Asunto: U19 Handball NT

We came so close, yet again, but just could not quite edge Poland out. It looks like both china and bulgaria would have to win all 3 remaining games to pass us, though, so our qualification is actually pretty much certain already, which is a relief.

It is not looking good for our team next season, however. I'm toying with the idea of going in with an all 18-17yo line-up next season and just grooming them into a high chemistry unit for the season that follows, cuz we have too many glaring holes to try to patch 'em up the way we did with Cairns in the DP position this season. That is if I am re-elected, of course.

That thought alone coud get you re-elected!

Shoot, I was really hoping for a win against Bulgaria so that we didn't have all the pressure on in the last game.

That puts Bulgaria at a differential of 0 and 2 wins with 2 games to go (portugal and china (easy pickings)). Bosnia didn't play today, but we're playing them next and they're at 3 wins behind with 2 games to go as well (last one vs portugal, to whom they lost 32:23 last game). They differential is currently +12 and we are +18 (4 wins).

If we win the next game we're golden. We edged them by 2 points playing VH vs H the last time, but it was an away game for us, so it's doable.

If we lose by 1 our differential falls to +17 (best case scenario in a loss), if Bosnia then loses we're okay. If they win, it has to be by a really low margin for us to keep our position.

If bulgaria wins the next 2, they still have a steep climb to reach our differential.

So we *should* make it past qualifiers, but it's not a certain thing. If we do, we *might* get through the first round, but we'll likely be a low seed and get crushed. I don't think I can call-up different guys, but I'll probably give a game to the benchwarmers at that point to start working on next season's chemistry.

Or we get lucky and finish 2nd and maybe make it a few rounds into the tournament, which is good exp four our graduating 19yos.

7 of the last 8 goals made for a nail bitter for a loss. Good luck next game. We got that one!

Yikes,
So I hadn't been paying enough attention to player's progress, and just now noticed as I was finalizing our WC line-up that

1. Ladarius Price has basically been passed by a guy 1 year younger in terms of abilities. So I'm gonna let the other guy play and build chemistry for next season. How that happened without me noticing? I haven't got a clue

2. Ian Halliday has been used in 30ish season games. I hadn't been paying attention to that. Really wasn't expecting it, honestly. 19yo playing regular games in I.1 on the 4th overall team? Wut?! So our starting goalie is not exactly fresh. Hughes' chemistry isn't great, but I am allowing him to sub in tactics-wise now (which I wasn't going to, originally)

3. I'm still on the fence about this final line-up. There are only 2 teams in our group we have a decent chance of winning against (I had forgotten about the prelims. At least it's 5 games we get to play). But our team is not going to look awesome next season, either. So if I was to really throw in the towel, I'd be playing basically all the 17yos. (whom are not a complete team by themselves either, I don't think)

But I also don't want to kill our team rating, so there is that...

1. I sold him in July. Facilities make a difference.
2. Hughes will be starting training camp tonight so he'll be 3-4 points better per day. I also just sold the GBG backup so Hughes will be getting experience next season
3. Go for the wins. If we start out 0-3 switch over to the young guys for chem

1. Oh, still, that it somehow went unnoticed even though I've been keeping track of a ton of the other guys is a bit baffling.
2. Cool. At least next season we'll have 2 19yo starters in goal, so it won't be all resting on one guy.
3. Would love to do that, but I can't change call-ups in the middle, and our easiest games are going to be the first 2.

Ya Halliday is almost as good as Pellan so he got lots of time.

Well, I went with a mix of trying to win, and bringing in some young guns to play if we're getting crushed anyway:

I brought in young backups instead of our regulars.

Well, I tried my best. Serbia was a close game. Italy was decent on the first half but I misjudged their tactic adjustments. USA will trash us no matter what, so I'll field our backups and let the 19yo go boost the U21 next season now.

I'd like to thank Ayden Lundy (OW), Ian Halliday (G), Brian Wicks (OB), Shawn Linton (OP) and Wesley McNeill (DB) for their long-standing service to the team. Special mention also to Mason Schardt (DB).

Defensive wings have been our weakness for a few seasons, now, btw. So, you know, maybe keep a few inland so they can get good training, pl0x?

First round of additions to the team has been made. I guess I shouldn't have sold Sakic, as our offensive backs are sort of lacking (but I was paying 1M+ in extra player fees a day and just couldn't keep it up :/). Had to skip over 2 more of our prospects because they've been sold to teams with low level training facilities. I understand the struggle, trust me, but argh!

There are 9 19yos on the team, only 6 of which are getting a call-up right now. 2 I very well may just drop after this weekend (Ladarius Price and Jeffery Dill).

Anyways, this is in no way our final line-up for the year, but it'll give us all an idea of what kinda of shape our NT is in. (And I'm afraid it's not a great one)

A few guys worth keeping on your radar:
Chris Meehan Currently on the Market
Dwayne Hall
Rodrick Zettler
Harry Alexander Horrible Build
Carlos Hughes
Tremayne Wood
Jeffry Carrier
George Gignac Currently on the Market
Cale Sakic
Grégoire Desrochers

All on my watch list. Desrochers is already on the team. Sakic went to a crap team so no use calling him in. Zettler is on a team with awful facilities too. Gignac being on the market means I'm gonna wait to see who gets him. He would be a lock otherwise. Meehan is behind trimble, jemson and pridham who all are the same age and position. Hughes and Carrier are pretty even and on stable teams, and wouldn't get much if any play time this season, so I'm waiting to see if anyone else needs the roster space. And I have Stevie Dorr ahead of Tremayne wood as far as offensive wings go

I have access to your sheet, but I'm not sure I ever gave you access to mine, haha. Maybe that'd help

Campeau's injury could not have come at a worse time. Having to sub a 19yo high chemistry veteran in for an 18yo with no NT experience might've made the difference in this game that ended with us losing by only 2 points. To a team that wasn't even trying.

The good news is that we're still qualifying even with going up against romania who is #1 in our group next week. The bad news is that I doubt we'll make it past the 1st round after the qualifiers even by playing our best team.

It's been a rough time. Team looks a little better next season, but not by much. It shows that we keep losing folks around here

Color me baffled... This was a relatively close game vs Sweden, considering that I played what will likely be next season's line-up. Had I known we had a shot at winning this (looking at their previous results, it seemed like we didn't), I would've played our full line-up (but then our 17/18 yos wouldn't have gotten this little chemistry boost cuz I wouldn't've been able to call them up.)

I do hope you will give me another chance at it, seeing as next season's team is looking a lot better than it did this season, IMO.