Hattrick

[Elwood]

Originally posted by Rastlin
Alright...I'm about to switch training to midfield and I was just curious as to if someone might have the knowledge as to how long it takes to increase star ratings.


Not sure if any know how long star increasing takes, but stars are, largely, irrelevant. They depend on both skill and form, and form is freaky weird.

Playmaking is supposed to take just a little bit longer than scoring to increase a level. As I've never trained it, I'll repeat what I've heard. And that is it's 7-8 weeks to level in playmaking, assuming the trainee is 7 weeks old, and a solid coach with full assistants. Add a week, more or less, per year older than 17, and for coach level less than solid.

Based on my experience with scoring (which is supposed to take, "6-7" weeks), and I'd not expect to have a guy go up in playmaking for 8 weeks. Been training scoring for 18 months or so, and have NEVER had a guy raise in only 6 weeks.

Also, stamina has a huge effect on star ratings for inners. Make sure to get them all to excellent ASAP.

[kopiteinkc]

Managed to win my league match 3-0 and I "played it cool" too, so that was good.

Anyone pull good youth players this week, mine was a real duffer, most likely he'll be fired if he doesn't get sold for a dollar :)

[Lone Star]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
Managed to win my league match 3-0 and I "played it cool" too, so that was good.

Anyone pull good youth players this week, mine was a real duffer, most likely he'll be fired if he doesn't get sold for a dollar :)
I won my league match 3-1 to leapfrog from 7th to 4th place in II.1. Set personal records with an extra-terrestrial midfield rating and 43 stars. Although it sucks that I lost my first match at home, I'm happy to have taken 2 of my last 3 matches (including an away win). It's gonna be a dogfight, though.

My youth pull was an 18 year old passable defender. he's on the market with a $10,000 opening bid. However, anyone with some loose change should look at my 21 year old brilliant midfielder on the market, Bobby Muniz. Last bid this morning took it to $2,800,000. He needs a good home.

:-)

Panther City FC
II.1
#14 in the USA for Round 4, according to http://usa.hatstats.info/

[ArsenalTexan3]

I lost 10-0. :( Then again it was the first place team in the league. I was 2nd, but now I'm 3rd. Lost my best forward for a few games. Had training on goalkeeping(keepers are poor and wretched...eek).

[champmanager]

I pulled a 17 year old passable winger, solid defender this weekend. I was hoping to get at least 200k for him. He went for 380,000 English pounds. YaHOO!

[Stoffelhawk]

Today, I've a friendly, as a testmatch for next sunday.

I've to play sunday against nr.1 (I'm also nr.1 in my league). And today, we're gonna practice.

I'M GONNA BEAT HIM YEAH !!!!

[kopiteinkc]

So, how did everyone do in the latest cup matches/friendlies?

[Darr]

I'm out of the cup now... Anyone want a friendly feel free to challenge me, or if you guys think we have enough for a cup let me know....


Nocturnal United

[Darr]

According to http://usa.hatstats.info/ I'm the 13th ranked team in Div V... And my series is ranked 6th... Considering I'm leading my series that makes me feel pretty good... :)


Gotta love all these useless, addictive, statistics that are around...

[ArsenalTexan3]

I lost 9-0(ouch!), decided my current coach had to go, have lost my key players, hit the transfer market and grabed 4 players(3 forwards, 1 mid) at a combined price of $17 grand. Most of them were at the deadline and they are all fairly young. Need to get the defense working again, but hopefully this fresh blood with allow me to mix and match.

[Elwood]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
So, how did everyone do in the latest cup matches/friendlies?

Won a squeaker, 2-1. At the last minute, I pulled my top 2 inners out of the lineup, and so my 3 inners were my #3, my normal winger, and my normal sub. Also my 3 forwards were my backup set of trainees. Thankfully I kept my starters in on defense and at keeper, otherwise it would have been an embarrassing loss (first ML team out would kinda suck).

One thing that seems odd (to me, at least) is that I see a lot of people saying that my backups would "crush" their starters. I don't get it. Not sure how other owners run their teams, but in goal, on defense and in the midfield, I don't have a single backup better than solid, and thats only one. Backup keeper is inadequate, backup winger - inadequate, backup defender - passable. My fowards, well, I train scoring, so a couple excellent scorers in the 2nd 3.

So am I doing something wrong by not having the good backups everyone seems to think I have? Lonestar?

Indy Racing
ML Fringe Team

[Lone Star]

Originally posted by Elwood
So am I doing something wrong by not having the good backups everyone seems to think I have? Lonestar?
How'd I get dragged into this?

:-)

I try to run my team like I would if it were real, it adds to my enjoyment of the game. So I do things like maintain a 22 player roster (starters and a reserve club), try to have a stable of backups who are decent players, and try to keep my lineup relatively young.

Since I train midfield, obviously I have some reserve players better then solid. The highest is outstanding since I just sold my brilliant trainee this week. My backup keeper is excellent, but I guess for the most part the remaining reserves are solid at the very least. If I purchase a World Class striker, for example, then I sell the weakest or oldest or simply most expendable reserve and nudge the remaining 3 players a notch down on the depth chart.

As for my cup match, I won 7-2. I was worried there for a bit when it was tied 2-2, but I guess stamina and possession won the day.

Panther City FC
II.1
My kingdom for a World Class goalie

[champmanager]

Originally posted by Elwood


One thing that seems odd (to me, at least) is that I see a lot of people saying that my backups would "crush" their starters. I don't get it. Not sure how other owners run their teams, but in goal, on defense and in the midfield, I don't have a single backup better than solid, and thats only one. Backup keeper is inadequate, backup winger - inadequate, backup defender - passable. My fowards, well, I train scoring, so a couple excellent scorers in the 2nd 3.



I've been burned so many times by having key players injured suspended/injured before crucial games that I have a very deep squad. Its not by choice, but by necessity. Right now I've got my best midfielder on wretched form (just improved to weak) and my 2nd best injured in the cup and out for three weeks -- and I've got to play away at the co-leaders sunday. So I had no choice but to go out and pay 350k pounds (my whole wad from the 17 yr I sold last weekend) for a 29 year old temporary starter/ longterm backup. I could sell him when the first team is ready but I know the same thing will probably happen before the end of the season.
My depth does tend to be on the old side though. Its not like I have non-training 21 year olds riding the pine.

BTW I lost in the cup, ticks me off.

[Golazo]

a) What's the best placement anyone's ever heard of for a new GM inheriting? (i.e. I came in with a team in 7th in v; has anyone ever heard of coming in new with a 2nd place team in ii?)

b) do i gather correctly that attendance at a friendly is some sort of function of the quality of both teams put together, plus a premium on international friendlies? i've been scheduling friendlies against teams toward the bottom of vi divisions (as i am in v), but would it be better to try to play against better teams and not worry about getting thrashed?

c) if b) is correct, then there must be some threshold where the teams' quality in a friendly is enough to offset the $6k in travel costs (which seem pretty harsh to a lowly v gm like myself). any guesses?

thanks in advance.

[Lone Star]

Originally posted by Golazo
a) What's the best placement anyone's ever heard of for a new GM inheriting? (i.e. I came in with a team in 7th in vi; has anyone ever heard of coming in new with a 2nd place team in ii?)

b) do i gather correctly that attendance at a friendly is some sort of function of the quality of both teams put together, plus a premium on international friendlies? i've been scheduling friendlies against teams toward the bottom of vi divisions (as i am in vi), but would it be better to try to play against better teams and not worry about getting thrashed?

c) if b) is correct, then there must be some threshold where the teams' quality in a friendly is enough to offset the $6k in travel costs (which seem pretty harsh to a lowly vi gm like myself). any guesses?

thanks in advance.
I'll take a stab at answering your questions........

a) New teams can only be placed in the bottom two divisions of any league, currently D5 and D6 in the USA I think. When I started almost 2 years ago there were only 4 divisions in the USA, and I got placed in the horribly difficult III.1.

Also, where you get placed in a division it really doesn't matter since you get all new players, and horrible players at that. Someone could join in week 14 and take the reins of a club that has already clinched promotion to a higher division next season, but a 14 match butt-kicking is what you'd get.

b) I THINK that friendly attendance depends largely on whether or not the visiting team is higher ranked then the host, and the size of the host's stadium. International friendlies give your club more experience then a normal friendly, as well as a bit more attendance. Playing a friendly 'Cup Rules' as opposed to 'Normal' gives an attendance boost as well. If I were you, I'd challenge tons of higher division International clubs to play in your stadium. As a D2 club, those are the challenges I accept. The crowd money eclipses the $6,000 I spend, most of the time.

c) I honestly can't see how you playing an away international friendly could offset the travel costs. I'd try to lure as many higher level foreign clubs as possible to play in your stadium. Sweden is crawling with them since up to 20,000 clubs are looking for a match each week.


Panther City FC
II.1

[kopiteinkc]

I was fortunate enough to be able to "play it cool" in my league match and win 6-1 away this weekend.

I think my midfield (4 solids and one passable) in a 3-5-2 is strong enough to keep me unbeaten until I go back to the hell that is div iv! :)

My increase in support has been noticeable and I have more than 1,000 season ticket holders now.

[ArsenalTexan3]

I'm in a slump. Have lost the past 4 games(2 friendlies and 2 league) in a row. I think it is time to train the defense for a while. Maybe buy some cheap passable defense help.

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by ArsenalTexan3
I'm in a slump. Have lost the past 4 games(2 friendlies and 2 league) in a row. I think it is time to train the defense for a while. Maybe buy some cheap passable defense help.

On training. I have found that you need to pick one skill and stick with it for a long time. At least a couple of seasons to see it pay off.

I wouldn't switch from one week to the next. Also, don't try to get success too quickly.

Just my 2 cents ... what do I know I got relegated last year :)

[Golazo]

I read in the rules that between seasons one can change the name of one's team (not stadium). Does anyone remember how much this costs?

[Lone Star]

Originally posted by Golazo
I read in the rules that between seasons one can change the name of one's team (not stadium). Does anyone remember how much this costs?
Ooooohhhh, good question.

Isn't it like 10% loss in supporters or sponsor money or something? Anyone? Other then that, I'm not sure.

Panther City FC
II.1
Have never changed my name........