FIFA 06: The Rise of Amiens SC, Issue 3
May 23 '07 (Updated Apr 30 '09)
The Bottom Line After three more games in one week, Amiens SC is second with 45 points, but Popovic is out for four weeks with a separated shoulder.
Note: To find out more about FIFA 06 for the PC, please see http://www.epinions.com/content_267262135940
To fill you, the casual reader, in regarding this series of articles, I am writing this to chronicle my adventures in the outstanding sports computer game, FIFA 06. I am currently playing at the highest level, which has proven to be both exciting and frustrating to me, almost with equal measure. The events recorded here are based on in-game events in Manager Mode, in which I play 15 seasons as a manager of one or many clubs. I manage Amiens SC, which is now in Ligue 2 in the real world, but play in Ligue 1 in the game.
Now, back to the action...
December 26, 2006
Successful Week
Amiens SC finished a three-game stretch of games with three wins, including a 3-0 win in League Cup action against Montpellier, a 3-1 comeback win over Olympique Marseille, and a 3-0 win over Swiss side Yverdon FC in the UEFA Cup, which advances Amiens to the next round on goal difference.
Though Amiens saw success on three fronts, Amiens enter Week 19 second behind Ligue 1 leaders, Lyon, with 45 points, but with a game in hand.
"We are only halfway through the season," commented captain Hamed Namouchi. "I am pleased with our performance as a newly-promoted side, but we have a long way to go. As the cliche goes, this is a marathon, and not a sprint."
Popovic Down for Four Weeks
Amiens SC suffered a major injury blow when star striker Josef Popovic went down with a dislocated shoulder during the hotly contested game again Olympique Marseille. In the 68th minute, Popovic was rushing past Marseille's back line with the ball when a Marseille defender went to ground to tackle the streaking Popovic. Popovic fell awkwardly on his right shoulder, which hampered him for the remainder of the game. The injury rules him out for four weeks.
"Popovic has been a revelation for us this season, but we have to soldier on," Amiens manager Guus Hiddink said. "We have players that can take his place until he comes back."
Despite the in-game injury, Popovic finished the game, visibly hampered. "I was not aware of the extent of his injury," Hiddink added. "He took a knock, but I thought he could finish the game. I suppose I would have taken the blame, if it were an injury that affected his legs."
Popovic, in a sling after the game, was noticeably disappointed. "I will do my best to come back early," he said.
This year, Popovic leads Ligue 1 with 20 goals throughout all competitions.
Amiens SC management are filing paperwork in response to the cynical tackle on Popovic, which resulted in only a yellow card for the Marseille defender. "We hope to appeal for a suspension," an Amiens spokesperson stated during a phone interview, "The tackle was against all that is pure and wonderful about the game of football."
(Game Note: In the game, Popovic was injured during the Marseille match. After the match, FIFA 06 informed me that Popovic would be out until late January because of a dislocated shoulder. To accelerate the recovery of a player, a gamer can upgrade a team's Fitness staff person. I currently have a 5 Fitness staff person.)
New Midfielders Coach Hired
Last week, Amiens SC announced that a new midfielders coach has been hired to develop the improved groups of Amiens midfielders.
Didier Ligon, an experienced tactics and skills coach who previously worked for Brazilian side Vasco de Gama, was hired from a short-list of coaches.
"Didier brings futbol de salao and five-a-side skills to our camp," manager Guus Hiddink observed, "I am looking forward to our midfielders shoring up the defiencies in their approaches to the game."
When asked about who would most benefit, Hiddink was not slow to answer: "Our young midfielders, like Chris Johnsen, will gain much from Didier's tutelage. Also, I'm looking forward to David De Freitas developing his skills to match his tenacity and fight. I'm excited about this hire."
(Game Note: I upgraded my midfield coach to 5, using the points/currency accrued after ticket sales and sponsorship money received. I have observed that a team in Manager Mode experiences greater improvement with each upgrade after 5.)
Team News
* Before the League Cup match against Montpellier, Cyrille Merville impressed his teammates with a superior juggling display. While balancing on an upturned trash can, Merville juggled three soccer balls, a folding chair, and a hamster.
"I still thinks he's got a future as a clown," quipped an anonymous Amiens player.
* Over the last five games, striker Lee Miller has netted seven goals, particularly two goals against rivals Marseille.
"Miller lingers around the opponent's back line, and then pounces on through balls," said midfielder Tobias Linderoth. "He's on his way to becoming the new Filippo Inzaghi."
When told about Linderoth's praise, Miller sheepishly grinned. "Nah, I'm no Pippo Inzaghi. I just try to put the ball into the back of the net and make the best of my ability."
* Amiens defender Robert Pressley has made the right center back berth his own in the past four games.
"After the Lyon game, has shown great poise in the past few weeks," Guus Hiddink commented. "He has put himself in front of a number of crosses and even taken the ball from some attackers' feet and advanced with it. 'Press' has incredible grit and does a lot with the talent he has."
(Game Note: Pressley is currently at a 71 overall rating, having improved one point since the Lyon game. One of the excellent aspects of Manager Mode is that players improve. Improvement is both a reflection of the player and how the gamer uses the player.)
* Striker Lamine Djaballah has been given the nod to start in the place of the injured Josef Popovic.
"I am the number 9. I am still the number 9. I want to show that I am this team's number 9," asserted the defiant Djaballah.
(Note: Traditionally, in soccer, the number 9 player is the center-forward, who is expected to be good at heading the ball and holding up play.)
* Goalkeepers Daguet and Mullen recently engaged in a marathon match of Rock-Paper-Scissors, during which the two netminders had 52 stalemates before Daguet emerged as the winner.
"I just wanted to decide who would ride in the front seat of the team bus," Daguet stated with some amusement. "It took five minutes to decide!"
Note: To view Issue 4, please see http://www.epinions.com/content_5032484996.
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