The Master League adventures thread

Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

From the PES2008 thread. A Master league shot :) (notice the League A badge in the background)

winning-eleven-pro-evolution-soccer-2008-20070618032416234.jpg
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Was going to post this earlier, but you beat me to it I see. :p

It finally looks like they are adding stuff to the ML. :shock:

The League A logo also has the different translations, Liga A, Ligue A and Lega A.

Also noticed that the WE or PES United Logo (Can't remember which is which) is in the background. I take it that is a default player in the shot.

Just hope they make more changes to the ML.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Sweet, if they at least add more leagues (and teams per league) and make it more realistic in terms of qualifying to the european cups it's gonna be great.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Guys, don't expect too much...i've been reading the thread about WE and the podcast, expectations were sky high and now lots of people are dissappointed with the screenshots....which are rather disappointing compared to NBA2K7...but to me it's about the gameplay which looks promising...

Fingers crossed i guess...
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Is that sarcasm or are people around Evo-Web finally realising that the more cynical members aren't around purely to be negative and depress the other members?! Now there's a statement suitable for the national press, never mind the Winning Eleven blog!! :)

Seriously, the ML screenshot (the player surrounded by microphones with the "League A" logo on the wall behind him) fills me with promise. Everything else... Doesn't. That's not to say it's going to be PES6 with a few tweaks, but... Sorry, they've done it before.

It's getting a bit like it was with EA, Seabass has now said three times in interviews/press releases that he "promises" (a very odd choice of word for an executive) that the new PES will be a "truly next-gen experience". Well, you wouldn't release screenshots unless you were happy with them - you wouldn't want to damage your reputation, you'd hold them back if you weren't happy with them (and Konami at the masters at holding info back) - so the talk of "18 months of development" (another EA-like statement) doesn't seem to match up with the pictures. A "truly next-gen" experience includes graphics as well as gameplay - is it really wrong to want, or even expect, both of these?

And although I'm a cynic, I do genuinely hope I'm wrong. We all want a brilliant, new football game with less of the glitches and more content. I just hope that's what we get. At last.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Stan said:
Guys, don't expect too much...i've been reading the thread about WE and the podcast, expectations were sky high and now lots of people are dissappointed with the screenshots....which are rather disappointing compared to NBA2K7...but to me it's about the gameplay which looks promising...

Fingers crossed i guess...
Click to expand...

I don't see how the hell people can get disappointed over a couple of screenshots. :lol:

It's not as if they have showed everything about the game is it.

Jack Bauer said:
Seriously, the ML screenshot (the player surrounded by microphones with the "League A" logo on the wall behind him) fills me with promise. Everything else... Doesn't. That's not to say it's going to be PES6 with a few tweaks, but... Sorry, they've done it before.
Click to expand...

It fills me with promise as well. I just hope they have done alot more with the ML this time.

It's getting a bit like it was with EA, Seabass has now said three times in interviews/press releases that he "promises" (a very odd choice of word for an executive) that the new PES will be a "truly next-gen experience". Well, you wouldn't release screenshots unless you were happy with them - you wouldn't want to damage your reputation, you'd hold them back if you weren't happy with them (and Konami at the masters at holding info back) - so the talk of "18 months of development" (another EA-like statement) doesn't seem to match up with the pictures. A "truly next-gen" experience includes graphics as well as gameplay - is it really wrong to want, or even expect, both of these?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how much different the gameplay will be compared to what it is now. It will take a couple of versions to get the best out of the console, like it did on the PS2. They did'nt get the best out of it until PES3 IMO. I'm sure it will be the same again.

I doubt it will disappoint though.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Jack Bauer said:
Seriously, the ML screenshot (the player surrounded by microphones with the "League A" logo on the wall behind him) fills me with promise.
Click to expand...

Indeed, it's nice to see a screen hinting at something from the Master League. As a fan of ML (despite its quirks/limitations) i look forward to seeing what this is all about.

My thought is that the excess of microphones makes me believe this is perhaps a press conference, more than a post-match interview (more one-on-one). Although, he looks to be in his kit, so it could be the latter. Perhaps he's the man of the match? Or could this be a cut scene after a signing? Perhaps a bit of the old holding up the club shirt with name and squad number, to the press too :)
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

My gues is that it is an half^time interview...which would be useless in terms of ML....
Your suggestion of a post transfer interview would make it verypromising Prof, but i doubt it...i hope your right though...
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Yeah it'll be nice to have a little cut scene of your latest transfer in the ML. But to me it looks nothing more than a little full-time interview. If it is i bet it's going to say something like "Yes, i'm proud of how i played, but it's all about the team performance"...that kinda "Owen like" speech which every single player seems to say at an interview!

Anyways i'm still very pessimistic on whether Konami has improved the ML. We shall see...
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

That doens't seem to be important anymore Stringer Beel it's all about wich console has the best version and who predicted the right thingmonths ago....:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Just couldn't resist...and that in one of the only threads where that kind of discussion hardly ever occurs...i'm sorry.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Whatever it is, i doubt it'll be voiced. It'll either comprise of a few static shots, or more likely a brief cut scene, with a bit of music and perhaps some sound effects. I doubt very much we'll be hearing how "'Appee" Espinas was with his performance, nor Burchet's Aussie or Dodo's Italian accent :mrgreen:


Db, classic clip.


Add to that:

"will he score, yes or no?"
"yes"
"oowww"
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Who is your current avatar prof???
I'm thinking of either a terorist or an OD-ed rockstar...
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Oh that's the band that i always confound with the White Stripes for some reason (prefer the White Stripes though...de gustibus coloribusque non disputandum est).
Off to play Lens-Torino last promotion chance...so not completely off-topic...
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

They'll probably bring in features from the Pro Evo manager adventure.

Like picking your secretary....:D
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

sienaticket.jpg


Sea-change at Siena

AC Siena gear up for this season's Serie B campaign with new owners, new coaches and an overhauled playing staff.

The Tuscan outfit were left perilously close to financial collapse before the new owners stepped in, although the general feeling is that they did so with only a short-term strategy, and that the same dire straits could be awaiting on the horizon unless substantial funding can be generated in a short space of time.

Rumour that the new manager has already been tasked with trimming the wage bill have been met with a gruff 'no comment'.

Potentially the worst news of all is that Siena approach a tough season with a group of un-proven, unknown and un-rated players wearing the white and black.

The Siena faithful are advised to start bracing themselves now.

Click below for more detail.

Squad List:
Code: 
No.	Pos	Name		Age	Nationality

[b]Portieri[/b]
 1	GK	Colombo		(29)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
13	GK	Ricci		(35)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
23	GK	Pereira		(30)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/BR.gif[/IMG] [i]BRA[/i]

[b]Difensori[/b]
 2	CB	Esposito	(22)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
 3	SB	Rizzo		(21)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
 4	CB	Lombardi	(33)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]	(captain)
 5	CB	Moretti		(28)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
 6	CB	Selmani		(35)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/AL.gif[/IMG] [i]ALB[/i]
19	SB	Maldonado	(33)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/UY.gif[/IMG] [i]URU[/i]

[b]Centrocampisti[/b]
 8	CM	Gallo		(31)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
 7	SM	Bianchi		(24)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
11	SM	De Luca		(21)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
14	SM	Zubriggen	(21)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/CH.gif[/IMG] [i]SUI[/i]
15	DM	Conti		(30)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
17	DM	Ferrari		(20)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
20	AM	Marino		(21)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
22	WB	Bragger		(32)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/CH.gif[/IMG] [i]SUI[/i]

[b]Attacanti[/b]
 9	CF	D'Amico		(20)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
10	SS	Romano		(32)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
12	WG	Della Robbia	(26)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
16	CF	Giordano	(32)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]
18	WG	Luíz Da Silva	(25)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/BR.gif[/IMG] [i]BRA[/i]
21	CF	Bruno		(23)	[IMG]http://www.alemannia-aachen.de/gfx/flaggen/IT.gif[/IMG] [i]ITA[/i]

Squad overview:
Veteran 'keeper Armando Ricci will probably get the nod between the sticks, his experience making him the stand out option. Brazilian import Luis Goncalvez Pereira is the tallest and most highly paid of the three goalkeepers, whereas Colombo's short stature and penchant for peaked caps puts one in mind of Jimmy Krankie, and therefore the poor chap is quite difficult to take seriously.

At the back, club captain Vincenzo Lombardi will attempt to marshall the back five from a sweeper role. Luca Moretti and the Albanian Rezar Selmani profess to be central defenders, but both are far too short for the job and are advised to have a re-think. Elegant Uruguayan Gustavo Maldonado looks a shoe-in for the left-back slot until age catches up with him.

In midfield, Conti and Gallo are likely to rotate for the 'water-carrier' role. Mario Bianchi lacks in several areas but his left peg claims the best dead-ball delivery in the squad, which is not saying much but could be useful nontheless. Enrico Ferrari will spend most of his debut season in his secondary position of centre-back due to lack of cover in defence.

Up front, Bruno and Giordano will scrap it out for the lone striker role with their contrasting styles; the former being a goal poacher, the latter a hairy, diminutive bundle of energy. Playing in the hole behind will be either Romano or D'Amico; Romano is a classy forward, but the shaven-headed D'Amico is a confident young man with an aggressive style who intends to usurp his more experienced teammates. 'Big Luigi' Della Robbia is notable for the rarity of his substantial height, if only it wasn't combined with a lightweight physique and 'glass ankles'.

Key Man:
Vincenzo Lombardi, 33 years old, Sweeper
There might be better players and perhaps even better individual defenders in the squad, but much will rest on the ability of the experienced sweeper to knit the back line together, to plug gaps and to be the vocal leader on his team, particularly as he is likely to be positioned between some raw recruits. Siena are not expected to score too many goals at the other end, so keeping things water-tight and ship-shape at the back is Lombardi's heavy responsibility.

One to Watch:
Cesare D'Amico, 20 years old, Striker/Attacking midfielder.
The pick of the younger squad members, D'Amico plays beyond his years and looks to make an impact every time he steps on the pitch. His self-confidence is displayed by his hunger to make himself available for the ball, yet he combines this with a good defensive work ethic too, not above dropping into midfield to help press. Is as likely to score himself as lay on a goal for a teammate.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Nella Piazza del Campo / Ci nasce la Verbena
Viva la nostra Siena / Viva la nostra... SIENA!
Nella Piazza del Campo / Ci nasce la Verbena
Viva la nostra Siena / La più bella delle città!!!

This is my second attempt in the crazy world of sub-Default ML players. This time around it might not be quite as crazy... possibly. If you followed the brief and doomed trials of Cádiz, you might recall that I edited the Default ML players to the extent that each attribute (aside from Stamina and GK Skills) was reduced by -20 points. That proved somewhat harsh. I've gone a bit softer this time and only reduced them by -13, so in theory my team is a little less hopeless.

However, that has the obvious and unpleasant side-effect of raising the wage value of each player, thereby presenting a higher target to reach. The idea was to keep the overall objective (survival) a tricky task but not so much of the pain from the really stunted players. Now they are... only slightly stunted.

As you can see above if you looked at the squad list, the players all have brand new names, nationalities, appearances, boots, squad numbers... you name it, all completely randomly assigned. The ages and positions have been jumbled up and randomly shuffled around until they bear no resemblance to the default ML side nor those Cádiz imposters. I could not tell you who used to be who (and would not want to know regardless).

In fact, here's the option file if you're interested.

My reasons for choosing AC Siena started with the choice of league - my patched PES has all the Italian stadia bar Bologna, and many club specific Italian chants assigned (including Siena and their excellent "La Verbena" anthem). Secondly, I have actually visited Siena and attended my sole Serie A game at the Comunale Artemio Franchi, which might have been a truly dire 0-1 defeat to Chievo but was an experience nontheless.

I hope the pixellated fans can take the same positive outlook in the many such inevitable encounters to come... if it even lasts long enough to reach "many"...

Competing Teams:
Serie A: Ascoli, Atalanta, Empoli, Fiorentina, Inter, Juventus, Lazio, Livorno, Milan, Palermo, Parma, Reggina, Roma, Sampdoria, Torino, Udinese.
Serie B: Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Chievo, Genoa, Lecce, Messina, Siena.

Master League Settings:
Match Time: 15 mins
Game Level: Top Player
Master League Level: Very Hard
ML Starting points: 1500
Player Development: Yes
Display Future Development Curve: No
Transfer Frequency: Normal
Hidden Players/Classics: No

Enforced Master League Rules:
1. Maximum of three transfers IN per season, only one of which can be a free transfer.
2. No trades.
3. No player may be bought from a club higher in the WEFA Rankings.
4. If any club with a higher WEFA Ranking bids for a player, it must be accepted.
5. Free agents can only be offered a wage of 500 or less, never higher.
6. When contract renewal comes around, squad members to be renewed must be offered at least equal to their existing amount, never less.
7. No Classic players.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

I've already started a ML with my fictional team FC Dynamo Torpedo.

Here is the group players that i picked for my squad:

FC Dynamo Torpedo

>>GK<<
Boumnijel (Tunisia/) 40
Nikolov (Eintracht Frankfurt) 31
Porras (Costa Rica/) 35

>>Defenders<<
Lecluse (AS Nancy-Lorraine) 34
Teixeira (RKC Waalwijk) 33
Brevi (Torino FC) 38
Tarnat (Hannover 96) 36
Golmohammadi (Iran/) 35
Martinelli (Torino FC) 36

>>Midfield<<
Matthijs (FC Groningen) 30
J. de Jong (PSV Eindhoven) 29
Franceschini (Sampdoria UC) 30
G. Fontana (Ascoli Calcio) 36
Rool (OGC Nice) 31
Maas (Heracles Almelo) 36
Ficini (Empoli FC) 33
Reghecamof (Alemannia Aachen) 31
Alexandersson (Sweden/) 34

>>Forwards<<
Ahn Jung Hwan (South Korea/) 32
Baumgart (FC Energie Cottbus) 34
Årst (Norway) 32
Pinilla (Recreativo de Huelva) 35

The average age of the squad is 34, so there will be a lot of rebuilding needed for the future. But for now i'll be trying to squeeze every last bit ability the players got on now, before most of them decide to retire lol. The youngest player in my squad is De Jong, who is also the best one, ability wise, so he'll be an integral player to the aging squad.

I decided to pick 22 players insetead of 23 because i just took soooooooooo long finding the right players, so by the time i got to the 22nd player i was fed about player searching!!

Anyways, this is how i set up the league i'll be playing in:

European-Continental League 1:

AS Monaco
FRA.gif

AC Sparta Prague
CZE.gif

FC Kobenhavn
DEN.gif

Olympiakos Piraeus
GRE.gif

Rosenborg BK
NOR.gif

FC Basel
SUI.gif

Galatasaray
TUR.gif

Dinamo Kiev
UKR.gif

Red Bull Salzburg
SUI.gif

Dinamo Bucuresti
NOR.gif

FK Crvena Zvezda
SRB.gif

CSKA Moscow
RUS.gif

FC Shakhtar Donetsk
UKR.gif

RSC Anderlecht
BEL.gif

Fenerbahçe SK
TUR.gif

>>FC Dynamo Torpedo<<


European-Continental League 1:

Besiktas JK
TUR.gif

Club Brugge KV
BEL.gif

Panathinaikos
GRE.gif

Hertha BSC Berlin
GER.gif

Sporting Club Braga
POR.gif

Cagliari Calcio
ITA.gif

RCD Espanyol
ESP.gif

Le Mans UC 72
FRA.gif

Hopefully with all these teams i put in the league, it'll make the league really competitive, with different teams winning th league and finishing in different positions. This will probably make it that bit more challenging for me with the squad i have.

That should be a fun Master League. I'll tell you guys how it's going.

Peace.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Some interesting ML's in the works :D

I've ended my Bilbao ML, and have moved (back) on to Borussia Park. I started a ML with Borussia Mönchengladbach on PES5 quite a while ago, but It never took of, purely because I was growing tired of the game.

Yes they are a big club in Germany (just not at the moment), but they were relegated this season, and they have no real star individuals.

Plus with their friendly links with Liverpool, their great fans, the new stadium, I just couldn't turn it down ;)

Trouble is, I won my first two games. Away to Bayern and at home to Dortmund! (2-1 and 1-0) I almost want to drop points just to try and make it a challenge. We shall see! I think I may have to take on board Nerf's 'enforced' rules. I also started with hardly any credits.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Look forward to reading more about your respective ML's nerf and SB. :8):
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

sienabanner.jpg


2006/2007 REVIEW

In hindsight, 2006/07 would be deemed a respectable success for Siena, who managed a sixth place finish in Serie B and remained solvent for another year, reporting only a small loss for the financial term.

A tendency to grind out ugly, low-scoring draws will not have generated much excitement at the Artemio Franchi; the Siena faithful have been used to better in recent years and are no doubt longing for the likes of Enrico Chiesa, but they can have no complaints with the level of effort for the cause. What the current squad lack in competency is almost made up for by sheer desperation.

Tactically, Siena play a cautious game. Five at the back with one dedicated holding midfielder allows them to focus on not being embarrassed, while the other three midfielders and the lone striker concentrate on trying to steal something on the break. Goals, as a result, have been hard to come by.

The beacon of hope is now held in the hands of promising teenager Daniele Paponi, an Ancona-born striker whom Parma have agreed to send to Siena under co-ownership. Paponi's end-of-season arrival in Tuscany is being hailed as a significant coup for the near future. His burgeoning career has so far been best known for this spectacular goal for Parma.

paponi.jpg


It's bad news, however, for unlucky Siena striker Luca Giordano, who makes way. The mulleted 32 year old seemed to have gained the edge over his rivals for the position, but the need to lighten the wage bill and the arrival of Paponi meant that a new contract was not forthcoming. Also departing is Brazilian 'keeper Luis Gonçalvez "butter-fingers" Pereira, who dropped one clanger too many to justify renewing one of the higher salaries in the squad.


PLAYER OF THE SEASON:
Cesare D'Amico, 20 years old, Attacker/Midfielder.

As Siena's highest-rated performer in Gazzetta dello Sport and also his club's top scorer - with a meagre three goals - Cesare's debut season was filled with promise. Operating between midfield and attack, the young Italian showed bullish strength and a strong work ethic, with no small amount of technical ability besides. D'Amico's performances were enough to give him the edge over the more experienced Romano and install himself as an important component of the side.

Season One in numbers:
Starting [P]oints: 1500

Serie B: 6th (14pts)
Coppa: First Round exit

Highest Rating: D'Amico (6.4)
Top Scorer: D'Amico (3)

IN
Paponi
IT.gif
, Striker, co-owned with Parma

OUT
Giordano
IT.gif
, Striker, contract expiry
Pereira
BR.gif
, Goalkeeper, contract expiry

[P]oints Remaining: 1325
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

Hertha Rock Bayern

christian_gimenez.jpg

Gimenez salutes Bastürk's delivery as he nets Berlin's
second goal

Bayern Munich 1 Podolski 75'
Hertha BSC Berlin 2 og 12' Gimenez 54'

Mid-table strugglers Hertha Berlin shocked the Allianz Arena with a 2-1 victory over league leaders Bayern Munich last night. The Bavarians went behind early on in the first half when Christian Gimenez's dangerous cross was bizarrely headed goalwards by Munich's Valérien Ismaël. The visitors played like a team under no pressure. Sitting tenth in the table, Berlin had considerably less to lose than Bayern, who went into the game in first place.

Early in the second half, Bayern's defence was breached once again, when Gimenez met Bastürk's corner, heading past Andreas Isaksson in the Bayern goal. The Argentine striker claimed his 12th goal of the season and remains the league's current top scorer. The home side reacted swiftly, with wave after wave of attacks. Lukas Podolski managed to grab a goal back 15 minutes from time, to set up a nervous end to the game. Hertha's defence held tight however and the shock defeat of Bayern saw them drop to second place, as PSV meanwhile climbed to the summit of the table. Hertha subsequently jumped two places to 8th in the table.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

nerf said:
The beacon of hope is now held in the hands of promising teenager Daniele Paponi, an Ancona-born striker whom Parma have agreed to send to Siena under co-ownership. Paponi's end-of-season arrival in Tuscany is being hailed as a significant coup for the near future. His burgeoning career has so far been best known for this spectacular goal for Parma.
Click to expand...
LOL! nerf i nearly thought that was a goal scored in PES6!

Good first season.
 
Re: The PES6 Master League Thread

sienabanner.jpg


2007/2008 REVIEW

Where the previous campaign had been reasonably successful, 2007/2008 proved to be a soul-destroying season-long slog for Siena.

The Tuscan club started as they meant to go on, losing five of their opening seven matches to greet the halfway stage rooted at the foot of the table. One small highlight was provided by knocking recently-relegated Sampdoria out of the cup, but that was swiftly quashed by a convincing 0-5 aggregate defeat to Catania in the semi finals.

Siena's luck did not improve much in the second half of the season. When it started to look like they might finally haul themselves to a rare victory, they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot. A 2-2 draw at home to Genoa was a particular gaff, in which Siena first threw away a two goal lead before an easy chance to reclaim an advantage in injury time was scooped tragically onto the crossbar by Marino.

The poor form continued until the team found themselves in a situation where anything less than a win and a draw from their final two matches would not suffice. Any less would plunge the club into debt, contracts could not be fulfilled and heads would roll.

A draw in the penultimate game set Siena up for a do-or-die local derby finale in Livorno, who had eyes on an immediate return to Serie A. Tensions were high.

Two fringe players stepped up to give Siena the lead. Brazilian winger Luíz da Silva found room to whip a left-foot cross towards Nicola Marino, and the impish Sicilian made up for his horrendous miss against Genoa by providing a neat finish on the half-volley. Soon afterwards, Bragger delivered a similar cross for Daniele Paponi to convert his fifth of the season, and although ten-man Livorno pulled a very scrappy goal back in a goalmouth scramble, the visitors held on for the essential victory.

In fact it was smiles all round at the Armando Picchi, as the natives celebrated promotion despite the defeat. Siena's players and staff slinked away amidst the celebrations, more concerned with knowing that they'd get paid at the end of the month. That game had taken 'earning your paycheck' a bit too literally.

In a slight anti-climax, however, it turned out to be not quite as life-or-death as thought at the time. As the season closed, news arrived late from the organisers of the Serie B Cup competition regarding un-paid prize money. Siena received a forgotten 600[P] bonus for being humiliated in the semi-finals, and a hugely generous 1000[P] windfall after it was revealed Siena's Rezar Selmani finished top of the assists chart in the cup. 'Generous' because he actually finished joint first on an entire ONE SINGLE ASSIST with about ten other players. It turned out to be a last hurrah for the 36 year old Albanian, who was promptly told that his contract would not be renewed. Now there's gratitude for you.

Selmani's place was filled by 24 year old Italian Riccardo Nardini, who despite impetuous tendancies should bring height and strength to a painfully weak back line. The blonde-locked central defender was deemed surplus to requirements by Serie B rivals Catania and arrives on a free.

nardini.jpg


Heading into 2008/2009, the unexpected but very welcome prize-money has given the bank account a slightly healthier look compared to the last two years, although there can be no relaxing. The spine of the team has been strengthened, with Paponi up top, Nardini at the back, and some of the younger players like D'Amico and Ferrari improving by the month. Next on the agenda will very much have to be a remotely competent goalkeeper, should one come available at the right time.


PLAYER OF THE SEASON:
Cesare D'Amico, 21 years old, Attacker/Midfielder.

Siena's rising star took the honour for the second consecutive season, his hard running, physical, determined contribution as the link man between midfield and attack going far from unnoticed. His personal goals tally was down on last year but there are signs of a partnership with Paponi developing.

Season Two in numbers:
Starting [P]oints: 1325

Serie B: 8th (10pts)
Coppa: Semi Final exit

Highest Rating: D'Amico (6.2)
Top Scorer: Paponi (5)

IN
Nardini
IT.gif
, Defender, FREE (released by Catania)

OUT
Selmani
AL.gif
, Defender, contract expiry

[P]oints Remaining: 2368
 
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