Up for the cup
My league form continues to be appalling (just look at that table down below), but I have somehow navigated my way to the semi-finals of the D1 Cup.
My quarter-final opponents were River Plate. They started out in Division 2 with me almost four seasons ago now, but they got promoted in that first season. They’re a tough side – when I met them in the league earlier this season I was pummelled and harried and teased all over the place. I lost that game badly. I was worried about meeting them in the cup.
The first leg was away at River Plate’s ground. Due to fitness levels I was missing the likes of Donadel, Shaw, Schwarz, and Bramble. Ouch on every front, but I’d have probably rested some or all of them anyway. The league is the #1 priority. This Cup run is just a bit of fun – a sideshow.
I went out with my makeshift team – giving rare starts to Muntari, Mattsson, Reyes, and Traore - and just made the best of things. Perhaps I should play with this attitude (and/or these players) more often, because I defended well, took my one clear-cut chance, and won the game 1-0.
This was despite seeing what was at times an absolutely horrific amount of slowdown during the game. Whenever the ball was at either end of the pitch the game went into Bullet Time for up to several seconds. I coped as best I could, but it spoiled my enjoyment of what was a solid win.
The slowdown problem seems to be making a comeback for me in Division 1. I don’t know what is causing it now. I am quite concerned about it. I haven’t changed any of the settings that all but eliminated it a couple of weeks ago. I’m not doing any background downloading. It’s just got about 50% worse for no apparent reason.
A PS3 patch from Konami is rumoured to be in the offing, but all the talk about it is centred upon the online lag problem. Whereas it’s the offline game that is still the beating heart and soul of PES – or it should be. I’ll be watching how this situation develops very carefully indeed. I have played PES2008 on the Xbox 360 and not only does it look 10 times better than on the PS3, it also plays as smoothly as the proverbial baby’s bottom.
Getting back to the Cup, with that away goal under my belt I approached the second leg feeling that I would have to suffer a complete disaster to lose. And it nearly happened – River Plate got an early goal with more than a whiff of scripting about it. But then I went up the other end and scored three goals without reply. I’ll face Manchester United in the semi-final.
This Cup malarkey is all well and good, but there is disturbing news elsewhere… Around these two games, I suffered on the league front.
I lost four games in a row, scoring no goals at all and losing my discipline completely in one particular game as the frustration took its toll. I had 5 players sent off and the game was abandoned with a 0-3 scoreline awarded against me.
The latest table makes for some truly alarming viewing. I am 18th – third from bottom. In the relegation zone. I can’t seem to buy a result in the league right now.
There are eighteen league games left to play. I’ll probably be all right. I will be all right. Won’t I?
(looks around) Who can you sack?
(looks around too) My entire team – ? Schwarz and Donadel and Guimaraes excepted. Shimizu was a bench-warmer for me in PES5 so I don’t know why I’m suddenly in lurve with him. Shaw is going to be great but can’t keep the ball. And – Frutos? Who?!