Blackout Rugby

[mcrabb]

Well done on staying up MrB.

Well I decided to play WNWIM to ensure my players were at full fitness. I still won and finished comfortably top of the league.

I now face the 4th placed team on Friday. Not too sure whether to play LTNT (since last time I played them they played LTNT tomorrow and beat me), or whether to risk it and hope I manage to beat them on normal. If I play LTNT there is basically no chance of promotion to I.1 because I'll be facing a top team with most of my team knackered.

 

[MrB]

I'm going WNWIM in my play off. I beat Caracas Danger in one of the league games on an LTNT but there's no guarantee as they have a huge team. Figuring go this way and I'll have a chance of securing 3rd place.

 

[mcrabb]

I've decided just to go with playing normal in the hope that I have enough to beat them. If I lose then I can either play LTNT to ensure 3rd place or ensure I qualify for training and just play normal in the hope that the other team is knackered from a LTNT.

If I win this game then I'll have to decide whether to play LTNT in my next game with the chance I might have enough energy left to play a competitive match in any I.1 play-off.

Also got my friendly match against an Italian team in the friendly competition.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I appear to have been promoted.

Played both games normal. Might have LTNT the final if I'd remembered to log in, so just as well I didn't!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I appear to have been promoted.

Played both games normal. Might have LTNT the final if I'd remembered to log in, so just as well I didn't!

Or maybe not.

I have another qualifier on the 14th.

This promotion lark is far too complicated. Do I get gate money and training for all these games?

 

[MrB]

Or maybe not.

I have another qualifier on the 14th.

This promotion lark is far too complicated. Do I get gate money and training for all these games?

Yes, so if you get through it's well worth it.

I finished fourth as expected, very pleasing season. Will probably get a lot tougher next season though.

 

[mcrabb]

I gambled by playing normal and my opponents both (I think by their fitness) played LTNT. I figured that if I didn't win on normal I would stand no chance of beating the playoff teams in I.1. Unfortunately on LTNT both teams beat me so having finished the season comfortably in 1st, I ended up coming 4th. Rather disappointing, but I suppose I get more training this week and I get a fair bit of money for having two home games.

I'll have to regroup ready for next season. Despite being the leagues leading scorer, I think I may have to replace MacGibbon this season as he'll be turing 32 so I expect him to start decreasing in skills. Otherwise, the team is looking fairly strong for next season, with my average CSR very much improved. One player with CSR just below 40K, another 4 above 40K and the rest all above 50K. I'm hoping to replace MacGibbon with another fly half so hopefully if I buy well, this will replace one of my 40K+ players with a 50K+ one.

 

[mcrabb]

With my fly half MacGibbon about to turn 32 I've been looking for a replacement for a few weeks. After a few failed attempts, I finally bought a replacement.

Chip Bonnor
19 years old | 65,395 CSR | 185 cm | 101 kg | New Zealand
Left handed, left footed, in decent form, and perfect energy levels.
An aggressive player with controlled discipline, satisfactory leadership, and limited experience.
Stamina: Admirable Handling: Amazing
Attack: Sumptuous Defense: Reputable
Technique: Average Strength: Limited
Jumping: Satisfactory Speed: Admirable
Agility: Impressive Kicking: Sumptuous

I paid $1,275,000 for him which was little on the high side, but I had been struggling to find the right player that wasn't ending his auction in the middle of the night.

Now the big question, is who I should now sell. Obviously MacGibbon is the first choice as he is the man being replaced, but I wasn't sure given his age whether I'd be likely to get much for him, or if I should keep him as a good back up (for most back positions). The options are one (or maybe two) of the following:

Gavin MacGibbon
31 years old | 49,079 CSR | 181 cm | 99 kg | England
Right handed, right footed, in satisfactory form, and perfect energy levels.
A timid player with reckless discipline, moderate leadership, and satisfactory experience.
Stamina: Reputable Handling: Princely
Attack: Decent Defense: Impressive
Technique: Impressive Strength: Decent
Jumping: Average Speed: Reputable
Agility: Satisfactory Kicking: Princely

Burt Oyler
29 years old | 26,394 CSR | 185 cm | 103 kg | England
Left handed, left footed, in decent form, and perfect energy levels.
A conservative player with flawless discipline, moderate leadership, and moderate experience.
Stamina: Decent Handling: Impressive
Attack: Impressive Defense: Satisfactory
Technique: Satisfactory Strength: Horrible
Jumping: Non-Existent Speed: Admirable
Agility: Reputable Kicking: Limited

Earl Goldfinger
26 years old | 36,390 CSR | 169 cm | 95 kg | England
Right handed, right footed, in reputable form, and perfect energy levels.
A collected player with controlled discipline, despicable leadership, and limited experience.
Stamina: Decent Handling: Reputable
Attack: Admirable Defense: Sumptuous
Technique: Moderate Strength: Average
Jumping: Horrible Speed: Reputable
Agility: Reputable Kicking: Satisfactory

Giordano Scandroglio
19 years old | 36,962 CSR | 194 cm | 107 kg | Italy
Right handed, right footed, in average form, and perfect energy levels.
A collected player with rebellious discipline, impressive leadership, and despicable experience.
Stamina: Average Handling: Reputable
Attack: Decent Defense: Sumptuous
Technique: Admirable Strength: Satisfactory
Jumping: Reputable Speed: Reputable
Agility: Moderate Kicking: Reputable

Isaac Thaxter
24 years old | 23,119 CSR | 189 cm | 104 kg | England
Right handed, right footed, in decent form, and perfect energy levels.
A collected player with rebellious discipline, admirable leadership, and moderate experience.
Stamina: Horrible Handling: Satisfactory
Attack: Decent Defense: Impressive
Technique: Admirable Strength: Admirable
Jumping: Limited Speed: Horrible
Agility: Horrible Kicking: Reputable

Ben Cadwallader
23 years old | 23,421 CSR | 193 cm | 95 kg | England
Right handed, right footed, in decent form, and perfect energy levels.
A timid player with reckless discipline, satisfactory leadership, and moderate experience.
Stamina: Decent Handling: Admirable
Attack: Reputable Defense: Princely
Technique: Moderate Strength: Despicable
Jumping: Horrible Speed: Moderate
Agility: Decent Kicking: Non-Existent

Who should I sell and how much do you think I'd get for them? I reckon I need to kep at least 4 to cover injuries, but following my new signing I only have 200K in the bank.

By the way, bad luck to Invicta after a great effort in the playoffs.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Cheers mcrabb. Should probably have LTNT it.

I've got no idea about transfer prices, my team is pretty much entirely home grown.

 

[mcrabb]

Any advice on who to sell MrB?

Saw the new rating system after my friendly last night. After seasons of rubbish marks for my forwards, the trend seems to have gone the other way with good forward ratings and average back ratings. Haven't fuklly got to grips with it yet, but looks interesting.

 

[MrB]

I think you'd still get some $$$ for McGibbon, certainly a lot more than you would next season. But none of those players are going to fetch a great amount of money, I'd be tempted to keep them all as reserves and go ahead with what you've got. With a reserve squad like that you've got a good chance of getting a decent cup run.

1 very very good team has come up from II so it's a qualifier at best for me. I wonder how these teams can get so far ahead!!

 

[mcrabb]

I was thinking the same. Just had Centurions (runners up for cup last season) and their team is so much stronger than any of the others. They've barely bought any players so either they were really lucky with their youth pulls or they now something I don't.

I decided to list Oyler in the end as he rarely plays and I've got plenty of cover on the wing. Think I'll keep MacGibbon, but it seems a shame that he doesn't get a game. Could probably push him into inside centre, but it would slow down the development of Quadrelli.

Really confused with the new ratings. I thought Daines was one of my best players and always seems to do well at outside centre. According to the ratings though he's only 3.5 - 4 stars out of 10. This may be impacted by his low form, but even still I expected a bit better. My best rating so far is Dash at prop with 6/10.

 

[mcrabb]

Just played Centurions in the league and lost 27-3. To make matters worse they were playing WNWIM so I feel particularly useless.

That seems to be his tactic though and obviously why his team is so good. He plays all his matches on WNWIM so he must get extra training every week. I guess over a few seasons this will make quite a difference.

 

[MrB]

Yeah, I've been LTNTing a lot in the league and whilst it's getting me results, I realise that I fall a little bit further behind the others every time I do it. Am also out of the cup after getting a tough draw early and being LTNTd so less training there too.

 

[mcrabb]

Well Centurions just went bot, so the league is wide open again. Mimetic got the advantage of being the only team not to play them and there match on the weekend ended with a score about 130-0. I'm in 4th position now and should manage to finish in the top 4 especially with Centurions going bot.

 

[MrB]

Have almost given up on the season, the top 4 teams are so good you just can't compete with them. Am WNWIMing against them and normalling against the others, no more LTNTs.

Stamina now at the point where I don't need to team train, just got 3 on a Level 1 individual. So training 4 core skills now which hopefully will help development.

Got a very nice trainee now, filling the back row out nicely:

Sebastian Botwright
18 years old | 46,867 CSR (+1,268) | 183 cm | 118 kg | England
Right handed, right footed, in decent form, and perfect energy levels.
A conservative player with collected discipline, moderate leadership, and despicable experience.
Stamina: Reputable Handling: Admirable
Attack: Decent Defense: Sumptuous
Technique: Princely Strength: Impressive
Jumping: Moderate Speed: Decent
Agility: Admirable Kicking: Non-Existent

Also got my first 100k+ player, though a lot of it is stamina.

Rhys Hughes
24 years old | 100,277 CSR (+620) | 174 cm | 90 kg | England
Left handed, left footed, in average form, and perfect energy levels.
A psychotic player with reckless discipline, satisfactory leadership, and reputable experience.
Stamina: Grand Handling: Princely
Attack: Grand Defense: Admirable
Technique: Horrible Strength: Average
Jumping: Limited Speed: Sumptuous
Agility: Sumptuous Kicking: Satisfactory

 

[mcrabb]

Close game

I thought I had you there MrB. After a few disappointing defeats in friendlies against you, I thought I would have my revenge, but after several missed penalties from Bonnor early in the match my team were unable to create a sufficient lead and my boys faded towards the end letting you back into the match.

Still - an away draw is definitely progress.

 

[MrB]

That was my first team so definitely closing up. Your team are a lot better all round than mine, I still have one player under 40k in my first team.

Holding firm to 5th place, nice bonus point win on a normal against the team in 6th. Next two games are against the teams in 7th and 8th, I suspect they will LTNT but we're 14 clear of 7th so should have enough in the tank to avoid automatic relegation.

 

[mcrabb]

Sounds like you should have enough to stay up. I'm in second now after a surprise win against the top team with me playing WNWIM and him playing normal. Only won by a point, but a win is a win. Saturday I have an away game against probably the strongest team in the league, and then the week after it's a nice easy 100 point+ game against the bot team that replaced Centurions.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I have my first 100,000 player!

Anyone fancy a friendly challenge away.