So here I am about to start season 2013. It’s the furthest I’ve been on any PES2008 Master League career so far. This is how I like to play my Master Leagues on PES. I like to get hold of one team in October and just go with them as far as I can, all the way, through thick and thin, until the PES year comes to its natural end the following October. This year has seen a departure from that routine thanks to the next-gen version’s—how shall I put it?—the next-gen version’s debatable quality. Yes, that’s probably the best way to put it.
I’ve been pretty mediocre in this career so far. Swapping between the PSP and the PS2 version (played on my PS3) took some time to get used to. But I think I’ve got it cracked now. If last season could have gone on for about 5 more games I’d definitely have finished in the top 6 and qualified for Europe. I really have got the hang of things now. I think. I hope.
As it was I only finished 8th, which means no Europe this season, which officially makes it my worst-ever start to a Master League career, ever. I was at least gunning for Trebles by now in all of my past MLs. Thus there is pressure on me, I feel, for season 2013. I have to at least qualify for Europe next season, which means a top-six finish at the very least. It’s important to have a target for each season, no matter how big or small, and this is my one for 2013. Anything less will be counted as a failure.
I thought I’d better have a look round for some new players. All of those games aren’t going to win themselves. I’ve got a pretty good squad but even the best can always be improved.
Ryan Giggs - age 17 - WF - I last remember having Ryan in my ML team in the fabled PES5 season, when he joined my Coventry City round about season 2030—as a second-time Regen, of course. He was brilliant for me then and he should be brilliant for me now. As ever, plucking young superstars out of the Youth list brings a price with it. The price is having to wait a couple of seasons before they’re any damn good. In most cases, the wait is worth it. In Giggs’ case, I anticipate it’ll be very worth it.
Mathieu - age 28 - SB/DMF - I had to. I just had to. Yes, it’s Mathieu, the player I’ve liked (loved?!) for so long now that getting him into my Master League squad is an automatic action. It just has to happen. In any case, I need some quality cover for Bradley. Che Hyon-Hon leaves me, going in the other direction in a player+points deal. I shelled out 4000 points on my side. You know, just to make sure…
Fernandez - age 20 - CB - I need quality cover at the centre of defence, and this youngster is it. He’s already developed and shaping up to be a superstar. I don’t really remember him from previous games. I got rid of Ionnidis in this deal.
I also sold Chiesa when a very tempting offer came in for him from a CPU team. He’s been haunting my squad like a ghost for a few seasons now, being good when called for but never really being great. I’ve got a surplus of strikers, and Larsson is going to have a breakout season (I think), so the time was right for Chiesa to go. I considered it a good bit of business, having got him for nothing from the Youth list all those seasons ago.
I didn’t have to trade players for Mathieu and Fernandez. But I wanted to. I wanted to keep my squad size (and my wage bill) down. I’m positioning myself for some long-term machinations in the transfer market, with an eye to the big prize—the Treble—sooner rather than later.
I’ve got a surplus of about 10,000 points heading into the new season. Come the mid-season break, I’ll be able to afford pretty much anyone in the game if I need them. Only if they’ll come to me, of course. I’m A-ranked for team popularity and on the verge of being S-ranked, but certain players still won’t even consider coming to me.
This is because of my overall global team ranking. I’m ‘only’ #11 in the world. Which is fair enough, really. What have I ever won? Nothing, is the answer. I’ve won precisely nothing at all in this ML career. I want that to change, and the long road starts now.
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