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+--- Thread: #2 Rookie Season (/showthread.php?tid=423)
RE: #2 Rookie Season - Jiggy - 2024-11-24
CPT #1 - Biography
Reliability. Dependability. Presence.
By the end of 15th Academy match, those three words probably best defined George Shaheen’s rookie campaign.
1350 minutes played. 0 minutes missed. On the pitch for every Atletico Medellin moment – good, bad, and ugly. And leaving the Academy with a head held high on his way to North Shore United, a second-round selection by Reykjavik United in the S18 SSL draft.
Shaheen’s first year certainly wasn’t all high marks. Through the midway point of the Academy season, one could put together an extensive highlight package of instances where Shaheen was beaten in one-on-one situations, found himself insanely out of position, or simply was not quick enough or strong enough to match the physicality of football played at this level. But Shaheen did not let his mistakes crush his resolve. He kept fighting to improve, and improve he did as the year progressed, he adapted to the speed of the game on this stage, and was able to stop thinking and just play. In so doing, he proved that he belonged.
With a team-first focus, Shaheen finished the season with 919 successful passes, third most of all Academy players in S17. His work finding teammates was not flashy, but it was effective, making the simple plays that helped seize control of possession and allow his front line better chances to creatively play make.
He also showed his grit and fearlessness on the defensive end. With the ball in the air, he had 78 successful headers, fourth best mark in the league, and led the Academy with 19 headers won in key situations. He finished the season with 31 tackles won, 10th best in the Academy, including 7 in key situations, which was tied for the third most in the league. He had 12 blocks on the year, ranking third, and six of those blocks were on shots, which was the fifth most.
Shaheen cleared an Academy-leading 64 balls from the Atletico defense end, reducing pressure put on by attacking opponents. That mark was 20 more clearances than the next highest – Alex Calderon of Victoria Falls who had 44 clearances.
However, Shaheen’s proudest moment was a one-off. He scored a goal in match number 14 against Sydney City. As a defender, scoring opportunities are few and far between. On the season, he managed to take just 6 shots, and he had only one on goal. The one that went in that fateful day.
It came at the 16 minute mark on an Atletico free kick. The play came in to Bengt Rubin, who crossed the ball from the right sideline. Shaheen broke for the ball beautifully, arrived all by himself in the left side of the box, and booted the ball to the back of the net.
That moment in the season’s penultimate game was an exclamation point to just how far Shaheen’s personal play has come from when he arrived in the Academy.
The work will not stop now that he is an SSL draftee. He will continue to grind, to improve, and to show the world his reliability, dependability, and the presence he can be on the pitch for his team.
APPROVED - Resilience is all.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - lock180 - 2024-11-24
Career Point Task 1
Bartholomew Twinkletoes had a very interesting Academy season (does this count as rookie season?). He was placed (unwillingly) on a terrible team with a bunch of clowns that didn't know how to play the game. While Bartholomew didn't really know how to play either he still ATTEMPTED to play (at least somewhat) but that didn't matter. It was a disaster class of a season and Bartholomew's stats are not worth mentioning because it is not a reflection of how well he actually played. Anywho despite being one of the top prospects in the draft Bartholomew was only contacted by three teams. The rest of the team's obliviousness is their loss because he was the clear number one pick for the job. Come draft day that couldn't have been more obvious but time and time again pick after pick went by and not a single goalkeeper was taken. THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER ON A TEAM AND TEAMS ARE AVOIDING DRAFTING THE POSITION ENTIRELY. While Bartholomew knew he was the clear number one pick at the GK he figured at least one GK would have gone off the board and if not him than his rival Benecio Aguilera III was the likely option. And at long last after what felt like years of waiting he was announced to be going to Club de Catalunya. Who? Bartholomew thought to himself he then looked at the standings for the team and looked toward the top of the standings but couldn't find them. He kept scanning until he found them, second to worst huh? But he knew he would likely be starting in the minors so he took a look at their minor league team....DEAD LAST. He went from one of the worst teams in the Academy to now being on one of the worst teams in the minors. What had he done to deserve this punishment?! Whatever it was it was a cruel and unusual punishment however you can bet every last penny Bartholomew is determined to be the richest sorry I mean the BEST goalkeeper to ever play the sport and that, is a Twinkletoe promise.
APPROVED - oddly refreshing to see some player bitterness in a career task. Love the character.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - cake307 - 2024-11-25
CPT #1 Bio
The academy season hadn't been the best for Daryl; for a playmaking midfielder, he had few key passes and few assists. It wasn't entirely his fault, but he knew he could be better, which was why it was such a shock to be taken 3rd overall to the Buenos Aires/Athenai organization. This meant going to Athenai first, to prove himself in the minors, that he really was 'the next Kevin de Bruyne'. Luckily, Daryl wasn't phased; his mate Cristos was Greek, or at least his parents were, and he'd taught Daryl all the best swears, so he figured being in Greece would be pretty simple. Plus, gyros were something he'd had twice a week all season long.
Unfortunately, it turns out moving nine timezones and three continents can have rather an effect. Daryl was still able to make it into the starting lineup by the skin of his teeth, but training is tough, realizing these players were bigger, stronger, more experienced. And also a little less jet lagged. But that old Australian grit comes through when it counts, and Daryl improved rapidly, focusing mostly on his physical training. He got faster, both in pace and his reactions, he practiced his jumps, he got more agile on and off the ball. He got smarter, too, increasing his ability to see the whole pitch, to know what an opponent would do even before they did. He even picked up a few new dribble moves!
The most progress is still to be made with his teammates, though. He won't only be here one season, and an incident learning that swearing in Greece and Australia were not exactly treated the same inspired him to start learning Greek properly, because a good playmaker needs not only to understand their teammates, but be understood by them. Now, as the curtain rises on the first day of the pre-season, Daryl anticipates the coming season. It would soon be time for him to really show his teammates, his rivals, and his managers what he had to bring.
APPROVED - nice to tie it to the team and teammate, there.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - amjohnson636 - 2024-11-27
CPT1
After his humble beginnings playing ball in Eastern Africa for Victoria Falls, Chopper stays in continent as he travels North to play for Cairo. His journey was not an easy one as Chopper was flown into Tokyo to meet the organizational leaders and coaching staff and there were some issues communicating as both parties forgot to hire a translator. That aside a deal was made and Chopper returned to Africa to suit up for Cairo. The squad is a mixed bag of young talent and some old heads in their twilight years. Chopper made large strides in training camp during the off season as he focused on physical improvements such as a speed, agility, and balance rather than honing his already well-developed technical skills. Training in the Egyptian heat is brutal, something like Chopper has never faced before. It will be a total flip once he heads to Tokyo where games are occasionally played in the snow. Chopper has one thing on his mind and that is taking a middle of the pack Cairo squad to the top of the standings. He wants to stand out as a rookie and preseason analysis shows that he is one of the best players on the team, the only question is whether he can execute on the field or not. Chopper is a player who is dependent on his teammates in order for his skills to shine. He is truly a support player, and in order for him to shine on the stats sheet he will need goal scorers to emerge. His high work rate paired with his crossing, corner-taking, and passing abilities make for a lethal weapon to but balls in the keeper's box, but without a man to jump high enough or reach the through ball before the defender does his efforts will all be in vain. Chopper believes in his abilities and is sure he can help this Cairo squad out. Only time will tell how much his impact really will be.
(347 words)
APPROVED - love the geographical aspect of this.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - norththegreatestshowman - 2024-11-28
The week following the final academy match was short for most of the young players. This was not the case for Thomas Hohenhahn.
The German was at the bottom of the hole. Indeed, this season was a double failure for him. On the collective side, he failed to win the championship, losing the title on the penultimate day. As for the individual side...
"And Stockholm goes on the attack again. Daedalus Kronus runs down the right wing. He eliminates Pedrillo, Bamford goes up to him, he crosses! RUBIOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
Thomas lost the title of top scorer in the league on the final day of the championship to his rival: Julian Rubio. The German had taken the advantage at the start of the match with an angry header, but the Andorran striker came back from nowhere to score two goals.
This last goal played on Hohenhahn's head to the point where his legendary appetite was absent. He didn't smile or go out on the town with his soon-to-be former teammates. Even Daryl McMannus, Thomas' faithful guide and friend, had barely been able to coax a smile out of the usually cheerful and energetic "German Giant."
Draft day was approaching. Thomas had not received a single new call. His mother Evelyn, who came specially from Europe for the occasion, was more worried by the ghostly image of her son than by the lack of news from the biggest football teams in the world. She tried to make sure her son was presentable for the cameras in the Sydney FC community lounge, forcing him to shave and shower before the big day.
When the latter took place, Thomas had no idea which team was going to recruit him. When Julian Rubio was announced as Sao Paulo's first overall pick, the Hannover native began to boil, his mouth burning with sharp words.
“Scheisssssssse”
A silence marked the room, followed by an avalanche of laughter from his teammates, their families and the league staff who came to film the reactions.
Suddenly, all the weight on Thomas' shoulders disappeared, this laughter relieved him of stress and made him realize that everything was not over.
It was only the beginning.
CPT1 Biography
APPROVED - Rivalry AND swearing? FANTASTIC! Keep this fire.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - CROney3 - 2024-12-04
Career Task 1
I'll be doing a mix of a review of Benecio's Academy season as well as the start to his rookie season.
S17 had Benecio playing for the Sydney City Roos, where he was the main goalkeeper all season long. That consisted of 15 matches, which only 2 other goalkeepers also appeared in. Of those 3 full time goalies, Benecio had the highest average rating in each match (7.11) and had the most wins (8). Benecio had 2 clean sheets all season, which is probably pretty good for a low level TPE player. While he conceded the most goals, he also had by far the most saves parried (34), most saves held (27), and most saves tipped (17). That gave him a save % of 64.46%, which also led the 3 full season goalkeepers.
Moving to the advanced statistics, Benecio was in the middle for Xsave% at 80%, but was somehow the best of the 3 full-time goalies in XG Prevented at -5.49. I will give props to Mr. Clean-Sheet here as he started 12 games and had an XG Prevented of -0.4, which is incredible for an academy player.
After a pretty good season, Benecio was hoping to be the first goalkeeper taken in the draft. He didn't expect to go 1st round due to the incredible talent in this draft plus the lack of need of a goalkeeper, but being the top GK was the hope. After CF Catalunya picked GK Bartholomew Twinkletoes at 19oa, that dream was dashed and the chip on the shoulder grew. Luckily for Benecio, Uniao Sao Paolo saw the error in Catalunya's ways and the up-and-coming club couldn't wait for Benecio to fall even further, so they traded UP to 22oa from 24oa to grab Benecio. He couldn't be happier to be paired with his new teammates and managers. He's looking at making a mark for Paris while he awaits his chance at the big club.
352 Words
APPROVED - no keeper should wait long if they earn hard.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - Rich - 2024-12-12
Career PT1
I came into the SSL and the Academy with no real expectations. Part of the reason I choose a central defender was because I figured it would be easy to build a competent player, but assuming that would mean he wouldn't show up much. For most of the season, it seemed like my expectations were correct. He seemed to be a reasonable defender, at least by academy standards, finishing most games with a solid rating. He didn't seem to stand out in bad ways, but also didn't jump off the screen in good ways.
Something changed in the final 6 games of the season. I'm not really sure what, could have been build related, could have been players we added. It felt like the team was playing a little differently, so maybe it was tactics related, but I'm not sure how that works in the Academy. Chambers scored 5 goals in the final 6 games of the season, all off corner kicks. He ended the season tied for the 8th most goals in the Academy, which was most among defenders. That has continued a bit into the Minors so far. He is currently tied for most goals on Cairo, with 2 goals in his first 3 games. He also leads the league in clearances by a pretty good margin.
All together, I don't think I could have asked for a better introduction to the league. I am only a little familiar with soccer, and not at all confident in my Football Manager knowledge. I set out to make a competent defender who would hopefully be a solid physical presence in the middle of the field and defend well against crosses. It feels like I have done that, with the added bonus that the same skill set seems to do well scoring goals off corners. I'm really looking forward to seeing his skillset round out a bit more so he can be a better all-around defender.
APPROVED - sounds like the Academy did its job for Chambers!
RE: #2 Rookie Season - Ausyy - 2024-12-14
CPT #1
Apollo Zervas joined Atletico Medellin’s Academy team late in the season, stepping into the squad with high expectations as a promising striker. While the young forward didn’t manage to score during his brief stint, his performances showcased qualities that go beyond finding the back of the net.
Joining mid-season is a tough challenge for any player, especially a striker who relies heavily on timing and chemistry with teammates. Despite this, Zervas worked tirelessly to integrate himself into the team’s attack. His movement off the ball stood out immediately, as he consistently made smart runs to stretch defenses and create space for his teammates. Even though the goals didn’t come, his positioning put him in dangerous areas, and it was clear that with more time to adjust, he could become a potent attacking threat.
Zervas also made a strong impression with his link-up play. In a match against Sydney City, he dropped deep to hold up the ball and set up a key attacking move that led to a vital equalizer. His ability to combine with midfielders and wingers brought a new dimension to the team’s offense during his time on the pitch. Additionally, his relentless pressing and defensive work rate earned him praise from coaches for his willingness to contribute on both ends of the field.
One of his most notable performances came in the final game of the season, where, although he didn’t score, he played a key role in unsettling the opposition’s backline and creating chances for his teammates. It was a performance that highlighted his potential as a team player and his capacity to make an impact in ways that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.
Though his time with Atletico Medellin was brief and the goals eluded him this season, Apollo Zervas showed flashes of promise. With a full preseason and the chance to build chemistry, fans are optimistic that Zervas will find his scoring touch and take his game to the next level next season.
APPROVED - keep earning and building and you'll get there. It's extra competitive as a striker.
RE: #2 Rookie Season - kenvald - 2024-12-15
CPT #1
Bengt Rubin's mindset has since his early soccer years to be the key playmaker on whichever team he plays on. Being someone where, when in possession of the ball, all offensive teammates know Rubin can get the ball to them. No matter what route they run or what opposition is covering them. And that's exactly the kind of poise he brought to Atletico during his Academy season. Atletico started slow and never really had a true chance at winning the league. But the team didn't slow down at all. And neither did Rubin.
Looking at his stats for the season, it's clear what role Rubin played and that he played it well. Being the #1 player on the team when it came to creating chances. Which lead to also leading the team in assists. But even more impressive, he also finished 2nd in assists in the entire league. And that was while playing two fewer games than any other player in the top-8.
The one part of his game that didn't really live up to expectations, was the defensive side of things. Often coming too far down his own side, allowing opposing players to take control over his side of the midfield. Mistakes that sometimes even lead to Atletico giving up a goal.
But overall Bengt is happy with his first season in the SSL, and how much he's grown since his first game. He's literally improved in every aspect of his game. And he received a lot support in the Academy and was able to put on a good enough show to be drafted 11th overall to CA Buenos Aires. The manager of which he'd had great conversations with prior to the draft and who praised his playmaking skills. Highlighting that he'd be a great addition to the right side of the field for both Athênai and Buenos Aires.
APPROVED
RE: #2 Rookie Season - Chillybro - 2025-01-03
https://forum.simulationsoccer.com/showthread.php?tid=224&pid=71044#pid71044
As the full time whistle blew for Kuba's final Academy game, he smiled as he went to shake hands with his opponents and teammates. This season was nothing in short of challenging yet very awarding. With only 5 games played under his belt, he's had a 5 G/A, doing something in all of those games.
Kuba really didn't ever think he would have a big impact given that he joined so late into the season. As he entered that locker room and sat down in his cubby, he looked up at all of his teammates. Many of them were just like him, trying to prove themselves to becoming the best player there ever was. Some players showed more signs than others, but best believe that Kuba had the most grit and the most dedication out of all of them.
When it came to the draft, Kuba anxiously sat in his seat, waiting to hear his name being called out. This is where all of that work gets put to the test, and this is where your future gets determined. As the first few rounds completed, he noticed a lot of his own teammates were being chosen, and rightfully so. It took a little while, but his moment had come.
"With the 35th pick of the SSL Season 18 Prospect Draft, CA Buenos Aires select... Kuba Kunicki from Sydney City." The TV boomed as Kuba and his family rejoiced, popping champagne and just causing loud chaos because of it.
The neighbors next door ran in, thinking someone was just murdered or had just died. When the neighbors were told of the news, they came and joined the party, hugging Kuba so tightly he felt like he may just pass out. Everyone was having a really good time, but there was still another person that Kuba had to tell, so he set off on his bike and made his way to his cousin's to share the good news.
His cousin was outside in the pasture, herding the sheep when Kuba had arrived at this house. This would be a very big deal to him, as his cousin was the biggest inspiration for him, and now he gets to tell him that the dream came true.
389 words
APPROVED - the shepherding cousin was a nice touch.