Subject: [NT] We've got options.

Since we're not in the World Cup, we've got this whole season 'free'.

Originally, I was looking at entering the Mini World Cup (for teams that didn't qualify for the WC), and the U21 World Cup. The schedules would be organised so that they complement each other and would run from week 2 (14 July) until the end of the season.

If we're honest with ourselves, there's very little chance that our U21's would make it to the group stage though, so we'd have matches until week 9 (1 Sep), leaving us with 6 weeks to try to arrange friendlies.

We may have some sort of chance in the Mini World Cup, since the top sides would be in the WC itself.

Now, we've got a new option. I've been invited to enter the team into the 'New Countries Tournament 2'. It was originally planned, like the original event, to be for only the newer sokker nations. Now they're aiming at all the countries not in the WC (like the Mini World Cup) but with a limitation on the stronger nations that enter (If X years in sokker and Y managers then no players above Z years).

This competition might suit us nicely, and will run the whole season as they organise mini-groups for teams that get knocked out early. It would mean that we would not be able to enter the U21 WC though, where we would likely struggle.

I don't know yet how the two competing tournaments are going to handle things, or how much support each will get. Maybe one will fold. If they both go ahead, what is your opinion of what we should do?

Go with the Mini WC + U21 WC + friendlies, or go with the New Countries Tournament?

There's no need to rush the decision since most will only decide after the elections are done, but both choices will start soon afterwards.

plenty options! What ever suites u better mate!

I was going to go for the NCT2, but we'd be too strong there and probably have restrictions put on our team anyway.

So, I've changed my mind and we'll play in the MWC and U21 WC. Although we'll have no chance in the U21's, it will give us a chance to work with our up and coming players and give managers an idea of what they need to do to get into the NT.
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Ok, here's how things look like they'll work.

There'll probably be a seeding process for the Mini World Cup, and we should be one of the seeds. We'll probably play three matches and, with any luck, qualify from our group to the knockout stage.

If we can get to the semi-final, we'll qualify for the group stage of the U21 World Cup, where we'll play three matches.

If we don't get to the semi-final, we'll play three U21 World Cup qualifiers.

The 32 teams that qualify for the U21 group stage will be made up of the 16 teams that qualified for the knockout of the World Cup, plus the 4 semi-finalists from the Mini World Cup, plus 12 teams from the U21 qualifiers.

I'll probably have to arrange a bunch of friendlies for later in the season, which will probably be a good thing as it will help us prepare for next seasons World Cup qualifiers which start in Week 2.
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Sounds good cant wait :)

Draw has been done and fixtures are set (see MWC thread). Our first game is against Slovenija and is probably our toughest.

Top two teams from our group of four will qualify for the round of 16. Two of the best third place teams will also go through. We should have no problems getting through, but let's beat Slovenija to make sure!

Having said that, it's not going to be easy. Slovenija currently have a squad of 52 players averaging R4.0m while we have a squad of 40 players averaging R3.5m. We've got a serious fight on our hands.

The other two teams average R1.6m and R1.8m.

OMG that is going to be great. So we got Slovenja the this weekend looking at the fixtures.

How the team coming for that game, pritty much picks itself i recon
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If we go with the same formation as last game, and no reason why we shouldn't unless it's tactical, the only problem at this point is that it looks like Behr will be out injured. Permall seems the obvious replacement.

Will have a closer look at Slovenija's tactics today.

EDIT: Behr and Mabotsa are both only slightly injured today. We'll have to see how things look after today's matches, and by Saturday
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Well hopefully they wount be injured as you can use them :) Going to be an interesting game if we can give them a go :)

can I help you NT-coach with the NT?

Thanks for the offer, but I don't know if there's much you can do.

Theunis and Phibeon are helping me now with strikers and midfielders respectively, and we're such a small nation in sokker that we don't really need a scout.

Still, if you've got any suggestions, feel free to send me an sk-mail.

Thanks for the mail. For some reason i cannot respond to it. But i dont see any forseen problems with what you suggested, Just watch out for the Counter

*nod*

Should be fine there, with the back line and defensive midfielder for cover.

Will make final decision on the line up after todays games, to make sure of form and injuries.