PES Chronicles

I skipped the mid-season negotiations period this time around. I just pressed Go to Next Week four times and zipped on through to Week 16. I’ve got a fantastic squad, one of my best-ever in PES. There’s talent from back to front, in every position. My second- and third-choice players could easily make up a Treble-winning XI on their own, in theory. So really, what would be the point of getting yet more great players?

There has to come a point when enough is enough, and I’ve got enough. Yes, I suppose I could always do with Messi, Ronaldinho, Rooney, Torres, and the rest of them—but assuming I could actually get them (my overall club ranking is still only around the #15 mark), and that it’d be worth getting them (Rooney for one is over-30 now), would they really bring me anything else that I’m not already getting from my other players? No, they wouldn’t. Maybe another type of PES player would be able to make Messi dance through the opposition, turn on a sixpence, and dink the ball over the advancing keeper. But I could never do that. It’s just not how I play the game. So I’ll stick with what I’ve got for now.

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Here is the Division 1 league table after 21 matches (of 30):

It’s getting pretty exciting. I’m still unbeaten, but I’ve drawn so many games that Real Madrid have managed to stay with me in second place. At this stage it’s safe to say that it’ll be between me and them for the title. I think I’ll do it. I’m playing well enough consistently enough to do it. Last season I played well too, but then fell apart in the final stretch and allowed Valencia to pull away. I doubt that’ll happen this time.

One thing I am disappointed about is my goals-against column. Cocending 20 goals in 21 games isn’t bad at all, but it’s a good deal worse than I would like it to be. In the past I’ve built my Master League successes upon being defensively strong. In PES5 I went through entire seasons without conceding more than 10 goals in the league. Admittedly, that was with a settled team, and after several months of play. I have no right to expect PES2008 to play in the same way and automatically permit the same level of defensive control—but it’s my long-term target in this Master League career to get there again. I want to see if it can be done again, to be that tight at the back.

In the Division 1 Cup—the third point in the magic triangle known as the Treble—I was drawn against Barcelona in the Quarter Final. Hmmm. The draw could have been kinder, but I’d have to meet them (or someone like them) sooner or later. And they haven’t exactly intimidated me during any of my seasons in the top flight so far. I’d have to check back to make sure, but I don’t think Barcelona have beaten me at all yet.

The first leg was at my ground. As ever, I was trying to win the whole fixture in the first leg. I always do this. I go recklessly for tons of goals, hoping to make the return leg a formality and allow some key players to rest. The season gets very congested when all the Treble competitions start heating up.

I went into a 2-0 lead and I was cruising. I knocked the ball about, launched dangerous raids for the fun of it, had shots tipped onto the post, tipped over, parried away for corners… Then in the 85th minute Barcelona launched their one attack of the half, and got their away goal. Of course they did. 2-1 it finished. The return leg at their place will be less straightforward than it should have been, but I think I’ll be all right.

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