Asunto: Australia Cup

You'll probably find, both naph and vivski thought the same as to who they'd prefer out of us two. I guess when you end up with arguably the 4 strongest teams in the country in the semi finals, it doesn't matter who you draw.

I guess if I had a preference I'd have slightly preferred vivski as I find them easier to contain (though very difficult to score against), whereas naph has such strength in offense that you really need to work hard to prevent them scoring goals.

Still it's nice not to draw TMP for yet another SF. We've had a few over recent seasons.

@Minkee

I thought the primary reason for why Drum isn't finding as much ball in shooting positions is largely down to a few tactical placements. When on the wing and in a position to cross, quite often Drum isn't set far enough forward, so Ielati either passes back infield to Drum who then gets tackled, or else Ielati waits and gets tackled himself. Similarly in general play, Drum is often too shallow which makes it easy for defenses to tackle him front on, rather than have to chase him from behind.

Thanks for just destroying my cup aspirations saying that I've won the cup :P. There are still 2 quality teams I have to get through first and Tribe isn't going to be easy.

We're guaranteed to have 3 exciting games, regardless of who gets to the final.

To add a little more intrigue... in the week of the Cup Final, Tribe and Comets face off in A-League.
I can't imagine either manager sacrificing training. So it'll be decision time... Cup or League?

Can either of them afford to play 2nds against Achmid or TMP and still take the silverware?

I'm expecting an intense game against Achmid. Our teams are evenly matched.

Look... TMP is putting pressure on Tribe and Comets for the league... :p
I can see someone sacrificing training there, what is a week or two of training in the grand scheme of thing... the answer is peanuts.

And Cometer, I've fallen to the last 3 winners, I'm not spoiling anything I'm expecting you to win... :)

yeah but 1-2 weeks of training every season. If you train a player for just 4 seasons, that like 1-2 skill point difference, is part of the reason I played the tactic I did last week, for training reasons

That's exactly my point except I have the opposite opinion.
What is 1-2 skill point difference in comparison to a trophy in your cabinet?!
Once again peanuts...

The other thing to consider is financial benefits such as sponsorship/fan mood along with the possibility of qualifying for the CC. Is dropping 1 skill point here and there worth more financially then maintaining fan mood/sponsorship and potentially giving you more matches along with the bonus prize money for performing well in the cup?

Comes down to how much you value training. In my case I'm not so sure I've got much choice, given Tribe has the option of using 2nd XI against Triggers. So I have limited choice, do I throw all eggs in one basket and try for the cup or league and sacrifice the other when I've got a chance of winning both, do I weaken both to minimise the difference in strength to still be in with a shot of both, or do I sacrifice 1 week to play maximum squad. Certainly something to think about, but I have to look not only at training but also of the opportunity to become financially better off.
(editado)

This should be an interesting semi-final round. Unfortunately, none of the clubs at their best for this match with everyone missing players.

TMP missing
Carol Balint - red
Rapolas Lioransas - red
Steven Bolton - injury (10d)
So Sahara - injury (SI)

Achmids Soul missing
Fred Brutsaert - red
Jonasz Grubczyk - injury (18d)

Tribe missing
Kris Hirons - injury (17d)
Jurgen Pinas - injury (19d)
Richie Sterjovski - red

Comets missing
George Bowen - injury (SI)
Jade Graham - injury (SI)
Tim Richter - injury (SI)

I'll settle for my injury list. 2 of them aren't 1st XI players, and the other may/may not be back in time for Wednesday but could still theoretically play if I wanted him to.

I don't feel as confident as I did last week, as Achmids put a holt to my season but we'll give it our best shot.

Edit: Bsides which, Graham's fully recovered and according to NTDB, Bowen has 1 day left of injury so should be fully fit for the game tomorrow :)
(editado)

I think I'm going to miss Sahara the most. He's been immense for us in goal.
History shows that when I'm missing Bolton, I struggle.

If we manage to get through tomorrow, it will be against the odds.

Full squad to select from so there really can be no excuse not to be competitive against Tribe. Forms a bit of a downside though but hopefully we go alright.

Haven't watched the game, so probably shouldn't comment too much, but c'mon, how can you go from 2-0 up at half time to a 2-5 loss. Seems a bit messed up to me, considering there weren't any significant changes that I could see from the report.

Anyway, good luck in the finals you two.

Well that's one of the most "unfortunate" games I think I've seen in a long time.

We should have been 2-3 goals up after 10 minutes, but instead were 2-1 down at the half.

It's a reasonable tactic Cometer has, and its tuned quite nicely up front for my defense, but it still only generated 7 chances to my 12, and I'd say that mine were from better positions (eg the penalty spot), as well as generating more "non-shot" opportunities, but the only goal we managed for the game was a "bug" goal as a Comets midfielder in the box dribbled the ball in for an own goal.

I don't individually have a problem with any of the Comets goals. 3 from 7 is still "fortunate" (particularly the bobble-to-immediate strike on the turn from the edge of the box) but when you go 0 from 12 yourself, what can you say?

What a turnaround. Early on, there was a bit of ping-pong. Back 5 vs back 5. Achmid had an extra man in midfield, and I had my spare midfielder putting pressure on Achmid's centrebacks.
Things went well for Achmid, putting 2 on the board and looking solid. At that stage, I didn't know where we'd find 3 goals. Meanwhile, Achmid was creating some good chances.

Then we put 2 in the net soon after half time and I knew it was back on! It seemed their backline lost the edge off their game and the extra pressure of the AM paid off. My sub's pace earnt him a goal, and Butea ran out the game well.

MOM would be Cucciardi, stepping back into a DM role and dominating the midfield in Bolton's place.

We took our chances a bit better on the day.
As always, a very hard-fought game between TMP & AS.

Didn't quite have the effectiveness I was hoping for in that tactic. Still relieved to get the win. As always the first 30-40min is crucial with these tactics, if I hold out then, I'm in with a good shot of winning.

Got raided the first 10min, where most of the 12 shots came from but I think after that early attack, we managed to contain Tribe.

Aerial headers killed me defensively, as most times they ended up over the back of the defense and from then it was scramble and hope Gaina pulls out a save.

I was disappointed with how I conceded the goal but it was well and truly deserved given the early run of play (would have preferred it coming from an opposition foot though). I'd not go so far as saying 2-3 ahead because most of them came off the same piece of play where I got pinned into the back. Penalty, corner and the regather before I could clear the line.

Whilst I feel the scoreline was a little harsh, I felt that the chances were fairly even after that first 5-10min blitz and could have ended up with anything.

Disappointed I struggled to break tackles and constantly got tackled myself, most of the time resulting in shots for Tribe. I actually thought the 50-50's (other than the shot-goal ratio) went pretty much all one sided towards Tribe. Fouls/yellow cards/red cards/penalties/beating tackles etc so in that sense I'm happy I ended up with the one that counts most.

Probably should have ended 3-3 though and somehow Gaina saved me on so many occasions.

Back to the drawing board for this weekend though.

I don't individually have a problem with any of the Comets goals. 3 from 7 is still "fortunate" (particularly the bobble-to-immediate strike on the turn from the edge of the box) but when you go 0 from 12 yourself, what can you say?

I thought it looked like Bowen tackled it off your defender and then shot. I'll have to check the report but it's quite possible he hit it on the fly. Otherwise I thought my shot/goal ratio was about right given the chances, particularly as Bowen has almost always been a good converter anyway (I still believe in some strikers can and some can't shoot regardless of level though).

I can sympathise with you though naph, I'd have been disappointed not to have won had it been the other end but after coming off a 4 from 6 return against me on the weekend I'm happy the dollars I'm paying Gaina is paying off.

Absolutely certain had Pinas been available I wouldn't have won, the tactic didn't execute as nicely as I had hoped.

So... a showdown between Comets and TMP...
I can't wait. :)

We have some history in the Cup. It should be a good final.
I'm setting myself as the underdog though. The squad you've built is very impressive. I have to hope that my key weapons are on song, otherwise my backline will be thoroughly up against it!

Glad I've made it to the final, as the reigning cup holder.

Congrats Cometer on winning the cup :)
That's all I have to say... Again :)