• The Staff game (AKA Crazy Tiny Players) - Choice #0365

    From milivella@milivella@gmail.com to rec.sport.soccer on Sun Feb 22 21:36:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

    What happened
    =============

    You chose to train Piirainen in finishing. You will skip the next 2 (= 3
    minus 1 already skipped) market rounds.

    What happened (squad, bank, table, results of matches before yours if
    any, your fixture, opponents' line-up): http://rssclash.altervista.org/staff/0365/index.html

    New choice
    ==========

    Who do you agree with?

    A. Aggie the Agnostic:
    3-4-3
    01
    02 05 03
    06
    07 04 11
    10 09 08
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- --------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 --------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 P.Viljanen CD 160K 12 HTP FIN 15 0 +16 +1.07
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 --------------------------------------------------------------
    06 Puputti CM DM,D 250K 15 PTS FIN 49 0 +36 +0.73 --------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    04 Sorvisto CM 180K 13 TPV FIN 50 7 +14 +0.28
    11 Yeremenko LW 200K 14 SCH RUS 43 3 +25 +0.58 --------------------------------------------------------------
    10 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    09 Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    08 Vanhala A 250K 15 5214111 PTV FIN 62 18 +38 +0.61

    B. Ben the Basic:
    3-5-2
    01
    02 05 03
    04 06
    07 08 11
    10 09
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- --------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 --------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 --------------------------------------------------------------
    04 Puputti CM DM,D 250K 15 PTS FIN 49 0 +36 +0.73
    06 Wiss CM DM 150K 11 PTC FIN 22 1 -07 -0.32 --------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    08 Sorvisto CM 180K 13 TPV FIN 50 7 +14 +0.28
    11 Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58 --------------------------------------------------------------
    10 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    09 J.Viljanen LW A 180K 13 CSF FIN 2 1 -02 -1.00

    D. Dan the Dazzled (and Noah the Netter):
    3-4-3
    01
    02 05 03
    06
    07 04 11
    10 09 08
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- --------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 --------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 Eggen CD 450K 18 HTP NOR 15 0 +22 +1.47
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 --------------------------------------------------------------
    06 Puputti CM DM,D 250K 15 PTS FIN 49 0 +36 +0.73 --------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    04 McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06
    11 Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58 --------------------------------------------------------------
    09 Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    10 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    08 Vanhala A 250K 15 5214111 PTV FIN 62 18 +38 +0.61

    O. Ollie the Opponent:
    4-4-2
    01
    02 05 06 03
    04
    07 08 11
    10 09
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- --------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 --------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 Eggen CD 450K 18 HTP NOR 15 0 +22 +1.47
    06 P.Viljanen CD 160K 12 HTP FIN 15 0 +16 +1.07
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 --------------------------------------------------------------
    04 Puputti CM DM,D 250K 15 PTS FIN 49 0 +36 +0.73 --------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    08 McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06
    11 Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58 --------------------------------------------------------------
    10 Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    09 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67

    P. Pat the Paranoid:
    3-4-3
    01
    02 05 03
    06
    07 04 11
    10 09 08
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- --------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 --------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 Eggen CD 450K 18 HTP NOR 15 0 +22 +1.47
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 --------------------------------------------------------------
    06 McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06 --------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    04 Sorvisto CM 180K 13 TPV FIN 50 7 +14 +0.28
    11 Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58 --------------------------------------------------------------
    10 Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    09 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    08 Vanhala A 250K 15 5214111 PTV FIN 62 18 +38 +0.61

    W. Will the Watcher (same XI as Dan, but Will has Tauriainen as
    centre-forward because he has scored more goals, i.e., he has proven to
    be the best goal-scorer):
    3-4-3
    01
    02 05 03
    06
    07 04 11
    10 09 08
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- --------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 --------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 Eggen CD 450K 18 HTP NOR 15 0 +22 +1.47
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 --------------------------------------------------------------
    06 Puputti CM DM,D 250K 15 PTS FIN 49 0 +36 +0.73 --------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    04 McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06
    11 Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58 --------------------------------------------------------------
    10 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    09 Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    08 Vanhala A 250K 15 5214111 PTV FIN 62 18 +38 +0.61

    .

    .

    .

    Useful info
    ===========

    How to read the screenshots
    ---------------------------

    Squad screen:
    - Head:
    - Red card = suspension; number on the card = number of matches the
    player is suspended for.
    - Bandaged head = the player has taken a knock.
    - Red cross = injury; number on the cross = number of matches the
    player will be out for.
    - Black cross = the player is out for the season
    - Skills:
    - P = Passing
    - V = shot Velocity from outside the penalty box
    - H = Heading
    - T = Tackling
    - C = ball Control
    - S = Speed
    - F = Finishing inside the penalty box
    - Price:
    - Trial = without contract (so their price is unknown [it's low in
    most but not all cases] and they could leave the team anytime; if you
    play them enough, they'll get a contract)

    Future market rounds to skip
    ----------------------------

    2

    Squad
    -----

    Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- TPr
    Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37
    Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    Eggen CD 450K 18 HTP NOR 15 0 +22 +1.47
    Snellman CD 100K 8 TFH FIN 10 0 +09 +0.90
    P.Viljanen CD 160K 12 HTP FIN 15 0 +16 +1.07
    Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61
    Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06
    Puputti CM DM,D 250K 15 PTS FIN 49 0 +36 +0.73
    Sorvisto CM 180K 13 TPV FIN 50 7 +14 +0.28
    Wiss CM DM 150K 11 PTC FIN 22 1 -07 -0.32
    Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58
    J.Viljanen LW A 180K 13 CSF FIN 2 1 -02 -1.00
    Yeremenko LW 200K 14 SCH RUS 43 3 +25 +0.58 160K
    Adlane A 180K 13 FHP ALG 30 4 +11 +0.37
    Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    Vanhala A 250K 15 5214111 PTV FIN 62 18 +38 +0.61

    Ps = Position
    B = positon according to Ben
    OPr = Original Price when joined the club
    Sm = Sum of skill points
    PVHTCSF: skill points
    Skl = 1st 2nd and 3rd best skill (see "How to read the screenshots")
    Nat = Nation
    M = Matches played
    G = Goals scored
    +- = goal difference when the player was on the field
    Avg+- = goal difference per matches played
    TPr = on Transfer market, you'll accept this minimum Price

    Season
    ------

    1999/2000

    Prem Div = Finnish Premier Division: Apr-Oct, 12 teams, play each team
    x2, 3 points for a win, 3 substitutes from a bench of 5
    Cup = Finnish Cup: May-Jun, 3 rounds, 3 substitutes from a bench of 5, 8 teams; each round being 1 leg, extra time, penalties

    Schedule:
    http://rssclash.altervista.org/staff/0338/index.html

    Management record
    -----------------

    First stint

    Ssn Club Nat Lvl Pos Cup Int Pl W D L F A Top scorer ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    96/97 Once Lobos SAL 4 11 - - 22 5 8 9 9 17 Welter 5
    97/98 Once Lobos SAL 4 2 - - 22 11 4 7 13 9 Welter 9
    98/99 Once Lobos SAL 4 4 - - 22 10 3 9 15 14 Ruano,Welter 6
    99/00 Once Lobos SAL 4 12 - - 17 3 4 10 10 18 Ruano 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total 83 29 19 35 47 58

    Second stint

    Ssn Club Nat Lvl Pos Cup Int Pl W D L F A Top scorer ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    96/97 Haka FIN 1 11 QF - 17 4 6 7 12 14 Vaisanen 4
    97/98 Jaro FIN 1 5 QF R2 27 11 4 12 47 45 Tauriainen 29
    98/99 Jaro FIN 1 3 SF - 24 13 3 8 48 37 Tauriainen 30 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total 68 28 13 27 107 96

    2011/12 will be the last season.

    Full history of choices
    -----------------------

    Courtesy of Futbolmetrix: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jqi4vdpqckhqygo/TheStaffGame_History.xlsx?dl=0

    About the game
    --------------

    You can join the game at any time. Randomly picked vote chooses (picked
    when the next choice is set up, something that happens at least 71 hours (i.e., 3 days minus 1 hour) after the choice is posted).

    This is a career in Sensible World of Soccer 96/97, a videogame. Prices
    are in pound sterlings.

    Here are the only (as far as I know) variables in SWOS that matter to you:
    - Match: each player acts according to the team's formation [1], to his
    value in each skill [2], and to his natural position [3] (and to home advantage?). By default you know each player's 1st 2nd and 3rd best
    skills, and his price, that is correlated to the sum of the value of all
    his skills [4] (also, if you play a player in position his price could
    go up; if you don't play him, or play him off position, his price could
    go down; his skill values don't change, though).
    - Suspensions and injuries (if a player has taken a knock, his form is supposedly OK, but he's more likely to pick up a serious injury; the
    knock will heal if he'll get rest)
    - Bank:
    When Money in Money out
    Season begins Competition bonuses
    Sponsorship*
    Each week Gate receipts* General running costs**
    Wages**
    Player sales Player purchases
    * Proportional to results
    ** Proportional to players' prices
    You can buy and sell players all season long. Other teams always play
    with the same XI and don't exchange players with each other.
    [1] List of default formations:
    4-4-2 = 4-1-3-2
    5-4-1 = 5-1-3-1
    4-5-1 = 4-1-4-1
    5-3-2 = 3-2-3-2
    3-5-2 = 3-2-3-2
    4-3-3
    4-2-4 = 4-2-3-1
    3-4-3 = 3-1-3-3
    4-4-2s = S-3-1-3-1 (AKA sweep)
    5-2-3
    3-2-5 = 3-2-3-2 (AKA attack)
    6-3-1 = 6-2-1-1 (AKA defend)
    All with RB and LB, and (the only exception being "defend") RW and LW
    (as forwards if there are just 2 midfielders, otherwise as midfielders).
    [2] List of skills: ball control, finishing inside the penalty box,
    heading, passing, speed, tackling, shot velocity from outside the
    penalty box. A player's value in each of these skills can be 0 to 7. Goalkeepers only have a goalkeeping skill that can be 0 to 48; only goalkeepers have this skill.
    [3] List of positions: G, RB, D, LB, RW, M, LW, A.
    [4] Price = Sum of skill points:
    25K 1 (or 0) | 350K 17 | 1.80M 33
    30K 2 | 450K 18 | 1.90M 34
    40K 3 | 500K 19 | 2.00M 35
    50K 4 | 550K 20 | 2.25M 36
    65K 5 | 600K 21 | 2.75M 37
    75K 6 | 650K 22 | 3.00M 38
    85K 7 | 700K 23 | 3.50M 39
    100K 8 | 750K 24 | 4.50M 40
    110K 9 | 800K 25 | 5.00M 41
    130K 10 | 850K 26 | 6.00M 42
    150K 11 | 950K 27 | 7.00M 43
    160K 12 | 1.00M 28 | 8.00M 44
    180K 13 | 1.10M 29 | 9.00M 45
    200K 14 | 1.30M 30 | 10M 46
    250K 15 | 1.50M 31 | 12M 47
    300K 16 | 1.60M 32 | 15M 48 (or 49)

    Staff personalities
    -------------------

    A. Aggie the Agnostic: doesn't want to change anything
    [until the end of the 2000-01 season: last match's XI. starting from the 2001-02 season: retired]

    B. Ben the Basic: only looks at skills
    [XI based on: only players priced 30K or more,
    - S + T + (C or H or P) = defender
    - P + T + (C or S) = defensive midfielder
    - P + (any combination of C, S, V) = attacking midfielder
    - S + (F or V) + (C or H) = attacker
    - S + F + V = attacker
    ]

    D. Dan the Dazzled: only looks at prices
    [XI based on original price = playing a player priced 30K or more off
    position is better than playing a player priced less than 30K on
    position; <30K players are ranked in the following way 1) on trial > 2) formerly on trial but now 5-25K > 3) 25K.]

    F. Fred the Frugal: wants to save money
    [XI based on original price, but no player on trial]

    N. Noah the Netter: thinks that it's all a matter of scoring and not
    being scored against
    [two attackers, then XI based on original price]

    O. Ollie the Opponent: only looks at opponents
    [Stop as soon as the criterium is matched:
    1. Playing home against a lower-placed team? XI based on original price,
    but more than 2 attackers.
    Playing away against a higher-placed team? XI based on original price,
    but 5 defenders.
    2. Playing against 3 midfielders? XI based on original price, but 3-5-2. Playing against 3 defenders? XI based on original price, but 4-3-3.
    3. Playing against more than one speedy attacker? XI based on original
    price, but sweep.
    4. XI based on original price, but 4-4-2.]

    P. Pat the Paranoid: is scared of injuries and suspensions
    [Stop as soon as the criterium is matched:
    1. Playing home against a lower-placed team? 3-4-3 [starting from the
    2001-02 season: same formation as Dan], then XI based on original price,
    but rest any knocked or booked player, and the three best players.
    2. 3-4-3 [starting from the 2001-02 season: same formation as Dan], then
    XI based on original price, but no knocked or booked players.]

    S. Scott the Scout: tries to find new talents
    [XI based on original price, but one more unknown-value player]

    W. Will the Watcher: only looks at stats
    [3-4-3 [starting from the 2001-02 season: same formation as Dan], then
    XI based on Avg+- (players priced less than 30K only if positive score)]

    --
    Cheers
    milivella
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  • From Futbolmetrix@futbolmetrix@yahoo.com to rec.sport.soccer on Mon Feb 23 11:52:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

    On Sun, 22 Feb 2026 21:36:34 +0100, milivella <milivella@gmail.com>
    wrote:


    Who do you agree with?

    Pat. Rests the knocked Puputti [*], and experiments with our new
    sharpshooter Piirainen at the center of the attack.

    [*] Question for the knowledgeable gamemaster: do injuries carry over
    from one season to the next? Or do players all return to full health
    at the beginning of the season?


    P. Pat the Paranoid:
    3-4-3
    01
    02 05 03
    06
    07 04 11
    10 09 08
    No Player Ps B OPr Sm PVHTCSF Skl Nat M G +- Avg+- >--------------------------------------------------------------
    01 Mazzantini G 450K 18 0000000 - ITA 35 0 +48 +1.37 >--------------------------------------------------------------
    02 Suominen RB D,DM 160K 12 TSP FIN 73 0 +46 +0.63
    05 Eggen CD 450K 18 HTP NOR 15 0 +22 +1.47
    03 Nygard LB D,DM 150K 11 TSP FIN 72 0 +44 +0.61 >--------------------------------------------------------------
    06 McGinlay CM DM,D 450K 18 PTS SCO 36 2 +38 +1.06 >--------------------------------------------------------------
    07 Halonen RW AM 160K 12 SCP FIN 60 1 +53 +0.88
    04 Sorvisto CM 180K 13 TPV FIN 50 7 +14 +0.28
    11 Tsymbalar LW AM 600K 21 CSP RUS 19 1 +30 +1.58 >--------------------------------------------------------------
    10 Tauriainen A 250K 15 0241215 FHV FIN 62 88 +49 +0.79
    09 Piirainen A A 300K 17 2232225 FHS FIN 42 16 +28 +0.67
    08 Vanhala A 250K 15 5214111 PTV FIN 62 18 +38 +0.61



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  • From milivella@milivella@gmail.com to rec.sport.soccer on Tue Feb 24 00:26:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

    Futbolmetrix:

    [*] Question for the knowledgeable gamemaster: do injuries carry over
    from one season to the next? Or do players all return to full health
    at the beginning of the season?

    I am 90% sure it's the latter (which is also more realistic, considering
    the break between seasons!).

    --
    Cheers
    milivella
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  • From Futbolmetrix@futbolmetrix@yahoo.com to rec.sport.soccer on Wed Feb 25 11:11:36 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

    On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:26:41 +0100, milivella <milivella@gmail.com>
    wrote:

    Futbolmetrix:

    [*] Question for the knowledgeable gamemaster: do injuries carry over
    from one season to the next? Or do players all return to full health
    at the beginning of the season?

    I am 90% sure it's the latter (which is also more realistic, considering
    the break between seasons!).

    In that case, I change my vote to:

    80% Pat (just taking the safe side here)
    10% Dan (let's see how Dan's optimal lineup fares with the new and
    improved Piirainen)
    10% Will (Let's see how our traditional lineup fares with the new and
    improved Piira)

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  • From Werner Pichler@no_email@invalid.invalid to rec.sport.soccer on Wed Feb 25 16:25:43 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

    Futbolmetrix <futbolmetrix@yahoo.com> wrote:
    On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:26:41 +0100, milivella <milivella@gmail.com>
    wrote:

    Futbolmetrix:

    [*] Question for the knowledgeable gamemaster: do injuries carry over
    from one season to the next? Or do players all return to full health
    at the beginning of the season?

    I am 90% sure it's the latter (which is also more realistic, considering
    the break between seasons!).

    In that case, I change my vote to:

    80% Pat (just taking the safe side here)
    10% Dan (let's see how Dan's optimal lineup fares with the new and
    improved Piirainen)
    10% Will (Let's see how our traditional lineup fares with the new and improved Piira)


    We were able to rebuild him. We have the technology.


    50% Dan and 50% Will.


    Ciao,
    Werner



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