Hattrick

[kopiteinkc]

I managed to draw a very weak bot team and won 6-0 away.

My stamina helped as I got most of the goals in the second half.

I have another bot team in the next round, which is a little stronger and I have to consider carefully whether to PiC again. Hmmm ....

I'd like to get a home match in the cup, never had one.

[ArsenalTexan3]

Originally posted by Craig P
Damn, that sucks. Quite the edge in possession you had in the second half, too. :(

Do you always play a 4-3-3 with only two inner midfielders? That's a, um, atypical formation.

yeah I know and get this according to the supporter stats, the only top player the other team had was the guy who scored. :(

About my line up, I used to do the 4-4-2, but have switched to 4-3-3 with 2 normal midfielders and moving a winger towards the middle.

However with this game, I left my winger where he was and had him be offensive.

I'm almost debating though to move one of my outside d backs to extra midfield and then moving my other d back to the middle and go with a 3-4-3 formation.

I don't know. If I can win the league opener, I'll be in good shape. I just can't start off with a 3 game win streak and the go downhill like I did last season. Then again, the 10-0 thrashing I got didn't help either.

[Craig P]

The problem with only two inner mids is that you're not likely to win the midfield battle, unless playing the wing towards middle, one or both central defenders offensive, and one or more forwards defensive can approximate another inner mid.

Elwood uses a 3-4-3, so it can't be all bad. :D

[kopiteinkc]

The first team you play have a stronger midfield than you and even though you are at home you are likely to lose this one.

My advice is to strengthen your midfield to make your team more competitive. Having only 3 in there is going to cause you problems. I would recommend at least 4 if not 5 midfielders.

I have seen some on the hattrick boards recommend "Playing it Cool" in matches they are likely to lose (to boost team spirit) you might want to consider that in your first match and see if it helps in your second. I have never tried that.

The formation you choose really depends on your training regimen. What are you training this season? That often determines how many you need in each position.

[Elwood]

Originally posted by ArsenalTexan3
yeah I know and get this according to the supporter stats, the only top player the other team had was the guy who scored. :(

About my line up, I used to do the 4-4-2, but have switched to 4-3-3 with 2 normal midfielders and moving a winger towards the middle.

However with this game, I left my winger where he was and had him be offensive.

I'm almost debating though to move one of my outside d backs to extra midfield and then moving my other d back to the middle and go with a 3-4-3 formation.

I don't know. If I can win the league opener, I'll be in good shape. I just can't start off with a 3 game win streak and the go downhill like I did last season. Then again, the 10-0 thrashing I got didn't help either.

I would just say that playing without 3 inner midfielders is just asking to lose games to teams you have better overall players than. The only conceivable way I can see to make 4-3-3 work would be to go winger-less, with 2 CDs and 2 offensive WBs. Not that I think that would WORK, but it's the only I way I can see it having a CHANCE to work.

At least under the current rules. HT 6.5 might change things slightly, but it's hard to speculate without getting to test it out.

If you have a strong defense and a strong midfield, but weak attack, you can compete. If you have a strong offense and strong attack, but weak defense, you can compete. But if you have a strong offense and strong defense, but weak midfield, you're simply toast.

As for my 3-4-3, my 'winger' would probably be a starting inner for 90% of the US teams (ok, maybe only 80%). In other words, he's not a winger at all, but an inner played towards middle. It's all an effort to get a good midfield while playing 3-4-3 (to train scoring). After this season, I get a 2 season respite from that problem, as I'll play 3-5-2 while I switch training (to winger), but then I get to experiment again, training defending.

[champmanager]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc


I have seen some on the hattrick boards recommend "Playing it Cool" in matches they are likely to lose (to boost team spirit) you might want to consider that in your first match and see if it helps in your second. I have never tried that.



Me neither, and I was going to say something about it. Aside from the serious goal difference issue, doesn't getting your ass whupped have any effect on team spirit/confidence/fan club support? I alwasy figured it did, and have never tried it, not even when I was playing against Hackers United in the English Cup a while back (they're in the Premier League now. I MOTsed and still couldn't get a shot at goal).
I always thought the American league was bigger than the English league, but I drew a human-run div VI team in the first round, who I demolished handily, playing it cool. I can play it cool sudnay against a walk-over team (and I'm going on vacation next week, and don't have to worry about changing my lineup due to injuries from a walkover), can pic against my next cup opponent (another div 6 human team), and probably can pic against my next league opponent, which would leave my team spirit pretty high when I have to travel away to the only team which can hope to contend with me this season. Its nice to be able to think ahead.
I trained set pieces for the first tiem ever and saw my two solids go to excellent, and an 18 year old passable striker I pulled in the last week of the season went from passable to solid. I don't recall seeing a player with set pieces better than excellent. Is it like stamina, or do people just not bother?

[ArsenalTexan3]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
The formation you choose really depends on your training regimen. What are you training this season? That often determines how many you need in each position.

I have been training shooting since my last friendly several weeks ago. Might go with either playmaking or defending next week.

Here is what I have gotten from the last line up, a 3-5-2 with the right inner cb going in as an extra forward. I'm going with PIC, but to go with a 3-4-3 formation or a 5-4-1(http://hem.passagen.se/hammervald/abc_of_tactics/abc_of_tactics_index.htm is where I got that idea).

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by ArsenalTexan3
I have been training shooting since my last friendly several weeks ago. Might go with either playmaking or defending next week.

Here is what I have gotten from the last line up, a 3-5-2 with the right inner cb going in as an extra forward. I'm going with PIC, but to go with a 3-4-3 formation or a 5-4-1(http://hem.passagen.se/hammervald/abc_of_tactics/abc_of_tactics_index.htm is where I got that idea).

I am no expert in this game by any means, but the general advice I've seen tends to encourage training a skill for at least a whole season (without changing) for it to be effective.

Seems to me you should pick one skill and stick with it for a while. Then choose a formation that suits.

[ArsenalTexan3]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
I am no expert in this game by any means, but the general advice I've seen tends to encourage training a skill for at least a whole season (without changing) for it to be effective.

Seems to me you should pick one skill and stick with it for a while. Then choose a formation that suits.

Cheers and I think I'll try this advice.

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by ArsenalTexan3
Cheers and I think I'll try this advice.

No problem.

I am itching to get this new season underway. I am curious to see how I do against my new foes, I don't think my young squad is ready for div iv, but I bought a couple of great players today and got my stamina ratings up in the off season, So who knows.

[Elwood]

Originally posted by ArsenalTexan3
Cheers and I think I'll try this advice.

I definitely would recommend that, too. In fact, I'd recommend at least 2, if not 3 seasons, at minimum. If not planning to train one skill "forever".

It's the most efficient way to train up skills, as well as the most profitable. And the best skills, for profit, are playmaking, defending, scoring and keeping, with winger possibly now a good one, too (with HT 6.5 especially).

[Darr]

Jason Johnson (14893515)
17 years, passable form, healthy

A pleasant guy who is temperamental and honest.
Has disastrous experience and solid leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 90 000 US$
Wage: 920 US$/week
Owner: Nocturnal United
Warnings: 0

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

Well now I get to see what it's like having an 17 year old excellent pull... Anyone know anyone training scoring, HINT ELWOOD, let them know theres a trainee waiting for them... :P To bad about his passing though...

[ArsenalTexan3]

Well this has been my best so far.


Elías Hernandez (14894625)
19 years, passable form, healthy

A pleasant guy who is calm and dishonest.
Has disastrous experience and passable leadership abilities.

Nationality: USA
Assessed value: 44 000 US$
Wage: 720 US$/week
Owner: Dallas Red Knights
Warnings: 0


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

My very first passable pull. Two weeks ago inadequate was the best I did.

[Footer Phooter]

I pulled 17 y.o. who's inadequate in PM, passing, scoring, and winger. I guess I'll keep him.

[kopiteinkc]

Even with an excellent youth squad, mine was worthless and has been fired already.

I did get a solid defender/pass winger last week so I shouldn't complain.

[ArsenalTexan3]

Well my youth squad has now just reached solid so if they suck when they come up, on the transfer list they go.

[ArsenalTexan3]

So how did everyone do? I lost, but only by 4-0(compared to a 10-0 last season) with PIC. Hopefully I can rebound from this.

[kopiteinkc]

Managed to win 7-1, but against easily the weakest team, could be my only 3 points until I face the same team again.

I play the top two teams in the next couple of weeks. Ugh!

[Footer Phooter]

Originally posted by ArsenalTexan3
So how did everyone do? I lost, but only by 4-0(compared to a 10-0 last season) with PIC. Hopefully I can rebound from this.


Wow. 4-0. I would get ticked losing 4-0, even when I was in div. iii.

[Craig P]

Got a 1 - 0 away win against the #3 from last season, with them faring a lot better from the experience hike than me (#2, #3, and #5 have gone from mid-40's NSI to low-50's NSI). Possession was 52% to them in the first half, 52% to me in the second half. Bad news is I had three players carded, I expect I may make an appearance in the Hatstats "misunderstood" list.