New hattrick season

[MrB]

Through to Round 7, lost midfield by a whole level as I had a forward and a reserve playing at wing for training. Also played a formation with no XP so am very happy to have got through (helps that they had a player sent off and another injured!).

Anyone else still in? I see YB went out. Should be a home game next which will mean something tough but I'm ready to MOTS with the firsts, will be interested to see what my Hatstats come out like.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Not only did I go out, but I lost my best IM, who is also my set-piece taker.

This wouldn't be such a problem but I was already without my second best IM, who is also my second best set-piece taker.

ps B, how comes you got a div V team, when I get a team second in their IV?

 

[MrB]

Based on last seasons league positions I guess yours got promoted and mine got relegated.

 

[MrB]

Another away game! Got a good chance, though will definitely need the MOTS.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I had 3 osmosis pops this week!

Admittedly one of them is guy I'd be training for weeks but didn't play on the wing because of my cup game, and another one keeps dropping down one week then back up to weak the next week, but even so.

 

[MrB]

No pops for me but importantly we had 4 form increases in the first XI ahead of next weeks cup game.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Well, I've been SP training - I wanted to get the level of SP in the squad up, and it has largely worked. My main SP taker is now at magical level and most of the squad is passable/solid or better, so I'm back to training strikers until my main striker (the magical SP taker) gets his form back up.

He's 28, so it's time to flog him, make a packet for him now in the current SP climate (I reckon I should get £1.7m for him), and then switch to being a wing-attack trainer. I might not even be too fussed if I end up getting relegated this season - I need to pretty radically change the shape and set-up of the side to 3-5-2; but I'm also quite enthusiastic about potentially bringing through youth team wingers, where I currently have a glut of 6* 16 year olds.

Should be fun!

Matt

 

[MrB]

My new 15(40)yo has picked up 5* at both defence and winger which fits in with my current training regime. Quite enjoying the youth system at the moment and will be nice to get double training this week if we can fill that last league spot. Crabby hasn't logged in all week so might have to look for another candidate!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Actually, just checked... they're 6*, but 17 now. And the system won't let me promote yet! Pants!

:(

Have a 6* 16 yo (27 d) IM, and a 6* 16 yo (70d) keeper, though. And likewise, enjoying the YT almost more than the firsts, not least because my firsts continue to underperform vis-a-vis the hatstats / loddarstats, in what is the 11th toughest level IV league out there...!

:madman:

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

3-0 up today. Looks like I should have PIC'd.

 

[* ORM *]

1-1 with 7 to go - unless I pick up a late winner I can kiss goodbye to a promotion push and just get myself set for top 4 and a proper crack next season

 

[MrB]

Terrible 1-1 draw against the bottom side. Rested quite a few for the cup but still won every area. Doesn't matter too much though, we won't go up or down this season.

 

[MrB]

On the plus side my 16yo WB has now hit 8*. Should be a decent pot of cash coming my way for him.

 

[MrB]

4-1 win away despite losing midfield tonight. Through to Round 8 for the first time ever!

Will lose next week but will PIC Sunday and MOTS just in case.........

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Git. Don't think I've got that far.

 

[MrB]

Maurice Lowe? He's got some passable Winger skills.

Maurice Lowe is not going to respond to Defending training any more.

Good news and bad news. 8* as WBD, means he's close to excellent defending I believe so hopefully at the very least I'm going to get a high solid/solid. Shame I couldn't get him to 8.5* to guarantee excellent defending.

At 16/71 I have minimum 6 more weeks to train so am going to plough into his winger with set pieces as the secondary. Whilst I have other trainees who'd benefit from defence, the profit from one massive trainee is better than a succession of ok ones.

If I can get lucky and come away with an Excellent/Solid with set pieces I reckon I could get a bit of moolah!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

B - while you're around... if I'm going to start training wing attacks, what sort of players should I be looking to sign in terms of their credentials...?

Presumably, I'm probably looking for someone who is young and with (say) solid-ish PM or scoring (if I'm playing them up front) and reasonable winger (passable?) so that, when I bring the winger skill up, they're a decent all-round package.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree...?

Matt

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I'm not a fan of training wing attacks. Its a difficult one to maximise the training and field a competitive team, unless you are in a weak division. Training wing attacks you are basically training forwards towards wing, so they require scoring first, winger second, passing third.

 

[MrB]

As Matt says, best bet is to get the primary for the position and then train the winger up to standard, my trainees are:

Winger: outstanding Defending: outstanding
Winger: solid Defending: brilliant
Winger: solid Defending: outstanding
Winger: brilliant Playmaking: magnificent
Winger: passable Scoring: world class
Winger: brilliant Scoring: magnificent
Winger: excellent Playmaking: brilliant
Winger: outstanding Playmaking: excellent

You can get 10 slots but obviously that involves playing 3 up front. So generally I use 9 when out of the cup and 8 when in the cup (or switch to wing training).

 

[MrB]

Gutted, 1-0 up at half time in cup round 8 and 52% midfield. Then in the space of a minute they equalised and we had our star winger sent off and ended up losing 3-1.

Murderous team spirit so it's going to affect our league form but it was worth a go.