[Spiro_In_San_Jose]

There are three league matches remaining in hattrick. Right now, the standings in my group look like this:

1st place: 29 points.
2nd place: 28 points.
3rd place (me): 25 points.

I play the number one team next match.
The number two team plays the number 7 team which is an easy win.

Following week I play the 2nd place team.
The number one team plays the number 8 team which is an easy win.

Third week I play the number 5 team, which I should win.
The number one and two teams play each other.



Now I am wondering what you all would do in this scenario. I was thinking of MOTS my next match against the number one, but then I would play the number two in a PIC the following week which will probably be a loss.



Ughhhhh I am so confused on what to do. Suggestions are welcome. BTW league ID is 27378 for anyone who would like a better understanding of what is going on. What do you guys think?

[ZeekLTK]

Well, basically if #1 vs #2 does not end in a draw, you really have no chance to win the title. But, assuming the best happens and the top 2 do draw, that is 4 points they are going to get in each of their two games not involving you which brings their totals up to 33 and 32 respectively. You have 25, by winning all 3 games you'd get 9 points and finish with 34. That's really the only possible scenerio you have. If either #1 or #2 wins that last match, even if they lose to you, they will still get 6 points from their last 3 games and either finish with 35 (#1 wins) or 34 (#2 wins) and since both lead you on goal difference (and I assume it will only get worse as they each play an easier team than you do for their 'cakewalk' game) then you're out of it, even if you do 'tie' #2 for first with 34.

I'm not too familiar with MOTS (I've only used it once... which was tonight against the #3 team in my league and I won 4-0, but haven't had to deal with the repercussions yet) so I'm wondering if maybe you could just MOTS both games vs #1 and #2? The only disadvantage to this would be that it would give you a higher chance of being upset vs #5 and also your TS would be terrible if you had to play a qualifier (but maybe you could also MOTS that since TS resets in the off-season?)

If you can't use multiple MOTS then I would suggest saving it for the #2 team, since that game is on the road and you will be able to use your PIC vs the #5 team, who you should probably beat anyways (right?). You play #1 at home, so you just need to figure out how to use your home field advantage to pick up the win and then throw your MOTS at #2. I'm guessing both sides will be saving their MOTS for their final showdown agaisnt each other so whenever you do use it, you should have the advantage.

Hope that was helpful. I'm still kinda new to the game (this is my first season and I'm in 6th :/) but at least I tried, right? Anyways, good luck!

[Craig P]

There are a couple of issues here. First is that your first match is at home and your second match is away, so if you burn TS against #1 you'll be in rough shape in the midfield against #2. Second is that if #1 is on the ball, recognizing that s/he can PIC against #8, s/he may MOTS you (if s/he doesn't think there's a clear advantage to their team). Although you have to worry about TS and being on the road against #2, you have an advantage in that they can't MOTS you safely because of the closing match against #1.

I'd probably play normal-MOTS, but I'm not really secure on that call.

BTW, the series ID isn't of much use because there isn't a search tool for that. The series is VI.42.

[kopiteinkc]

I would play normal this week, but play both of your outside defenders "defensive"

He plays a 3-4-3 and will overrun your backline without some help.

You match up with him quite well and you might want to look at your secondaries of your inner mids. If you have one with any defensive qualities I would consider playing one inner mid defensively also.

I would consider MOTS against the #2 team and MOTS again in your last match. Then your TS resets anyway.

As the likelihood of getting #1 is slim, if you lose this weekend I would normal the next match as you would have no chance of promotion.

[Spiro_In_San_Jose]

Alright then thanks for the help all. What stinks is that last season I ended in fourth without playing the full season. I played the full season this time and will probably end in third it looks like. On this pace it will take me another season and a half to get promoted! lol

[Craig P]

I'm finishing up that sequence now, except that I might not win the series this season, and if I do win the series, I probably won't promote.