I'd like an analysis, please, Al.

ditto. It can only help. I´ve noticed that some of the experienced managers have focused on training their juniors first, whilst other experienced managers have been focusing on freshmen. Some of my freshmen are rated so badly I was thinking of writing them off and just concentrating on the more promising types and in particular the sophomores who seem a bit more talented.

Al mentioned somewhere that it might not be worth coaching a player's main skills if they can't reach 14, so that's starting at 8 for a Freshman, 11 for a Sophomore. Having said that my Freshman OH started at RCV 7 but I'm coaching that as I will be short of good OHs in two seasons - his other stats are 8s or 9.

The problem with him in particular is that he's quite weak as my 4th OH. So i won't want to play him a whole lot. My 3rd OH is weak as well but decent at attack and block so would normally play more. Adrian Ball has 5 skills that are used a lot and I want them all maxed out but you can't do that in 12 sessions without using XP. And if I want to use XP on all 5 skills that's 55 sets he has to play. So at least for him that's why I'm using CP right away.

Ian Sissons, my Freshman MB, only needs three skills to concentrate on so there's more time.

As for the Shrimps' Freshmen I'd say the Libero definitely, the Outside Hitter probably not, the Middle Blocker definitely and the Setter maybe not and think about recruiting a 4* or 5*

For anyone I'd suggest reading "Which skills should I be focussing on" posted Jan 29th.

Of course you don't have to follow this to the letter - for instance it suggests ATK first then RCV for your OH - but for my Freshman I'm going for RCV first - servers will tyarget the weakest receiver, your setter will targe your strongest attacker.

Teutopolis Feedback

Some feedback for C-Ball.  I went through the screens a bit to give some ideas.  Please let me know what you have questions on or where I wasn't very clear and I'll help more!  Below is a tutorial  link.  

https://youtu.be/pk2unfXROM8

San Jose Feedback

Some ideas for Vick...probably just repeating everything Steve said but in a much longer, roundabout, and complicated way...  :-)

https://youtu.be/LMo7SWpMiN0

take advantage of this offer. it is really useful. might give you a few good ideas and if not will give you the confidence you are doing a few things right!

I could do with some tips for my next 2 league matches, the preview has the two teams rated in total 9/10 As for their players...

Feedback for Roy and the Red Pandas

Roy: I would consider two sets of information available to you to determine how to approach it:

1) Treat it like a United foorball game.  Who are you playing, how good are they and who do they have to play.  Guess where they might put their emphasis.   Do they tend to play balanced lineups or emphasize two matches and just show up in the third match.  The grades on the match report will help.  

Not all teams won at home but around 70-75% did it seems.  So that's an advantage for your team to consider.  Go all in and focus on the home win or balance things out and maybe go all in on 2 matches.  

You play #2, #5, and #8 in the rankings so it is hard to have high expectations here.  If you managed 1 win that would be a good session with this opposition.

2) These tips at the bottom of the orders page are also good to keep in mind.  Some may not make any sense to you, so please ask and we will help clarify (and update the tips):

Serve (SRV) - Best Servers possible in the lower number zones.

Receive (RCV) - Be aware that terrible serve receive players will get targeted and make many bad passes

Block (BLK) - Best MB starting at zone IV or V.

Attack (ATK) - Best pin hitter (OH or RS) starts at zone IV or V. Separate good pin hitters from good MB hitters.

Defense (DEF) - Have Liberos serve for a middle for more digging opportunities. Best digging (DEF) OH starts at zone I or II.

Setting (SET) - Start in Zone I for less chance of setter dumps

Thanks Al, I used the tips section for the first round of matches. It wouldn't let me put the players where I wanted them this round, but I'll have another go later.

It's a bit different than MSWL as you can't play for a draw i.e play 3-4 MBs with their higher BLK values

But I see what you're saying about checking out the opponent a bit more - see if I can target any weak points.

No which team was it that had only a B+ value as their weakest point?...

Good luck Roy.  You may have run into the lineup setup where the following needs to happen:

If S is I then RS must be IV

If one OH is II then other OH must be V

If one MB is III then other MB must be VI

You don't need to use the exact numbers by position above.  You just need to always have those positions "3" zones apart.  Like if the RS is a III then the S must be a VI.  

Okay Al... I may be an experienced manager, but I'm very interested in another opinion... especially as Antioch is perpetually mediocre. So... evaluate me next!

Tough opening match for us as we get our feet wet in the TMVL. We rebounded well in the Cup though.

Antioch Feedback

Antioch feedback is posted:

https://youtu.be/K9cMuH6l9Bc

Id really appreciate some feedback for Arlington too when you have the time Al.  Appreciate it probably wont be before this weeks session.  

Antioch feedback re their RS, Riley Johnston......'go sit up in the stands and watch some Netflix' lol

Al, mine was awesome and endlessly helpful, ty!

David:  No problem.  I will get something for you after the Saturday matches.

CB: That is hilarious and yes, that was exactly the feedback.  Haha!

C-Ball: You are very welcome!

I read through your review of Antioch Al... great stuff!!

I did have 1 thought as you were going through. You talked about coaching some of the underclassment fully up in some key areas as soon as possible. One strategy I had been trying with the introduction of the XP system was to save that last coaching slot in each of the key areas for the end of the season. This way, I maximize the efficiency of those XPs

Is it a better strategy to coach up that last key spot (say SET for a Setter) to max it out early, or to efficiently use the XP?

I think it depends. My Freshman OH is only 3* and rolled average across the top 5 skills (excludes SET). As it stands I'm not happy with playing him for 50 sets, the number I need to get those last slots. So I'm looking to maybe max out RCV and ATK with CP and playing him 30 sets, especially while in with a chance of trophies. I need to play him anyway so better to get the more important skills up quickly.

I realise he isn't going to be a great player but one of my juniors is poor himelf (a mistake from my first season) and in two seasons my current Freshman will be my oldest player.

I think it situational too like Steve notes.

If I'm in good shape at a position, I might wait for the XPs.  

If I need the help I might use CP to take a player to the max in 1 or 2 skills but then leave the rest for XPs.  

It is a tradeoff though since you have to play the player to get the XPs.

Probably my best advice is that with Freshman I'd say I err on the side of using as many XPs as possible at the end of the season so you can try to use the other CPs on the So/Jr players.  

That's an interesting take Steve... with the 3* FR I have, my plan with him is to pretend he doesn't exist. If it's in a position I have cover on, then I feel okay... what's bad is when it happens in an area I don't have cover in (RS) where I need a complete overhaul in that posiiton.So for Seth Walsh (D- RS), I was not planning on spending ANY CP on him. And he won't play, so no XP either. And the hope would be I can snag a quality RS in recruiting.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Even when the player isn't going to be a star, it can be usefull to coach them up as least to a C to plug holes.

Finally! Coach Halpin reveals some of his secrets to winning!  :-)

I can't argue with the Esteemed Mr Halpin's results... but I just never have those CP to spare when there's so many other players who need them... And yet, here I stand, mired in mediocrity...