Preview
Hippos soccer... it's EXCITEMENT! Well, no, this week, we have our first ever walkover. So not much to report: we win 5-0, get Wellens a nice week of full training instead of half training, and a crappy crowd because it's pouring rain. Not quite last week's exciting draw with Brooklyn is it?
Game Summary
Date: 9/29/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 8327006
Arena: The Hippodrome
Crowd: 13732
13732 spectators had found their way to The Hippodrome, despite the heavy rain. People from all of Houston had joined up for the derby. Hippopotami had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Kimber - Cristiano, Miquel, Bush - Wellens, Benito, Connors, Little, Starks - Phelan, Spagnuolo.
zfan tactics involved an interesting 0-0-0 combination. Lineup: - - - .
The visitors weren´t able to produce at least 9 players, which is the minimum amount allowed, so they had to concede to a walk over. The spectators, who had all been looking forward to an exciting game, were of course very disappointed. The match ends 5 - 0.
Events and Stats
N/A
Stadium
Terraces: 8492/20000
Basic seats: 3770/8000
Seats under roof: 1173/3200
VIP seats: 297/800
Total: 13732/32000
"The spectators, who had all been looking forward to an exciting game, were of course very disappointed." We see this as a sign of support after our Brooklyn game last week not as 13K stupid wet fans who came to *not* see a game.
Team Ratings
Houston Hippopotami
Midfield: disastrous (1)
Right Side Defence: disastrous (1)
Central Defence: disastrous (1)
Left Side Defence: disastrous (1)
Right Side Attack: disastrous (1)
Central Attack: disastrous (1)
Left Side Attack: disastrous (1)
DataKing/Nevstar Index: 7/9
zfan
Midfield: disastrous (1)
Right Side Defence: disastrous (1)
Central Defence: disastrous (1)
Left Side Defence: disastrous (1)
Right Side Attack: disastrous (1)
Central Attack: disastrous (1)
Left Side Attack: disastrous (1)
DataKing/Nevstar Index: 7/9
Bah.
Player Ratings
GK Tim Kimber ****
DW Lorenzo Cristiano ***~
DM Jose Maria Miguel ***
DW Elmer Bush **
WI Pierre Wellens ***
MI Thomas Little (o) **~
MI Stephen Connors (x) ***~
MI Carlos Alberto Benito (o) ****
WI Mick Starks (o) ***
FO Edwin Phelan **~
FO Gualtiero Spagnuolo ***~
Total Stars: 34.5
Total player experience: poor
Team Attitude: Play It Cool
About the only stats section worth anything today. Cristiano's rise in form has been offset by Bush's unfortunately so the defense has held pretty steady. I'm hoping recent acquisition Arcadio Sanchez (not to be confused with backup goalie Ignacio Sanchez) can help stabilize the defense back there. Wellens got a solid *** on the wing this week and will be getting full playmaking training this week when he plays middie in our friendly. Also, not to be lost is that we did get a PIC out of this game.
Three Stars
N/A
Game Summary
N/A
Press Release
10/2/2003 at 0:00 Hippos Win Walkover
Since there was no match to talk about, the Hippos would like to thank all of their fans and supporters in this, their first season in Div IV.
And a special thanks to our supporters:
ausonny
NevStar
vexroid
Doug5984
Eilim
NAIWF
robbgmaier
Coffee Warlord
Flatulon
And to all the guys at:
FOFC
Kraftworks Union
Thanks from the Hippos! 
Around the League
Kaishaku got to pound Team Groomers while Brooklyn and Chock faced off and an unlikely draw that helps us out
Kaishaku F.C. - Team Groomers 5 - 0
Hugh Ruffle scored twice for Kaishaku, who got their second straight 5-0 win after getting the walkover against zfan last week.
Brooklyn United - Chock Full of Wholesome Goodness 2 - 1
This is a bit different than their first meeting of the season. Brooklyn was looking to establish series dominance and laid it on Chock, with a 107 NSI to their 94, winning 8-0 at the Creamy Nougat Center. This time, it looked like Chock had conceded a loss at Champions Park and only put up an 87. However, Brooklyn foresaw this and "only" put up a 97. The game was tied until late in the second half when Team Chile forward Joaquin Otegi (titanic! experience) scored the game winning goal for BU. That's at least his 3rd game winning goal in tight games for Brooklyn this season.
The Champion - Iowa Enforcers 3 - 3
Iowa took The Champion too lightly on the road and let us back into the race for the money! At halftime, The Champion was up 3-0 but had to settle for a draw as their lack of stamina kicked in. The Champion should have won this game but they missed on three chances. Their 68 NSI was a season high and likely an MotS as their previous season high was a 63. Iowa, on the other hand, put up their second lowest rating of the season at 67.
League Standings
Code:
N Team Goals Pts NSI
1. Brooklyn United 36 - 6 26 97
2. Kaishaku F.C. 31 - 11 24 78
3. Chock Full of Whole 33 - 21 19 87
4. Iowa Enforcers 19 - 20 14 67
5. Houston Hippopotami 22 - 24 13 9
6. The Champion 20 - 15 12 68
7. zfan 11 - 42 6 9
8. Team Groomers 9 - 41 1 53
Just two weeks ago, we were in 6th place plotting our qualification game strategy. Now, if we win against Iowa in two weeks, we will move into 4th place and will be in the driver's seat for the money. However, we still have a game against Chock left that's a likely loss. But they have an equally tough game against Kaishaku. Not to slight, The Champion, but their position is an illusion. They may play spoiler and beat us the last week of the season, screwing us to 5th while Iowa takes 4th. However, they won't be able to finish in the money as they have to face a Chock-Brooklyn-Kaishaku gauntlet in their next 3 games.
Hatstats
No hatstats this week. Besides, with zfan giving out a pair of 9's every week, our series had plunged into the 20s.
Notes
So, my computer goes out and the only update you get over a weak and a half is a walkover. Sorry, Hippo faithful. There's more coming, I promise. The Friendly Hippo World Tour(TM) takes us to sunny Oceania, home of the Royal Magpies. Next week, I face Team Groomers, which should be a pretty easy victory. However, it's on the road and PIC'ing on the road is a bad idea unless you're playing someone truly awful. Then the week after that, the showdown with Iowa at the 'drome with 4th place and finishing in the money at stake.
SI