Had some laugh last night..
But before I get to it - need to tell you a little prologue. So last season, when I was starting ML, I knew its gonna be bumpy road. So at the start I stated we will aim for top half of the table - 16th place (I really wouldnt want to be sacked, as I like to build a team and play many seasons).
Finished 17th, one place under.
Started new season last week. Lost 2 or 3 players, signed only two (both 67OVR) coz my salary budget was diabolical.
But team spirit was high, players developed a bit, I know their strengths and weaknesses - so I was optimistic.
At this whole meeting with the board, I told them I will aim at 8th place (it was the most optimistic option to choose from)
So last night I reached mid point of winter season (12 games in) - first place.
At this point AI must have decided that Im doing better than expected..

I lost the next match 0-2 against Villa. But that was grand. Villa was 3rd, match was good, fair. Like I always say - I dont mind AI ramping up. Its only when they cripple me and my inputs - its getting a bit annoying.
Anyway - Lost it fair and square.
Next match - Huddersfield, bottom half of the table.
Thats when it got funny..
From the get go my players felt like they had a stroke in the tunnel. They were even stepping away from the ball when I passed to them in penalty box. Without any input.. so I started hanging off super cancel to try to battle it.
It was around 30th minute and it was still 0-0. I couldnt score, but more importantly - they couldnt either.
At some stage, I did standing tackle, took the ball of them - penalty. But I saved it!
Second half. Standing tackle. Another penalty! ...I saved it again!

85th minute, standing tackle... yup! Penalty! ...and I fucking saved it once again!
...but this time my keeper parried it right into the feet of their player and he tapped it in to an empty net...

0-1.
There are matches like this. The key is to just laugh it of and play the next one.
I was tempted to record few clips from last night and show the whole "cripple-the-user" system when it kicks in.
But decided not to.
First of all - its never that visible when you watch it, you have to feel it to know the difference in your inputs.
Second of all - if I started doing this - id just dwell deeper into that frustration and id wind myself up. No point. Just click next and keep going. Coz when it plays well - it plays really well.