So it finally happened—my charmed life in season 16 is over.
I had a bad session, and lost a match for the first time this season. I drew one other, against Arsenal, my nearest title challengers. I played about 5 matches and felt that I was generally struggling against the tide of Superstar in full spate.
The match I lost was against Chelsea, at home, 0-1. I had expected to win. Chelsea are a good side but not a top side in my ML right now. As ever, of course, I should have known better. It’s the middling and upper-middling sides that you often have to watch out for the most.
It was my first match after a day away from the game. Maybe I was rusty. I was certainly complacent. Chelsea’s goal, though, was total bullshit.
It was 0-0 heading for the final whistle, and looking like staying that way. I just couldn’t get anything going up front. Then Chelsea attacked down my wing and put in a weak floating cross that I should have dealt with.
Somehow, though, none of my CBs jumped. The weak cross trickled along the ground past another three defenders to the feet of a lone CPU striker on the outside corner of the box. He slotted home.
I absolutely battered Chelsea’s goal for the remaining 20 minutes of the match, creating at least two 100% goal-scoring opportunities, and several half-chances. It was not to be.
The final whistle went and I was truly gutted. An unbeaten league season on Superstar would have been something very special, perhaps as good as the Treble itself. (Which is still on, by the way. Benfica are coming up in the Champions League.)
Oh, the thought flitted through my mind that I could always reload the lost match and play it again. None of you would ever know. But I’d know, and it would be unclean.
This strict no-reloading policy is my one fanatical quirk. I can have all the Classics and big-name players I like, but I can never, ever reload a game to get a different result. One outcome, and only one outcome.
I made up for the disappointment in the next match with a fine 3-1 win over Man City.
Arsenal, hot on my heels, are relentless. After every match I check the other scores, thinking that they’re bound to lose one eventually—but they always seem to beat everyone 5-0.
Their goal-scoring is completely out of kilter with every other team’s. As such, the goal difference factor means that I probably cannot afford to lose one more match all season. No pressure then, no pressure at all.
Had 4 games last night, won 3 and drew against Chelsea 2-2. Still 1 point off the Champions League spot although if Careca had scored this http://m.youtube.com/my_videos#/watch?v=lOHHU6mBSwM things might have been different. No players came in the Jan windows Simao keeps turning me down damn him.
Lloyd—your link doesn’t go to a video, just goes to a YouTube sign-up page?!
Simao is worth the continued effort. Fast, great dribbler, great crosser, and gets his own fair share of headed goals too.
Oops sorry about that. It’s on my YouTube channel, will sort out on pc when I finish work. Gonna keep trying to get him, partly to stop him getting late winners against me:-)
Comiserations, although still not a bad position to be in at all, tiop of the league on superstar, in with the shout of a treble, happy days!!!
As for Simao, I signed him last season after coveting him for 2 seasons, hes a fantastic player.
I play him mainly as a LMF, he’s great at bombing down the wings and crossing, but he’s such a good dribbler he often gets mazy little goals that wouldnt be possible with any of my other players.
He can also play anywhere across the midfield or as a SS too, versatile. Deffo recommend kleeping after him.
Lloyd—just get into the routine of constantly putting in bids for him. As soon as one is rejected, start the next bid. Eventually after X number of bids, for no particular reason, you’ll get him.
Paul—after making it through more than half the league season unbeaten, I thought an unbeaten Superstar season (possibly the ultimate achievement!) was within my grasp. Gutted. But never mind, yes, the Treble is still on.
I have Simao too. He and Dibril Cisse contest my LMF slot.
My season 12 continues to go weirdly array. Half way and I’ve already lost 7 having only lost 2 last season. And I just got my first league clean sheet in ten! Last season I conceded just 20 goals all season! I’ll be lucky for a top six finish at this rate.
My only salvation is the cups. I’m going to go all out to win either the FA Cup or Champions League with the help of a few new signings in the mid-season break. Maybe a new keeper and DMF will help.
John – Cisse at LMF??
I thought he was an out and out CF !!?
NG – are you still looking for something to help with compressing large video files for editing or uploading?
John—that’s the thing with Superstar—a few wrong moves one season and you’re looking at the next before the league is viable again. Good luck in the Cups. The matches there are actually a touch harder than in the league.
Paul—my Rooney is currently rated 84OVR for SMF and only 78OVR at CF/SS. I know, weird. It seems to be a PES2012 ‘thing’.
Re. video compression, what app have you found? Please share. I’m still sitting on a couple of full matches that I could post one fine day, including an absolute hiding the Superstar AI gave me a season or two ago. Only the hours required to get it all ready for YouTube has stopped me so far.
Paul – Cisse is one of those players that has better stats in another position than his primary one – in his case CF.
He’s very average as a striker but awesome on the wing. For me, he’s easily comparable with Simao. Check him out if you’re after a winger. He notches a few goals too and has the added bonus of an acrobatic celebration.
NG- thats interesting your Rooney has been slow to develop, how old is he now? Mine is 18 83ovr CF and 87 SMF. He’s one of my best players but his dribbiling can let him down sometimes.
Think I got it right this time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOHHU6mBSwM
I really thought it was in, I jumped up to celebrate and when it hit the bar I missed the rebound
Fuck me this game is addictive, having a mammoth session tonight after a few days break. My own superstar master league with Everton is going well but SS can so quickly bite you on the arse.
The AI can have one of those untouchable games. Had one against West Brom, was denied two clear cut penalties but somehow scraped through due to sheer refusal to give into the at times infuriating AI.
But have to say the intensity and challenge of superstar is majestic. Not only do you have to master the gameplay(although pes 2012 can never be fully mastered imo) but be astute tactically. The latter is especially underrated by the mainstream, player individuality and tactical depth is at another level than football game any before.
By the way unlucky NG. Still slightly envious of your position though.
Slightly mashed so messed that last sentence up quite hideously.
Meant to say tactical depth and player individuality is at another level than any other football game.
Realy happy to be playing my defualt save after a week away, especialy after scoring this goal with Camacho. Move over Irjescu theres a new DFM in town!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNFTiBW0MbA&list=UUHP1eFV4BFZCzKR059rX0Sg&index=1&feature=plcp
wow, Max, you score some incredible goals! How much have Camacho and Irjescu developed in your ML? I’m sticking with Irjescu at DMF for now as he seems more tenacious in defence, but wondering if Camacho is a better long term bet
I will be taking a break from PES to mourn the loss of my ML save. I saved over it by mistake and have NO back up,my own fault. Cannot face playing at this time. Goodbye Sibon. Goodbye Heycory.
Abbeyhill- Cheers, I’m 3/4 way through season 5 and Irjescu is 79ovr with shot power 89. He has been great for me getting about 10 goals a season but he’s not having the best of seasons at the moment a lot of blue and green arrows. Camacho is my highest rated player at 89ovr up from 58, I got him as a raw 16year old. He is fast becoming the complete midfield player and first name on my teamsheet especially as his shot power is now above 80.
Max—you truly are the king of the long-rangers. I rarely get them in PES2012 and when I do they’re nowhere near as good as yours. Very nice goal—love the outswing curl on it too.
My Rooney is 19 now and only slowly developing as a CF. As an SMF, bizarrely, he’s totally effective and coming on fast.
Lloyd—first of all, a lovely flick in the replay. So delicate.
Secondly—ouch on the savegame. How did it happen? What were you saving over it? Do you play more than one ML?
UTD-Pearson—tactically PES2012 has got to be the greatest ever, no question—granted, much of that is forced on the player by the overpowered AI, which makes us have to put our foot on the ball and think in so many ways. But it’s a happy outcome regardless.
Right attitude and mental strength are so important. The games I tend to lose are the ones where I’m not focused for whatever reason, whether that’s listening to podcasts or thinking about other things or whatever.
NG – Im wondering wether my late night play sessions, due to work, gym etc, i usually play before bed after 10pm, will be focused enough to tackle Superstar at that time of night, whilst tired etc!?!
I dont get any other time to play though so not really a debate.