Ow. The latest results are in.
Coventry City 1-0 Everton
Galatasaray 2-0 Coventry City
Coventry City 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Aston Villa 0-0 Coventry City
I beat Everton, but I don’t know how. The CPU was all over me. I got a nice glancing headed goal from Chiesa at a corner. After he scored he did his trademark aeroplane celebration - running in a dreamlike trance with his arms fully extended - for ages. It was mesmerising to watch. Really, it just goes on forever. I kept Everton at bay and picked up my first 3 points in the top flight. Now this, I thought, is a bit more like it.
The next few games were terrible for me. It was as if the Arsenal game had set the real tone and the Everton win was - whisper it - a scripted gift from the game. Couldn’t pass, couldn’t shoot, couldn’t defend.
I wasn’t pleased to come up against my old nemesis, Galatasaray, so quickly. They absolutely wiped the floor with me. Every Master League brings its bogey teams with it - PES5’s FC Bosphorus, anyone? - and Galatasaray are mine in this one.
And don’t talk to me about stamina… Due to fitness issues I have had to play several players out of position, despite having 2344 players in the squad. Donadel came on as a substitute in the defeat by Blackburn and had to play as a left-sided CF - there was literally no other choice. Everyone else was knackered. (He did set up my consolation goal in that game , though. Super Donadel!)
In the last of my five openers I played Aston Villa. Traditionally, they’re Coventry City’s big local rivals in the Midlands, although it has to be said that the rivalry is felt more keenly by Coventry’s fans than by Villa’s fans (they look to Birmingham City for all of their local rivalry needs).
So I was, as they say, up for it - and it was a good game, probably the best one of the five openers in terms of excitement and near-misses, despite the 0-0 outcome. I had the strange sensation that I was actually in control of the game. Maybe the scripting engine at the heart of PES2008 is programmed to take the day off - or to take it easy - occasionally.
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Woah. Relegation battle?
I’m actually kind of excited at the thought that this year’s ML might include a relegation battle.
I wish that we had some more insight into what the script is trying to accomplish. Sometimes — like in a Champions League knock-out match, or between the #1 and #2 teams on the final day of the league where the winner becomes champion, it makes sense that a team would be in aggro mode.
But occasionally (and often bizzarrely), the CPU just puts the other donkeys into aggro and they just run all over you. I’ve been beaten by the #13 team in the league, with me first by 14 points on the last day of the season so many times. Why? Is every last game of the season harder? Is that the rule?
I’d like to see a little flavor text description that lets us know why the opposing team is going to run all over us. Something like, “This has developed into a strong rivalry, and their chairman does not like you,” or “this contest will determine first place.”
This season the CPU aggro mode is on *all the time* - on Top Player anyway. You seem to have to get a 2-0 lead and all the possession before they’ll know they’re beaten. Even then it’s sometimes not enough. I’ve lost count of the 2-0 leads I’ve blown in PES2008. In previous games I could close the game down like a pro, Italian-style, until the final whistle.
I’m tempted to write loads more here but it would give away future post content! I’m going to post at least twice a day until I catch up with myself.
p.s. Hope you get that PS2/360 soon.