Topic: Soccer Manager: The Sleeping Giants 20: T'lockdown

[Card Cheat]

35 player squad limit in effect
(1 season transfer ban for going over)

Game World ID 349832


Hi everyone. It's a brand spanking new Soccer Manager league, featuring the sleeping giants, fallen angels and semi-destitute former titans of world football!





Particulars:

- 3 Divisions of 8 teams
- 4 promoted, 4 relegated
- teams play eachother twice a season; 14 games over 7 weeks

- Teams start with empty squads; no players. All players are available to buy, ie. while Barcelona/Real etc are not in the Gameworld, Suarez, Bale (and every player in world football for that matter) are all available to buy in the external market.

- each team starts with £300m in the bank.

- will look at introducing a squad cap if necessary as the seasons progress.

First round of fixtures is Jan 8th. When we have a decent number of managers on board we'll Draft our first 11 players each. After we've all made our 11 draft picks each, the transfer free-for-all to pad out squads can begin!

Draft picks to be made in the draft thread...
http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=331026.0


If you're unfamiliar with Soccer Manager, it's essentially a really fun footy manager sim without most of the faff.

Go to the Soccer Manager website to register, click Add Club, enter gameworld ID 349832, and apply for the club of your choice. When I've accepted, and pending enough managers on board, you're good to go!

Should be a really good challenge cobbling together a team, I can see a few journeyman strikers getting plucked from obscurity to help pad-out a matchday squad or three.





Available teams in bold:

Torino
Sporting Lisbon   Chrismonster
Feyenoord    RK7
Independiente   Illias
Deportivo la Coruna   Neil
Saint Etienne
Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)   de Facto
Fluminense 
Dynamo Moscow
Foggia Calcio
Sparta Rotterdam
Flamengo  Rob Soar
Rangers
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Leeds Utd   Betty
Valencia
Parma  Lawnmo
Dynamo Dresden   King Luis
Kaiserslautern
Penarol   Midget
Velez Sarsfield
Brondby
Dukla Praha    Card Cheat
Nottingham Forest


*Dukla Praha, not technically 'the' Dukla Prague, that honour falls to FK Pribram, but this Dukla use the old Dukla logo which is dreamy. As such, they're in.


Any questions, fire away.

--------------------------------------
Roll of Honour

DIV 1:
Deportivo, Leeds, Deportivo, Deportivo, Dresden, Dresden, Dresden, Dresden, Deportivo, Sporting, Dukla, Dukla, Dukla, Leeds, Leeds, Penarol, Leeds, Leeds, Dresden

DIV 2:
Foggia, Parma, Torino, Dresden, Rangers, Sporting, Feyenoord, Independiente, Penarol, Leeds, Penarol, Saint Etienne, Penarol, Deportivo, Dresden, Independiente, Dresden, Red Star, Sporting

DIV 3:
Parma, Rangers, Fluminense, Rangers, Brondby, Feyenoord, Fluminense, Flamengo, Rangers, Feyenoord, Forest, Feyenoord, Independiente, Flamengo, Rangers, Saint Etienne, Red Star, Saint Etienne, Dusseldorf

SLEEPING GIANTS CUP:
Valencia, Rangers, Rangers, Red Star, Sparta, Sparta, Valencia, Rangers, Feyenoord, Rangers, Independiente, Penarol, Independiente, Forest, Parma, Sporting, Leeds, Leeds, Parma

CHARIDEE SHIELD:
Deportivo, Leeds, Rangers, Deportivo, Dresden, Sparta, Dresden, Rangers, Deportivo, Sporting, Independiente, Penarol, Independiente, Forest, Parma, Penarol, Feyenoord, Leeds

[Lawnmowerman]

I thought this was a draft scenario??

[Card Cheat]

I thought this was a draft scenario??

Looking at it, I'm not sure a draft would work. £300m is the max a team can start with, and we'd still have to pay for the draft picks which eats into the cash reserves. Would be difficult to administer too with managers coming on board at different times.

£300m is quite a small amount of cash to build a squad with, so that should ensure an even spread of quality players anyway (hopefully).


Amended. Doing the draft!

[KingLuis10]

Great selection of teams, my hipster senses are tingling! A few of the other teams were right tempters, but I'm staying loyal to Sporting

[Card Cheat]

Great selection of teams, my hipster senses are tingling! A few of the other teams were right tempters, but I'm staying loyal to Sporting

Very nearly put in St Pauli, would've thrown it riiiight over the edge!

[Midget]

Applied for Penarol

I'm in favor of a draft to start the game. Would make it all a little bit less hectic and you could actually think things through before acting. Whatever works for everyone is fine with me though.

[Card Cheat]

Applied for Penarol

Welcome!

I'm in favor of a draft to start the game. Would make it all a little bit less hectic and you could actually think things through before acting. Whatever works for everyone is fine with me though.

I'm happy to go with a draft if most are in favour.

[Zend...en the clowns]

Welcome!

I'm happy to go with a draft if most are in favour.

Draft is a thumbs up from me too.

[JSteve]

Application in for Valencia.

[Betty Blue]

Fuck yes! Can I reserve one of Torino, Dep or Saint Etienne? I don't mind which. Not at my computer to apply til later today.

Definitely think we should find a way to make a draft out of this. If not now we never will. Surely the budget issue is the same whether we're drafting or bidding. In fact, it would probably much easier to stretch the money out this way as none us would be getting into bidding wars.

[Midget]

I'm happy to go with a draft if most are in favour.

That would maybe allow some stars that everyone would like to for their squads to be spread evenly without there being bidding wars that inflate their price. It would save everyones money I think. When that is over we could do a Black Friday type of thing with the rest of the cash.

[JSteve]

I would prefer the draft too. Would be much less chaotic.

[Lawnmowerman]

With the draft we could make our teams before the gw even starts. Maybe an extra rule where you can only buy one player from per team, to really make people think about their choices. Having time to do the maths and stuff before rushing in all chaotic like might save some mental breakdons too!
Saying one thing though. 300mil wont last pissing time. Cant even buy young players due to the price of them. Probably pick one 'marquee' player to make the focal point of your team, and fill the rest with average dross


I'd say have a regular 15 round draft, and if anyone has cash left over then you can buy whoever you can afford

[Card Cheat]

A draft it is.

With the draft we could make our teams before the gw even starts. Maybe an extra rule where you can only buy one player from per team, to really make people think about their choices. Having time to do the maths and stuff before rushing in all chaotic like might save some mental breakdons too!
Saying one thing though. 300mil wont last pissing time. Cant even buy young players due to the price of them. Probably pick one 'marquee' player to make the focal point of your team, and fill the rest with average dross


I'd say have a regular 15 round draft, and if anyone has cash left over then you can buy whoever you can afford

Is that 15 picks per team?

I've set the gameworld economy to 'strong', so after the cash has been spend there should be a decent amount coming in from gate receipts and reward money.

[Lawnmowerman]

A draft it is.

Shall we go the 5 picks per team route?

whatcha mean. A 5 round draft??

[Card Cheat]

whatcha mean. A 5 round draft??

Ignore that! Happy with 15.


I'm just a real sucker for transfer chaos. 

[Zend...en the clowns]

Application in for Parma. Fucking boss.

How will this draft work?

[Lawnmowerman]

Maybe just go with a normal 11 round then to get it swifter. We'll have to move quick if the league starts in 2 weeks. Taking in the actual draft, then bidding and accepting will run it close

[Lawnmowerman]

Application in for Parma. Fucking boss.

How will this draft work?

You look at the player list in the transfer market in the gameworld. Figure out your finances and announce in a draft thread when you're up who you pick. The usual snake scenario. A list will be made of players who have been chosen. Betty will organise it. Always does Happy new year Betts

[Card Cheat]

Maybe just go with a normal 11 round then to get it swifter. We'll have to move quick if the league starts in 2 weeks. Taking in the actual draft, then bidding and accepting will run it close

Yeah, maybe give this thread a couple more days, and then go.

Not sure when the AI will begin spending unmanaged sides cash, fingers crossed it waits a while.

[Card Cheat]

You look at the player list in the transfer market in the gameworld. Figure out your finances and announce in a draft thread when you're up who you pick. The usual snake scenario. A list will be made of players who have been chosen. Betty will organise it. Always does Happy new year Betts

 

Be my guest!

Torino reserved for Betty.

[Betty Blue]

Be my guest!

Torino reserved for Betty.

I would usually but I'm away from home til the 9th, so probably not best placed to run this draft to be honest.

Can I also have Deportivo over Torino. Already have Inter in the other game world. Nice to have a Spanish team for variety. Also, home of the legendary hipster drafters dream Mauro Silva 

[KingLuis10]

Draft? Oh yes  I don't mind helping out, no voting threads in this one makes running it a lot easier. 11 players usually takes a week or so, so we should just have time to put together a first XI before the first round of fixtures. The 300m shouldn't be an issue if we're only picking 11 players, then maybe we could go black Friday free for all afterwards to flesh out our squads?

[Card Cheat]

I would usually but I'm away from home til the 9th, so probably not best placed to run this draft to be honest.

Can I also have Deportivo over Torino. Already have Inter in the other game world. Nice to have a Spanish team for variety. Also, home of the legendary hipster drafters dream Mauro Silva 

Sound. Will figure something out. Teams swapped.

[Card Cheat]

Draft? Oh yes  I don't mind helping out, no voting threads in this one makes running it a lot easier. 11 players usually takes a week or so, so we should just have time to put together a first XI before the first round of fixtures. The 300m shouldn't be an issue if we're only picking 11 players, then maybe we could go black Friday free for all afterwards to flesh out our squads?

Sounds good.


What formats would work best for the draft?

My preferences would be something like:

1. An open draft, where on your turn you can draft whoever you like
OR
2. Age based. 2x teenagers, 3x 20-24, 3x 25-29, 2x 30-35, 1x 35+
OR
3. Ratings based

[Zend...en the clowns]

Sounds good.


What formats would work best for the draft?

My preferences would be something like:

1. An open draft, where on your turn you can draft whoever you like
OR
2. Age based. 2x teenagers, 3x 20-24, 3x 25-29, 2x 30-35, 1x 35+
OR
3. Ratings based

Think the criteria based draft would be decent if we had more time, might just be best to go for an initial 11 free for all in the short term?

[KingLuis10]

Yeah agree with you and Zenden, probably best to keep things simple. How about positions? Any first XI that fits into an SM formation?

[Lawnmowerman]

Yeah lets just keep things simple. I'll run the thread, should be easy enough. It's just keeping the pick list updated really.

Do we not need to have a 20man squad to kick off? I know you cant go under20 with transfers

[Card Cheat]

Yeah lets just keep things simple. I'll run the thread, should be easy enough. It's just keeping the pick list updated really.

Do we not need to have a 20man squad to kick off? I know you cant go under20 with transfers

Cheers LM!

If this is true we should be okay with the squads. Just have to be sure to finish the draft before the AI fills up teams with dross.

NB: If you don't manage to acquire enough players yourself to field a full squad by the first game of the season SM will automatically sign poor players to make up the numbers.

http://forum.soccermanager.com/topic/151322-custom-game-world-with-empty-squads/

[Card Cheat]

Yeah agree with you and Zenden, probably best to keep things simple. How about positions? Any first XI that fits into an SM formation?

I think whoever really. If someone wants to sign eleven left backs, let 'em. 

[RK7]

I've applied for Feyenoord, will need the draft plan explaining before we get going though please.

[Lawnmowerman]

Cheers LM!

If this is true we should be okay with the squads. Just have to be sure to finish the draft before the AI fills up teams with dross.

NB: If you don't manage to acquire enough players yourself to field a full squad by the first game of the season SM will automatically sign poor players to make up the numbers.

http://forum.soccermanager.com/topic/151322-custom-game-world-with-empty-squads/

fook. should be fun if some don't pay attention to the draft

[Lawnmowerman]

I've applied for Feyenoord, will need the draft plan explaining before we get going though please.

You just follow the selection thread to see who's been picked and who's available. There'll be a draft order. Everyone will have an hour or so to pick a player. If they don't they miss their turn and the next person in the order chooses, but if you're one of those who have missed a turn, you can pick as soon as you come online. You don't have to wait till your turn comes round again

[Card Cheat]

fook. should be fun if some don't pay attention to the draft

The period between the end of the draft and the first fixture is going to be nuts! Offers flying everywhere, fingers to eyes, panic buying the order of the day!

I've applied for Feyenoord, will need the draft plan explaining before we get going though please.

Accepted

[Betty Blue]

I agree about keeping things as simple as possible with the draft. Although I quite liked the initial idea of picking players within certain rating 'ranges' - below 75, 76-80, 81-85, 86-89, 90-92, 93-94. Or something like that. Just to keep us all with fairly even squads and prevent anyone going mental and screwing up their own team, losing interest and then even aborting the league.

Another thought. We have a very small window of time for the draft and quite a few who may not be able to handle the pace of the ones we normally do, so how about picking two players per draft turn. One youngster and one senior.

[RK7]

You just follow the selection thread to see who's been picked and who's available. There'll be a draft order. Everyone will have an hour or so to pick a player. If they don't they miss their turn and the next person in the order chooses, but if you're one of those who have missed a turn, you can pick as soon as you come online. You don't have to wait till your turn comes round again

Where is the selection thread?

[KingLuis10]

Another thought. We have a very small window of time for the draft and quite a few who may not be able to handle the pace of the ones we normally do, so how about picking two players per draft turn. One youngster and one senior.

Maybe after a couple rounds. Not sure I'd want to give the guy who picks first his choice of youngster as well  It's also likely to be a smaller draft than usual, unless we find 16 managers.

Where is the selection thread?

It's not up yet. Once all the participants have been finalised someone will set up a selection order, then we take it in turns to pick players (going up and then down the selection order) until each of us has built their squad.

[RK7]

Thank you. I've never done a draft before so just trying to understand it so I can keep up. How is the order decided?

[Card Cheat]

Another thought. We have a very small window of time for the draft and quite a few who may not be able to handle the pace of the ones we normally do, so how about picking two players per draft turn. One youngster and one senior.

Liking the two players per turn idea, with Luis' caveat of waiting a couple of turns first.

[KingLuis10]

Thank you. I've never done a draft before so just trying to understand it so I can keep up. How is the order decided?

No worries. Whoever's running the draft sticks all of our names on a list and then randomises the order (there are websites for that). Obviously the people near the top of the list get first choice of player in round 1, so to make things fair the person who picks last in round 1 picks first in round 2, and then we move back up the selection order from bottom to top.

So say it was just you, Lawnmo, Betty and Card Cheat participating. The selection order might look something like this:

Round 1:
RK7
Lawnmo
Betty
Card Cheat

Round 2:
Chard Cheat
Betty
Lawnmo
RK7

Round 3:
RK7
Lawnmo
Betty
Card Cheat

Round 4:
Chard Cheat
Betty
Lawnmo
RK7

And so on...it just reverses each time.