Extraordinary times in PES2012. I’m 6 points clear at the top of the league, undefeated, and enjoying some of the most outrageous luck.
Let me set the scene. In a sea of occasional, thumping 3-0 wins and regular, satisfying 1-0 victories, there are still minor teams waiting to spoil my fun. Stoke City were the latest minnows to get the patented PES booster injection. They tormented me in much the same way that the likes of Cardiff and Blackpool already have this season. I’d honestly rather play the Arsenals and Man Citys than these lesser sides.
It looked like another 1-1 against Stoke, frustratingly, and then in the last seconds—that period when you know the final whistle will go the next time you lose the ball—I created an opportunity.
Hagi, on as a sub (and still developing painfully slowly), had the shot with his right foot. Keeper saved it. Rebounded to Forlan, and I tried to just dink it in the side of the goal. Forlan’s shot was going well wide, but a Stoke defender deflected the ball into his own net.
I celebrated as if I’d just netted a 50-yard screamer. A precious win that maintains my title-winning momentum. I don’t want the league to be close this season. I want to run away with it and for it all to be over by March. I want to reserve all my sweating for winning the two Cups that should bring me the Treble.
I really feel I’m going to do this Treble now. To the extent that Ill be very disappointed if I don’t.
As the table at the top shows, my goal-scoring this season is comparable with every CPU team—apart from the traditional big-scoring team, which is Arsenal this season. Interesting to see CPU Man Utd making their way back up the table after their disastrous start.
In other news, Agostini won World Footballer of the Year:
The special cutscene started playing prior to the above. It was over before I could think to grab the phone camera.
Now, in the last 9 months I’ve heard a heck of a lot about the special World Footballer of the Year cutscene. So much so that I was intrigued and really looking forward to seeing it. But… it was nothing special. Agostini in a black suit, on a stage, accepted a shiny gold trophy—and that was it.
I was expecting something with an extraordinary twist, but it was just a standard 10-second cutscene. No more or less remarkable than any of the others in PES2012. Did I miss something?
I squeaked through my Champions League qualifying group in the end. Inter beat me home and away, and the other two teams both took a point from me, so I have not had things all my own way in Europe by any means.
I’ll play Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final in January. Mid-season is coming up. I don’t want to break the spell, and so have not even looked for any new players.
It’s going to be tough to win this Treble, but it’s definitely still on.
that’s an awesome goal for the context it was scored in. I just moved up to professional after getting promoted in my first ML season and winning the KNVB Cup (which puts me in the Europa League this season…bizarre! I never managed that. Does leave me with a shitload of money though), and I find the good old ‘shenanigans’ rearing their head. None of that stuff on Regular though. Anyway whenever I sense shenanigans coming, what I find helps is just trying outrageous stuff. Shooting from impossible angles, super long-rangers, dribbling with central defenders, stuff like that; It tends to ‘confuse’ the CPU into shooting the ball into their own net. good luck with the rest of the campaign…let’s hope the good old cheating CPU won’t infuriate you too much eh?
I, on the other hand, am having staggeringly bad luck in my season 12 on superstar. I honestly think the AI is punishing me for daring to almost win the title last season. After six games I’m 9th with 3 wins and 3 defeats. I seem to be always under pressure and my three wins have been close ones.
Meanwhile in the Champion’s League, my team play like a dream and I’m romping away with results.
My only hope now is to win a cup and somehow claw my way back into the top four.
#1—that’s a good policy for dealing with shenanigans. Keeping the ball is my preferred option, denying them anything to use. Lumping it long, scything them down, doing weird things… anything to quench the fire. Post-kickoff if the CPU has one can be a nightmare 5 minutes of never having the ball though.
John—the downside of Superstar is that seasons can very quickly become write-offs without a good start. You are still in there though from the sounds of it. Remember PES2012 101: tight at the back, snatch the win. It can happen. Imagine if I was cheesy and shameless enough to link here to Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’…
you’re quite confident of winning that treble NG but 2 defeats in your CL group? Avoidable or ridiculous AI? The only time I got to the CL final I sailed through the rounds only to meet Barca in one of those games and was whacked by half time. Right up till the final you have a chance things will balance out but lady luck and all of that..
And really, a left back winning world player of the year? I know you said this game loves them but what did he do? Is it rating based or quite random – in the same way FM tends to choose player of the year? I’ve never paid any attention to the awards as ‘it pains me to say no-one…’etc.
I’m having no luck signing players – they all want silly money (2.5m wages for an 80 LMF). I have 6m spare to either spend on ridiculous requests or a better scout/coach/marketing budget. I think it’s the latter and hope for decent youth in January.
uncle turf—I’m happy about setting myself up for a great chance to win the Treble, rather than thinking I’m going to do it. With just over a third of the league season gone and 6 points clear, I’m in a great position there. I’m reasonably sure of maintaining my league form (fingers crossed). It’s the Cups that could trip me up of course.
The two defeats in the CL group were both 1-0 at Inter’s hands, and I think it was somewhere between spookily unstoppable AI and my carelessness if that makes sense. In both games Inter scored within the first 10 minutes, and then I had ample possession and many good chances afterwards but didn’t get them. It was suspicious, it’s fair to say—the games certainly felt a bit bent. But not so much so that I felt aggrieved. Odd ‘uns, really.
I have no idea about Agostini either. It must be on average overall rating, with some of the player team’s own performance thrown into the mix as well. Agostini is certainly a great player, but there are others far more deserving.
Looking good not NG. I have found that league form doesn’t matter much when it comes to CL games, one bad game in the knock phase and its all over especially on SS. I find the AI gos into god mode more often in the CL especially in the latter stages that’s why the aim for the default challenge was to win the CL on SS. IMO i think its more difficult then the league. I have been knocked out a few times by a lesser known team i didn’t show enough respect for, 3-0 down after 30mins before checking there line up and realizing they were actually a super team! I should have known better to prepare better tactically but as i was flying in the league i just went straight into the match. I’m sure you wouldn’t do that. I like your positive attitude you have to have that winning mentality
not-Greg – The treble is looking good, hope you pull it off. I’ve just gone top of the league by a point in November, but my dismal European form continues and I’m out of the Europa at the group stages.
BTW that big lad who will join me at Christmas is a 6’4″ Russian called Dzyuba. Apparently Aston Villa have made enquiries to bring him to the premiership. Has anyone had experience of him in PES?
Max—phew, AFK all day at work, busy one, possibly my longest ever absence from the blog.
I hope I didn’t come across as prematurely triumphalist in this post. If I did, it’ll make it even more amusing when one or other of the Cups blows up in my face and wrecks the Treble
But yes, I’m keeping that positive attitude. I’ve read my fair share of cheesy self-help books over the years, and they all distil an essential truth that’s as old as humanity: As a man thinketh, so is he. I’m thinking very hard that I’m going to maintain my form and win this elusive Treble before PES2013 arrives, and this is my best chance yet.
Chris99—I have never heard of this Dzubya until now, but with PES2012′s big-man-friendly nature being what it is, the more of these diamonds that can be found the better. Ribeiro or Sibon seem to be worth 20+ goals per season.
Just finished season 16 in my ML and strangely, its been the most problematic, agitating season yet what with the uber-scripting and otyher flaws, but its also been my most successful.
I ended my 16 season wait for a trophy!!!
I finished 3rd in the Premier league behind Chelsea and Liverpool, got to the quarter finals of the FA Cup and also WON the Europa League, beating Hoffenheim on pens in the final after a tight 2-2 draw after full time.
And there is actually a trophy to parade around with!!! Hooorah!!!
Diego, a small agile brazilian SS/AMF has been a revelation for me this season, playing as mostly a SS, netted 29 goals and finished 3rd in the goalscorer charts, and is now rated at 102OVR.
Im hoping this bumps up my club ranking a bit from 28th, so I can attract a few of the bigger name players.
I finished the season on professional as I wanted to start on Superstar with a clean slate, not half way through a season, so my forthcoming season will be focused on doing well in the Champions League, Going for the FA Cup and challenging for the League, all on Superstar – tough times ahead but hoping the more balanced gameplay will be more enjoyable, as Professional mode should really be called c*nt mode!! its scripted to the hilt, with identical play styles and tactics for every team – parking the bus. Im so bored of that, need a fesh challenge, hoping Superstar will give me that.
Paul—brilliant news, many congratulations. How did you feel in the penalty shootout? Did you put them all down the middle? How many did you save?
I’ve been tracking this Diego in my game too, and will probably buy him in another season or two.
NG – Many Thanks
The Penalty shootout was squeaky bum time, I wasnt confident.
I lost the first leg of the Semi at home against Benfica 3-0, the most scripted blatant cheated 3 goals ever!
It should have been all over, but I won the away leg 6-2, putting me through 6-5 on agg.
I won the penalty shootout 4-2, the CPU missed one and I saved one.
I put pens low and hard in bottom corner or in top corner, never aim down the middle.
Like mose of the rest of the game, penalties are hit and miss, it feels as if i have no control over what happens.
I snapped up Diego as a 16yr old who was languishing in the ‘Other’ category, signed him for 500,000 and 685,000 a year wages, hes now 102OVR and I rejected a 58million bid for him.
I’ve also signed a 17yr old Iniesta,already rated 79 OVR, and a 17yr old Bale, rated 72OVR.
Congrats nG, I’ve never scored a GK goal either.
Also congrats to Paul, the Europa League was my first trophy this year. I had Diego as well for abou 7 years, he’s absolutely class – was probably my best player.
Been away from PES for a few weeks. Playing FM2012 and also picked up Demon’s Souls, which is damn good.
Paul—I’m determined not to sign any more youngsters until I’ve got my existing ones out of nappies so to speak and at least semi-regularly starting matches. Hagi has just got to 72OVR, Kaka 71OVR, Schweinsteiger 76OVR, Gerrard and Rooney both 78OVR. I tell you, bringing these kids up is turning my non-existent hair grey.
Bale has been a monster for Man Utd down their left for most of the lifespan of my ML world. I know it doesn’t always translate to them being good players in human hands, but if you get even half the performances out of him that he’s put in against me down the years, he’ll be some player.
Grilled Seabass—I have both the Souls games and love them dearly—but never play them. The curse of work and life.