Sitting pretty
Posted by: not-Greg in Treble, goal replay, league table, tags: goal replay, league table, TrebleSeason 2018 of my Master League career in PES2008 may have taken a turn for the worse with my elimination from the Division 1 Cup, but my great league form has continued. In the last few games before the mid-season negotiation period I beat everybody, and beat them convincingly. There was a 3-0 pummelling of Real Madrid (the reigning league champions) in there too.
That Cup defeat was a great disappointment. It means there’ll be no Treble for me this season. The Treble is my main target every season. But I’ve got a pretty good consolation prize to go for. I’m still unbeaten in the league, and I’m well-placed to qualify from my European Cup group into the knockout stages. I would love to finish this season unbeaten in the league—it’s something I haven’t managed since PES5, and back then I only did it once in 40+ seasons.
In Europe my group matches have picked up a degree of pace. They’ve always felt faster and more competitive than my league games, but lately they feel even more so. But I took on Ajax and PSV and beat them both with ease. I should have no trouble winning this group. I’m not quite mathematically certain to progress just yet, but I do regard the last two games as a formality. Hopefully those won’t be (in)famous last words…
In the league, as I head into mid-season, the table is looking real purdy. My record is probably the best it’s ever been at this stage of a season: Played 15, Won 13, Drawn 2, Lost 0. Goals Scored: 30. Goals Against: 10.
I’m particularly happy to have kept the Goals Against tally down low. As I’ve grumbled about on several occasions, from a defensive point of view PES2008 is probably the weakest ‘classic’ PES ever (not nearly as weak as the dreadful PS3/360/PC version, though). Often it’s so tough to defend that you can’t help suspecting there are some goals the AI is just meant to score, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent them.
For me, conceding just 10 goals in 15 games is a major improvement on my usual record at this stage of a season. I’d love to keep it to 10 goals or less for an entire season someday, but that’s probably impossible for me.
Looking at the teams below me, it was always inevitable that Valencia would emerge from the chasing pack as my main challengers. For a few seasons now they’ve consistently been the best CPU team going. For them to be ‘only’ six points behind me is a little worrying. I’d like a bit more elbow room up there. The game is bound to trip me up at some stage with some draws or even defeats (I hope not; I really, really want that unbeaten run to continue and go all the way).
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At the start of this season I decided to get a top-rated, young, left-sided AMF to replace the good-but-ageing Dos Santos. Burdner was the player who came in, and he became an automatic first choice. He has indeed been great, bringing to the midfield the much-needed ‘zip’ that Dos Santos seemed to lack.
But Burder can’t play in every game. When he doesn’t, Dos Santos fills in for him. And, you know what? Dos Santos has been bloody great for me this season. His performances have been first class, and he’s scored some memorable (and important) goals. He seems to have this knack of scoring first-time side-footed goals—passing the ball to the net. I’ve already posted one example of this. In my most recent games, Dos Santos got another, even better goal of its type. This one is passed straight to the top corner:
What can be read into Dos Santos’ improved performances since Burdner’s arrival? Could Dos Santos have stepped up his game to compete with the young upstart in an effort to try to win back his place, or at the very least postpone the day when I move him on?! Could PES really be that deep, or is it all in my imagination?
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“Could Dos Santos have stepped up his game to compete with the young upstart in an effort to try to win back his place, or at the very least postpone the day when I move him on?! Could PES really be that deep, or is it all in my imagination?”
I’m trying really hard not to laugh.
But I’m being serious…. Dos Santos will be slapping in his transfer request pretty soon if he doesn’t get his place back in the First XI. And I’ve got the chairman on my back trying to get me to pick Shevchenko…
I really wish the game could be that deep. How cool would that be? I really think PES could have a little more story, like FIFA.:)
I actually wouldn’t like it unless it went all the way and featured Football Manager-style depth. We shouldn’t encourage Konami to experiment with player unrest—look at the ‘fine’ job they did with player fatigue on the 360/PS3 version…
Having said that I’d love a more in-depth training option, with options of course to automate it if you didn’t want to be bothered that week.