#2 Rookie Season

[Jiggy]

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.

[lock180]

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.

[cake307]

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.

[amjohnson636]

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)

[norththegreatestshowman]

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