LOL. Just what I needed a lot of FOFC teams with deep pockets coming after my bargins.

I got lucky finding them. The site was flying along, so I just started searching for stuff ending in the the next two hours.

League week 6

Thunderchickens - South Bay Saints

Thunderchickens looked to be one of the toughest teams in the series at the beginning of the season. They started out well, but have been very weak the past few weeks. He has played strange formations and put up atypical ratings; however, the owner posted on our series conference this week indicating that he had screwed up his team. I was left to wonder what team I would face this weekend - the mediochre team from last week or the team i predicted to take 2nd in the series?

The Saints decided to PIC the match. If we got the weak team, I'd have an easy win; otherwise, we get the TS boost to go with a likely loss. Thunderchickens usually runs a 3-4-3 (4-3-3 lately), so I shifted one wingback to the center to try and counter their insane central attack.

It took a long time to get a read on how the match was going. IM Dani Mario Araujo received a card in the third minute, and then nothing happened until the 30th minute when we got a scoring chance. This good news which indicated I might be winning the possession was quickly followed by a disaster - 33 minutes into the game Tony Spicer had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Floyd Freeman. Tony is our star forward who has been with the team since day 1. Floyd Freeman being listed as a backup was a big mistake by me. I didn't expect much out of the 32 yo, poor form, inadequate scorer. In fact his place on the team had been replaced by the new set piece god, and I intend to fire him. Just to confirm my worst fears, he missed a chance in the 34th minute. Nearly 40 minutes into a scoreless game which has already been filled with bad news, Clark Merritt picked up a yellow card, his third of the season. In the final 6 minutes of the half, the game took a sudden turn. Floyd Freeman, of crappy form and skills, scored in the 39 minute. Just seconds later, Clifton Campbell picked up a yellow, but took out one of Thunderchickens mids. Then well, deja vu. Freeman scored again, and their second inner mid had to leave the game. So in the final minutes, we took a 0-2 lead, and injured 2/3 of their starting mids. Too bad i couldn't be in the chat today - everyone would have been so proud of my guys. Without their two innermids, Thunderchickens had no chance to get back into the game. Floyd Freeman, who I swore would never step on the field in a game that meant anything, scored for a third time and Joe Lond iced the game with a late goal to regain a share of the series lead.

Final: Thunderchickens 0 - South Bay Saints 4

Ratings
Thunderchickens
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: formidable
Central Defence: excellent
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: supernatural
Central Attack: extra-terrestrial
Left Side Attack: formidable

NSI = 76

South Bay Saints
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: solid
Right Side Defence: passable
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: formidable
Right Side Attack: formidable
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: solid

NSI = 67

Interesting case. He clearly had the better NSI but based on these ratings I would be the favorite.

Individual Notes

Goals: (league total)
Floyd Freeman, 3 (3)
Joe Long 1, (5)

Cards:
Clark Merritt, yellow (3, suspended)
Dani Mario Araujo, yellow (1)
Clifton Campbell, yellow (1)

Injuries:
Tony Spicer, knee, +3

This is the teams first major injury of the season. Fortunately, Tony dropped to +2 with the Monday update, and should be ready to go for the first round of the FOFC cup.


Stars
3.5 Joseph Lassiter

3.5 CD Matt Keyesj
3.5 CD Clifton Campbell
3.0 WB Carlos Saul Tevez

3.5 W Clark Merritt
3.5 IM Eber Basoa Rivas
3.5 Toader Popa
3.5 Dani Mario Araujo
3.0 W Jef Tadie

1.5 F Floyd Freeman
2.0 F Joe "horrible form" Lond
(2.0 F Tony Spicer, injured)


Around IV.31
1. South Bay Saints 6 20 - 4 15

2. Number Munchers 6 28 - 13 15
3. Terps 6 17 - 9 13
4. Los Chixi Dix 6 15 - 11 12

5. CC's Dragons 6 18 - 12 9
6. Thunderchickens 6 12 - 21 4

7. Wisconsin Legend 6 7 - 17 3
8. Fraser Fire 6 0 - 30 0


Number Munche - Los Chixi Dix 6 - 1
The battle between 2nd and 3rd place ended a bit more lopsided than I expected, but not by much.

Terps - Fraser Fire 5 - 0
Walkover

CC's Dragons - Wisconsin Leg 3 - 0
Wisconsin still has a terrefic defense and nothing else and continues to loose in relatively low scoring (at least for the huge midfield differences) shut outs.

Final Thoughts

I am very suprised to find myself still in first place after 6 weeks. I should get smashed by Munchers next week, but it isn't hopeless. If I can pull off the upset at home, I will have to give serious consideration to trying to win the league by spending money on smaller upgrades then waiting until the offseason for a major overall.

FOFC Cup News

The groups and seedings have been announced for the annual FOFC cup. Thanks to a strong performance in the win over CC's Dragons, the Saints own a one seed in the group, and are 16th overall. In the chat, I suggested to Havok that we could end up in the same group as the 16th and 17th seeds. I was one off, the Misfitz (still don't know if that spelling is intentional or a typo :P )are 15th and we took 16th.

Group 16

16 South Bay Saints Masked 72176 0 USA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Rochester Roosters dacman 71938 0 USA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
48 Averill Park Mercury RPI-Fan 8489 0 USA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
49 BZH Celtics FC BreizhManu 177241 0 France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

I know nothing about any of the teams.

Intentional!! Z is cooler then S :)

Got the reply in under an hour, should have taken the under :)

Mazked, owner of the Zouth Bay Zaintz

Market report

I woke this morning and was shocked to discover that a massive bidding war had erupted for Mikey Pham (19yo, solid stamina, passable PM, inad defense), and he sold for $110,000 (over twice HAMs estimate). Pham has a very high value for a passable PM (80K in weak form) so I suspect people thought he was close to solid. Well he just popped, so they are in for a suprise.

My youth pull from this weak, Dennis Lancaster (18yo, pass def, inad wing, value 72K) got a 50K raise while I was flying home for Christmas. Like Pham, his current bid of 90K, is about twice HAMs estimate.

And just yesterday I was hoping I would get 100K for the two of them combined.

A little message from Alf Trickers returning from their USA trip to South Bay saints country

The weather was nice, the trip well worth it financially ($13K revenue vs $6K travel expenses) and we got spanked 5-0 by South Bay Saints B squad ;). At least it was an injury free game !

Good luck for promotion this year !

International Friendly

This week we hosted the Alf Trickers who are currently in 4th place in division III in France. New B-team forward Zvonko Andric and his world class set piece made his debut in the match.

Match Report

Trickers had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially in the 15:th minute when Luís Manjón came up alone against Enrique Lastra who managed a block. Man, what a shot by Charles Montgomery! Firing from 35 yards he didn't give the enemy goalie a chance and it was 1 - 0. Alain Bounyavong almost scored an equalising goal for Trickers in the 36:th minute, but Enrique Lastra made an excellent save, tipping the awkwardly curled shot past the post. Trickers seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. In the 41st minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Zvonko Andric dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Saints. The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 0. Saints held the ball, with a clear 68 percent possession rate.

Trickers -coach had an extra briefing during the break, and after that his players looked a lot more organized. The visitors got a chance of pulling one back in the 58:th minute, due to a defensive blunder leaving Henke Johansson completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side´s keeper. A bit later, a magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Saints´s Myles Bloom putting the lead up to 3 - 0. In the 67:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Eduard Alberti Rovira dashed through, knocking home 4 - 0 for Saints. The structure of the game started to change as Saints decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. With 81 minutes played Yki Hyypiä could have brought this one home for Saints, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high. In the 82nd minute Trickerss Horst Hoffmann received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. The home sides Zvonko Andric twisted a free kick home in the 84:th minute, putting Saints ahead 5 - 0. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Saints, with an impressive 64 percent possession of the ball.

Saints´s best player was Joonas Vahtramäe. Enrique Lastra was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Trickers player was without a doubt Pascal Berthu. Luís Manjón on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 5 - 0.

Summary
Our B-team keeper kept the match close in the first half until our offense got moving. Andric scored two goals in his debut, the second on a free kick. With the help of POE TS, our B-team put up another impressive midfield rating. The crowd of 4,241 is the largest ever for a friendly at Complex Spikes Arena.

Ratings
South Bay Saints

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

NSI = 59

Alf Trickers

Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: solid
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: formidable
Right Side Attack: wretched
Central Attack: poor
Left Side Attack: poor

NSI = 45

Individual Notes

Goals:
Zvonko Andric, 2
Charles Montgomery, 1
Myles Bloom, 1
Eduard Alberti Rovira , 1

Cards:
None

Injuries:
None

Stars
1.5 GK Enrique Lastra

2.0 WB Alan Noel (def)
2.5 CD Yki Hyppia
2.5 WB Teuvo Kaurismaki

3.0 W Charles Montgomery (off)
3.5 IM Joonas Vahtramae (def)
2.5 IM Ryszard Laguna
2.5 IM Carlton Blakely (off)
2.5 W Myles Bloom (off)

2.5 Eduard Alberti Rovira
1.5 Zvonko Andric


Around IV.31
Our opponent in league play, second place Number Munchers, was eliminated from the cup and lost both his starting central defender and keeper with +1 injuries. His defender should play this weekend; however, his 31 year old keeper may not.

The Terps advanced by defeating the Avengers from II.4, 4-3.

Training: Week 7

Pops: One biggie, one suprise

Dani Mário Araújo
241 000 US$, 21 years, solid form
Has poor experience and weak leadership abilities

Stamina: excellent Keeper: disastrous
Playmaking: formidable Passing: poor
Winger: wretched Defending: poor
Scoring: poor Set Pieces: poor


Myles Bloom
107 000 US$, 19 years, inadequate form
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities [Unpredictable]

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

Time to make the big decision - sell Araujo, or keep him for 10 weeks to pop him to outstanding. Today I am leaning towards keeping him for one more level. Without any secondaries, I just don't think he will bring in enough cash to really help out the team right now. I may put him up for 900K or so and see if someone takes him since he is in solid form and has excellent stamina.

Bloom is a B-team winger.

Form: Forward Joe Lond has dropped to poor form effectively killing and thoughts of winning the series. With Tony Spicer injured and Clark Merritt suspended, the team has little hope for generating any offense against second place Number Munchers. I will probably start Teuvo Kaurismaki in place of Merritt this weekend instead of the more talented Charles Montgomery. I will probably loose and I need to get future coach Teuvo's experience up.

Weekly Update

Economy

Thanks to some very generous bidders over the last few weeks, the Saints have the most cash ever.

Cash funds: 588 574 US$ (539 172) US$

We have a home match tomorrow against the second place team and our supporters are high on life. Unfortunately it is raining, but we should still see a large crowd.

Youth Pull

Adan Roth
45 000 US$, 19 years, passable form
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities

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

Timely pull this week. One of my starters is out with an injury, and two others are in poor form (including that new set piece god). Roth will start tomorrow. I'll probably try to sell him for a high price. If he fails to sell, I'll keep him around until I purchase a formidable next season (unless I find more cash fast). Since he is already 19, he will not loose much value if I hold him for a few weeks.

Quick Preview

Tomorrow the first place Saints host the second place Number Munchers. Munchers demoted from III at the end of last season and features a powerful offense (mythical central attack). There defense is vulnerable and I should control possession. They will also be without their top keeper who is injured +1. Unfortunately, it will be tough for the Saints to take advantage. My second forward, Tony Spicer, is injured and Joe Lond and Andric (WC set pieces) are in poor form. I will actually start my youth pull from this week at forward. And I thought I had reached the point where youth pulls could no longer step into the starting lineup. And perhaps the biggest loss is Clark Merritt, who is suspended.

Prediction: 4-2 loss

Week 7: League Match

After six weeks, the Saints sit in first place in division IV.31. Our opponent this week, Number Munchers, are in second with the same point total but a worse differential. As already mentioned, Munchers are without their top keeper, but we are without our offense.

The Saints played it normal using a conventional symetric 3-5-2. I decided not to counter their magical central attack with two central defenders. It ould not boost my defense enough to matter much, and would create a huge hole on the wing. My hope is to basically stop all their wing attacks, and concede anything through the middle. Also by playing it normal, I expected a nice advantage in possession.

Five minutes in, Charles Montgomery had the games first chance but couldn't score, however, Munchers made good on their opportunity from the left wing 10 minutes in. The Saints fought on despite the early deficit, and had a great chance in the 17th minute but came up short. Recent youth pull Adan Roth, however came through in the 21st minute to tie the game up. Munchers answered immediately with another goal though and took a 2-1 halftime lead.

In the opening minutes of the second half, we had two great chances but neither resulted in a goal. As in the first half, all our chances were immediately followed by successful ones by them. 10 minutes in and the Saints were down 3-1. We never had another chance and they got one more.

Final: Saints 1 - Munchers 4

Ratings

South Bay Saints

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

NSI = 77

Number Munchers
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: excellent
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: weak
Right Side Attack: brilliant
Central Attack: magical
Left Side Attack: outstanding

NSI = 82

I probably should not have one, but the Saints certainly should have scored more than 1 goal. Had I been able to come up with any attack, this might have been a much better match.

Individual Notes

Goals:
Adan Roth, 1 (1) * first career goal

Cards:
None

Injuries:
None

Stars
3.5 Joseph Lassiter

3.5 Matt Keyesj
3.5 Clifton Campbell
3.0 Carlos Saul Tevez

3.5 Jef Tadie
3.5 Eber Basoa Rivas
3.5 Joonas Vahtramae
3.5 Dani Marie Araujo
3.0 Charles Montgomery

2.5 Adan Roth
2.0 Joe Lond


Final Thoughts

Next week we face Munchers again on the road. Tony Spicer will likely still be injured, so I will face a tough choice. Play him bruised and hope he doesn't get a further injury or play a lesser player. I can't afford to go normal again versus the Munchers. I will PIC, and play a winger towards the middle to recoup some of the lost midfield. I may press as well to try and keep the score down.

FOFC Cup: Group Play, Round 1

For the first round, we traveled to France to take on BreizManu's BZH Celtic's FC.

BZH Celtics FC - South Bay Saints 2 - 4

Date: 12/31/2003 at 15:00
MatchID: 13530841
Arena: An Infern
Crowd: 2113


Fairly good weather for football had drawn a crowd of 2113 to An Infern. Celtics started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. They fielded: Juppin - Wahl, Kaiklem, Bonin au Crillon, Albaret - Yu-Hong, Barlagen, Cazeneuve, Simanjuntak - Yehuda, Medgyesi.

Saints tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Lastra - Noel, Hyypiä, Kaurismäki - Bloom, Popa, Laguna, Blakely, Merritt - Alberti Rovira, Andric.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Celtics, and they seem solid at it. 5 minutes into the game a free kick combination hooked into the box almost resulted in the home team taking the lead, but the last header went wide. The terraces were silenced in the 12th minute as Saints´s Zvonko Andric put the guests ahead 0 - 1, following an attack from the right. Saints came close to extending their lead as Zvonko Andric delivered a long range shot from the right but the angle was too sharp, and the shot hit the side of the goal. In the 30:th minute Saintss Toader Popa received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Due to a severely mistimed tackle,Daniel Wahl spent some time on the grass writhing in agony before he could get up and continue the game. 36 minutes into the game, Manor Yehuda finished off a left wing counter attack, scoring 1 - 1 for Celtics. Halftime score was 1 - 1. Saints held the ball, with a clear 74 percent possession rate.

In the 53rd minute the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending and Eduard Alberti Rovira put the ball away for 1 - 2. After 65 minutes of play Edward Barlagen equalised for Celtics after an elegant attack from the right. In the 72nd minute the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending and Teuvo Kaurismäki put the ball away for 2 - 3. Myles Bloom was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the enemy box - Zvonko Andric managed to kick one of them into 2 - 4 in the 75:th minute. After 76 minutes of game time Eduard Alberti Rovira received an excellent opportunity to add to the visitors lead, clipping a volley hooked in from the right, but Jean-Jacques Juppin was in the right place, tipping the ball to a corner. Saints held the ball, with a clear 76 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Celtics player was without a doubt Renátó Medgyesi. Edward Barlagen on the other hand, had a terrible day. Saints´s best player was Toader Popa. Zvonko Andric on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 2 - 4.

Ratings

BZH Celtics FC

Midfield: wretched
Right Side Defence: passable
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: solid
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: solid
Left Side Attack: passable

NSI = 43

South Bay Saints
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: inadequate
Central Defence: passable
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: excellent

NSI = 57

Probably shouldn't have been as close as it was.

Individual Notes
Goals:
Zvonko Andric, 2
Eduard Alberti Rovira, 1
Teuvo Kaurismäki, 1

Cards:
Toader Popa, yellow

Injuries:
None

Stars
1.5 Enrique Lastra

2.5 Alan Noel
2.5 Yki Hyppia
2.5 Teuvo Kaurismaki

2.5 Myles Bloom
2.5 Carlton Blakely
2.5 Ryszard Laguna
3.5 Toader Popa
3.0 Clark Merritt

1.5 Zvonko Andric
2.5 Eduard Alberti Rovira

Training

Charles Montgomery
208 000 US$, 20 years, passable form
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities [Quick]

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

Charles was a product of our youth squad and will be going on the market tomorrow.

Form: +5/-4
Notable: Keeper Lassiter up to excellent, Joe Lond stuck on poor, Andric down to wretched. Offense still in abysmal form.

Charles Montgomery is on sale for 250K. For those who desire quick wingers, take a look.

hhhmmmmm quick wingers.....

Weekly Update

Youth Pull
John Wofford (22761752)
19 years, passable form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is temperamental and dishonest.
Has disastrous experience and poor leadership abilities.

Speciality: Powerful

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 50 000 US$
Wage: 760 US$/week
Owner: South Bay Saints
Warnings: 0


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

Yet another okay pull. Too bad he is 19. I'll list him with a reasonable starting bid. If he fails to sell, I'll train him in Montgomery's vacated winger slot until he hits passable. With that value though, it could be awhile.


Economy

Cash funds: 725 678 US$ (676 196) US$

The teams continues to slowly build wealth. With Montgomery and Wofford's sales this week, I should end the weak just shy of $1M - still well short of an outstanding goalie (or formidable forward).

P.S. Somebody bid on Montgomery - he only has one so far. :)

I have Montgomery bookmarked, but i doubt i'll be able to buy him with how expense formidable goalie's are at the moment :(

Week 8

They MOTSed, we PICed.

They killed us last week at our place when we played normal.

Oh, yeah they had a utopian central attack.

Needless to say, the Saints are no where near first place anymore.

Maybe I'll elaborate more on this match later.

WOW!!!

Charles Montgomery (13508111)
20 years, passable form, healthy
I speak US English!


A controversial person who is balanced and honest.
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities.


Speciality: Quick

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 208 000 US$
Wage: 1 380 US$/week
Owner: South Bay Saints
Warnings: 0


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

Career Goals: 1
Career Hattricks: 0
League goals this season: 1
Cup goals this season: 0
TRANSFER LISTED

Transfer list: Winger

Deadline: 1/5/2004 at 19:59

Asking price: 250 000 US$


Highest bid:
672 000 US$ by AC Källstorpsmo
Bidding is finished!


AC Jeejee and AC Källstorpsmo just kept going back and forth for about 25 minutes this morning. I couldn't believe they bid Montgomery up past 400K. And then they just kept going....

AC Källstorpsmo really wanted Montgomery. Last night, while the bidding was still low, he bumped the price up twice by 50K.

Now should I ht-mail AC JeeJee and tell him he lucked out by getting outbid and that I popped both Montgomery's winger and playmaking skills so he is low at both!!!

And one final note, suddenly I am very rich.

Cash funds: 725 678 US$ (1 293 586) US$

Charles Manuel (High Excellent striker) has been informed of the negotiations with South Bay. He has also been told that Masked doesn't appear very interested:).

Charles specifically asked me to play this Wednesday to show Masked what he's missing out on.:D

Maybe they mistook that 20 for a 17. Nice one.

Actually, I'd imagine they really overestimated the value of him having excellent stamina. People tend to get loose pockets around that rating on the midfield or wing.

SI

That was probably part of it. Well rounded wingers are pretty rare at these skill levels. Occasionally you will see a solid/solid youth pull but they typically have poor stamina. Very few young guys with these skills as well. I guess I just found a nice little niche. I have another player who is actually a bit better than Montgomery, but I will keep him for another season.

Currently, I'm shopping around for a replacement winger (sol or exc wing, inad PM) and a formidable scoring (weak passing). No luck so far.

Hopefully, I'll get someone to play in the FOFC cup tomorrow ;)

Team News

Saints management continues to be thwarted in their efforts to acquire a formidable forward. I have watched several with only weak passing soar past 1.3M.

This weeks youth pull, John Wofford (19yo inad PM, inad pass, pass Def) sold for $53,000.

FOFC Cup: Group Play Round 2

The Saints hosted RPI-Fan's Averill Park Mercury yesterday. After one week, the Saints were in second place and Mercury in last in group 16.

Forward Joe Lond gets a rare B-team start as he remains in poor form and is getting outplayed by a passable youth pull. IM Toader Popa got slotted to the B-team as well this week, since he form has dropped all the way to solid while Joonas Varhtramae remained in excellent. At home, the Saints should have a huge advantage in possession, however, after two rough losses our confidence is shot so converting our chances could be tough.

Mercury plays a 3-4-3 and has had a very busy week acquiring a new keeper and midfielder. I was not really sure what team they would put out this week.

Match Report

The 1137 spectators at Complex Spikes Arena were in for an afternoon of sunshine. Saints had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Lastra - Noel, Hyypiä, Häggerberg - Bloom, Popa, Laguna, Blakely, Kaurismäki - Lond, Andric.

Averill had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. They fielded: Abendaño - Duicu, Faust, España - Mackenback, Gunnarsson, Garrett, Scales - Randazzo, Danielsen, Brewer.

Toader Popa behaved like an inexperienced youth player in the 4:th minute as he gave the ball away to an opponent. Lucky for him though, there was no goal. A foul after 22 minutes resulted in a free kick. Zvonko Andric cannonballed it, giving the hometeam the lead 1 to 0. Saints put themselves up 2 - 0 when Zvonko Andric broke through on the right, leaving the entire defensive box behind him. By now Saints were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead. In the 31st minute Saints´s Joe Lond tried to nail the coffin shut, but the shot rebounded off the bar to fall behind the net. Almost all the way down to the corner flag Teuvo Kaurismäki somehow managed to get a perfect pass into the middle, impossible to miss for Zvonko Andric who struck for 3 - 0. By then Zvonko Andric was a three time scorer - a hat trick! The teams went for a half-time break at 3 - 0. Saints held the ball, with a clear 66 percent possession rate.

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 Saints. However, Claudio Abendaño made a spectacular save. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Saints, with an impressive 72 percent possession of the ball.

Most important Saints player was Toader Popa. Niklas Häggerberg on the other hand, had a terrible day. Averill´s best player was Claudio Abendaño. However, Antonio España made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 0.


Ratings

South Bay Saints (3-5-2)

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

NSI = 57

Averill Park Mercury (3-4-3)

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

NSI = 51

At home playing it normal, my midfield is tough to beat. The teams otherwise matched up well, but the Saints' simply never allowed Mercury's forwards to get involved. Someday, my team may use a real defense and try and stop any attacks instead of merely hoping to prevent them.

Individual Notes
Goals:
Zvonko Andric, 3

Cards:
None

Injuries:
None

Stars
1.5 GK Enrique Lastra

2.5 WB Alan Noel
3.0 CD Yki Hyypia (Exp is great!)
0.5 WB Niklas Haggerberg (at least he is a nice guy)

3.0 OW Myles Bloom **Personal Best**
3.0 EIM Ryzard Laguna (can't wait until his stamina improves)
3.5 OIM Toader Popa
2.5 NIM Carlton Blakely
2.5 OW Teuvo "I'm not going to pop in experience" Kaurismaki

2.0 F Joe "form blows" Lond
1.5 F Zvonko "set peices god" Andric

Notes

With the win and BZH's loss, the Saints will advance to the round of 32. Next week match against 2nd seed (17th overall) Rochester Roosters, will determine the group championship. At home, I expect another big advantage in possession and will base my strategy (or lack thereof) on it.

Myles Bloom has slowly climbed to passable form and is now performing admirably as a backup wing. Bloom was bought late last season to as insurance in case anything every happened to Clark Merritt. However, since he popped in PM pretty quick, is still pretty young, and is near excellent PM, he has become an intriguing training prospect. I'll definately train him up to excellent winger, inad PM, but might hold on to him for an extra season to get him cash in big when he hits passable PM.

Zvonko Andric, world class set pieces, has scored 7 goals in three games, two on set peices, since joining the team a few weeks ago.

Breaking News!!!

A massive shake up to the Saints lineup occured today when freespending GM Masked went to Thailand looking ot solve the teams offensive woes. In a seedy bar in Bangkok, he picked up a youngster named Robin who has beautiful blue eyes and blond hair and enough of this...


Robin Drakborn (13331862)
19 years, excellent form, healthy
A pleasant guy who is tranquil and honest.
Has wretched experience and inadequate leadership abilities.

Nationality: Sverige
Assessed value: 188 000 US$
Wage: 1 512 US$/week including 20% Bonus
Owner: South Bay Saints
Warnings: 0


Stamina: poor Goaltending: disastrous
Playmaking: poor Passing: weak
Winger: weak Defending: wretched
Scoring: formidable Set Pieces: wretched

I spend the last several days bidding on formidable scorers with poor-inadequate passing only to watch the bids rise above $1.3M. Earlier today, I nearly went for a poor passing in Ireland (also Swedish) who ended up going for 1.187M despite having a read card, and an 18yo weak passer in Canada who was American but in poor form who went for $1.M.

I got Robin for $1.071M which seems like a decent buy. I particularly like the excellent form. While only temporary, it should really help the team out while second forward, Joe Lond, recovers from poor form. Tony Spicer, an original Saints (Spike actually I guess), will remain the starter in the meantime. I will probably keep Tony Spicer on the B-team (solid sco, inad pass, inad exp) as insurance and perhaps for a bit of sentimental reasons. Tony would likely command in excess of 200K on the market though. However, Adan Roth, a timely youth pull the week after Tony Spicer got injured, will go on the market as soon as Hattrick is back up (and yes I am a bit worried right now that I will lose my buy).

Incidently, Robin is my first Swedish player.


Financially, the team is still in pretty good shape heading into a home match this weekend.

Cash funds: 725 678 US$ (266 718) US$

COPYCAT!!!! same forward , same skills, same price as mine!!! :)

good buy man... congratz!

Training

We had two pops this week. One was expected (and overdue), the other was a complete suprise. The two other pops we were expecting (or hoping for) did not occur.

Clark Merritt finally popped to inadequate PM to go along with his exc wing skill.

and....

new forward Robin Drakborn popped to weak playmaking!!!! :rolleyes:


Form: +6/-5

Joe Lond jumped from poor to inadequate form!!!
However, Tony Spicer dropped to inadequate form and had a huge loss in value. He will probably head to the bench this weekend.

Top IM Eber Basoa Rivas dropped to inadequate form, while 4th IM Toader Popa jumped back to excellent after a brief drop to passable. Eber is a full level of PM better than Popa, but Popa has a nice secondary (inadequate passing). Tough choice on who to start, but I am leaning towards Popa.

Also seing a jump in form is world class set piece specialist Zvonko Andric who will cause dacman problems on Wednesday.

The final notable form move was defender Matt Keyesj. Matt has been in excellent form for 6 consecutive weeks. He dropped to solid this evening.

Next week, both Carlton Blakely and Joonas Vahtramae will pop in PM.


Team Notes

Currently, I do not have a trainee to play in the final winger slot. I would like to grab someone to replace Jef Tadie someday and am looking for an 18yo excellent winger with inad passing. As it is starting to get a bit late in the season, and I have some other pressing needs (coach), I am considering holding off until early next season when I will have some substantial income (2 outstanding PMs). In the meantime I can pick up a cheap trainee (passable W, inad PM) and hope to make an easy 40K. However, I am considering trying a 3-4-3 once a week to further enhance my offense. Currently I am not relying heavily on one of my wingers to help with posession (Merritt). I could play Merritt in friendlies and Tadie (solid wing, solid PM, inad pass) in league matches. I would certainly lose a little on Merritts wing, but gain in the center and opposite wing. I will probably try a 3-4-3 against dacman in the FOFC cup to get my experience up.

The third forward could be either Tony Spicer or Zvonko Andric. Tony would add considerably to the attack, while Andric has his world class set pieces.

Against almost every team in my division, I would either be equal or have an advantage in midfield with a 3-4-3. Anyone have any thoughts? Am I crazy to try this and give up 1/2 a training slot?

i dont think the 1/2 a training slot is a huge deal really and maybe the 3-4-3 is the edge you need against the tough defensive team with a good midfield like The Terps when you play them at home in a couple weeks. It all depends on form also, if you don't have a third forward in decent form then i wouldn't try it.

Also, if you plan on using it in a league game make sure you play it first in a friendly or 2 so you get experiance in the formation. I've thought about trying the 3-4-3 sometimes, but with my number 2 forward in poor form, from coming off a injury its not a good idea for me right now.

That's one of the teams I was thinking about. In three matches against them I am down by a total score of 4-2. They have an advantage in midfield, and a great defense, but no attack. Two goals against them should ensure at least a point.



I set my lineup for wednesday to be a 3-4-3. Unless I get an excellent winger youth pull this weekend, I'll try to run up the score on poor dacman.

Probably, my most critical match of the second half is the following week against CC's Dragons. Playing a 3-4-3 in a friendly might get his attention. Maybe leave a wing exposed for Merritt?

Weekly Update

Youth Pull

After 5 consecutive weeks of youth pulls selling, that streak will end this week.

Neil Dowdy (23061587)
18 years, passable form, healthy
A controversial person who is temperamental and honest.
Has disastrous experience and inadequate leadership abilities.


Speciality: Unpredictable

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 4 000 US$
Wage: 520 US$/week
Owner: South Bay Saints
Warnings: 0


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


Dowdy is my second pull ever (exc squad for about a season now) with a solid or better skill. Both have been in set pieces with no primary skill higher than weak.


Economic Update

Cash funds: 266 718 US$ (222 099) US$
Sponsors: dancing in the streets
Supporter Club: 1474 members
Supporters: satisfied







This week

Revenue                 Expenses 

Crowd 0                 Arena 20 800 

Sponsors 83 985      Wages 34 804 

Financial 0              Interest 0 

Temporary 0           Temporary 2 000 

                          Staff 51 000 

                         Youth squad 20 000 

 

Total revenue 83 985    

Total expenses 128 604 

Expected income/loss -44 619  

 

 

Last week

 

Revenue                Expenses 

Crowd 3 723          Arena 20 800 

Sponsors 83 490     Wages 34 672 

Financial 0             Interest 0 

Temporary 667 300 Temporary 1 082 500 

                        Staff 55 500 

                        Youth squad 20 000 

Total revenue 754 513    

Total expenses 1 213 472 

Last week´s income/loss -458 960 

 

We lost a lot of money last week :)

Week 9 League Match

Thunderchickens - South Bay Saints

IV.31
4. 15 South Bay Saints
6. 8 Thunderchickens

Week 6: Saints 4 - Thundechickens 0

Thunderchickens has the second best offense in the series, but his midfield has disappereared this season. The Saints will employ an offense heavy 3-5-2, and attempt to defeat their attack by not letting them have the ball. I was a bit worried about this match, becuase (1) confidence is low, (2) Thunderchickens is healthy, (3) my solid def, pass winger wingback is suspended, and (4) my second striker is in inadequate form. However, if Thunderchickens does not improve from last week, I should win.

Most importantly, this match is the debut of Robin Drakborn a formidable scorer acquired for $1.071M earlier in the week!

Match Report

First Half

Toader Popa received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly, probably out of lack of experience, in the 26:th minute and almost caused an opponent to score.

Matt Keyesj gave his Saints the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post.

In the 35:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Robin Drakborn dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Saints. (My new million dollar forward!!)

A bit later Thunderchickens´s Daniel Drakby easily reduced to 2 - 1 after a misunderstanding in the home sides central defense line. (Same minute, didn't even get a chance to enjoy the 2-0 lead)

The referee showed Saintss Yki Hyypiä the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.

Thunderchickens were forced to a substitution as Dariusz Wozniak couldn´t continue playing due to the rough treatment, forcing Anders Ångwald to come in from the sidelines. (Out for 6 weeks)

The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 1. Saints held the ball, with a clear 71 percent possession rate.

Second Half

In the 48:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Joe Lond dashed through, knocking home 3 - 1 for Saints.

The referee showed Saintss Joe Lond the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.

A bit later, a magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Saints´s Robin Drakborn putting the lead up to 4 - 1.

A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 69 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Saints. However, Ulf Ramtorp made a spectacular save.

In the 73rd minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Robin Drakborn dashed through, knocking home 5 - 1 for Saints. By thenRobin Drakborn was a three time scorer - a hat trick!

A speedy charge from the left side of the field put Saints lead up with 6 - 1. Joe Lond finished that one off competently, firing from an acute angle. The structure of the game started to change as Saints decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone.

The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Saints, with an impressive 73 percent possession of the ball.


Ratings


South Bay Saints

Team Attitude: Play it Cool
Tactic: Normal

Midfield: excellent
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: formidable
Right Side Attack: outstanding
Central Attack: formidable
Left Side Attack: formidable

NSI = 78

Thunderchickens

Tactic: Normal

Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: outstanding
Central Defence: formidable
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: supernatural
Central Attack: titanic
Left Side Attack: excellent

NSI = 76

Stars

3.5 GK Joseph Lassiter

3.5 WB Matt Keyesj
4.0 CD Clifton Campbell
3.0 WB Yki Hyypia

3.5 OW Clark Merritt
4.0 OIM Toader Popa *** Personal Best, Team record for IM ***
3.5 NIM Dani Mario Araujo
3.5 EIM Joonas Vahtramae
3.5 OW Jef Tadie

3.5 F Robin Drakborn
2.5 F Joe Lond

*** Team record, 37.5 stars ***


Individual Notes

Goals: (season total, IV.31 only)
Robin Drakborn, 3 (3)
Joe Lond, 2 (8)
Matt Keyesj, 1 (1)

Cards: (total)
Joe Lond, yellow (1)
Yki Hyypia, yellow (1)

Injuries:
None for me
+6 to Thunderchickens top IM

Series IV.31

.	Team	Goals	Points
1	Number Munchers	40-19	21
2	Terps	24-9	20
3	CC's Dragons	32-13	18
4	South Bay Saints	28-14	18
5	Los Chixi Dix	19-16	16
6	Thunderchickens	16-28	8
7	Terps	9-24	4
8	Terps	0-45	0

Week 9 fixtures

Wisconsin Legend - CC's Dragons 1 - 4
Wisconsin would be a threat with their formidable counterattack if they could keep close in possession. Dragons had an excellent midfield on the road coming of to easy walkover wins setting up a huge match against the Saints next week.

Fraser Fire - Terps 0 - 5
Walkover

Los Chixi Dix - Number Munchers 4 - 3
Clearly the biggest shock of the season in IV.31. Munchers came out flat after destroying me the previous two weeks. The lost a 4 star IM to a red card and Los Chixi came back from a 2 goal deficit to win, and leave the entire series up in the air. Five points now seperates 1st and 5th place.

Final Thoughts

This was a huge win for the Saints coming off the two demolarizing losses to Number Munchers. Our team spirit, confidence, supporters, and sponsers are all back to their highest levels. After a couple of rough weeks, team form, health, and cards are back in good shape. Next week our season could be on the line against CC's Dragons. A win and we can get back in the race for second place and maybe even first.

Robin Drakborn made a huge impact in his first game with the Saints. We had our best attack ratings ever and he contributed three goals in the easy win. Despite missing one defensive starter, the team also had their second best defensive ratings ever (best was a 4-5-1, defensive coach). Lost in the frenzy surrounding Drakborn's debut, offensive IM Toader Popa had his best game ever with 4 stars. Despite being a 4th IM in recent weeks, Popa becomes the first Saint IM to reach 4 stars, and should lead the team for several seasons. His inadequate passing contributed strongly to the outstanding wing and formidable central attacks. Now if only winger Clark Merritt was not in inadequate form!

NSI = 54

Individual Notes

Goals:
Zvonko Andric, 2 (both set piece events!!)
Eber Basoa Rivas, 1
Tony Spicer, 1
Ryzard Laguna, 1

Stars

1.5 GK Enrique Lastra

2.5 WB Alan Noel
3.0 Carlos Saul Tevez (suspended for league match)
2.5 Teuvo 'no experience pop' Kaurismaki

3.0 OW Myles Bloom ****Personal Best****
3.5 OIM Ryzard Laguna ****Personal Best****
3.5 OIM Eber Basoa 'my inad form got me benched' Rivas
2.5 EIM Carlton Blakely

2.5 EF Eduard Alberti Roivira
2.5 F Tony Spicer
2.0 F Zvonko Andric

Ryzard's 3.5 stars came as quite a surprise. He is a mid solid PM with passable passable and passable stamina. His original PM pop came at what I felt was a high value so I hope he may have high passable passing. This performance certainly supports that hypothesis.


Final thoughts
Confusion certainly caused us some problems today, but everytime they scored we immediately answered. The 3-4-3 worked out better than I expected, but some of that was certainly due to the steller performance of Ryzard. Unless a godly winger finds its way into our line up, I'll play a 3-4-3 again next week in preperation for the Terps in 2 weeks.

Which three forwards should I use for league play? Drakborn and Lond are no brainers, but should it be Tony Spicer (solid scoring, inad passing) or Zvonko Andric (passable scoring, world class set pieces)? I will probably be guided by their form.

The new WYSIWYG editor really made formatting easy!

Strange update - I checked about 04:00 HT time and was irritated that one of the two pops that I was expecting did not occur. After working out and returning at at about 04:35, the second pop had occured.

The Saints had a good week of practice seeing two of our young stars pop this week.

Joonas Vahtramäe
338 000 US$, 19 years, excellent form
Has wretched experience and poor leadership abilities [Unpredictable]

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

Carlton Blakely
163 000 US$, 18 years, inadequate form
Has disastrous experience and weak leadership abilities

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

Joonas has been a regular in the starting lineup despite only having solid stamina. I have lost at 1% in possession going from the first to the second half. Carlton Blakely (the one who didn't pop at first) is currently the teams 6th midfield. After the sale of the old guys at the end of the season, he'll move up to 4th and get an occassional start when in great form.



Form
Team: +8, -6
Starters: +2, -2
CD Clifton Campbell returned to excellent, and F Tony Spicer is back to passable. Both WB Carlos Saul Tevez and W Jef Tadie dropped from solid to passable.

World Class Set Piece specialist Zvonko Andric jumped 2 levels to passable and is looking like he would make a very interesting 3rd forward in a 3-4-3 next week.

Hidden behind a rather average looking form update is some very good news, only 3 players lost value this week. Jef Tadie gained more value from his training than he lost from his form, while two of the other form drops were to my coach and clown. Other than Tevez value drop, the only starters who did not see their value go up were GK Joseph Lassiter and F Robin Drakborn. They remain stuck at excellent form.

My starting lineup this week will have 5 players in excellent form, 2 solid, 3 passables. For the final spot I have to choose between Myles Bloom (solid form) and Clark Merritt (inadequate form). Clark is one level higher in each of playmaking, winger, and passing so I am leaning towards him.

One piece of bad news from earlier in the weak is my coach dropped from passable to inadequate leadership.

Fixture 21.10

CC's Dragons - South Bay Saints

The Saints enter the match in fourth place in the IV.31 tied in points with the 3rd place Dragons. We defeated them easily several weeks ago whe we were at home, but they are coming off their best match of the season, so we may need some luck to pull this one off.

Match Report
A questionable penalty in the 5:th minute gave the home side the lead 1 - 0. The visitors goaltender didn´t stand a chance as Gough Fitter knocked the ball home.

Saints got a chance to level the score as Robin Drakborn suddenly found himself free with the goaltender but the finishing shot hit the bar.

After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, Saints´s Jef Tadié got himself booked.

In the 28:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Ricky Pettit dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Dragons.

The teams went for a half-time break at 2 - 0. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Dragons, with an impressive 53 percent possession of the ball.

A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 64 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Dragons. However, Joseph Lassiter made a spectacular save.

Robin Drakborn had a couple of good opportunities to reply, but the home team´s goaltender Gil Bauer just wouldn´t surrender.

In the games 90:th minute Saints´s Clark Merritt fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Clark Merritt for taking a dive.

90 minutes into the game Dragons were awarded a penalty that Gough Fitter turned into 3 - 0 without a problem.

After 90 minutes Dragonss Ricky Pettit had to be carried off on a stretcher in agony. ErasmoGil came in instead of him.

The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Dragons, with an impressive 54 percent possession of the ball.

Ratings

CC's Dragons Team Attitude: (Hidden) Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: outstanding Right Side Defence: outstanding Central Defence: outstanding Left Side Defence: passable Right Side Attack: formidable Central Attack: excellent Left Side Attack: formidable NSI = 82, best ever

South Bay Saints Team Attitude: Normal Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: excellent Right Side Defence: excellent Central Defence: formidable Left Side Defence: formidable Right Side Attack: formidable Central Attack: excellent Left Side Attack: outstanding

NSI = 77

I am not suprised we lost, but felt it should have been a much closer game. The Saint's were never really in it, and the ref's just killed us.

Stars
3.5 GK Joseph Lassiter

3.5 WB Matt Keyesj
4.0 CD Clifton Campbell
3.0 WB Carlos Saul Tevez

3.5 OW Jef Tadie
4.0 DIM Joonas Vahtramae ***Personal Best***
3.5 EIM Dani Mario Araujo
4.0 OIM Toader Popa
3.5 OW Clark Merritt

3.5 F Robin Drakborn
2.5 F Joe Lond



This loss drops me to fifth place in the series and in danger of facing a qualifier. Odds are we would win, but a few weeks ago I looked to have a shot at winning the series. With 4 games left to play, I have secured no worse than a fifth place finish.

FOFC Cup Round of 32
South Bay Saints - Fighting Crawfish

After winning group 16, the Saints secured the number 4 seed in the tournament phase of the cup and host one of the best known FOFC hattrick teams. Up until this season, the Crawfish were far better known for the antics of their owner than their play on the field. However, after an upset of Drunk&Disorderly in the US Open cup, everyone, including myself, became aware of how good a team The Afoci has put together in a relatively short time. However, no Crawfish can come into New Orleans and expect to escape.

Match Report

Zvonko Andric gave his Saints the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post.

With 17 minutes played Zvonko Andric could have brought this one home for Saints, had his hooked ball gone in, but it went just a bit too high.
Nomally I would think the two goal lead in agame with over 70 minutes left to play would not qualify as "bringing it home", but I guess the match reporter knew what was coming

In the 24:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Yki Hyypiä dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Saints.

Myles Bloom was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the enemy box - Zvonko Andric managed to kick one of them into 3 - 0 in the 25:th minute.

Saints put their lead ahead another goal as Tony Spicer struck home the 4 - 0 goal, after an attack from the left setting him up unmarked with the keeper.

4 - 0 was the half-time score. Saints held the ball, with a clear 62 percent possession rate.

The away team reduced the score to 4 - 1, as Ivar Rannem struck home, set up well by a play from the left in the 48:th minute.

In the 54:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Yki Hyypiä dashed through, knocking home 5 - 1 for Saints. By now Saints were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead.

Yki Hyypiä sailed high, high above the opponents as he headed the 6-1 in after a corner kick after 62 minutes of play. By then Yki Hyypiä was a three time scorer - a hat trick!
Having your central defender get a hattrick is always a good sign

Saints put their lead ahead another goal as Zvonko Andric struck home the 7 - 1 goal, after an attack from the left setting him up unmarked with the keeper. At that, Zvonko Andric was noted down for a hat trick.
Of course following up one player getting a hattrick with another getting one minutes later is better.

Saints seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team.
I am sure the Fighting Crawfish thought the same thing.

73 minutes into the game Saints were awarded a penalty that Zvonko Andric turned into 8 - 1 without a problem.
World Class set piece taker against a keeper who had already allowed 7 goals - not even the HT engine could blow this one.

A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 77 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Saints. However, Tommy Holt made a spectacular save.
I wonder if this was enough to save Holt from the infamous post game rituals of The Afoci

In the 84:th minute Fightings Albert Frahm received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first.

Saints, bringing the final ball possession rate to 64 percent, dominated the battle.


After a very disappointing match in league play, this one was especially fun to watch. In the chat, Ardent was having a great time routing on the Saints and enjoying a platter of boiled crawfish.

Ratings

South Bay Saints Team Attitude: Normal Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: passable Right Side Defence: inadequate Central Defence: passable Left Side Defence: passable Right Side Attack: inadequate Central Attack: formidable Left Side Attack: outstanding NSI = 59

Fighting Crawfish Team Attitude: (Hidden) Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: weak Right Side Defence: excellent Central Defence: solid Left Side Defence: passable Right Side Attack: solid Central Attack: excellent Left Side Attack: excellent

NSI = 56

Although the NSI ratings were close, the Saints clearly matched up better. The Saints' advantage in the midfield prevented the Crawfish from taking advantage of having a better offense than my defense. Regardless, this one shouldn't have ended quite so lopsided.

Stars
2.0 GK Enriqu Lastra

2.5 WB Alan Noel
3.0 CD Yki Hyppia
2.5 WB Teuvo "still no experience" Kaurismaki

2.5 EIM Carlton Blakely
3.0 OIM Eber Basoa Rivas
3.0 OIM Ryszard Laguna
3.0 OW Myles Bloom

2.5 EF Eduard Alberti Rovira
2.5 F Zvonko Andric
3.0 F Tony Spicer

Our experience with the 3-4-3 has increased to solid and will bring it out in league play for the first time this weekend.

Training

No pops this and none are expected for a few more weeks.

The Saints took quite a hit with the form update, but it was not unexpected. Of the 5 starters that were in excellent form last week, 4 dropped. IMs Vahtramae and Popa and F Robin Drakborn all dropped to solid form. CD Clifton Campbell dropped to passable; however, Keeper Joseph Lassiter remains in excellent form. W Jef Tadie popped back up to solid form.

The Saint's team value increased to $4,001,000 to ecclipse the $4M mark for the first time.

Weekly Update

Not much to say - Saints aren't broke, but not wealthy enough to make any moves.

Yet another mediocre youth pull - 18yo inad scoring, poor passing


Interesting note from pursuing Hatstats - based on points and goal differential, the Saints are the highest ranked 5th placed team in division 4. If the season ended today, I would host the lowest ranked division 5 series winner in the qualifier.

League match: at Terps

This is the match I had my eye on when I decided to try out the 3-4-3. Prior to week 11, the Terps were in second place. Their midfield is slightly better than ours, but at home, the Saints should match them. They have a strong defense (avg brilliant) but no attack (avg solid). In three previous matches, the Saints are 1-2 scoring only 2 2 goals, but giving up only 4. They were not going to score many goals on me, so I figured improving my offense at the expense of a bit of midfield would give me a good chance for the win.

match report

Seemingly due to lack of experience, Joonas Vahtramäe needlessly tripped an opponent just outside the penalty area, but the free kick that followed didn't succeed.

Saints created a good opportunity to score in the games 25:th minute when Robin Drakborn`s hooked ball created a scuffle in front of the goal, and the visitors defenders had a hard time clearing the ball.

Dani Mário Araújo of Saints received a yellow card in the 33rd minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour.

After 35 minutes Saints´s Jef Tadié contracted a slight foot injury, but could finish the game.

Halftime score was 0 - 0. Terps, bringing the final ball possession rate to 53 percent, dominated the battle.
Normally when all the events are for your team, that is a good sign.

After 48 minutes Terps put themselves up by 0 - 1 as Martin Stjernbo finished off a strike from the left with a real cannon placed at the far post.
Crap

Some fine manouvering on the left lead to an 56:th minute Terps goal, making it 0 - 2. Delbert Weber was noted down as the scorer.
This wasn't in the script...

Saints reduced the score in the 69:th minute to 1 - 2 when Tony Spicer got the best of a ball floated in from the left.

Martin Stjernbo was, after 70 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors lead with a well placed diving header but home side keeper Joseph Lassiter saved.

Terps, bringing the final ball possession rate to 52 percent, dominated the battle.

Ratings

South Bay Saints Team Attitude: Normal Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: formidable Right Side Defence: excellent Central Defence: excellent Left Side Defence: formidable Right Side Attack: outstanding Central Attack: brilliant Left Side Attack: passable NSI = 79 Terps Team Attitude: (Hidden) Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: formidable Right Side Defence: brilliant Central Defence: outstanding Left Side Defence: brilliant Right Side Attack: excellent Central Attack: solid Left Side Attack: solid NSI = 82

Well, I matched them in the midfield and my offense matched up better against their defense, than their attack against my defense. Shouldn't lose right?

This loss really has put my team in a tough position. I am on the road against the 4th place team next week and trail them by 4 points. My originally plan was to MOTS this game since I have a walkover next week. However, that was contingent on the MOTS securing at least 4th place, but two straight losses have eliminated that possibility. Looks like I will face another qualifier this season. Hopefully, I'll end up with a less formidable opponent this year, so I can actually get the benefit of the extra week of training.

Stars

3.5 GK Jospeh Lassiter

3.5 WB Matt Keyesj
3.5 CD Clifton Campbell
3.0 WB Carlos Saul Tevez

3.0 OW Jef Tadie
3.5 OIM Dani Mario Araujo
3.5 EIM Joonas Vahtramae
3.5 OIM Toader Popa

3.5 F Robin Drakborn
3.0 F Tony Spicer
2.5 F Zvonko Andric, first match with A team, first match not scoring a goal.

FOFC Cup Sweet 16

I got behind last week when I was out of town, so I quickly run through the last week or so.

We hosted Vince's Isla Vista Vandals in the sweet 16 of the FOFC cup.

Match Report

Vandals seemed to prefer attacking in the middle. Saints broke through to the left in the 3rd minute, Alan Noel firing at an acute angle giving the home side a 1 - 0 lead. The referee showed Saintss Eber Basoa Rivas the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Myles Bloom increased Saintss lead to 2 - 0 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right. In a rapid move, Clark Merritt of Saints lost his man, passed the ball to the unmarked Eduard Alberti Rovira who easily hit it home for the 3-0 goal. In the 40:th minute Saints put themselves up 4 - 0. The visitors defenders lost the ball to Joe Lond coming up from the left, who proceeded to cooly round the goaltender and knock the ball home. The structure of the game started to change as Saints decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone. Joe Lond almost managed to score another goal for Saints, but his header was tipped to a corner by the visitors goalie. In the 42nd minute Vandalss Raymond Hyatt received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. A bit later, a magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Saints´s Carlton Blakely putting the lead up to 5 - 0. Halftime score was 5 - 0. The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Saints, with an impressive 74 percent possession of the ball.

Clark Merritt of Saints was able to make an impressive rush past the sluggish Mike Cooper, which resulted in the 6 - 0 goal. A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 70 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Saints. However, Derrick Woodson made a spectacular save. Myles Bloom has the wonderful ability to create chances out of thin air. In the77:th minute he drove a bicycle kick straight past the keeper, resulting in the 7 - 0 goal. In the games 80:th minute, Yki Hyypiä could have extended the lead, but his very hard free kick went just over the bar. Vandals seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. 82 minutes into the game Saints were awarded a penalty that Yki Hyypiä turned into 8 - 0 without a problem. Saintss Ryszard Laguna got himself booked after a foul. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. Yki Hyypiä squirmed himself through the central defense line in the 84:th minute, asserting the lead to 9 - 0. In the 87:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Joe Lond dashed through, knocking home 10 - 0 for Saints. Vandals seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team. Saints held the ball, with a clear 88 percent possession rate.


Notes
I am not sure which is worse - that we scored 10 goals or we missed 2 chances. Well Vince had to expect that he was going to get whipped considering the ratings his team put up.

Ratings

South Bay Saints Team Attitude: Normal Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: solid Right Side Defence: passable Central Defence: passable Left Side Defence: passable Right Side Attack: excellent Central Attack: solid Left Side Attack: outstanding NSI = 64

Isla Vista Vandals Team Attitude: (Hidden) Tactic: Attack in the middle Tactic skill: solid Midfield: wretched Right Side Defence: inadequate Central Defence: passable Left Side Defence: inadequate Right Side Attack: passable Central Attack: passable Left Side Attack: poor

NSI = 37

Solid vs wretched midfield sums this one up. I was not expecting those ratings from him based on, well, that he made it this far in the cup.

Training and weekly updates

No pops and our youth pull sucked.

That was easy.

League match: week 12

Week 12 finds the Saints sitting in 5th place trailing 4th place Los Chixi Dix by 4 points. Coincidently, the Saints go on the road to face Los Chixi this week. In the first meeting, the Saints won easily 3-0, but expect a stiffer challenge this time. For one, our team spirit is down to content and of course we are on the road.

Match Report

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Chixi, and they seem weak at it.
This made me very happy. I was worried they might have a significant midfield advantage.

With clinical precision the cross pass from winger Will Ogle found it's way to Svein Johansen's head, and a screaming header gave Chixi 1 - 0.
This did not make me happy - damn event!

A bit later, a magnificent combination in the middle resulted in Chixi´s Joe Johnson putting the lead up to 2 - 0. By now Chixi were drawing the troops back in order to defend their lead.
At this point I was getting quite worried.

Gerhard Olsson of Chixi received a yellow card in the 14:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour. An indirect free kick in the visitor´s penalty area in the 28:th minute could have resulted in another goal, but Joseph Lassiter got a hand out and tipped the ball over the bar.
They are getting all the chances - sincing a gross miscalculation.

Saintss Clifton Campbell got himself booked after a foul.

Saints managed to reduce a bit later to 2 - 1 as Robin Drakborn finished off a well played combination from the left, carving through the defensive box.
Ah big bucks comes through

The referee showed Saintss Toader Popa the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge.

That Jack Carr 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 Gerhard Olsson who hit it hard into the wide open goal: 3 - 1! 3 - 1 was the half-time score.
Score Saints 1 - Chixi 1, random events 2. The engine had me bent over and, nevermind.

Chixi held the ball, with a clear 52 percent possession rate.
[i]Well at least that counterattack isn't helping them.[i]

A bit later Saints´s Robin Drakborn easily reduced to 3 - 2 after a misunderstanding in the home sides central defense line.

Svein Johansen should probably have put his team up another goal in the 53rd minute, but some great goaltending by Joseph Lassiter kept the visitors in the game.

Clifton Campbell really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal after a corner, but he lost his nerve.

Some brilliant football from the visitors right wing resulted in a 74:th minute levelling of scores as Saintss Tony Spicer equalised to 3 - 3.
Tony gets his first start in quite some time and comes up big.

Chixi will have to do without Joe Johnson for a time due to a bad foot injury. He was substituted by Johan Jansson.

Chixi held the ball, with a clear 53 percent possession rate.

Ratings

Los Chixi Dix Player rating and Team formation Team Attitude: (Hidden) Tactic: Counter-attacks Tactic skill: weak Midfield: excellent Right Side Defence: outstanding Central Defence: formidable Left Side Defence: formidable Right Side Attack: excellent Central Attack: passable Left Side Attack: excellent NSI = 74

South Bay Saints Player rating and Team formation Team Attitude: Normal Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: solid Right Side Defence: excellent Central Defence: excellent Left Side Defence: formidable Right Side Attack: formidable Central Attack: formidable Left Side Attack: outstanding

NSI = 74

I am pretty much locked into 5th place (again) since I was not able to gain any ground on Los Chixi, and they have a very winnable match next week.

Stars

3.5 Joseph Lassiter

3.5 Matt Keyesj
3.5 Clifton Cambell
3.0 Carlos Saul Tevez

3.5 Jef Tadie
3.5 Dani Mario Araujo
3.5 Joonas Vahtramae
3.5 Toader Popa
3.5 Clark Merritt

3.5 Robin Drakborn
3.0 Tony Spicer

37.5 total.

FOFC Cup: Elite Eight

I am a bit suprised to have made it this far. This week I face Bishops' Concord Assasins. If their performance last week is repeated, this might be it for the Saints.

Match Report

Myles Bloom was dominating his wing and kept sending fine balls into the enemy box - Joe Lond managed to kick one of them into 1 - 0 in the 5:th minute.
Winger event

In the 7:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Zvonko Andric dashed through, knocking home 2 - 0 for Saints.
I was quite suprised to find myself ahead this early

Things were going to get worse for the visitors. Ryszard Laguna squirmed himself through the central defense line in the 8:th minute, asserting the lead to 3 - 0.
[i]Didn't get to enjoy this one...[i]

Assassins fought on and, in the 8:th minute Tony Sauck was able to reply with 3 - 1 after some excellent moves on the right side finished off by an incredibly clever chip.
At this point, I predicted in the FOFC chat that the rest of the half would be boring.

The teams went for a half-time break at 3 - 1. Assassins held the ball, with a clear 54 percent possession rate.
Up 3-1 and losing possession.

In the 46:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Ryszard Laguna dashed through, knocking home 4 - 1 for Saints.
I am stunned, very happy, but stunned.

The visitors got a chance of pulling one back in the 52nd minute, due to a defensive blunder leaving Woodrow Osman completely unmarked. His strike was pathetic though, easy prey for the home side´s keeper.

Carlton Blakely received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly, probably out of lack of experience, in the 85:th minute and almost caused an opponent to score.

89 minutes into the game Saints were awarded a penalty that Zvonko Andric turned into 5 - 1 without a problem. After this Saints lowered the tempo in order to concentrate on their defensive efforts.

Saintss Carlos Saúl Tévez got himself booked after a foul.

Assassins showed some good morale and were, in the 89:th minute, able to reduce the score to 5 - 2 as Antonio Landajo got past the home sides full backs straight in front of the goal.

Carlton Blakely of Saints received a yellow card in the 89:th minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Four events in one minute! What the hell, was everyone just standing around until the end of the game.

Assassins held the ball, with a clear 57 percent possession rate.

Ratings

South Bay Saints Player rating and Team formation Team Attitude: Normal Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: solid Right Side Defence: solid Central Defence: solid Left Side Defence: solid Right Side Attack: formidable Central Attack: excellent Left Side Attack: inadequate NSI = 65

Concord Assassins Player rating and Team formation Team Attitude: (Hidden) Tactic: Normal Tactic skill: (Unlimited) Midfield: excellent Right Side Defence: outstanding Central Defence: formidable Left Side Defence: formidable Right Side Attack: solid Central Attack: excellent Left Side Attack: inadequate

NSI = 72

The ratings were very close, but did favor the Assasins. I would like to thank the HT engine for choosing to award a BS victory to me for a change.

Next week Ardent's North County Raiders pay a visit in the semifinals. Unfortunately for the Saints, Ardent has decided to throw all his league matches (playing only 7 players etc) and use his starters in the cup. Can a lowly div IV team that can't manage to stay above the qualifier line stand a chance against a div 3 squad?

Picked up a new temporary training to fill the slot vacated by Charles Montgomery several weeks ago.

Xuan Arasa
42 000 US$, 17 years, passable form
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities

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

I am hoping he pops quickly. I will not keep him around long term - just looking to make a quick buck.

Paid $25,000 for him.

Training

Got the pop I was expecting and the one I was hoping for.

Ryszard Laguna
239 000 US$, 18 years, passable form
Has disastrous experience and poor leadership abilities

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

Ryszard will move into the starting lineup next season after he gets a bit more stamina training. He has been putting up 3.5 stars for the past several weeks in solid form.


Xuan Arasa
44 000 US$, 17 years, passable form
Has disastrous experience and wretched leadership abilities

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

Xuan was picked up yesterday for 25K and played as a winger towards middle. I was hoping he would pop quickly so I can make a quick 100K or so (I have no idea how much he will fetch on the market). I don't have full training slots available now so I will get rid of him while he is still 17.


Form: +2/-5
Notable: F Tony Spicer to excellent, IM Toader popa dropped to passable.

Both players that got two starts last week saw their form turn around and head back up. Perhaps there is something to the theory that two games is better than one for form.

Weekly Update

Briefly (since I am behind again)

Youth pull: 18yo , inad PM, inad Scoring - didn't sell, fired

Xuan Arasa sold for 100K to a team that is daytrading him to screw me out of any future last club money. In consolation I will get about 4K sometime tomorrow.

Fixture Week 13

We faced Fraser Fire at home this weekend. It was a walkover, as expected, so I got the easy 5-0 win.

League Table

	[b]Team	Played	Goals			Points
1.	Terps	13	32	-	11	32
2.	Number Munchers	13	54	-	23	30
3.	Los Chixi Dix	13	34	-	22	26
4.	CC's Dragons	13	43	-	24	24
5.	South Bay Saints	13	37	-	22	22
6.	Wisconsin Legend	13	18	-	28	10
7.	Thunderchickens	13	22	-	45	8
8.	Fraser Fire	13	0	-	65	0

The Saints are secured of at least 5th place and play 6th place Wisconsin Legend next week. CC's Dragons and Los Chixi Dix play, so there is a chance that I could move up to 4th.

FOFC Cup Semifinals


South Bay Saints - North County Raiders

The Saints after a mild upset of the Concord Assassins last week face one of the original FOFC teams that helped get us all interested in the game. The Raiders have had a rather unsuccessful season in division 3 and have, as a result, turned their attention to the FOFC cup. I expected to get their best lineup, or at least one that matched their lineup last week against Frankfort United. Since I had a walkover in league play this week, I could match him, and put my best team out as well. Would he expect such a formidable foe?

Match Report

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Raiders, and they seem solid at it. Raiders was great at switching from defense to attack, and in the 23rd minute, Tyge Stoye swept through in the middle after such a counter attack, making 0 - 1.
I have not faced many counterattacking squads. As anyone who has followed my team knows, I am very good at creating chances and then blowing them. True to form, the Raiders take advantage of my offensive blunders and take the early lead.

After 31 minutes of play Eber Basoa Rivas equalised for Saints after an elegant attack from the right.
Looks like a good match is unfolding.

A well placed corner kick from Kelvin Cage was followed by Don Prater´s hard but accurate header. The nice combination meant goal for Raiders. The result now 1-2.
Great an early counter attack goal and a special event to a team known for a good offense.

Dallas Ricketts seemed highly inexperienced when in the 37:th minute he was loitering with the ball, allowing Matt Keyesj to intercept and strike 2-2 for Saints. Saints took the lead in the 37:th minute after a magnificent free kick. Tony Spicer adjusted the score to 3 - 2.
We get the even right back on a experience blunder and then get a normal chance which Spicer converts. At this point, I am getting pretty optimistic - we have created 3 chances to none for them.

38 minutes into the game Tony Spicer had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Joe Lond.
Replaced a solid scorer with an excellent one - good move Ardent :)

A couple of quick and successful challenges, followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area after 42 minutes might have resulted in another goal for Saints. However, Glenn Mcgee made a spectacular save. Raiderss Michael Hansson got himself booked after a foul. The teams went for a half-time break at 3 - 2. Saints held the ball, with a clear 68 percent possession rate.

In the 60:th minute of the match the visitors central line of defence had to look on as Clifton Campbell dashed through, knocking home 4 - 2 for Saints.
Glad to see that my central defender knows that his role in the HT universe is to play offense

Joe Lond increased Saintss lead to 5 - 2 by putting a header away on a hooked ball from the right. The structure of the game started to change as Saints decided to pull back and meet their opponents in the defensive zone.
Now I am just having fun, and harassing Ardent in the chat.

A speedy charge from the left side of the field put Saints lead up with 6 - 2. Joe Lond finished that one off competently, firing from an acute angle.
Remember that solid scorer Ardent injured...

Saints put themselves up 7 - 2 when Matt Keyesj broke through on the right, leaving the entire defensive box behind him.
At this point I give the ultimate insult (to Ardent) and compare his team to the Afoci's that I beat up on a few weeks early.

Joe Lond should probably have put his team up another goal in the 83rd minute, but some great goaltending by Glenn Mcgee kept the visitors in the game.

Raiders seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion about the organization of the team.
No, really

Saints held the ball, with a clear 71 percent possession rate.


Ratings

South Bay Saints

Team Attitude:	Normal
Tactic:	Normal
Tactic skill:	(Unlimited)
Midfield:	outstanding
Right Side Defence:	excellent
Central Defence:	formidable
Left Side Defence:	formidable
Right Side Attack:	formidable
Central Attack:	excellent
Left Side Attack:	outstanding

NSI = 83 ***TEAM RECORD***, Wow.



North County Raiders

Team Attitude:	(Hidden)
Tactic:	Counter-attacks
Tactic skill:	solid
Midfield:	inadequate
Right Side Defence:	passable
Central Defence:	excellent
Left Side Defence:	solid
Right Side Attack:	formidable
Central Attack:	passable
Left Side Attack:	formidable

NSI = 60

This was really no contest. The Raiders put out a much weaker lineup than I expected, and my lineup played much better than i expected. Pretty aggravating to get my best performance ever in a friendly.

Stars

3.5 GK Joseph Lassiter

3.5 WB Matt Keyesj
4.0 CD Clifton Campbell
3.0 WB Carlos Saul Tevez

3.5 OW Jef Tadie
3.5 IM Eber Basoa Rivas
4.0 IM Joonas Vahtramae
4.0 IM Dani Mario Araujo ***Personal Best***
3.5 OW Clark Merritt

3.5 F Robin Drakborn
3.0 F Joe Lond
(3.0 F Tony Spicer, injured +1)

39 stars ***TEAM RECORD***

Again the comment about best performance in a friendly. Without the injury, I would have had 39.5 stars. Hopefully will get 40 stars in my qualifier.

Onto the finals
The Bees defeated the Arkham Avengers 2-0 in a very different match. The Saints host the Bees in the FOFC championship next week.

I am really suprised to make it this far in the cup, and to be hosting the championship game especially. But this is the year for me to have made a run at the title since I will be selling off my old IMs and getting youngsters next season.

Congrats to Ardent for a making it to the semis and for the fun banter in the chat this afternoon even after the match was decided.