Malenko

In order to get my mind off things, I decided to start a new FM game, even though I haven't played in years. This is FM21 because it's the one I own. Sorry-

I have a pack I downloaded back in the day that makes every single country league playable, and decided to pick the Uzbekistan league (obviously). Anyway, I pick Paxtakor because at least they would be playing asian champions league football and I wanted something more than just domestic football.

The league itself was going really well leading the league with 14 wins and 5 draws after 19 matches. I had problems in the cup (there's a group stage, and I ended up with 2 draws and a loss in my group so I'm already out). In the Asian Champions League I reached  quarter finals and was basically "killed" by Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia away.

Yeah, I know, if you lose 9-3 you're really bad. I'm aware.

Then, second leg and I had zero expectations, obviously.

but at half time I had a 3-2 lead and I thought "I can get some money out of this." In Uzbekistan it's very useful.

49,51 and 52 minutes and then we were 6-2 and I started believing.

And this actually happened.

Both of these matches were unbelievable. But it's even more amazing that both were in the same two-legged tie.

I've been playing CM/FM since 1994 and I never had anything similar to this happen to me.

2 hours ago, Krabby said:

This is kind of a Video Game thing too but it's an NBA video game, so putting it here. I did a full run through of ZenGM's Basketball GM with the Pistons from their years in Fort Wayne until the retirement of Wembanyama (which is where I end my games basically). This is my Pistons franchise story:

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From 1949-57, the Fort Wayne years, I had mostly losing seasons but because there are like 8 teams in the NBA I made the playoffs 7 of 9 seasons but only ever won 2 rounds.

Got the first pick after a dismal 1958 year and took Elgin Baylor who helped us take home our first title in 1959...I had kind of hoped for more but thanks to Boston's league worst 18 wins they drafted Wilt Chamberlain and then, thanks to a trade with Philadelphia, ended up with the top pick in 1960 and took Oscar Robertson. Those two absolutely shredded the league - they won NINE straight titles back-to-back-to-back-etc., I couldn't beat them for nothing. I FINALLY overcame them in 1970 when they were starting to decline and I had Rick Berry, Willis Reed, and Dave Bing going strong - won my 2nd title and a 3rd in 1973. Added Sidney Wicks to that group and won back to backs in 75 and 76, including going 77-5 in 1975!

I hung on as long as I could with that group and tried to squeeze out one more win by adding guys like Bob Lanier and Calvin Murphy. The early 80s were dismal but the second half I was back into the playoff pictures, made the East Finals a few times thanks to being carried by PG Walker Russell who developed really well 9was my 2nd rounder in 1982). This carried into the 90s, cycling between playoff droughts and shortened playoff exits. I had drafted Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1990 and he was a true baller but I couldn't get enough good pieces or the right combination of them around him. 

However, after a poor 1998 season, our fortunes changed. We drafted 6th overall and with that pick we took little known German PF/C...DIRK NOWITZKI! They gelled together nice and we started making the playoffs every year again. In 2002 the Pistons went 65-17, best in the league by 12 wins and odds on favorite to win the title. We got bounced in the first round by the Magic and some kid named O'Neal...Jermaine O'Neal  We did bounce back though and won the championship in 2003 thanks to Dirk being a downright freak!

After Rauf retired the next year I signed Stefon Marbury to replace him but he and Dirk couldn't get it right, multiple second round exits ensued. I traded Marbury to our "friends" in Indiana to shed cap space so I could sign the top free agent, Andre Igoudala. As part of that deal I got Andrew Bogut and then drafted a backcourt of Daniel Ewing and Sergio Rodriguez. That team finally clocked in 08 and we won FIVE out of the next SEVEN titles including a Three Peat! Dirk hung the shoes up in 2014 (about 5 seasons less than real life). 

We kind of sputtered from there - Igoudala aged and declined and coudln't carry the squad and we just couldn't build back good enough. From 2016-2025 we won ONE playoff series. I had traded up in 2019 - the plan was to get Ja Morant but I was able to get Pick #1 so I chose Zion Williamson. He never carried the team like a true star. However, in 2029 and 20230 I had assembled a deep enough and talented enough squad that I eeked out back to back titles again, led by PG Tre Mann and F Kenyon Martin Jr. Couldn't really replicate much success after that though and mediocrity settled in to the squad basically until Wemby retired (which is the the spot at which I cut my games off).

Overall I won 13 titles and made 20 finals appearances; 70 total playoff appearances with a record of 4243-3044 for a winning percentage of 58.2%. 

FRANCHISE LEADERS:

• Most Games: Zion Williamson - 1,329
• Most Minutes Played: Dirk Nowitzki - 37,262
• Most Field Goals Made: Dirk Nowitzki - 7,620
• Most Three Pointers Made: Tre Mann - 2,704
• Most Free Throws Made: Dirk Nowitzki - 4,658
• Most Rebounds: Dirk Nowitzki - 8,083
• Most Assists: Walker Russell - 9,074
• Most Turnovers: Chuck Mencel - 3,686
• Most Steals: Andre Igoudala - 1,780
• Most Blocks: Dirk Nowitzki - 1,863
• Most Fouls: Dirk Nowitzki - 3,007
• Most Points: Dirk Nowitzki - 21,429

I'll page our resident Pistons guys, @VerbalPuke and @Malenko

I like you got a couple actual Pistons legends in there. For some reason I'm not surprised Marbury didn't match well with Dirk. Second round exits sound about right.

good thing they fired Adrian Griffin. They're so much better now. phew

16 hours ago, Pooker said:

Couple of Bucks fans are blaming him for their lackluster defense this year. Not that trading a great defensive guard for one that plays no defense has anything to do with that.

This 100%. You go from one of the very best defensive backcourt players in the league right now to one that won't even bother playing unless he has the ball and then complain about the coach. Right...

On 27/12/2023 at 21:36, LL! said:

I think I want to put money on the Pistons snapping the streak against the Celtics tomorrow. Just because it'd something I'd really love to see. 

So, so close.

27 minutes ago, gunnar hendershow said:

0-0 for Italy to qualify. The Azzurri are back.

Nothing says we're back baby! like a 0-0 draw.

32 minutes ago, VerbalPuke said:

Lol. 

In your defense, they did look good the first few games, and they've had a TON of injuries. Also, their rotation is 9 guys under 24 and Alec Burks. With Monte Morris and Bogdanovic things could be a tiny bit different.

Also, I think you jinxed them.

Controversial issues aside, they were playing really well that world cup until they went out after Maradona was gone. Romania were also really good and also, that Romania vs Argentina match was one of the best in the tournament.

Again, controversial issues aside Maradona was actually unfortunate to be surrounded by two of the best supporting casts for the NT when he was inexperienced and then when he was almost out of it (literally and figuratively) while getting some of the most mediocre supporting casts in the NT history during his peak years.

Edit: this isn't the kind of post you'd expect in the new kit thread. Apologies 

The Oilers can't even beat the Sharks this year. 

On 15/10/2023 at 23:06, Bobfoc said:

France have a reasonably young team and should be big contenders in 2027, but they'll still be gutted. Missing the opportunity to win on home soil when they were arguably favourites will be a big setback to get over.

Late reply, but I still think France wouldn't miss the final if it weren't for all their injuries to top players. I know those are part of the game, and nobody was 100%, but I feel they were affected the most. Having said that, I had NZ vs SA in my poll (before the World cup started), because even when I feel someone is talented enough to be successful I still don't trust my gut until I see some consistency. Same reason I wouldn't pick Ireland if my life depended on it, regardless of how good the team might have looked on paper.

1 hour ago, Krabby said:

Oh cool that's awesome - I love doing that kind of stuff with historical simulation games. I am messing around with a historical basketball one right now. What did you name the Vancouver team?

Is it FBB?

3 hours ago, Colly said:

They've just crossed the Bristol channel, Brentford have moved about 300 miles.

I was trying and couldn't find Brentford after reading your post and didn't know what you were on about. I wasn't expecting them to border Scotland. 

23 hours ago, VerbalPuke said:

Yea, these were all written before I joined. Its good for me because its helping me explore more meodic songs. I agree with you that the first and last two are probably my favorites. 

If you're feeling frisky give us a follow, the lads would be geeked to find out we have a fan overseas 😀. 

I think I did. You meant bandcamp, right?

1 hour ago, VerbalPuke said:

 

https://theboresdetroit.bandcamp.com/album/basement-demos?logged_in_mobile_menubar=true&search_item_id=1230618443&search_item_type=b&search_match_part=%3F&search_page_id=2846435975&search_page_no=0&search_rank=2

So we now have demos! Figure I'll post here instead of the musician thread since we're a proper band.

There's 7 songs, my favorite of the bunch is Toxic Avengers. 

Oh and if anybody is feeling like driving to Detroit we are playing a gig I'm Corktown tomorrow night. 

I really like it. It's more melodic than I expected. I like the first 2 and the last 2 the most, but that's to be expected considering they're more similar to what I usually listen to.

30 minutes ago, Lint said:

I've been reading Roger Mirets autobiography My Riot: Agnostic Front, Grit, Guts & Glory

Its actually surprising to read that Roger is completely indifferent to Cause For Alarm.  He says something like "Some people love Cause For Alarm, some people hate it.  To this day, I'm not sure which side I'm on"

Personally I'm on the love side of it.  That one and Victim in Pain are great.

5 hours ago, Bobfoc said:

The biggest thing they need to sort out in future games is the club/manager AI. You've got all these features that are meant to make the game world more dynamic, such as tycoon takeovers, changing club philosophies and prize money alterations, but you always end up seeing the same few teams get promoted and relegated. Whenever an AI club gets more money, it will just bring in players of the same calibre as before, but on hugely inflated wages and transfer fees. Plenty of Youtubers do hundred-plus-year experiments, and the result is that virtually nothing changes, even if they give clubs enormous amounts of money or the best staff.

I remember playing older Championship Manager/Football Manager games and seeing so much more change in how the game world looked after a few years. Maybe it was less realistic, but it was more fun. Right now, it seems that you're operating in a static database of which only your little corner sees any development.

Tbf, that's because usually in those tests they only select english leagues. League/Team reputation stats are pretty much static unless you actually select the league/country.

Personally I play with all leagues selected and I do see major changes after a few years in other countries.

29 minutes ago, METALMAN said:

It's kind of weird that the leagues FM offers by default have been rigid for so long but it's nice that its so easy to activate the other leagues seeing as in pretty much every case the data is already there. You just need to turn it on.

Every case. Even leagues of countries/nations without full FIFA memberships. That's very cool, but it's not just "turning it on" though, because you do have to create the "nation rules" file for every country (or, just wait until someone else does it, but in any case, someone has to do it).

I'd like to see more leagues active by default but I assume they don't want to have to pay all the leagues to have them there, when not many people are buying the game because of them.

39 minutes ago, Hobo said:

Its kinda weird they didn't. Was there ever a particular reason why they lost the rights to the J league in the switch over from CM to FM?

Some other company had the rights to use the J-League, IIRC

9 minutes ago, 9 to 5 said:

Do they have the Japanese league back?

I assumed so. About time.

5 hours ago, Bobfoc said:

Luxembourg lost 9-0 to Portugal and are now somewhat less in contention to qualify.

Somehow, Portugal seem to play better when their goal is to get the ball in the other team's goal rather than just getting the ball in that one guy's feet. A good suspension does wonders sometimes.

That's weird. It's not uncommon at all. In fact I remember seeing a graph just a few years ago with the average number of pitchers used per team per game throughout the years and the average at the time was already over 4.

3 minutes ago, Hobo said:

Another thing I noticed is in the original data Wexford take part in the regional cup competition Leinster Senior Cup.

But in this database they arent in it. Its strange.

 

 

I would have a look but unfortunately Im still playing fm21 and I can't check that database right now.

1 hour ago, Hobo said:

Finally, we will see who the real footballing giant is - Ireland or Saudi Arabia!

I'm testing out a LOI mod that has promotion/relegation but also makes it a winter league

I'm holidaying through it to see how it handles the regional relegation thing. The first season it relegated Wexford to the wrong region but it got everyone else right.

There's another LOI mod on steam but I can't seem to download it. I assume because I don't have the game on Steam, I guess. Or my steam workshop downloads aren't working which has happened before recently. Doesn't seem to be anywhere else.

FM relegates teams based on coordinates when available. However it will end up doing things wrong whenever there's too many that should go into one and none that should go into another. It's not a perfect system.

1 hour ago, Naitch said:

I can forgive Getafe fans, in a general sense, for not knowing the full details surrounding Greenwood. The odds of it being as extensively reported on in Spain are low, particularly given the very concept of the ongoing Rubiales controversy showing that Spainish culture might not be as progressive when it comes to women's right, and the prospect of signing an "England international" from Man Utd sounds like a coup when your team is consistently fighting to avoid relegation.

What I can't forgive is the sheer amount of effort the club have demonstrably put into generating as much social media buzz from the signing as possible. Getafe's English language Twitter account is less than three months old, only became active a week ago, and has featured Greenwood about 80% of the time, spotlighting and idolising him in ways that make the marketing campaigns surrounding returning "club heroes" like Ronaldo and Bale look low key. It's dirty, and there's no way they don't know exactly what they're doing.

If by "as extensively reported on in Spain are low" you mean they are close to zero than you would be right. I live in Spain. All I know about Greenwood's situation I read/heard about in English media. The vast majority of Spanish people don't read English press just like the vast majority of English people don't read Spanish press.

Spain is very divided in general. It's not that spanish culture isn't progressive and accepts what Rubiales did. In fact, a lot of people want him in jail. Not just gone from the RFEF. Greenwood would never play for Rayo Vallecano for instance. The one time they signed a controversial player (Zozulya) he was kicked out by their own fans and had to look for a new club. Getafe is not Rayo Vallecano. Getafe, Levante and Espanyol are far right clubs. They won't give a fuck about any of this as long as Greenwood helps them win.

As for their english Twitter account... it's in English. It obviously will feature Mason Greenwood and not Borja Mayoral. Spanish people won't follow that account. This was their way to get English speakers to follow their club. They're Greenwood's fans, not Getafe's.

So, the RFEF number 2 has reported the spanish government to UEFA (that's a sentence I never thought I would write one day) and requested all spanish teams be banned from all continental competitions if they don't accept Rubiales as RFEF president.

They're acting as if this is a military coup of sorts, ffs.

So, Rubiales mother locked herself in a church with her sister and announced she's gone on hunger strike...