I played the PES 2017 demo but i didn't really get into it. I just don't like the "vagueness" of the controls in today's PES.
Up to PES 6 it was all about precision and timing, when you did things and they came off (or not) you knew exactly what you had done right (or wrong). Now it just feels like i press some directions on the stick and the player does it's own thing, I just can't get used to that.
Ok second chapter of my WE9LE master league:
Game: Winning Eleven 9 Liveware Evolution (PC)
6stars
Playing as Southampton with geeeeee 's alternative ML Default players
I finished the 1st season in 2nd to last place (only Fullham behind me). But the last few games of the season showed some promise, with the team starting to gel on the 4-4-2 diamond I settled on and Teamwork stat levels starting to go up.
The main team flaws at the end of the 1st season where
- Lack of speed to my SMFs (they need to both defend the flanks and then support the attack)
- Lack of technique from my DMF and CMF (OMF) that means I really struggle to keep possession when I pass to the inside where the CPU is really aggressive with the pressing on 6 stars. So I made my priority to replace these players as soon as possible in the negotiation period.
In the negotiation period I decided to try to find 2 midfielders (one more defensive one more offensive).
I did a quick search for players open to negotiation and went for a trade with players that already had another club (in WE9LE you have to play a transfer fee for any free players, but can try to trade if they are already in another club).
I managed to find a couple of midfielders that had technique and passing in the mid 80s and tried for some weeks to trade one of my weaker players for them until I found an offer combination that the clubs accepted. (sorry I don't remember the names of the players now!)
Start of season 2:
The new midfielders bring a breath of fresh air to Southampton! And I immediately start creating more chances and win the 1st two games 1-0.
Due to having spent every last dime on the transfers and salary I will be under immense pressure to earn enough points to cover the aprox 10,000 salary at the end of the season. Too many losses and it will be game over after season 2. The pressure is on.
Injury crisis:
But immediately disaster strikes! On the 3rd game my new star number OMF gets a violent slide tackle from the CPU and rolls around on the pitch having to be stretchered off and the dreaded ambulance icon appears on the screen (omg I hope its not too may weeks!)
After the game I anxiously check the team screen and cry... 8 weeks! the most important player of my renewed midfield is going to be missing most of the season (D2 season is really short).
The next game I struggle creating chances, but somehow manage to get a through-ball to Swift (the tall slow CF), I'm 1-1 with the keeper slightly too narrow angle to the right side, fill-up the shooting bar as the CB comes across.
Swift fires a powerful high shot across the keeper, but he manages to punch it over (the ball comes off vertically like a rocket and the keeper stands up and calmly collects it)
in the aftermath e notice Swift lying on the pitch clutching his knee in pain, looking at the replay I see that in a desperate attempt to clear the shot the CPU had catered Swift with a trademark 6 start aggressive sliding tackle.
Swift is stretchered off and I lose my target man for 6 weeks...
D2 Cup decisive
moment
Next comes a Cup game 2nd leg away against West Ham (I had won the 1st leg 1-0 at home).
This game is vital, because if I get knocked out of the D2 cup there will be a lot less games to earn points from, and consequently its going to be almost impossible to end the season with enough points to cover my team salary.
The 1st half is very balanced, I set the attack level to balanced and fail to create any clear cut chances but manage to keep West Ham away from my goal except for the odd cross or 2 into the box.
In the start of the second half they start attacking more due to still being behind on agregate.
I switch attack level down a notch in order for my SMFs to protect the sides a bit more.
West Ham manage to create a fantastic chance with a cross, their CF heads it and it hits my SB that is protecting the post, it bounces to an attacker on the edge of the box that hits it on the side volley 1st time without letting it drop.
I can only watch as the keeper still recovering from the 1st stave throws a hand up with a vertical jump and his hand misses the ball due to the power and swerve on the shoot that proceeds to rattle the cross bar!
But it again bounces to an attacking player and this time he smashes it into the open net.
1-0 West Ham (1-1 on aggregate).
The goal seems to really affect my team and I struggle to get any of the ball movement going at all, losing possession repeatedly.
The best chance is to hold out for a draw and penalties I think as I proceed to change the formation to a more defensive flat midfield 4-4-2 with the 2 banks of 4 really compact and the fwds setup for the counter down the flanks.
I manage to hold off wave after wave of West Ham attacks as they struggle to control the ball near my box.
But finally at the 86th minute they win a rebound from a cross and put a shot on goal from the edge of the box, I'm not worried because there is a wall of players between the ball and the goal, but my luck turns sour as the ball hits one of my defenders and with the keeper going one way the ball deflects painfully in a slow arc into the opposite corner of the empty net.
West Ham win 2-1 on aggregate and I lay crushed in my hopes of surviving Season 2.
Lets see if I can still pull it off.