Hattrick

[Helghallen]

Originally posted by AAGunner3
I had no problems whatsoever getting registered after the Sweden loss. But you can be there were a ton of people trying to get registered in the middle of a WC to express their disproval. I would expect less than immediate approval.

I think it's a good thing. You don't want foreign teams gaining insight into our strategy. Some thing led the US Manager to believe that Sweden was going to play a certain way. If I'm the Swedish Manager and I heard that, I'd make a change. With controlled access to US Nat forums, that can't happen.

This makes sound strategic sense, as long as everyone can get on to voice their opinion. But then again, the coach shouldn't be making public his game plan either.

[AAGunner3]

Originally posted by Helghallen
This makes sound strategic sense, as long as everyone can get on to voice their opinion. But then again, the coach shouldn't be making public his game plan either.

But in this game, people who aren't the Nat Coach like and want to offer their opinions. Not to mention it's a good learning tool for the rest of us. Now, the coach doesn't have to listen to other's opinion or share what he's doing, but then that would P'O a lot of people who want to feel that they have taken part in the National Team process....

[Helghallen]

Originally posted by AAGunner3
But in this game, people who aren't the Nat Coach like and want to offer their opinions. Not to mention it's a good learning tool for the rest of us. Now, the coach doesn't have to listen to other's opinion or share what he's doing, but then that would P'O a lot of people who want to feel that they have taken part in the National Team process....

I apologize, I wasn't really clear. We are saying the same thing. I think opinion should be given. This is our team too. I think the nats coach should listen to us, but I don't think he should indicate what he actually plans on doing. If this is going to present a problem, then a closed forum would be best.

[kopiteinkc]

I have had an excellent youth squad for at least a season, maybe longer.

My youth pull yesterday totally sucked and is on sale for a $1,000, I probably should have fired him.
:(

[Craig P]

I think the controversy over the HT Forums is overblown. IMO slashers overreacted (somewhat) to TP6 being a little careless in carrying discussion that had taken place there over into the conferences. I'll be interested to see if OP channels a real backlash against the whole situation, or if everyone is over that. OP seems to be the only manager who has no interest at all in the HT Forums.

I do think there's a place for other managers offering advice to the national team coach; we fill a role similar to that of an assistant coach, in my view. A closed forum isn't essential for such discussion, but it is necessary for the coach to provide enough information that we can offer more specific insights, rather than general strategic directions.

[Helghallen]

How many of us have supporter? And for those of you who do, would any of be interested in a Big Soccer Federation on Hattrick? Perhaps MOBSters? Members of Big Soccer. Then again, this is really our conference here. So maybe not.

[Chris Caron]

In a way having a Big Soccer Fed would be good and in another bad. Here we have a stable platform and open discussion. With a fed we could split out the topics and sometimes that's nice. I currently have my third fed slot open...can never seem to find a good one...it has been keeper training fed...christian fed...Pirates Fed...who knows what next.

On the national team thing...I think people should be able to work with the Nat Manager and express an opinion. But I for one have to much else going on (3 fantasy games, and an HT Tournament) to add another site and think that Onion's idea to bring the bulk of the National team conversation back to HT would slide it back into the USA's thoughts and allow newer managers to assimilate better and see the importance of setting up a training program for their own club.

I also agree that the USA clubs should be able to have input into the National team. But OnionPatch is really the only one saying that he wants input but that in the end he's the one that will taking the rap and making the decisions. All the other candidates would lead you to believe that they intend to manage by proxy. That's not the truth. Never was and never will. OnionPatch has a creative approach. I think that of all the managers in the election this year the one closest to pulling out a surprise tactic like Norway did to Sweden is OnionPatch.

And really there is only one other manager in the election that has nearly the experience he does.

[kuhnscoot]

Originally posted by Chris Caron
In a way having a Big Soccer Fed would be good and in another bad. Here we have a stable platform and open discussion. With a fed we could split out the topics and sometimes that's nice. I currently have my third fed slot open...can never seem to find a good one...it has been keeper training fed...christian fed...Pirates Fed...who knows what next.

I also agree that the USA clubs should be able to have input into the National team. But OnionPatch is really the only one saying that he wants input but that in the end he's the one that will taking the rap and making the decisions. All the other candidates would lead you to believe that they intend to manage by proxy. That's not the truth. Never was and never will. OnionPatch has a creative approach. I think that of all the managers in the election this year the one closest to pulling out a surprise tactic like Norway did to Sweden is OnionPatch.

And really there is only one other manager in the election that has nearly the experience he does.

I have to agree on both counts here, while a BS fed would be good, I'm getting supporter when I get home this summer, I think here we get the opinions of more people then just those with supporter.

On the elections, from what I've read, OnionPatch certainly seems like one of the better candidates, and he has the right idea, listen to ideas, but make the final decision yourself.

ur_land: how many do we got for the BS Cup so far? And who all has signed up? Just curious as to what we are looking at here.

[AAGunner3]

Originally posted by Chris Caron
...OnionPatch is really the only one saying that he wants input but that in the end he's the one that will taking the rap and making the decisions. All the other candidates would lead you to believe that they intend to manage by proxy. That's not the truth. Never was and never will.

I expect the Nat Mgr to take the rap and make the decisions. I don't think Slashers was avoiding responsibility. But he was definitely open to other's thoughts/ideas on how to approach the cup. Do you think it was proxy that led him to MOTS Sweden?

I don't think other candidates are saying that they intend to lead by proxy. I think they are trying to say that they will keep the lines of communication open with US managers. The last thing we want is a manager that is unsociable/non-communicative with the US population. The US managers would quickly become apathetic to the US Nat team in that situation.

[Chris Caron]

But that's what most of the candidates are saying...they are emphasizing that US Managers will get to have their say in running the team...when we all know that it just doesn't work that way. I think everyone has said that they want to keep the lines of communication open. But to what that means they defer on. I find it a bit unrealistic in some cases.

[Craig P]

I'd be surprised if any of the managers are looking for more than additional viewpoints to factor into their own decision-making process. I certainly don't read any of them as saying they're looking for more than ideas that they might have overlooked. Indeed, I think at least one of the candidates has indicated that while he still wants to see the tactical discussion beforehand, he has no intention of joining in it himself.

If I were running, my viewpoint would be that it would be foolish to discard the collected wisdom of the other managers, particularly the most experienced ones, but that in the end the decisions would be mine alone. I'm seeing a similar attitude in most of the candidates, including the ones for whom I'm most interested in voting.

[Helghallen]

Originally posted by Craig P
I'd be surprised if any of the managers are looking for more than additional viewpoints to factor into their own decision-making process. I certainly don't read any of them as saying they're looking for more than ideas that they might have overlooked. Indeed, I think at least one of the candidates has indicated that while he still wants to see the tactical discussion beforehand, he has no intention of joining in it himself.

This would be my thinking. It would be nice to get the advice of the others, maybe have private confabs with some of them, but the decisions would be mine and I would not indicate my leanings and I sure as hell wouldn't announce what I was doing.

[MLS SupaStr3]

Originally posted by Helghallen
This would be my thinking. It would be nice to get the advice of the others, maybe have private confabs with some of them, but the decisions would be mine and I would not indicate my leanings and I sure as hell wouldn't announce what I was doing.

i think u should have an assistant coach appointed to the nats team too and let him be able to put in input that the coach has to approve

[Chris Caron]

My fellow HT players from the USA...I have stomped my last stomp...I have beat my last bush...I have kissed my last baby. If nominated I will decline...if elected I will not serve...if promoted I will hide :-)

Okay enough elections...how about that open cup tomorrow night :-)

[Helghallen]

Originally posted by Chris Caron
Okay enough elections...how about that open cup tomorrow night :-)

I agree. I've been so bored without games. What are everyone's plans for the Cup. I know I have no chance to get anywhere near the top, but I hope to get 4 rounds in. My series is all bots and I should have cakewalks in most of the games. Because of this, I can probably afford to PIC some league games to give myself a leg up in the Cup games. My first round opponent took over his team on 2/22/04 and has not really done anything with his team since he got it, except for buying a solid keeper. Which he immediately turned and tried to sell. It didn't work.

How does everyone else feel about their chances in the first few rounds? And on that note: Good luck to everyone in their games.

And Chris, you get my vote :D

[Chris Caron]

Last year I breezed through two bots and then got a real weak Div. IV club that ended up auto demoting...I could have nailed him but I wanted to get going on organizing and playing the North Carolina Cup...so I put my B-Team out and lost. This year though I'm going to take it to the opposition. In fact if I don't go 5 or 6 rounds into the Open Cup I will be in serious debt (or still in serious debt) well into season 23...barring a miracle out of my YS. So we start with a PIC against the Indiana Knights. BTW...if you check out post #16 in the USA Conference thread "Bot Appreciation Week", you'll see my take on the opposition.

[kuhnscoot]

First off, vote for Chris, cause it's good for BS. :D

On my cup run, I am hoping to making three rounds at least, as I have the past two seasons. My series has gotten harder this year and therefore I can not afford to place my second team out for league games and my number 1 in cup games. I am ready for a good old fashion bot stomp in the first round though. Last year, I struggled against my bot because I played both my striker trainee's who were not very good at the time. This year they are better and will play. My second round opponent has been human the past two years, so I'm planning on a second away game in the second round, before playing a home game against a low div IV player or a high div V player. Should be fun either way. Give me a chance to run up some scores for my players.

[Craig P]

Originally posted by Helghallen
What are everyone's plans for the Cup.PIC the bot, pray for no WTF result, and await my next draw. Aim to stay in as long as possible.

In my botmatch tonight, I'll be making a break from past choices and playing many of my first-choice players. I'm angling for experience. In particular, I'd like to get one of my players to solid experience (or higher) so I can turn him into a coach cheaply.

I know I have no chance to get anywhere near the top, but I hope to get 4 rounds in.Sounds like my plan as well, although this season I might wind up with an away game in round 3 in which case I'll try for an upset in round 4 (if I'm not completely overmatched).

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by Helghallen
How does everyone else feel about their chances in the first few rounds? And on that note: Good luck to everyone in their games.


Good luck to everyone tonight in the cup.

My plans? Like every else, try to go as far as I can without sacrificing my training program.

It really doesn't make sense for me to play all my starters on Sunday and Wednesday. My series is too tough to play backs up in the league.

I hope to get two easy cup matches, which my youngsters should be able to handle.

After that I'll see whether it's worth it to switch my league and cup line-up for a week. My fourth league match is away to last season's #1 team, so I might PiC that one with the reserves to give me a shot in the cup that week. We'll see how my league opposition fares in the first two or three weeks though.

As a #4 team from last season I am stuck with 3 out of my first 4 matches away, so I could do with the cup revenue.

Since starting at the tail-end of season 16 I have yet to have a home cup match, maybe this season I will.

[Craig P]

Hey, everyone, don't forget to set your PK lineup for your cup match!