CONFERENCE TWO

[Mancunian_Nick]

I did wonder, Brads, to be honest. No points are usually easy against the likes of Blades and others, although was very grateful for the 3 points.

Hoping for a better season this time than last. Disappointed not to be in top 8 to be honest. Oh well c'est la vie. 

[Chili]

I was hoping you'd run your default ATs again last night, Stato! Noticed you had been on to change your ATs, so had to change them last minute. I was hoping for a lucky break, really disappointing.

[Stato1]

Just do random tactics when I can be bothered m8 you should win the league easy this season

Stato

[Chili]

You never know mate, have a history of always screwing up in the end.

On a different note, using 9 reserves tonight. Let's grab some popcorn and see my two players from the starting eleven get injuried or go AWOL tomorrow.

[Mancunian_Nick]

Just do random tactics when I can be bothered m8 you should win the league easy this season

Stato

So ruddy typical you were "bothered" when you played ME then!

Started off so well then lost one of my best midfielders for about 10 days then he comes back, then gets injured again for another 12 days closely followed by one of my best strikers for ANOTHER 12 days. The game's conspiring against me it would seem. How the mighty have fallen. 

Anyway starting to come back now so fingers crossed. 

[davo]

I have been doing random tactics for 95% of games since I joined "smokey". I have been setting all my fixtures up at the start of the season for the past 4 seasons and  playing 5-2-3 longball in all weather - and I have probably had my best form on smokey doing that.....sad really.

I used to spend ages researching peoples previous tactics back in the old days on the other servers, but I really cannot be arsed to do that anymore. It's no real benefit anyway as it is all guesswork about how the opponent will set up - plus the ME makes a nonsense of the management aspect of the game.

[Mancunian_Nick]

Sadly I have to agree with you there, davo. Games I think I have sewn up then go pear shaped. I even lost a game not too long ago when my opponent scored in the 90th minute for heaven's sake! I suspect what you say about the ME is absolutely true. Oh well.

Incidently, I guess this has probably been discussed before but is there some kind of bug with this 5-2-3 malarky that many of you seem to do or is it just a matter of that gets you maximum gelling because I'd always thought gelling wasn't really much of an aspect (impact?) on games? Just curious. Sadly I don't have enough good defenders to do that. 4-3-3 is the best I can muster at the moment. tra-la-la (was going to say oh well again but don't like to repeat myself )

[Chili]

My theory is that when CG initially programmed this game, they obviously made it so that player stats would play a significant role. However, due to the nature of the defenders, a squad running 5-2-3 would rarely reach the same total stats as a team with five midfielders. My guess is that they lowered the significance of players stats for 5-2-3 drastically, otherwise there would be literally no reason to ever use anything besides a 5 midfield formation.

However, lots of the top teams do have ridiculously strong defenders. So they get the natural advantage of using 5-2-3 and are easily able to match a 4-5-1 squad in terms of stats, which I reckon completely cancels out whatever disadvantage you might get from playing Longball in the sun or wind. That, and the added bonus of perfect gelling and morale for every match.

[Brads]

I'm not so sure, don't get me wrong as a generic formation 523 is the best out there!

I still wouldn't use it in 451 conditions though as I don't think you score as many goals and in tough conferences that can be key

[Chili]

I agree! I feel like many of those 1-1 draws with 5-2-3 becomes a 2-1 victory with 4-5-1. On the other hand, I feel like 5-2-3 are less prone to random goals against them, so plenty of 0-0 draws are turned into a 0-1 loss. I think 5-2-3 is a necessary evil in this game, there needs to be other effective formations other than just 4-5-1 imo.

I think both formations has a purpose, though. Personally I think 5-2-3 is well-suited for a crazy competitive league where no team can win by a landslide, whereas 4-5-1 is much better in a league with only a few competitive teams. If one team goes to win the majority of their games, you kind of have to do the same, and that's more difficult with 5-2-3 since you are less likely to get rewarded with random goals. However, in a league without any completely dominant teams, earning a draw can sometimes count for a win.

[Chili]

Thought for sure somebody was going to catch up the minute my form dropped but finally dodged that bullet.

Now I just have catch up in Rocking Soccer! I think I bought one of your players the other day, Alex. You should join us in the Australian league.

[Brads]

Well done mate!

Losing to you 2 last week really ended any chance I had

[womble]

Now I just have catch up in Rocking Soccer! I think I bought one of your players the other day, Alex. You should join us in the Australian league.

Yes you bought my dodgy keeper the other day. You got yourself a bargain 

[captain_kush]

As Arnie would say, "I'll be back"

[Mancunian_Nick]

Last post 15th July? Hmmm. About time I kick started some life back into this thread methinks. What's up people, cat got your tongues?!