 draw.

Jan 1, - Canceron vs Scorpia
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Canceron ()	1	2	3
Scorpia ()	1	2	3

Team Stats Comparison
Canceron		Scorpia
3	Goals	3
16	Shots	12
9	Shots on Target	7
35	Tackles	32
0	Fouls	0
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
56	Shot Accuracy	58
79	Passing Percentage	78

Aquarion @ Tauron

Aquarion didn't know this when the match started, but a victory would give them the number 2 seed in the Colonial Cup.

The Whalers opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Neymar got a through ball from Lucas at the top of the box, and crossed up the keeper with a nice step-over move. He could then simply pass the ball into the back of the net.

Things quieted down for a while, and Tauron equalized in the 63rd minute. Ji-Sung Park made two defenders miss in the box and forced Douchez off his line. Park just had to tap a pass across the box for Salvio to drive home.

Aquarion responded in the 68th minute. Neymar again found the back of the net, this time from Olsson. It was a beautiful volley play, and Olsson chest-passed the long ball in, and Neymar turned and hit it first time low and to the far post. Vorm had a good dive, but the ball was just under his reach.

Tauron looked like they were going to steal the point with a goal in the 89th minute. Salvio sent in a ball from the wing. Park flicked it on with his head and Bergessio took the first bounce and smashed it into the onion sack.

But Aquarion was not to be denied their three points. In stoppage time, Mascara got a pass from Thiago at the top of the area, drove through two defenders, and beat Vorm low to the far post.

Aquarion wins 3-2, and secures the second seed in the Colonial Cup.

Jan 1, - Aquarion vs Tauron
TEAM	1	2	SCORE
Aquarion ()	1	2	3
Tauron ()	0	2	2

Team Stats Comparison
Aquarion		Tauron
3	Goals	2
11	Shots	10
7	Shots on Target	5
33	Tackles	44
2	Fouls	1
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Injuries	0
63	Shot Accuracy	50
77	Passing Percentage	81

Full Write-up on the Cup to come tomorrow or Wednesday, but here are the matches:
Semifinal #1: #1 Libran vs. #4 Sagittaron
Semifinal #2: #2 Aquarion vs. #3 Virgon

[lionden_56]

Week 12 News and Notes

League Table – Final Standings

Player of the Week

The final player of the week is Ronaldinho. His hat trick allowed Canceron to earn a point against Scorpia. He showed a flourish for the Hydras that will hopefully carry some momentum over into next season.

Keeper of the Week

The final week’s outstanding keeper is Gigi Buffon from Libran. He kept Gemenon to one goal and his performance helped propel the Thunder to the top spot in the league.

Injury Report

Jozy Altidore went down with an apparent ankle injury during Virgon’s match with Sagittaron. He was not subbed out of the match, however, and is expected to play in the Colonial Cup semifinals.

Semifinals Preview



Libran vs. Sagittaron

The Archers won the first contest between these two clubs, but that was at Archer’s Park. Sagittaron has been slipping a bit in the past few weeks: They haven’t won any of their last three matches. They find themselves in their worst table position right at the end of the season, and have the daunting task of playing the Thunder in the first round of the Cup. Still, the Archers are an offensive juggernaut, and they completely locked Libran out of the match in their first meeting.

The Thunder come in with a little more momentum than the Archers, and have secured at least the pride of leading the league through the regular season. Their offense is multi-facetted and their defense has played very well over the past few weeks. They have earned their table position, and will be a difficult challenge for anyone they face in the Cup.

Aquarion vs. Virgon

These two squads first met way back in week 2, resulting in a 3-2 victory by Aquarion. Virgon is a much different team than the one we saw then. That match started a 3-match shut-out streak for Virgon, and the United have not allowed more than one goal against them in any of their contests since. It is also Virgon's only loss of the season. The United have continuously found ways to stay in matches, and their defense has been second to none. Don't expect the rematch to be as high scoring as the original.

Aquarion was the only team in the league who did not draw a match this year. They face the team that drew the most matches. Neymar has really come into form as the season has progressed, and the defense has done the job so far. The middle of the season was a little shaky for Aquarion, but they started strong and have ended strong, earning them the second seed.