Hattrick: Morrisville Morrisvillians - Season 19

[NevStar]

Welcome to the first full season of the Morrisville Morrisvillians! We have high expectations, and hope to fight for the V.93 crown this season.

Season 18

Let's meet the starting lineup. We play a 4-5-1. Yeah, we drank the Kool-Aid.

GOALKEEPER

1. Ángel "Benecio" del Toro
Nationality: Spanish
Age: 23

Current Form: Passable (6)
Assessed Value: $296,000
Goalkeeping: Passable (6)

Best Rating: **~

Del Toro was obtained off of transfers late last season. He's a significant improvement over our previous keeper, Robby Dudley-Evans.

CENTRAL DEFENDERS

5. Willis Flynn
Nationality: American
Age: 20

Current Form: Passable (6)
Assessed Value: $71,000

Best Rating **~


23. Otis Dupre
Nationality: American
Age: 20

Current Form: Passable (6)
Assessed Value: $65,000

Best Rating **~

Flynn and Dupre were both products of my youth squad. They are both the future and the present of this franchise. Having drawn these two within 2 weeks of each other pretty much cemented my decision to change to defense training.

WINGBACKS

4. "Crazy" Earl "Not Frantz" Freedom
Nationality: American
Age: 24

Current Form: Passable (6)
Assessed Value: $108,000

Best Rating: **~

2. Bogdan Kozuchowski
Nationality: Canadian
Age: 19

Current Form: Inadequate (5)
Assessed Value: $59,000

As scary a though as this may be, Crazy Earl is the leader of our young backfield. The Unpredictable and always quotable one has been part of this team since the beginning.

Kozuchowski was snatched off the transfer wire late last season. Although his stock dropped somewhat during disappointing offseason training, he's still slotted to be the starter. Kozuchowski is also an Unpredictable player, which is sure to give me lots of migranes this season.


INNER MIDFIELD

7. Theodore "La Verdad" Vega
Nationality: American
Age: 20

Current Form: Inadequate (5)
Assessed Value: $163,000

Best Rating: ***

8. Matt "Doctor" Atkins
Nationality: American
Age: 27

Current Form: Passable (6)
Assessed Value: $198,000

Best Rating: ***

11. André Lövbo
Nationality: Swedish
Age: 30

Current Form: Weak (4)
Assessed Value: $46,000

Best Rating: **

Vega & Atkins were original Morrisvillians, and have been the strong point of my team since the beginning. With Vega oriented defensively, and Atkins offensive, they formed an excellent foundation to any starting team.

Lövbo was picked up in the offseason to add some extra offense to the midfield, although he hadn't improved stamina as much as we'd hoped in the offseason.

WINGERS

8. Kelvin Campbell
Nationality: American
Age: 26

Current Form: Poor (3)
Assessed Value: $88,000

Best Rating: **~

9. Robert Cannon
Nationality: American
Age: 28

Current Form: Solid (7)
Assessed Value: $84,000

Best Rating: **~

With the offensive drawbacks of our selected formation, the wingers are very important in creating scoring opportunities.

Campbell, our most well-rounded winger, suffered two long term injuries at the end of last season. Hence, he's currently out of playing form. Cannon, a more offensive winger, has been one of our most consistent starters.

FORWARD

10. Alan Felton
Nationality: American
Age: 30

Current Form: Inadequate (5)
Assessed Value: $52,000

Best Rating: **~

The popular Felton, picked as the Supporter's Player of the Year last season, is nearing the end of a prodigious career. He's scored 31 career goals (9 with us), and is hoping to add several more before he has to call it quits.

SUPERSUB

22. Gabriel Ribelles
Nationality: American
Age: 25

Current Form: Passable (6)
Assessed Value: $140,000

Best Rating: **
Ribelles doesn't really belong with the backup team, so I'm putting him here. Having been bumped out of his starting midfield role by André Lövbo, and being too old to train as a defender, Ribelles is a man without a position. "Jack of all trades, master of none," Ribelles will serve in backup capacity and is a capable replacement anywhere on the field. Alternatively, once we recover from injury trouble, we may sell him.

Backups

Generally, for friendlies, we'll play a 5-4-1.

GOALKEEPER

13. Ed Negron (24, $52,000, *~)

Negron is here only for emergencies. He's been a form dog since we acquired him, and we're in trouble if we have to start him

DEFENDERS

3. James Lund (20, $36,000, **~)
20. Buster Minton (19, $39,000, **)
15. Henrik Brandquist (18, $30,000, *~)
21. Uriel Poudrier (18, $24,000, *~)
18. Mihai Pãdurean (20, $24,000, **)

These are my trainees, although Lund & Pãdurean will definately see first team time this year.

MIDFIELD

12. George Warren (25, $57,000, **)
16. Victoro Sifres Belenguer (23, $46,000, **)
17. Ethan Miller (26, $15,000, *)
19. Greger Bladin (19, $27,000 **)

Warren and Belenguer have seen first team time in the past. Bladin is really an extra defense trainee, and will be swapped there eventually. Miller is just a warm body.

FORWARD

14. Søren Andersen (20, $27,000, **)

Since he's the lone Header specialist on the team along with Alan Felton's deteriorating skills, Søren will get another chance to prove himself on the first team this year. Still, he's not skilled enough to be a lone forward in any offense. Forward is a position that we'll be looking to upgrade this season.

[NevStar]

The story so far

Season 18 was a rocky start to the franchise. We inherited a team that was in dead last in the league. We finished the season with a record of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, which was good enough to jump to 6th place. The season ended with 2 disappointing losses to teams that we should have beaten.

The offseason was spent loading up on young defender trainees, and trying to increase the offensive punch.

Season 19

We opened USA Cup play against a bot team in the 6th division: Oregon Gurus. We PIC'd and dominated, winning by a score of 6-0. Scores were made by Theodore Vega (2), Søren Andersen (2), Kelvin Campbell, and Bogdan Kozuchowski.

Morrisville Morrisvillians
Midfield: poor (3)
Right Side Defence: excellent (8)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: passable (6)
Right Side Attack: passable (6)
Central Attack: weak (4)
Left Side Attack: passable (6)
Team Rating: 47

GK: del Toro **~
DW: Kozuchowski (def) **~
DC: Dupre **~
DC: Flynn **
DW: Frantz **~
WI: Cannon (off) **~
MF: Atkins (off) ***
MF: Lövbo (off) **
MF: Vega (xtra) **
WI: Campbell (off) **
FW: Andersen * (injured)
FW: Felton **

Up Next: We open league play against nixis demons. They are a brand new team, and haven't logged in yet. This should be another opportunity to PIC.

[NevStar]

With the sudden explosion of Hattrick and the simultaneous increase of Hattrick dynasties here, one really needs to find an angle in order to make your dynasty get read, and something even more special in order to get others to actually POST in your dynasty. Some people here have found that angle, be it through humor (The Afoci) or just generally excellent writing skills (DK, among others).

Thus, I need an angle. Since flamers and trolls get as many hits on a message board as 'good community members,' I'll be using that gimmick. Within each of my posts, I'll be hiding a flame or insult at one of my fellow hattrickers. See if you can find it! It'll be fun~!!11 Needless to say, the winking smiley is to be assumed for all of this. See:

League Match: at nixis demons

The Demons have not logged in since they've gotten their team. Obviously, I will be Playing It Cool this match. I'll also take advantage of this by getting an extra defender trained by playing the bane of sterlingice's existance: the 5-4-1. To improve the midfield, we'll move a forward to extra inner mid, and a winger to extra defender, instead of simply moving a forward to defender. This will give us a very weak attack on one side, but improve our midfield rating.

Pre Game
Date: 4/7/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 5546121
Arena: nixis demons Arena
Crowd: 7000


At nixis demons Arena, 7000 punters turned up, and despite threatening clouds at the horizon, no rain came. demons started off with a 4-4-2 lineup. The following players had been chosen: Mcarthur - Hedrick, Alvir, Brandman, Witt - Goldsmith, Dawson, Swimm, Darnell - Valenzuela, Boston.

Morrisvillians had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. The following players had been chosen: del Toro - Frantz, Pãdurean, Brandquist, Dupre, Kozuchowski - Cannon, Ribelles, Atkins, Vega - Felton.

First Half

Morrisvillians took the lead after 18 minutes with 0 - 1. Matt Atkins(1) placed the ball out of reach for the home sides keeper after a fine move, coming in from the left.

19 minutes into the game Robert Cannon could see that the opposing goaltender who was too far out. He managed to lob the ball past the keeper - but missed the goal.

The referee signalled a penalty in the 25:th minute following an offence just inside of the box. Bogdan Kozuchowski (1) knocked home 0 - 2 just out of reach for the goaltender.

In the games 26:th minute Morrisvillians´s Henrik Brandquist fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee booked Henrik Brandquist for taking a dive.

Otis Dupre behaved like an inexperienced youth player in the 26:th minute as he gave the ball away to an opponent. Lucky for him though, there was no goal. Meanwhile, illinifan behaved like a whining 6 year old when the entire crowd threw eggs at him for mentioning Tom Sanders for the 9,372,382nd time.

Morrisvillians had obvious problems in finding their positions.

Half Time
The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 2. Morrisvillians held the ball, with a clear 76 percent possession rate.

The Morrisvillians players spent the half-time break getting a rerun of the teams tactical organization.

Second Half
Morrisvillians´s Alan Felton (1) received a play slashing through the home side´s defense in the 77:th minute, chipping it past the keeper scoring 0 - 3. The home crowd was not pleased with that one.

Morrisvillians´s Theodore Vega made it through the home teams defence in the 80:th minute, and had only to place the ball in an unguarded goal when the home side´s defender sprang up from the left, clearing the ball on the line.

Post Game
Morrisvillians held the ball, with a clear 95 percent possession rate.

Most important demons player was Andy Brandman. Charlie Goldsmith on the other hand, had a terrible day. Morrisvillians´s best player was Matt Atkins. However, Henrik Brandquist made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 3.

nixis demons
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: disastrous (1)
Right Side Defence: weak (4)
Central Defence: inadequate (5)
Left Side Defence: weak (4)
Right Side Attack: poor (3)
Central Attack: poor (3)
Left Side Attack: weak (4)
Match Rating: 26

Morrisville Morrisvillians
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: passable (6)
Central Defence: excellent (8)
Left Side Defence: excellent (8)
Right Side Attack: excellent (8)
Central Attack: weak (4)
Left Side Attack: wretched (2)
Match Rating: 48

Player Ratings
GK Ángel del Toro ***
DR Earl "Freedom" Frantz (off) **~
DC Otis Dupre **
DC Mihai Pãdurean (xtra CD) **
DC Henrik Brandquist (off) *~
DL Bogdan Kozuchowski (def) **
MR Robert Cannon (off) **~
MC Matt Atkins (off) ***
MC Theodore Vega (xtra IM) **~
MC Gabriel Ribelles **
FW Alan Felton **

Total Stars: 25

Analysis

The game wasn't even as close as the score indicated, as we got lots of scoring opps that just didn't find the mark.
The total stars were a Morrisville record total, and this was playing PIC. We managed to get a decent attack, at least from the right, by stacking that side. That does leave an exploitable hole in my defense, however, so I obviously won't resort to this tactic for any meaningful game.

Bogdan Kozuchowski, the set pieces replacement for Richard Stewart, knocked home a penalty kick, which was a pleasant surprise.

League V.93

LAST ROUND
(match ratings are in parenthesis after the score)
Iroquois Nati - Maryland Defe 0 (46) - 7 (55)
The Champion - Opiewon Kenob 2 (53) - 2 (51)
nixis demons - Morrisville M 0 (26) - 3 (48)
F.C. Hastings - SpearsRocks 6 (30) - 0 (25)

NEXT ROUND
Morrisville Morrisvi - Iroquois Natives
SpearsRocks - The Champion
Maryland Defect - F.C. Hastings
Opiewon Kenobi - nixis demons

Clearly Maryland is the team to beat this season. However, The Champion and Opiewon both had very strong showings in a tie. Next week, we should be able to beat Iroquois with little difficulty, although we will be playing them normal, not PIC'd.

Next Game: Our second round Cup match at Turicum Gladiators.

[The Afoci]

edit, because i gave away the secret...
I found it.

[NevStar]

shhh..

[DataKing]

[sterlingice]

Hmm... I wonder if a fanatic, possibly of a certain midwestern team, has checked this out.

SI

[NevStar]

Apparently not... definately no fanatics of certain "Fighting" Midwestern teams.

[NevStar]

Cup Round 2: at Turicum Gladiators

We draw div V human team Turicum Gladiators. No bot team this week; they are actively managed... barely. Our scouts tell me they play a Run & Shoot 4-4-2. All positions are oriented in the Offensive, much like The Afoci, who is offensive in a completely different manner, and is obviously depriving some village of an idiot.

With some reservations about their nearly competitive midfield, we decide to PIC this game, as well as play the snoozefest formation, also known as the 5-4-1. However, we will be playing most of our normal starters at midfield and forward.

Pre Game
Date: 4/10/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 6868384
Arena: Turicum Gladiators Arena
Crowd: 4426

4426 spectators arrived at Turicum Gladiators Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Gladiators had chosen a strategic 4-4-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Douglas - Dubois, Morán, Hernández, Haas - Tavernier, Irwin, Bryant, Peck - Schwab, Hadley.

Morrisvillians had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. The following players had been chosen: del Toro - Lund, Vega, Minton, Flynn, Poudrier - Sifres Belenguer, Atkins, Lövbo, Campbell - Felton.

First Half
In the 19:th minute the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending and Buster Minton (1) put the ball away for 0 - 1.

Alan Felton was, after 21 minutes, almost able to extend the visitors lead with a well placed diving header but home side keeper Ariel Douglas saved. Kendrick Bryant really should have scored when he was chosen by fate to confront a wide open goal after a corner, but he lost his nerve.

After 30 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for André Lövbo (1) who increased Morrisvillians´s lead to 0 - 2.

Sergio Hernández received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly, probably out of lack of experience, in the 32nd minute and almost caused an opponent to score.

After 36 minutes a combination in the middle resulted in a through ball for Alan Felton (2) who increased Morrisvillians´s lead to 0 - 3. The teams went for a half-time break at 0 - 3.

Half Time
Morrisvillians, bringing the final ball possession rate to 56 percent, dominated the battle.

Second Half
An indecisive goaltender looked on as a free kick by Morrisvillians´s Kelvin Campbell (1) put the visitors up 0 - 4 after 47 minutes.

After 54 minutes Jamie Schwab could have reduced had it not been for an excellent block by the visitors keeper Ángel del Toro. In the 59:th minute Gladiatorss Sergio Hernández received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first.

The game had been on for 64 minutes when Alan Felton (3) broke through to the right, upping the score to the home crowd´s dismay. Morrisvillians´s were up 0 - 5.

End of Game

Morrisvillians, bringing the final ball possession rate to 59 percent, dominated the battle.

Gladiators´s best player was Eduard Morán. Milton Peck was a disappointment, however. Most important Morrisvillians player was Matt Atkins. Uriel Poudrier on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 0 - 5.

GK: Ángel del Toro ***
DR: James Lund (def) **
DC: Buster Minton (off) **
DC: Willis Flynn (xtra) **
DC: Theodore Vega (off) **
DL: Uriel Poudrier (def) *~

MR: Victoro Sifres Belenguer (off) *~
MC: Matt Atkins (off) ***
MC: André Lövbo (off) **
ML: Kelvin Campbell (off) *~

FC: Alan Felton **

Turicum Gladiators
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: poor (3)
Right Side Defence: inadequate (5)
Central Defence: weak (4)
Left Side Defence: weak (4)
Right Side Attack: inadequate (5)
Central Attack: weak (4)
Left Side Attack: weak (4)
Team Rating: 35

Morrisville Morrisvillians
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak (4)
Right Side Defence: solid (7)
Central Defence: passable (6)
Left Side Defence: inadequate (5)
Right Side Attack: weak (4)
Central Attack: weak (4)
Left Side Attack: weak (4)
Team Rating: 42

Match Analysis

Although the team played terribly, it was good enough to win. On the plus side, no one has been injured for 2 whole games! How long has it been since that's happened?

For the next cup round, we draw a division IV team, Dogs of War in the next round. They appear to have been vacated, the owner hasn't logged in for over 5 weeks. However, they're still a very dangerous team, with a very powerful attack. They have a chink in their armor, which I think I can exploit. A tactics discussion will be forthcoming later in the week.

In club news, after PICing 3 games in a row, our Team Spirit has reached Paradise on Earth.

Next Game: The boys are itching to go full speed in a game and next week, they'll get their chance. We face the Iroquois Natives, the team relegated from div IV. Last week, they were squashed by the pre-season favorite to win the league, Maryland Defect, 7-0.

[The Afoci]

NevStar---May "You better guard your daughter or they will be" Les "their" Cherry"s" pays your significant other a visit. After that, enjoy your pee. And the village isn't missing its idiot, I am still there on the weekends

[NevStar]

[Alf]

Are you going to MOTS against the Iroquois ?

[NevStar]

nope, we'll play it normal.

They have a strong attack & defense, but their midfield is wretched, so I figure I shouldn't have a problem.

[NevStar]

My VP of Personnel is bed-ridden for an indefinate after a terrifying visit from "You better guard your daughter or they will be" Les "their" Cherry"s" so I have to do my own youth pull this week.

Darren Wing (10960591)
21 years, passable form, healthy

A controversial person who is tranquil and honest.
Has disastrous experience and poor leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 102 000 US$
Wage: 1 100 US$/week
Owner: Morrisville Morrisvillians
Warnings: 0


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

Although his name would suggest another position, Mr. Wing is a decent goalkeeper. He's been listed starting at $9000. He seems to be only a few weeks from passable, so any of you that are training goalkeeping, I suggest you looking at him.

Oh yeah, I almost forget the regular insult: Message to BrogMan: never fear, Quebec, with their pretentious fake French accents, won't be around much longer. Ontario's gonna build a moat & Ottawa's gonna fill it in. And yes, the misspelled name was on purpose.

P.S. I'm just not trying anymore...

[NevStar]

League - vs. Iroquois Natives

The Natives are the team relegated from Division IV last season. They are an old team (born 4/14/2002), and have a huge stadium (65000, with construction in progress). They also have the 2nd highest total team value in division V.93 ($2,019,000).

Despite that, I'm not too worried about this game. Although they have a strong defense and central attack, their midfield rating is usually wretched. Our team spirit is also at Paradise on Earth. We start a mix of the first team & second team, strengthening our central defense, but playing reserves at wingbacks... we'll be playing starters in our Cup match on Wednesday.

Pre Game
Date: 4/14/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 5546123
Arena: Morrisville Morrisvillians Arena
Crowd: 15024 (max: 15041)


15024 spectators arrived at Morrisville Morrisvillians Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Morrisvillians started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. Lineup: del Toro - Poudrier, Pãdurean, Flynn, Bladin - Cannon, Atkins, Vega, Lövbo, Campbell - Felton.

Iroquois had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. The following players had been chosen: Hunter - Knutsson, Valdez, Liljenbrant - Brennan, Benton, Flodbratt, Costa, Burke - Anderson, Hansson.

First Half

André Lövbo (2) gave his Morrisvillians the lead with 1 - 0, as he successfully challenged both the guests central defenders, then placed the ball unreachably at the goaltenders right post.

The referee showed Iroquoiss Boyce Brennan the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. Some brilliant football from the visitors right wing resulted in a 36:th minute levelling of scores as Iroquoiss Holger M. Hansson equalised to 1 - 1.

Iroquois´s John Knutsson left the field after 38 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was Rob Horner. Nestor Valdez unexpectedly struck an inside out ball from no angle at all, and Boyce Brennan forwarded it into goal for 1 - 2

In the game's 41st minute Morrisvillians´s Mihai Pãdurean limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue.

The teams went for a half-time break at 1 - 2.

Half Time
The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Morrisvillians, with an impressive 77 percent possession of the ball.

Second Half
60 minutes into the game Greger Bladin was really close to evening the score out with a dangerous long range shot, but the ball went just wide of the bar.

After 61 minutes Iroquois´s Robert Hunter contracted a slight foot injury, but could finish the game.

After 65 minutes Robert Cannon (2) made a dash down the middle past the away teams defenders scoring 2 - 2.

Willis Flynn of Morrisvillians received a yellow card in the 71st minute for unsportsmanlike behaviour; someone should give Superman=#54 a yellow card for unreadable dynasties. Uriel Poudrier received some harsh words from his coach after he acted foolishly, probably out of lack of experience, in the 73rd minute and almost caused an opponent to score.

Morrisvillianss Matt Atkins (2) gave, after 75 minutes, the home team a 3 - 2 lead after an attack coming in from the right.

After an industrious effort down the middle Greger Bladin could have closed the game off in the 83rd minute, but his finishing shot hit the post.

84 minutes into the game David Flodbratt had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came Junior Amos.

End of Game
Morrisvillians held the ball, with a clear 86 percent possession rate.

The most dominating Morrisvillians player was without a doubt Matt Atkins. However, Greger Bladin made a disastrous appearance. Iroquois´s best player was Nestor Valdez. Junior Amos on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 3 - 2.

GK Ángel del Toro **~
DR Uriel Poudrier *~
DC Mihai Pãdurean **
DC Willis Flynn **
DL Greger Bladin (def) *
MR Robert Cannon (off) **~
MC André Lövbo (off) **
MC Matt Atkins (xtra) **~
MC Theodore Vega (def) **~
ML Kelvin Campbell (off) **~
FC Alan Felton **~

Total Stars: 23.5

Morrisville Morrisvillians
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: passable
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: inadequate
Match Rating: 53

Iroquois Natives
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: wretched
Right Side Defence: passable
Central Defence: excellent
Left Side Defence: excellent
Right Side Attack: inadequate
Central Attack: passable
Left Side Attack: inadequate
Match Rating: 44

Match Analysis

A little too close for comfort, but the W is the important thing. If I had arranged my strong side attack on the left instead of the right, it would've been much easier. The passable midfield rating is the best in team history. Since we've dropped from Paradise on Earth, I suspect that rating won't be a constant thing.

League V.93

LAST ROUND (match ratings in parentheses)
Maryland Defe - F.C. Hastings 5 (54) - 1 (34)
Opiewon Kenob - nixis demons 5 (51) - 0 (24)
Morrisville M - Iroquois Nati 3 (53) - 2 (44)
SpearsRocks - The Champion 0 (28) - 5 (49)

NEXT ROUND

nixis demons - SpearsRocks
Morrisville Morrisvi - Opiewon Kenobi
F.C. Hastings - Iroquois Natives
The Champion - Maryland Defect

1. Maryland Defect	2 12 - 1  6 
 
2. Morrisville Morrisv	2  6 - 2  6 
3. The Champion		2  7 - 2  4 
4. Opiewon Kenobi	2  7 - 2  4 
 
5. F.C. Hastings	2  7 - 5  3 
6. Iroquois Natives	2  2 - 10 0 
 
7. nixis demons		2  0 - 8  0 
8. SpearsRocks		2  0 - 11 0 

Up Next: We prepare for a Cup match against divison IV club Dogs of War. They're inactive, so I'll probably post a tactics discussion later tonight.

[NevStar]

Strategy discussion: any advice is welcome.

My cup match is against an inactive div IV team: Dogs of War. Although they haven't changed their tactic in the recent past, they remain one of the toughest teams in IV.15. They are led by a 4.5-star winger Aaron Harris, which gives them an almost insurmountable wing attack. Their most recent ratings are:

Dogs of War
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: weak
Right Side Defence: excellent
Central Defence: excellent
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: excellent
Central Attack: inadequate
Left Side Attack: outstanding


My most recent game:

Morrisville Morrisvillians
Player rating and Team formation
Midfield: passable
Right Side Defence: passable
Central Defence: solid
Left Side Defence: passable
Right Side Attack: solid
Central Attack: weak
Left Side Attack: inadequate

Some notes:
1) I won't get a passable midfield rating again; that was likely a function of having Paradise on Earth team spirit. As my spirit has dropped to delirious, I'll probably get a high inadequate on Wednesday. I still have a midfield advantage, however.

2) Although I briefly considered playing MOTS, I'll be playing the game normally. Although it would be nice to have one more home Cup game, the remainder of the league season is much more important.

3) Their left side defense is the only hole that I'd realistically be able to score on. This side is also their strongest attack. I need to really stack my right side of the field.

4) We'll be playing our starters, so expect the defensive ratings to be boosted a little.

DR Frantz **~	DC Lund **	DC Dupre **	DL Kozuchowski **~
(normal)	(twds wing)	(normal)	(defensive)

MR Cannon **~	MC Campbell **~	MC Vega	**~	ML Ribelles *~
(offensive)	(twds wing)	(def)		(wds middle)

		FW Felton **~	MC Atkins **~
		(normal)	(extra inner mid)

The "towards wing" instruction for inner midfielders is widely regarded as the worst possible instruction you can give, but I think it's my only chance.

I plan to flood the right side of the field, adding to my attack, while the central defender played towards wing will attempt to contain his outstanding attack. This will weaken my midfield rating, but I hopefully should still have a possession edge.

I may end up losing 6-0, but I think this tactic is my best chance at victory. Alternatively, I could just play everyone defensive & hope for an event goal & 1-0 win.

Any comments?

(edit)
I forgot to thank the Morrisvillians' newest supporter and brother in boredom, mckerney. Morrisville now has 6 official supporters. Thanks!

[NevStar]

Hi! How've you been? How're the wife and kids? That's great!

It's been awhile since I've posted here. I was just going to let it die, but due to recent events, I feel obligated to post my thoughts. That, and the fact that I have 7 official supporters, who (I can only assume), became supporters because of this dynasty.

While we're on the subject, we'd like to thank that dirty rotten bastard, robbgmaier, for becoming our latest supporter. Thanks Rob! Your key to the executive washroom is in the mail.

Here's a brief synapsis of what happened since I last posted:

4/17/2003 (Cup): Morrisville Morrisvillians - Dogs of War 3 - 1

This was against the skilled div IV team listed above. We did use the highly unbalanced tactic listed above, and had lots of success with it. We pretty much dominated this game.

4/21/2003 (League): Morrisville Morrisvillians - Opiewon Kenobi 3 - 0

We played against one of the teams that regularly finish in the money in V.93. As they always played their wingers towards middle, we were able to attack on the wings without worrying about counter-attacks. We also stacked the center of the defense. This tactic worked wonderfully, and they didn't have a single scoring opportunity.

This win, coupled with a Maryland Defect loss to The Champion, gave us possession of the lead in V.93.

4/24/2003 (Cup): Morrisville Morrisvillians - ShootingStar 2 - 1

We played a div II team who regularly showed up on hatstats' Top 25 teams in the US list. Fortunately, they played their subs, underestimated us, and we suprised them. It was a very defensive game, which we won in extra time on a golden goal from midfielder Matt Atkins.

4/28/2003 (League): SpearsRocks - Morrisville Morrisvillians 1 - 7

This was our opportunity to PIC before a big cup game. SpearsRocks is a poor team that will not finish above 7th in our division.


5/1/2003 (Cup): Morrisville Morrisvillians - Slashers FC

..and here's the big one. Slashers FC: the National Coach, one the best and most well-respected coaches in HT USA. Against our lowly division V chumps. Sounds like a blowout right?

Morrisville Morrisvillians - Slashers FC

Date: 5/1/2003 at 01:00
MatchID: 6949364
Arena: Morrisville Morrisvillians Arena
Crowd: 19776

19776 spectators arrived at Morrisville Morrisvillians Arena, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Morrisvillians had chosen a strategic 5-4-1 formation. The following players had been chosen: del Toro - Lund, Pãdurean, Kozuchowski, Flynn, Frantz - Atkins, Vega, Lövbo, Campbell - Felton.

Slashers tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. Lineup: Silversten - Birkegaard, Chadwick, Beaty - Newbury, Guest, Nilsson, Frostenmo, Mårtensson - Tatara, Patil.

In the games 27:th minute Slashers´s Craig Guest head butted an opponent nastily and so the referee sent him off immediately.

The visitors were very close to gaining the lead from a monstrous free kick in the 27:th minute, but Ángel del Toro made a one hand save. 0 - 0 was the half-time score.

Half Time
The fortyfive minutes were dominated by Slashers, with an impressive 56 percent possession of the ball.

Slashers gets a defender sent off early in the first half. We've managed to hold them to only one scoring opportunity, which del Toro saved. I think, "Hey, we might keep the score respectable."

Second Half

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

Bengt Birkegaard came close to putting the visiting team one up in the 50:th minute, following a solo raid down the middle, but Ángel del Toro managed to tip the ball to a corner.

Slashers´s Calvin Chadwick left the field after 55 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was Nick Ybarra. Ybarra is on the U-20 team

End of Regulation
Slashers, bringing the final ball possession rate to 57 percent, dominated the battle.

They have 2 scoring opportunities (which fail). Remind me to give del Toro a raise. Slashers definately has the experience advantage in extra time, but who knows? We haven't generated any offense, but we have 3 starters with Unpredictable, so anything can happen in extra time. I'm thinking we might just have a chance.

Extra Time

As none of the teams had managed to win, extra time was called. Some quick foot work on the left side of the field in the 96:th minute left Slashers´s Håkan Frostenmo completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. Extra time over, Slashers were the victors!


Damn.

The most dominating Morrisvillians player was without a doubt Theodore Vega. Alan Felton on the other hand, had a terrible day. The most dominating Slashers player was without a doubt Fredrik Nilsson. Aaron Patil on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 0 - 1.

Just a commentary on how my team has improved: Last season, Alan Felton (**) was occasionally getting best player awards at the end of the game for me. We're certainly a very solid divison V team at this point.

Well, that's it. We achieved temporary celebrity status both on the HT boards and in the #FOFC chat channel. I got congratulatory emails from people I hardly knew. Slashers even eventually responded to me...eventually.

Also, our nice little cup run generated a decent bit of revenue. We're solidly in the black for the first time in a while. It may be a hazard to my job security that I'm once again able to browse the transfer markets.

Up Next: We play the Maryland Defect in league play. MMFC and the Defect are probably the two best teams in V.93, and this will surely be a great match.

[NevStar]

In response to SI's latest guestbook taunt in my general direction, I offer up this as a suggestion for his next logo. WARNING: Not for the weak-stomached.

Ugh.

Actually, nevermind, I think I'm going to use that image the next time I play Houston in a friendly.

This dynasty is not dead. I just have some real life concerns that are keeping me from regular postings. Thanks to all my supporters for their continued support & I hope to get back to this dynasty soon.

[sterlingice]

I try to motivate your lousy team and this is the thanks I get

Well, what do I expect from


SI

[vex]

The Morrisvillians are back!

[NevStar]

Nope, that mascot's already taken.

Search Hattrick for Gastonia United F.C. (user: GUFCCruisers)

SI, just refresh my memory: what's your record against my lousy team, again?

[sterlingice]

True, you used a picture of Shelbyville Manhattan. I'll pass along this little nugget from your mascot (and one of the best Simpsons episodes out there, "The Lemon of Troy")

Shelbyville: Yes, and marry our cousins.
Jebediah: I was -- what are you talking about, Shelbyville? Why would we want to marry our cousins?
Shelbyville: Because they're so attractive. I, I thought that was the whole point of this journey.
Jebediah: Absolutely not!
Shelbyville: I tell you, I won't live in a town that robs men of the right to marry their cousins.

[NevStar]

*sigh* My fan club WAS originally called the "Attractive Cousin's Brigade."

I guess the joke's never as funny if you have to explain it. Thanks for ruining my fun, SI.