Subject: Some Input Please

I care a great deal about the Sokker community in Canada. I'm willing to adjust my play accordingly. I've been aiming for #2, but I'm open to input. :)

I think there are arguments for all 3 choices I've provided.

1. As a small country, it's easy to dismiss Canada as a second tier nation. When there is a strong Internationally recognized team (such as VFC), that is beneficial to the reputation of the whole league.

2. So long as VFC puts up a fight, it means something if someone else knocks them off.

3. Valiant has established themselves as the best. It would be better for the community if they stepped aside and let someone else win.

I havent replied in the forum before because it is a very tough question and there is not a right answer. But, here is my perspective...
The Real Hawkes were keyed up for a Voyageur match against ValiantFC this season and lost 0-1 when Seca was obviously playing without his best players. Since then we have sold a few players for $35million and still have the best team in our division ii series (maybe). We had built up a competitive team to try to compete in the CPL last season - I believe that form was by far our biggest issue in not being able to compete there.
When I look back at the CPL standings over the many seasons of sokker in Canada there are a few teams that are there, and #1 is ValiantFC and #2 is Partizan. And some teams, like Surrey and HL and Third Lanark are up and down. Obviously, sokker is a game where it is very hard to get ahead, very hard to break into the CPL, monumentally difficult to stay there and impossible to win (if you are not ValiantFC).
My vote was for 3. Valiant FC, in the interest of the Canada sokker community, should step aside; restart with a new team, play only u-20 players from Canada or with a wage cap...I dont know. I say this with great reservation because for sokker Canada to lose Seca from the community altogether would be a huge huge loss. With such a small and dedicated group of sokker managers in Canada and with such a rigid series structure it is incumbent upon all managers to give the other teams a chance. Seca, as the obvious leader of this sokker Canada community, I ask you reverentially to show leadership in this.

at some point the hares may join the ranks of the cpl or even win a cup match again (: ...who knows?!?

but yeah seca, keep playing to win, i think we're all trying to do the same, right?

I'm no Canadian user but for sure there's only 1 option and that is for Seca to continue playing full strength trying to win.

Who cares if it's a 1 team dominance, learn to train effectively and put in the same kind of effort Seca has over the seasons to get to where he is. Also learn how to beat him tactically.

You open up the door for any of the other teams you could say the exact same thing about every other team in the game and come down with the conclusion, why not just let bots be the strongest side because everybody else will continue to win.

Ridiculous to think people would think anything else and is extremely selfish IMO. I'd love to have a team of Seca's class in the top of Australia's league as I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of beating stronger teams.

Not only that but Seca lifts your sponsorship by trying to win and produces quality NT players.

At the end of the day it is possible to catch up with training because Seca has to pay more and more to keep the same quality players and there's only so far up the chain one can get. Everyone else will in time catch up if they are active enough and focus hard on tactics in the short term.

Valiant FC should play to win, no question about it.

Seca, I think you have no choice but to continue playing your best.

You can't feel bad because you have the best team in Canada, and I think the idea of you deliberately losing games, or at least playing half-assed to let other teams win, is ludicrous.

I think that Deja vented in frustration after the cup final not because he lost but because of the way he lost. No one likes to see their glory thwarted by a last minute equalizer. This must have been hard for him to take. Yet this was an exciting, evenly fought match and it was a great final to watch. The problem is that this was the last straw for Partizan who thought he at least had the cup in hand even if the league championship always seems to be just out of reach.

So I think you should carry on as usual, Seca. Canada needs to keep stong teams at the top. And here's a thought. In the CPL this season, we have already lost Black & Oil, and DBR is now questionable - he has not clocked in since January. If Valiant were to step aside now, the CPL would be on shaky ground. Especially if Deja were to follow up on his threat to quit!

Perhaps we should let this whole thing cool down for a couple of weeks and let calmer heads prevail...
(On the other hand, Seca, if you really want to come back to the level of the other CPL teams, you could start on Sunday by playing only dummies with their boots on backwards vs Third Lanark!!) ;))

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I think you should play your best. But if you want to move a little down train only Canadian players and hire all unhearthy coaches as main and assistance.
I think that at some point someone is going to beat you (but is not going to be me)

this is a silly poll, I was angry, the way I lost was frustrating, not just the late goal, but the flurry in extra time with TWO open nets passed up on by players with great striking, if this game had gone to shots we would certainly have won, seven of my players on the field have outstanding or better striker... whatever

the real answer is for the devs to unlink users and teams, if managers could move around to other teams this game would be so much better

Seca could leave Valiant for a new challenge, the applicant with the most ranking points could take over the team, and no that wouldn't be me, I would hope that the new manager would screw up and I might get a chance to win with Partizan :P Or I could leave Partizan and a new manager could take over and I could come back when I wanted and pick up a vacant team, and on and on

Right now though, I need to focus on Can - Swe

I can understand the frustration you are having Deja. As probably one of the first ten users playing Sokker for Canada, I have been equally as frustrated because my team keeps flip flopping between the CPL and Div II. Every season I play in Div II, my team dominates the opposition but in the CPL, I barely squeak out 2 or 3 wins each season. I just can't seem to develop the full potential of my players with proper training and smart tactical formations against oppositions.

As for my vote, Seca, play as you normally would. It's not your fault that we as your opposition cannot develop the tactics to beat you. You obviously put your time and effort in making your team the best it can be. You've set the bar at what every team should strive for. If we each put half the amount of effort you do, maybe we could come close to beating you. Believe me, I have come close to quitting on several occasions but I have learned to accept its just a game and we play it for fun.

Another non Canadian looking in but with an opinion.

We had a similar situation in Scotland. Suttie's St Johnstone have dominated for years, Scottish champions every season since season 7 i think. Teams like mine were consistently beaten by 7,8 or 9 goals, keeping it under 10 was an acheivement however, Tartan Terrors last season took the title with imo a very long term training plan coming to fruition, players were still being trained at 27 although admittedly they were NT players and a special case but the point is that the gap had now been closed.

There are also a couple of other teams now who can also provide some serious competition to Suttie who at this time has again leapt to the top of the league but this time he'll be looking over his shoulder very closely at not just one but possibly 3 teams right behind him.

So, Seca should keep pushing and the others imo have to keep chasing and one day somebody will get there.

I'd vote for Option 4: Seca should play in a way that maximises what he gets out of the game. Whatever that may be.

Beyond that, Valiant FC should obviously do the best they can. It's like CSKA Moscow a.k.a. the Red Army hockey team of the '70s and '80s, coming in second to them is like winning the Stanley Cup anywhere else. And if someone does manage to beat you, well, they will know that they've arrived!

I think Valiant FC should continue to play the way they do. Canada should be Proud to have a Manager that good!
What is the point in having a team if you are not in it to Win it! Seca's coaching style and dedication to Sokker Canada should inspire us not make us want to quit and give up.
Keep doing what you are doing Seca.
Nobody likes to lose. Obviously we say things out of anger but I don't believe we should take Partizan seriously. I really hope Partizan will continue with Sokker Canada. We have a very small community and I would hate to lose one of our best managers.

Keep doing the same Seca. I always tryed to follow your steps, you helped me a lot in this game and it won't be the same without Valiant FC a real Valiant. Nobody likes to see a team win all the time but it won't be forever.