Running Riot
Blurrily, it says: “Coventry City showing great form, extend their winning streak to 5!!” —
(That’s a very debatable comma.)
The next opponents – Dinamo Zagreb – spoiled the party a little. They broke my run of 5 straight wins, beating me 3-0 in one of the most frustrating games yet. I’ve heard it said that the game will simply break your streak when it wants to. It seemed to want to. Zagreb’s goals came from a corner, a penalty, and a free kick.
I couldn’t bear to look at the league table after the Zagreb result. I put that bump in the road behind me and got on with things.
I went straight on another winning run, scoring goals galore and occasionally running riot.
Coventry City 4-3 Hammarby
Celtic 2-4 Coventry City
Coventry City 2-1 Besiktas
Coventry City 5-1 Anderlecht
I’m currently 5th in the table, just 2 points off a promotion place. There are 10 games left to play. That’s a hell of a lot of wiggle room. I think I’m going to make it.
Something has just clicked - and it was no false dawn this time. I now feel almost completely comfortable with PES2008’s game mechanics. Shooting, passing, defending – it’s all come together, more or less. I still have odd games (e.g. the Zagreb game) where it’s as if I’ve never played any game before, never mind this one.
I’m getting good again at shooting from optimum distances outside the box. I’ve always been able to net those beggars on other PESes, so it’s a relief finally to be getting ‘em regularly on this one.
Here’s Shaw playing a nice one-two before scoring with a first-time shot. I love the run he makes, going off-camera only to reappear:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_kxgIEou9Q&rel=1]
And here is Shaw himself, looking happy immediately afterward:
Here’s Shimizu scoring yet another. This is from a game against the league-leaders, Sunderland. I took a 2-0 lead but lost 2-3 in the end:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICg0pWHomsM&rel=1]
Here’s Folan finishing strongly in another match that I won at a canter:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_30RvK5H2E&rel=1]
There’s plenty more where they came from, but I think I’ve tested your browser, your bandwidth, and your patience for long enough. If I’m not careful, this blog will become uncomfortably like being forced to look through somebody’s holiday photos.
The big wins I’ve had over the past nine or so games have made me slightly worried. What if I learn how to play like this in every game? What if the word on the PES street is correct, and PES2008 is too easy?
This isn’t the time to worry about something that I’m still a long way from being able to determine one way or the other.
I suspect that I might have stayed in Division 2 a season longer than I should have done. The players I have now might be a bit too good for the level of opposition down here. I don’t know. I haven’t even got out of the Division yet. I’m assuming that I will get promoted…
I’d better not mess this up.
Tipping point!
It happens in every PES. For me, it was always 3rd season, whether I was in D2 or D1. It’s a confluence (IMO) of the quality of the players you’ve been able to bring in in the first couple of seasons, combined with maximized teamwork numbers.
I noticed that the goals you’re posting are coming as a result of silky one-touch passing (coughCoventryCitystylecough). That’s only possible with Teamwork #s of 80 or higher.
What is the teamwork averages amongst your starting 11? (Not their ability stats, but the teamwork % you can view in the Change Player dialog.
p.s. Instead of worrying that this PES might be too easy, you should savor the victories. Might I direct you to: http://peschronicles.wordpress.com/2007/11/01/a-disturbance-in-the-schwarz/
Cheers, and yes I do remember the bad times – how could I forget them – but I’m still a long way from nailing PES2008’s gameplay. For some reason whenever the CPU gets in behind my SBs and runs horizontally toward the penalty area, I fall to pieces. There has to be a way to stop them. Defending has got to be better!
I’ll check my teamwork numbers later but it is something I do look at from time to time. Last time I looked was only a few games ago, and I was surprised to see that even players I’ve had for two seasons have ‘only’ got numbers in the high 70s and low 80s with each other. This *could* be a consequence of the (enforced) regular rotation of the First XI due to stamina issues, but even so… I’m pretty sure in years past those numbers would have been in the mid-to-high 90s by now.
Ugh. Tough result against West Brom.
Hey
Just spent my evening playing ML, manmaged to win a whole two games with defaults woopie! lol Amazingly 4-1 over rangers, (Go guiterriuz (sp?) hattrick!). Just wondered how you’ve done against them. For some reason they just got turned over very easily.
I would of posted on a previous blog posting but I don’t know if you read them. But just did my first mid-season negotiations, my god their harder than before! lol Usually trading off the dead-wood is easy and possible to almost hjave a whole new squad (or at least half of one). All i managed during those 4 weeks was 3 new players. One traded and transfers (boo expensive!) I did sell a couple and put a few out on loan though.
Anyway the point I was getting at was, because I’m probably going to finish my first ML season in a similar position to you (only won 3 or 4 games (3 games post mid-season) so will be bottom most likely, was it any easier come end of season to get some new signings?
I’m just slightly nervous about it, I suspect if I transferred more than 2/3 players close season I’ll be a in position come end of the next season where I hit game over from lack of funds! Any tips would be appericated. (especially seeing as you managed to get such a good player as shaw!)
Btw I did go and read that guide you linked up in your blog, I’m using the 4-4-2 formation suggested in there and its helped me no end (well compared to my first 5 games of dismal-ness).
I see your 5th now, hope you make it, for your sanity’s sake mostly lol. I am jealous of back to back wins though, best I’ve done is win/lose/daw in a row lol.
Hi Paul – I do read any comments I get, and I’ve got to warn you that you’re in for a frustrating time getting the players you want in the PES2008 transfer market!
The problem is that you aren’t allowed to negotiate with them unless your team rating is above a certain level. This is why I picked up so many youth players in my first couple of seasons.
Did you check the Youth list for Shaw (and Schwarz and Shimizu and any other goodies)? I think it might be random this year so there’s no guarantee they’ll be there. Don;t forget the Unbelonging list too – no transfer fees there either.
If you’re after a nice cheap DMF with good ability, I recommend Donadel. I made an entire post all about him!
I’ve found the CPU teams quite willing to make offers for the Default players, which I was happy to accept. This bulks out your points total quite a bit. Unless you’re making rash offers of several thousand points for players it’s pretty easy to steer well clear of a Game Over.
Ah fair enough I’ll know in future
Yes, I noticed even some teams around me wouldn’t talk to me, just flat out refused (tried negoitating with the same team on 8 different occations (multiple players of course!). Problem is seems like default wages have dropped too so even when you do get to trade, you have to lump in cash too
Shaw was around but (“borrowed” copy of the game so no manual) but my assuption is the numbers by their names are openess to nego, they’re in the 20’s so didn’t want to waste any chances I had to make offers. Perhaps I made a mistake in not trying to get him. Hopefully hes still available come end of season (my task for the day! (20+ games? lol))
I will look out for Donadel though, got a couple of average midfielders, one that will probably stick with me as an eventual back up wnger is Aliyev (22 10 75/80+ stats so hes doing alright, multiple purpose too
)
I’ll go read abnout him now