The Non-Network Game

[lubizinho]

Current Standings
Updated whenever a post is added to this thread with scoring details + screenshots.


http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/210061d1323812425t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-season-1.png

Overview
I originally posted this to the challenge thread, but it occurred to me that maybe it fits better under the thread for Network Games. I think players drawn to network games like the competition and being able to measure their FM skills against other players. Unfortunately network games can be a pain in the ***. This is essentially a network game without the network. It's a self-paced challenge where every player starts with the same team and over a 10 year career keeps a running score to compare with other players.

We begin in the lowest reaches of the English leagues. Each participant loads Nation = England, Database = Large, and selects Team = Sutton United in the BSS. From that point forward it is up to you to determine how you want to play the next 10 years. At the end of each season your score gets posted to the top of this thread (see: Current Standings). At the end of the 10 years we do a complete tally and award the winner.

The Scoring System
At the end of each season you tally up the points your team has earned from league finish, cup performances, individual awards and team development. If your team incurred any penalties you subtract the penalty total from the season tally. Finally, you factor in any bonuses you may have gotten to arrive at the season score.

Penalties and bonus Modifiers also play a role in scoring your season and they are necessary evils. Without them the player that gets the first offer from Manchester United or Chelsea wins because he has that much more time to rack up big value wins in the EPL and Champions League. To mitigate that potential there are penalties for jumping to bigger clubs, rewards for jumping to smaller clubs, and a loyalty bonus for sticking with your original team and the players that have taken you to the top. The images below have explanations for the different achievement points, penalties and bonuses that factor into your season score:

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/210062d1323382987t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-scoring.png http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/210063d1323383026t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-penalties.png http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/210064d1323383054t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-bonuses.png


Getting Started
If you'd like to join the Non-Network Game you'll need to do the following:

• Load England
• Select a Large Database
• Start Summer 2011
• Select Sutton United in Blue Square Bet - South
• Select Sunday League Experience

Finally, this challenge would be very annoying to play with a group of strangers you suspect are cheating. If you decide to take this challenge on please do so in the spirit of fairness. Play through injuries and losing streaks. Don't use editors and cheats. Special prize to the player that posts the lowest score in each season.

I've attached PDF versions of the scoring system in the event you want to keep a copy on your computer. I look forward to seeing some of you take up the challenge. Good luck.

 

[lubizinho]

End of Season Reports / Lubiziho Season 1 Recap

End-of-Season Reports
Below you'll find my long-winded season 1 recap. If you choose not to be a blowhard like me, please make sure you include the following in your end-of-season updates:

General Info Current Season / Season Score: League/Finish: Cups/Finish: Individual Awards: # of Inbound Transfers: Team Development: Cumulative Score

Screenshots League Table Cup Finish Inbound Transfers Best 11 (League and Fans) etc...

Lubizinho - Season 1 Recap
Season 1 with Sutton United is in the books. I'm pleased with how the season went, but more importantly I'm pleased with how the scoring system pushed me to value every signing and every game. It definitely added a lot to the playing experience. I put a lot of thought into the number of transfers to make. I paid special attention to each game even deep into the season when promotion was assured. I lived and died with each win and loss. In total I racked up 230 points for the season. Here's how the 230 points were earned:

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209622d1323665693t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00002.jpg http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209621d1323665690t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00001.jpg http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209631d1323676006t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-12_00001.jpg

The league table above shows how Sutton finished. I picked up 95 points in the league plus an additional 50 points for finishing in first place. I also was named manager of the year which gave me an extra 10 points. I signed four inbound transfers which cost me 15 penalty points. At the end of the season 64% of my fan's best 11 were start-of-game players. That gave me a 90 point loyalty bonus bringing the season total to 230 points.

My first order of business with Sutton was to upgrade the staff. I cut the scouting gimp that came with the team and brought in a couple of new guys with scouting traits in the 10CA/10PA range. That instantly upped my ability to find some players that would make an impact. I also brought in a new assistant coach with better motivational techniques, man-management, and tactical knowledge. As a whole Sutton's coaching staff still sucks at training their players, but at least we can motivate our guys on game day.

After sizing up the team I opted to try to maximize my loyalist bonus in season 1 by keeping the transfers to a minimum. I started the season planning to run a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1. Knowing which formations I would use helped me organize my priorities as they pertained to transfers. I knew there were certain areas of the park that needed to be upgraded. The most obvious hole was MR. My new scouts told me about an Irish AML named Cronesberry and I liked what I saw in the scouting report. His personality (Model Professional) and positional flexibility (best on the left, but aptitude on the right) led me to believe he could help me address my MR problem. I signed him and immediately started training him to be my MR. Less glaring, but still significant was the a lack of defensive strength at DL and the creative void at MC. I signed a young DL named Lough and an MC named Holt to address those shortcomings. Realizing that I'd need some additional spine in the midfield to pull off the 4-5-1, I made my final signing of the season with a MC/DMC named Comley. All four of these players would be recognized in my fan's best 11 at the end of the season. Holt in particular starred for the team, racking up 20 assists in 44 games. Cronesberry adapted quickly the the right wing. He chipped in 11 goals and 7 assists over 45 games. He was also MoM 5 times putting him even with Taggert (the start-of-game ML).

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209623d1323665695t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00003.jpg

I'd hoped to rack up some points in the FA Cup and FA Trophy this season, but despite promising my players a high bonus if they could deliver the hardware we failed to get very far. The good news is that we beat the teams we were supposed to beat. That helped us avoid losing points in an embarrassing cup loss. The bad news is that I didn't go deep enough in either tourney to pick up points. Suck.

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209624d1323665697t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00007.jpg http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209625d1323665699t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00008.jpg

Adding to the stress of the season were some brutal injuries to key players. Leroy, the best striker on the team, kicked off the season with a hat trick. I figured he was going to lead the league in goals, but halfway through the season he went down hard with a torn calf muscle. It was ****** luck given that I could have picked up additional points for having the leading scorer and possibly the player of the year on my team. Leroy only played in 23 of 46 games for me, but ended the season as the team's leading scorer. His loss was going to be felt.

Unfortunately, the injury bug kept hammering Sutton and I didn't have too much time to worry about what might have been. When my new transfer Comley (MC/DMC) went down my ability to control the middle of the pitch was compromised. Making matters worse Riviere couldn't stay healthy. My strength in the midfield was crumbling and with it my hopes for the season.

http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209626d1323665701t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00009.jpg http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209627d1323665703t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00010.jpg http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/attachments/challenges-scenarios/209628d1323665705t-loyalist-opportunist-%96-*********-2011-12-11_00011.jpg

From mid-January to mid-February I was struggling to adjust. I avoided defeat, but drew 5 of 7 games over that stretch. The defense gets credit for keeping games close while my second, third and fourth string FC's practiced firing shots at anything but the goal. January to March Sutton only seemed capable of scoring off of set plays. Quite a few times my young DCs picked up the MoM with late-game, heroic headers off of Holt's well placed corner service. By April the team had figured out how to score without Leroy. Riviere was back in regular action and the three-headed FC monster (Dundas, Woods-Garress, and Watkins) had figured out how to score an occasional goal. Sutton didn't drop a single point in April, closing out the season with 5 straight wins on the road to promotion to the Blue Bet Premiere league.

So, I put up a 230 point first season. I'm sure that score can be destroyed and I invite some of you to take a crack at it. I'll be updating the "current standings" screen on the original post with my score. Please let me know if you would like to have your name in lights on that as well.