S21 Draft Recap and Reactions

[Beavie]

I HAVE BEEN HOLDING ON THIS MEDIA FOR SOOOOOOO LONG!

The draft has finally come and gone, with it only taking a site being cyber-attacked to get there. It was a hectic time but the league is getting back to normal with teams now having shiny new toys.

Prior to the draft I did my own fairly well received mock draft of the top ten. However, that was before the order was solidified, without knowledge of any trades, or even the compensatory picks. Despite those restrictions there are a few picks I did get somewhat right, whether a player to a certain team, or someone falling within a certain range.

So in the effort to get more money, I mean, speak with creativity, I have escaped the shackles of capitalism, my SHL GM duties, and Rematch, to summarize how the first round of the draft went, and maybe see how some of my “predictions” ended up. It also helps that we now know how the bounty system will work going forward. Did someone end up on a team I mentioned? Was I right in some high picks? We’ll see. So we’ll start with 1st overall and go to the 12th pick.

If you want to see my initial predictions, click here. I did have some restrictions and a lack of knowledge (And the season was not quite done yet), but I am still happy with what I did.

Pick 1:

Maverick Jones - GK (Thunder39)

Hollywood FC/FC Kaapstad

With my still limited knowledge of sim leagues, I know certain positions traditionally fall. Goalkeeper in theory, one. They do not benefit from a secondary position, only need two in an org. But there are circumstances where one goes high. One is a team need for one. Second, most importantly, a strong, and is a strong earner. As the notes during the draft said, this is a top earner, a legacy pick, and a positional need all in one.

Thanks to a trade with Catalunya FC, Hollywood created a major thunderstorm with their first overall pick. Maverick Jones, Thunder, a goalkeeper. In my initial mock draft, I did mention a need for Goalkeeper for Hollywood, but went with another position. But now, with two picks, they have the ability to fill multiple needs within the first round.

And in theory, with a class of strong goalkeepers, there was no bad choice, but this was a strong one. Thunder was the top of the class as of the time of the class. He is also someone with a reputation to earn well, and has his fingerprints over the DNA of sim leagues, with him designing logos for many teams. For all intensive purposes, he is also a very pleasant person to talk to in my experiences and will mesh well with the team. Though some of the other goalkeepers have been able to match his TPE, there is nothing wrong with bringing the Thunder to Cape Town and later in the bright lights of Hollywood. Great pick.

But who was number two-

Pick 2:

Allie Bunson - RAM/RWB (Beavie)

Shanghai Dragons FC/Rapid Magyar SC

WELL YOU LOOK AT THAT! IT IS THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT IN SHANGHAI!

My background for this, as I mentioned in the s21 class discord, I had a prediction where I’d land, and I predicted top five, listing Shanghai as my most likely landing spot thanks to the two picks. I had great talks with them and multiple teams, and was open about being cool with re-rolling. But after joining their LR prior to the draft for some Codenames and generally being a fun place, I started to see myself with one of those two picks in the top five. As I said, I was not surprised, but genuinely honoured. I also ended up one spot higher than predicted from my initial mock, though I did list CA Beunos Aires as perhaps my second most likely landing spot in conversations.

Shanghai, as an expansion team needed to fill multiple roles and get quality users in their LR, both old and new to build their culture, but their biggest needs were CD and the aforementioned right wing back. There was one Right Wing Back in the first round not the Scorbunny. He was even higher TPE than me until recently, with us now going back and forth in that top five. If they went with him, I would not have taken it personally and I think it would have been a strong pick. But suppose with the team’s love of Pokemon, me being an eager Beaver (Hence my username!) and being willing to re-roll, they went with Allie Bunson.

And so far? I’ve been having a blast with the team. I’m firmly in the top five for earning for the class, and even if I can’t guarantee I’ll always be near the top, I want to be consistent. It will be a long road to build this team into a true contender, but going second, I’ll do my best to be a part of that team and have fun while doing it.

Pick 3:

Petter Lind - CD (Canadice)

Shanghai Dragons FC/Rapid Magyar SC

Though I predicted him at pick number one, I was right with the team, and Canadice is a slam dunk pick. As mentioned in the original mock draft, when you get a chance to potentially pick the commissioner of the league, that is something hard to pass up, especially when they fill a strong positional need. You have someone you know is going to earn well. Canadice is well liked around the league as well (Apart from the usual HO vs Managers shenanigans I assume). Thanks to his old player, Petter’s father, retiring in Shanghai, there is that LR familiarity.

Between getting the converting to right wing back for Bunson and Lind filling that CD role, what this does is address Shanghai’s biggest gaps with retirements and secure the back line. I have seen some creative and good to great earning players up front for Shanghai, so this will help them long-term.

Pick 4:

Daniel Herrera - RWB (frithjofr)

Tokyo SC/Cairo City

This is surprisingly not the previously mentioned Right Wing back from my section about Allie, but Tokyo SC goes with a player who has a secondary position of Left Wing Back as they have one retiring. The flexibility of being both a left or right wing back is appealing, but he also is not near the top of earning right now for either position. He was at 506 TPE for the draft and right now is constantly hanging around the 20th spot in overall earning for the class. That is still a respectable spot to be in. But at the 4th overall pick, you’d have to be a great user.

And thankfully, he is. I’ve been able to talk to frith thanks to the SHL, and was able to scout him a bit thanks to the recent draft for that league as well. I had him marked down as a consideration both times, and though he did not end up on my teams, I still know that whoever picked him got a quality person. And I think, if we consider the circumstances around the league and the team, this pick makes more sense.

There is a new Manager in Tokyo, one who, like me and frith, is an SHL user. Also, with a quick turn around before the draft and most of the first weeks as Manager spent dealing with a dead site, trying to get the team’s discord back, there is not much time to fully scout the class. So going with a familiar user is smart. I also know he is likely someone who can provide value outside of TPE, possibly in the team’s War Room or just being a good person for the Locker room.  So with a solid base earning, intangible value, if he manages to keep consistent as other users fall, can be an underrated pick, though in terms of raw earning, a touch high at four.

Pick 5:

Roy Rivers - CAM (Roy Rivers)

CA Buenos Aires/Athênai FC

The pick I knew I wouldn’t fall past and the team that I initially marked down as a potential landing spot for Bunson does not get the rabbit, so instead the Argentinian Squad goes with someone I have shared a few Locker rooms with both here and in other leagues, Roy Rivers.

The position of Allie was a player who is retiring. But outside of that, an inactive position that Roy Rivers slots perfectly into is Central Attacking Midfield. He’s had a good scoring touch in Victoria Falls and has been earning wonderfully in the league. At the draft he was at 526 TPE and is now at 598 and in the top ten for earning. I initially marked him down at 6th overall, so pick five is right around where I expected he’d fall. Roy is also someone who has been around multiple sim leagues. He is most known in the ISFL, and recently went in the first round in the SHL Draft (I will admit, if the Buffalo Stampede’s first option for a pick was taken, he was one of the names I marked down as other considerations for it).

In a locker room, he is pleasant, active, and is able to add to a positive atmosphere. He knows how to build and contribute to a team and even when it is sports he doesn’t know, he’s willing to listen to feedback and advice on how to build his player to best help the team and be able to have fun while doing it. Though I did not end up here, as someone on a rival team and a friend, I am genuinely excited for this pick-up for CABA, and I look forward to seeing how this pick ends up for them. Here’s hoping he can bring the heat in Buenos Aires.

Pick 6:

Black Leg Sanji - Striker (DigDoug11)

AC Romana/Inter London

Pasta and Fish and Chips are back on the menu.

Romana going into the draft had some inactives up the middle of the field in the midfield, Central back, and goalkeeper, but also had an open striker position become inactive due to LR conduct and “conduct in other leagues.” Unfortunate situation that they thankfully were able to move on from. Looking at that open slot spot up the middle, they decided to have certainty in the future for their offense by drafting Black Leg Sanji at pick six. In an ironic twist, both he and Roy Rivers were swapped in draft spots from my initial mock draft, moved one up, so this is one I had a decent prediction.

DigDoug has been a consistent earner in this class and he sits in the top ten of this class as of this time at (BOOYAKA) 619, and he’s proven to be a great earner through other leagues. I’ve been able to talk to him a good bit in the Academy Chat (Before we got booted from it post-draft) and can tell as a user he will fit well in a team locker room.The only thing that will keep him from rising the ranks to Romana quickly is an s20 striker in their org who is a good earner. However, if one of them goes to a secondary position or once Romana is ready to compete, they can have a formation with two strikers for more scoring options, then they will have a dangerous offensive touch in the future and from the game Rapid had against him, is already a threat.

For now, Black Leg Sanji is going to have to work hard to upgrade his food quality from beans on toast to spahget-

Pick 7:

Tommy Moff - LAM (Mooty99)

Hollywood FC/FC Kaapstad

The second team with multiple first round picks, Hollywood FC, after having their goal stopper of the future looks to fill another slot. Hollywood, at the time of me writing my initial mock, I pointed out they had a minor club full of active slots and only had an inactive slot at striker. That was why the previous pick, Black Leg Sanji, I had gone to Hollywood. Their pick though ended up being someone a comment to my initial mock had going 1oa.

Gucci pointed out if he was in Shanghai’s (or now Hollywood’s) position, he’d go with him first overall. That prediction ended up being somewhat accurate in a roundabout way. Though Shanghai didn’t draft 1oa, and Mooty did not go first, he goes to the team who owns the first pick. I do think this pick has some merit. Mooty is a solid earner, 571 as of this time, currently sitting in a good position in the class. His main positions though are LAM, RAM and Left Mid, all positions currently filled with some having young users in those slots. I have to wonder if there is a reroll coming, someone is moving to one of their secondary positions or if multiple users at these positions can give some tactical advantage.

With his earning, a solid pick, but position is where I am wondering the most with this.The verdict is still out in that regard, but I will be glad to hear the rationale as I think it can be easily justified with more information.

Pick 8:

Kori Mizukana CDM -  (KoriMizu)

Schwarzwälder FV/Montreal United

In my original mock draft, I discussed SFV as a team with good players in a lot of positions but suffer from one thing and that is age. Their team, even after this draft, has several players entering regression and their window is likely to close soon. They also have currently set to retire players at a couple positions which will need to be addressed in the s22 draft. I previously highlighted s7 as an important season as the team from Germany had multiple players from that season, thus beginning to enter the downward trajectory of their careers. Thankfully, one of them happens to be filled by this pick.

Kori’s primary position is CDM, and is also the best user with that as their primary position in the s21 class. They may have one CDM from s19 in Montreal in Cameron Millwall, but with two s7 players of that position, having a second player who will likely be called up at the same time as  them and be comparable is a nice thing to have in your system. But, much like pick four from Tokyo, Kori finds themselves a bit farther down in the class for earning, in the 20’s as of the time of writing. Could they have filled another position from an s7 with a higher earner?

Outside of previously mentioned CDM, there are s7 players in Striker, CAM, and Right Wing Back. S18 Maggie Sinclair fills the striker role and I predict is due for a call-up soon. They have an s20 CAM in Cade Power, another position filled. The only other position open is Right Wing Back. There was a primary right wing back taken at four, Allie Bunson who was willing to convert to the position, but one taken later who is very high in the class for earning. Unless there is something I’m missing, that person could have been the “better” option at this pick in terms of being higher earning while still filling a positional need. I will talk about them… after.

Still, I think this is a respectable option and I have seen Kori as someone who is active, and filling a team's needs early and hopefully locking it up long-term is almost always helpful in a draft so SFV did well with this pick.

Pick 9:

Chicken McTendie GK-  (Nol15736)

União São Paulo/AS Paris

This is a pick I ended up nailing, even if the spot was up one from what it was before. USP, with the now defending Minors champion AS Paris, I identified one specific area the powerhouse club needed and that was a future goalkeeper. I also said they had no wrong answer between three users, all of which found their names called in round one, and one of them is Nol, otherwise known as Chicken McTendie.

What can I say about Nol that isn’t already known? He’s been around multiple sim leagues including the PBE and recently went first overall in the SHL draft for s83, a big feat given it was a heavy draft class with many recreates due to the excitement that was our recent four team expansion. I’ve been able to get to know him a bit thanks to a shared league and could tell that whoever would draft him in the SSL would have a strong user. He also remains towards the top of the class for earning, part of the three goalkeepers topping this class for TPE as of this time.

Then we can add a hilariously awesome render of Big Bird, even if he slips in earning down the road, there is a chance he will be a franchise goalkeeper for USP’s next window at the majors and will be a big part of USP’s title defense this season. Good stuff.

Pick 10:

Carolina Salazar LWB -  (Renomitsu)

CF Catalunya/Seoul Mythic Football Club

593, in the top ten of the class of this time, and most importantly is ranking higher over the other Reno, you can use this info to tell that Carolina Salazar was properly rated in this draft class at 10th overall. HOWEVER, we add one other detail and can see that this is an extra sweet pick. Carolina is the ONLY primary left wing back in this class. I identified two main spots of need for the club, striker and left wing back. With Striker being a more “popular” position and their left wing back at the time being an s3, I marked this as a second overall pick.

However, that was BEFORE I knew CF Catalunya traded their first this season to Hollywood FC. Where did CFC finish in the Majors? Last, meaning that pick is first overall. That can sting for an organization. But knowing they had the assets, they traded into the first round, acquiring the pick of league champions Reykjavik United. While missing out on having the pick of the litter is less than ideal, they were able to turn it into a positive and they have a young team already. In fact, after four matches, Seoul finds themselves at 3-1 with them being firmly in third in the standings. Renomitsu has joined a team on the upswing.

I also can tell that Reno is a user who is decently active in Discord, is another Pokemon fan with an Espeon avatar, and I think if he is able to continue to stay active and keeps around his level of earning, CFC will find themselves VERY happy with this pick and I give massive props to them for being able to get a user of high need and worth despite losing out on first overall.

Pick 11:

Snor Lax GK - (GHamss)

Shanghai Dragons FC/Rapid Magyar SC

Well, Rapid Magyar is looking like a Pokemon Gym this season. Their third pick of the first round, their compensatory pick, the Dragons go with a goalkeeper in a very stacked goalkeeper class. Snor Lax, though a bit sleepy on the pitch, has great size and reach and is able to bounce shots off his big belly. Oh wait, we are NOT talking lore?

Well, Snor Lax was a killer for Sydney in the Academy season and Ghamss is, as of right now, the LEADER of the class in TPE. 642, though who knows if that will change with Thunder at 641? Either way, you get top five qualities in an 11th overall pick. Then we can add the fact that Shanghai, as a still building expansion team, is in need of a lot, they could not go wrong with almost any position to target with this pick. They have Shingo Takechi as their team’s goalkeeper for the major club. With him being an s18, it will not be a quick call-up for Snor Lax, but each club needs two solid goalkeepers to keep both clubs capable of competing down the line.

I can speak from experience with GHamss in the SHL, he has the capability to be a high earner and is a positive force in locker rooms he is in. Then we add the “meme” factor of having two Pokemon in your backfield, I can picture the art now. Great pick-up overall.

Pick 12:

Sandro da Silva, RWB - (gucci)

CD Tenochtitlan/Krung Thep Football Club 

Ending off round one, and this piece of media, we have the fabled other high earning Right Wing Back I discussed and one more user I ended up predicting the team he’d fall to. Sandro da Silva going to CDT. After trading their normal first overall pick to Shanghai for their next season (totally not stressing while looking at the standings!) CDT knew they would be able to still draft in the first round thanks to their compensatory pick, then have two picks in round two. (And while I’m talking about it, Mazeed al-Kazmi, good pick!)

Shanghai got the Scorbunny knowing that she’ll go to right wing back, they got someone who is already right wing back in Silva. As of right now, while the goalkeepers are on top, gucci and I have been trading the 4th and 5th spots in the class so far this season. With some ‘insider information’ I did talk to CDT as a player who is also on the right side of the field and they mentioned that it was a likely plan if I was picked by them. I was not, and truthfully, I think it will not be a loss for our rivals and things worked out for both parties. 630 TPE, fitting multiple position roles in his primary and secondary, CDT has found someone great.

And if their pick from Shanghai puts them in another good spot? They could have a similar draft to what we had this year in the next draft. But I will be crying if that happens. Poor Allie.

Conclusions:

With any draft, the first round is a balancing act with finding the best users available and filling your highest needs. Ignoring my own place in this round, I can say each of the first twelve picks either filled a team need, or at least was a case of getting the best user available. The two "lower earning" users in the first round I can still say are players that fill some need for their clubs and could be strong locker room fits. Even the one pick I was unsure about in regards to filling positions of need, I still can see them as one of the best users available in that spot and can justify the pick. As a user from this draft, it being my first in the league, it will be exciting to see how these users can live up to the standards of being a first rounder, and if we will see some later picks turn into steals.

Thanks for listening to my Beav Talk.

[gucci]

I’m a Grookey guy, so I guess that makes me the rival in multiple facets   lol

[Beavie]

I’m a Grookey guy, so I guess that makes me the rival in multiple facets   lol

Allie has friends who are Grookey back in Postwick. One leads Postwick United's fan section beating the drum for matches.

[Hero19]

So uh... Yeah. I have to find criticisms in this exceptional piece?

...No, No I don't think I will. It's a great article mate, easily worth top grading marks.

Media Grading 5/5