2024-11-15, 05:55 PM - Word count:
Over The Line Edition #002: Getting Drafty
S18 Draft Observations From A Complete Noob
So, Sunday is bringing round the long-awaited S18 draft, with the common consensus suggesting this draft has a bumper crop of Academy Talent who could see quite a few sides reshape their squads, Minor and Major, with the hottest prospects well over 500 TPE already. And, as a complete novice to the gameworld, SSL and sim leagues in general, I figure I've got a somewhat unique perspective compared with many, and this draft has me... intrigued.
Honestly, I don't know what to expect, either in a general sense or for Dizzy Martin, ranked 29th in the Draft Class Tracker. Having gone back and rewatched the S17 draft to get a feel for what's going to go down, and having done a bit of NFL-related research to try and understand how a draft functions in general, I'm expecting a few twists and turns. I get that it's very much not going to just be a case of players going in the order of their TPE, but that teams are looking to bolster areas of their squads to fit their tactics, which adds a completely different dimension to proceedings.
And sure, Dizzy may be down in 29th overall, but he's the 4th-highest rated CDM in the class- maybe not the most in-demand position, but certainly one which could see him picked up earlier than I might've otherwise expected. A few managers have reached out in the pre-draft and I've received some kind guidance and explanations from a few, but where, if anywhere, Dizzy ends up is pretty much in the hands of the gods. His performances at Atletico Medellin were... fine, to put it politely, albeit tempered with less beefy tackling and more "spray the ball out to the wings". Playing the last few fixtures as a CD rather than a CDM may open up another door or two, but let's be frank, his match ratings were nothing to write home about.
For Dizzy, the only way is up from here- and with any luck, the Draft may just be the kick up the backside he needs to kickstart his career.
S18 Draft Observations From A Complete Noob
So, Sunday is bringing round the long-awaited S18 draft, with the common consensus suggesting this draft has a bumper crop of Academy Talent who could see quite a few sides reshape their squads, Minor and Major, with the hottest prospects well over 500 TPE already. And, as a complete novice to the gameworld, SSL and sim leagues in general, I figure I've got a somewhat unique perspective compared with many, and this draft has me... intrigued.
Honestly, I don't know what to expect, either in a general sense or for Dizzy Martin, ranked 29th in the Draft Class Tracker. Having gone back and rewatched the S17 draft to get a feel for what's going to go down, and having done a bit of NFL-related research to try and understand how a draft functions in general, I'm expecting a few twists and turns. I get that it's very much not going to just be a case of players going in the order of their TPE, but that teams are looking to bolster areas of their squads to fit their tactics, which adds a completely different dimension to proceedings.
And sure, Dizzy may be down in 29th overall, but he's the 4th-highest rated CDM in the class- maybe not the most in-demand position, but certainly one which could see him picked up earlier than I might've otherwise expected. A few managers have reached out in the pre-draft and I've received some kind guidance and explanations from a few, but where, if anywhere, Dizzy ends up is pretty much in the hands of the gods. His performances at Atletico Medellin were... fine, to put it politely, albeit tempered with less beefy tackling and more "spray the ball out to the wings". Playing the last few fixtures as a CD rather than a CDM may open up another door or two, but let's be frank, his match ratings were nothing to write home about.
For Dizzy, the only way is up from here- and with any luck, the Draft may just be the kick up the backside he needs to kickstart his career.
![[Image: Xg9f9rG.png]](https://i.imgur.com/Xg9f9rG.png)
