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A bit off-topic, but I just want to say I am a huge fan of Princeton, and it can really work at the club level. More clubs should experiment with this, because it was easily my best offense for my U21 player Otto Reedy to play in.

From: Jelme
Date: 12/24/2013 10:58:21 PM
And the U21 has thrown a game oriolekid. I believe you were new at the time.

In what situations would you ignore go against popular opinion (on the offsite mostly) and go on your own?

Great questions Jelme. Although should be expected from a former U21 manager.

I think one common misconception about the NT/U21 managers is that you have to go with whatever the concensus is. That isn't true though. In fact, we are spoiled to have so many managers on the offsite that are willing to give opinions.

The NT/U21 manager's duties is to run the team in a way that puts the team in position to be successful. Sometimes that includes going against the community as well. As the u21 manager I would definitely make sure to communicate all possible options so that nothing is a surprise. Negative feedback comes when your decisions are a complete surprise. I will be completely open with everyone in the community with what my opinions are and then allow them to voice their opinions as well. Ultimately though, it comes down to who has the ability to click the mouse and set the lineups and tactics.

I don't want to say I wouldn't go against the community because I know for a fact that I have differing opinions than many members, but I will keep everyone updated on what I am thinking. This will include a step by step breakdown of all my thoughts, similar to a journal, so everyone knows what I am thinking. If I have very strong opinions against the community though, I will use my power as a leader of the team to do what I believe is right.

Really, as long as you communicate what you're feeling with the offsite you're good. They'll point out flaws that you may have overlooked if there are any, or may give a very good addition to your plan. Just don't lead a week of discussion only to give the community a giant middle finger when they look at the box score.

Most of all though, and I say most of all because I have received many BB-mails about it, I am known for my love of SBing, outside offenses, and wanton to mix things up.

Can you elaborate on this part of your speech with specifics?

1. Do you want the U21 to run outside offenses? Which ones?
2. If yes, how many seasons would you think it would take to retune the player pipeline to have enough appropriate outside players at your disposal?
3. Mix up what? Offenses? Defenses? Training? Details please.
4. How do you value SB opposed to ID and what would a trainable good U21 big look like to you?

1. All of them
2. Short answer? 2 seasons. Long answer? 3 seasons
3. I think it's time to just delete the entire player database. Too much information for us to handle. We should just email a group of randomly selected players and tell them to follow this training plan or they're banned.
4. SB is not effective unless it is, at all times, at least 12 above ID. I'm not smallfries, but A good u21 guy would be 1/1/2/1/1/8 17/12/2/22. That may be the greatest player the NT has ever, and will ever see.

Edit: I feel like I must point out that I am kidding. I don't want to lose another election and then have someone BB-mail me asking if I was serious about running or not. Yes, I am very serious.

Last edited by oriolekid at 12/25/2013 1:33:36 AM

Question for Oriolekid - In season 23 you volunteered to be the NT opponent scout for Sleet. As far as I ever saw there were no postings or indication that you did any scouting to help the NT that season. I don't wish to mudsling, but this is the last point of involvement you had with either NT program, and considering this point I think I would need a little convincing about your ability to be a reliable U21 manager. Convince me.

I acdiently deleted that post trying to edit it, due to a grammar error. This topic is closed till further notice.

1. All of them
2. Short answer? 2 seasons. Long answer? 3 seasons
3. I think it's time to just delete the entire player database. Too much information for us to handle. We should just email a group of randomly selected players and tell them to follow this training plan or they're banned.
4. SB is not effective unless it is, at all times, at least 12 above ID. I'm not smallfries, but A good u21 guy would be 1/1/2/1/1/8 17/12/2/22. That may be the greatest player the NT has ever, and will ever see.

Edit: I feel like I must point out that I am kidding. I don't want to lose another election and then have someone BB-mail me asking if I was serious about running or not. Yes, I am very serious.

Is this all just a joke to you? You have some serious convincing to do, sir. Put on some booby tassels and show off your tah-tah's, or something. I need to see that you're committed! And yes, my vote counts, too! Do not disappoint me.

Most of all though, and I say most of all because I have received many BB-mails about it, I am known for my love of SBing, outside offenses, and wanton to mix things up.
Can you elaborate on this part of your speech with specifics?

1. Do you want the U21 to run outside offenses? Which ones?
2. If yes, how many seasons would you think it would take to retune the player pipeline to have enough appropriate outside players at your disposal?
3. Mix up what? Offenses? Defenses? Training? Details please.
4. How do you value SB opposed to ID and what would a trainable good U21 big look like to you?

Thanks for the questions Fewmit.

1. Currently I do not believe the U21 is ready for an outside offense. My goal is to work with managers and create a pipeline of players to allow flexibility for future NT/U21 managers. There may be times to "test" or do different things because of the GDP, but those will most likely be against weaker opponents. I am a believer that the direction BB is going will force everyone to be able to run multiple tactics and we need to prepare now before it's too late.

2. This is ultimately dependent on the owners of players. If they are more willing to train outside oriented players ( which I believe more are) then I think we could have a team capable in 2 seasons. I will not force the issue to get it done in less time unless I see that there are several managers willing to do it now.

3. When I say mix things up this goes back to tactical decisions. I hate being predictable so I like to change tactics, as long as I am comfortable that the outcome will be positive.

4. This is a good question. At the U21 level we will struggle to see high SBing bigs just because there isn't enough time to train it and other things. I would say an ideal big would have SB equal to ID. So 13/13. The overall skillset would be 8/6/5/5/9/6/13/13/13/13. This player could fit the bill of outside and inside oriented for the U21. Also, lots depends on the skills players start with too. Maybe a better thing would be you give me the starting skills and ill tell you how I would train.

I can't give an excuse for my failure with opposition scout. I made a commitment to Sleet, and then I failed him, and the offsite with my lack of commitment. One of my biggest regrets playing BB, and I knew if I was to run it would be my biggest obstacle to overcome.

As for my commitment to the NT? For 15 seasons I've been on the offsite, scouting, offering advice, following training diaries, and following gameplanning threads. There are times where I've cared more about the future U21 guys than my own club, and in 15 seasons there has not been one time I haven't had a legit U21 candidate on my roster. Sure I could have bought better prospects from other countries, but I splurged on the US guys because it just makes the game 10x better to have a prospect that the offsite is excited about.

I made an egregious mistake in failing to live up to my commitment to Sleet. And for that I'm sorry. But you won't ever have to worry about how committed I am to the U21. It's been my BB goal to be the U21 manager for over a dozen seasons. I believe this season it is my turn.