The Cherry Blossom Invitational

[kamichi]

[center][img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/airmike94/RoninInvitational.png[/img]

[hr][font="Palatino Linotype"][size="5"][b]
[url=http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=102581&view=findpost&p=2729318]How to Follow[/url] / [url=http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=102581&view=findpost&p=2729320]Management[/url] / [url=http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=102581&view=findpost&p=2729321]Rosters[/url][/size]

[size="4"][url=http://www.youtube.com/user/kamichi]Youtube[/url] / [url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArGcjJlwiuQkdDhQdTk2RkUtczdtVl9WQzZfbUE5RUE&hl=en_US]Spreadsheet[/url] / [url=https://cn-ronin.com/forums/]Ronin Forums[/url] / [url=http://thecastlehall.com]DFA Headquarters[/url]

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[size="6"][b]Introduction[/b][/size]
Good morning sports fans and welcome to a cozy, intimate soccer tournament known as the Cherry Blossom Invitational, hosted by the lovely, affable alliance known as Ronin. The Invitational is a virtual soccer (hereafter known as 'football') tournament which uses CyberNations alliances as its teams and CyberNations rulers as its players. Each team consists of a 16 player squad along with a manager who is able to change lineups and tactics between games.

What makes this different from the plethora of other CN-ran tournaments is that you, the viewer, actually get to watch the action. All matches are recorded and uploaded in their entirety for your viewing pleasure, complete with quality commentary from some of the best but mostly the worst wordsmiths to ever grace the beautiful game.

I will be using Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 to simulate the matches. Both teams in the game will be controlled by the Top Player AI and at no point will I, or anyone else, have any direct influence on the game itself. Indeed, if you've followed my past tournaments then you know what to expect. For whatever reason, you've still been coerced into watching a computerised football match with which you have no involvement, while being shouted at by an uneducated British guy with a weird accent.

[size="6"][b]Schedule[/b][/size]
Matchday One: 15th/16th June
Matchday Two: 22nd/23rd June
Matchday Three: 25th/26th June
Semi Finals: 29th June
Finals: 3rd July

NB: I will be unavailable between matchdays one and two. Don't cry too much!

[size="6"][b]IRC[/b][/size]
The official IRC channel of the Cherry Blossom Invitational is #cherryblossom. Any questions you have might be answered there if you're lucky. More pertinently, the IRC channel is where the live viewings will be held and will be where the match videos and results are first released. Well worth a lurk.

Edited June 11, 2011 by kamichi

[kamichi]

[size="6"][b]How to Follow[/b][/size]
Matches will typically be released at 8PM Eastern time (1AM UK time) each scheduled day. All videos will be uploaded to my [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/kamichi]Youtube account[/url] with the raw video made available later on Megaupload. However, you have a choice of three easy options on how to find direct links to your team's matches without relatively complicated searching.

[b]1. Master List[/b]
The spreadsheet which we use to track stats will have a master list of fixtures for each round, ordered by date, including a link to each match. These lists will typically be updated within an hour after the videos are released and are the easiest way for you to find match links without spoiling the result. There will also be no rules about spoilers inside this topic, so make sure you check the master list before reading this topic if you want to stay spoiler free.

[url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArGcjJlwiuQkdDhQdTk2RkUtczdtVl9WQzZfbUE5RUE&hl=en_US#gid=2]Spreadsheet Master List[/url]

[b]2. Live Viewing[/b]
As soon as matches are released there will be a live viewing in #cherryblossom where everyone present starts watching each match at the exact same time as each other in order to simulate a live match. We've found that it's generally a lot more fun this way, especially if your team is playing and your opponents are in the room. Live viewings will take place on every matchday unless there is a lack of participation.

Spoiling the live stream by skipping ahead will be rewarded with a ban from the channel. Unfortunately, unlike with past tournaments hosted on the DFA forums, I don't own the CN forums and can't ban you from them, so I will have to settle for being very cross with you.

[b]3. Youtube Subscription[/b]
You can subscribe directly to my Youtube account by clicking [url=http://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=kamichi]here[/url]. This will link you to matches as soon as they're uploaded. Bear in mind, matches could be spoiled by the preview image which is automatically generated by Youtube, so I do not necessarily recommend subscribing. Having more subscribers on my account will boost my ego though!

[size="5"][b]Spreadsheet[/b][/size]
The spreadsheet is a single document, hosted on Google Docs, which we use to keep track of each team's progress, among other stats. It contains all the information you need to follow along and support your team:

- At a Glance is an automatically updating page containing the overall group stage and knockout stage standings.
- Master List is a list of all matches in chronological order, sorted by stage, complete with links to the video. There will be no scores recorded on this sheet, making it spoiler free, meaning it should be your first port of call when finding a link to watch your team's match.
- Groups A & B contain the fixture list, results and full table for both groups.
- Leaders is a leaderboard for individual goals and assists (to determine golden boot, etc).

The link to the front page of the spreadsheet is [url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArGcjJlwiuQkdDhQdTk2RkUtczdtVl9WQzZfbUE5RUE&hl=en_US#gid=0]here[/url]

All pages of the spreadsheet will contain spoilers for at least one round of the tournament. However, the master list of fixtures will be kept deliberately clear, as mentioned above.

[kamichi]

[size="6"][b]Management[/b][/size]
The managers are the only people with any influence on how the games pan out. The idea behind managers is to make them as influential as possible, without making the role overcomplicated or creating an excessive workload for the organisers. To this end, the time has come when managers have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy.

Otherwise known as the choice between simple and complex tactics.

[size="5"][b]Simple Tactics[/b][/size]
Simple tactics live up to their name; all you have to do is choose between four different styles of play and I will set the sliders and set piece settings for you. The styles offered are: 1. Defensive. 2. Balanced. 3. Attacking. 4. Ultra-attacking.

[url=http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?app=members&module=messaging&section=send&do=form&fromMemberID=263]PM[/url] me the following form with the relevant details once you've made your decision. Be sure to include your team name and opponent in the title of the PM.

[b]Simple Tactics Form[/b]
[code][b]Team:[/b]
[b]Opponent:[/b]
[b]Formation:[/b] If different from last submission
[b]Strategy[/b]: Defensive/Balanced/Attacking/Ultra-attacking
[b]Lineup[/b]: If different from last submission[/code]

[size="5"][b]Complex Tactics[/b][/size]
The intention of this section is to allow managers to customise their teams as much as the game interface allows. Essentially, any change that you can think to make, I'll be willing to listen and attempt to see it happen in game. I've outlined the broad areas of strategy below.

[b]Formation & Lineup[/b]
The main way the managers can influence results is changing their team's lineup before each game. Each team has a squad of 16 players to choose from to use in almost whatever way you want. The game has some in-built limits which we haphazardly discover as teams start to experiment. Tigris FC discovered that a team needs at least two defenders, for example.

[b]Team Style[/b]
Team Style is a collection of 8 sliders which govern how a team actually plays within their formation. Each slider (apart from the last, "Defensive Strategy") can be set to any value between 1 and 100. Paradox gamers will be right at home at least. The default sliders aren't set to 50 by default as you might expect, so you [i]must[/i] at least change your team style before your first match. All teams were created in place of existing teams with different formations or otherwise horrible settings.

The individual sliders are:

Player Support
Defensive <-> Offensive

Support Range
Narrow <-> Wide

Position Switch
Never <-> Frequent

Attacking Style
Out Wide <-> Down Middle

Pressing
Loose <-> Tight

Defensive line
Deep <-> High

Compactness
Wide <-> Narrow

Defensive Strategy
Linear <-> Covering
(Special case, choose one or the other)

[b]Set Pieces[/b]
This is simply a choice of who takes your free kicks, corners and penalties. You can choose different corner takers for each side and a different free kick taker for 'long' and 'short' free kicks. If you specified a set piece taker in your rosters, I have adhered to that.

What you might want to change is the choice of which defenders attack at set pieces. Central defenders are typically the tallest players and the best headers of the ball, making them perfect for attacking set pieces, especially corners. However, there are tactical options to consider: If it's an all or nothing game, you might want to sacrifice defence for attack and send everyone forward every time. If you're against a pacier team, you might want to keep everyone back to make sure they can't hit you on the counter attack.

[b]Complex Tactics Form[/b]
To take advantage of such wonderfully complex tactical opportunities, [url=http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?app=members&module=messaging&section=send&do=form&fromMemberID=263]PM[/url] me the following form with the relevant details. Be sure to include your team name and opponent in the title of the PM.

[code]
[b]Team:[/b]
[b]Opponent:[/b]
[b]Formation:[/b] If different from last submission
[b]Lineup[/b]: If different from last submission

[b]Team Style Sliders[/b]

[b]Player Support[/b]:
[b]Support Range[/b]:
[b]Position Switch[/b]:
[b]Attacking Style[/b]:
[b]Pressing[/b]:
[b]Defensive line[/b]:
[b]Compactness[/b]:
[b]Defensive Strategy[/b]: Linear/Covering

[b]Set Piece Settings[/b]:

[b]Notes[/b]: Any other requests. Questions submitted here will not be answered, use the DFA forums or IRC.
[/code]

[size="5"][b]Deadlines[/b][/size]
All matches need to be recorded at least one day before they are due to be shown thanks to my slow internet connection. As mentioned above, the 'live' viewing for each matchday should be held at 8PM Eastern time (1AM UK time) on each given date. For example, the first round of matches in Group A will be available to watch from 8PM Eastern on 15th June.

What does this mean? It means that managers need to [b]submit their tactics at least 36 hours before their match[/b] is due to be shown, earlier if possible. That is, 8AM Eastern / 1PM UK time on the date before the match is scheduled. If tactics are submitted after the deadline they may still be used depending on when the match is recorded, but I can offer no guarantees.

Please make sure you send your [url=http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?app=members&module=messaging&section=send&do=form&fromMemberID=263]PMs[/url] on these forums only. Tactics submissions on other websites will likely be missed.

Edited June 14, 2011 by kamichi

[kamichi]

[size="6"][b]Rosters[/b][/size]
These are the rosters of each team which list the players, their descriptions and the initial team details. All rosters are copied exactly from how they were submitted to me, sorted by group, then alphabetical order.

(Currently all formatting has been murdered by notepad, which might be fixed but probably not).

[size="5"][b]Group A[/b][/size]
[b]Complaints Albion[/b]
[spoiler]Team Name:Complaints Albion
Manager: Rush Sykes
Logo: CnG Flag
Formation: 4-3-2-1

Goalkeeper - FinnishCommie - Lazy Finn , so we have him a lazy position.

Full Back - Ryxeria - A lady with an equal dose of attitude and charm. She can slay the mightiest striker with either her charming smile or her

ferocious tackling.

Full Back - Kestral - Completing the rosters dynamic duo of footballing lasses, this charming, yet scathing young lady is known for her ability to

bring men down.

Centre Back -OsRavan - On loan from the ODN squad, hopefully he can provide some solid D.
Centre Back - JGoods - Athletic defender who is seldom beaten to a free ball. He easily covers ground and makes up for others mistakes with his

speed.
Centre Midfielder - Mandellav - Calm and cool under pressure. Mandellav is the heart and soul of this team with his excellent decision making

ability.
Centre Midfielder - Comrade Craig - Enigmatic communist who seems to have a passion for...well, nothing. Hopefully this will ignite an internal

fire.
Centre Midfielder - Wurzel - Quiet and deadly. Seldom heard from, but often relied upon, Wurzel is integral to the success of this team.
Offensive Midfielder - Rush Sykes - The father half of CnGs dynamic father-son duo. Rush makes things happen with or without the ball. The

consummate playmaker.
Offensive Midfielder - Shamed - The son half of the dymanic duo. Younger and more athletic, defenders are at a disadvantage when trying to tackle

this force. Simply deadly.
Centre Forward - Voodoo - First timer on the squad, having slowly risen through the CnG ranks. Could this be his time to shine?

S1 - Joracy - Athletic(hopefully) loaner from the ODN squad, his skill should add decent depth.
S2 - Cameronius - It is often said that the job of a sub, is to make those ahead of him better by pushing them. This epitomizes Cameronius. He can

step in for literally ANYONE at ANY TIME.
S3 - JWZepf - One of ODNs most consistent performers, despite their horrific team showing. Provides much needed experience off the bench.
S4 - MutedFaith - Agile, aggressive, and eager. This newcomer plans to make his mark on this side.
S5 - StefanoPalmieri - Recently promoted from the lower leagues(anyone in LOST is in a lower league, tbh), a real work in progress for the teams

staff. Can he be developed? [/spoiler]

[b]FC Paradoxia[/b]
[spoiler]GK - ROMMEL_HSQ
FB - Lum
CB - Daedalus
CB - Yir Yironti
FB - Sky Green Chick
DMC - Bodvar Jarl
MC - Crymson
MC - Zac the Sage
AML - Blue Lightning
AMR - Richard Rahl
FC - Feanor

S1 FB - SanderP
S2 AML/R - Batman
S3 CB/DMC - Tyon
S4 MC - KuzuRyuSen
S5 GK - Casey

Player Descriptions:

GK - ROMMEL_HSQ
Player Model: Pepe Reina
"The Emperor, a commanding presence and excellent shot stopper. What he lacks in size he makes up for in heart and leadership."

FB - Lum
Player Model: Philippe Lahm
Intelligent and nimble, Lum is strong on his left footed side that gives him the ability to go up hard against dominant attacking players. Obeys

direction well and is quick so that he can get up and down the line to assist in the counter attack. Crosses are solid although could use some

work. He’s better in the air at keeping the ball away from his keeper. Keeps track of where every player - friend or foe - is on the pitch at all

times.

CB - Daedalus
Player Model: Rio Ferdinand
"A leader on and off the field, Daedalus is a workhorse in the back, anchoring the Paradoxia defense, and a tower of power in the air. Willing to

sacrifice everything, Daedalus is solid but not gifted technically, more apt to make sure the ball gets to the center mids then trying to do

anything fancy with it himself."

CB - Yir Yironti
Player Model: Franz Beckenbauer
"Another intelligent defender, cold and calculating, Yir is quick to read the play before it unfolds, allowing him to get into position and break

down the attackers’ plays before they even know what’s happening. His intelligence makes a perfect foil to Daedalus' industriousness and

reliability."

FB - Sky Green Chick
Player Model: Yuri Zhirkov
"A full bred barbaric Russian, who is not afraid to punch, pull hair, or step all over your face. Victory is the ultimate goal and any method will

be used to defend against the opposition. Innocent look and amiable attitude serve as a disguise to lure you in and stab you in the back when the

time is right. As a last resort weapon, a bottle of vodka will be used as a bribe for the opposition’s GK . ALL FEAR THE RAGE OF A RUSSIAN!"

DMC - Bodvar Jarl
Player Model: Roy Keane, Dunga
"The guy that stays behind to clean up the mess when everyone else have gone recklessly up in offense. Plays simple, safe passes. No dribble

displays, win the ball, send it forward."

MC - Crymson
Player Model: Cristiano Ronaldo
"The Jewish Jet. Focused, decisive, electric, pacey, but prone to the occasional flame out."

MC - Zac the Sage
Player Model: Xabi Alonso, Michael Carrick
"The passer/hoarder in the midfield: Plays short simple passes and positions self to receive such passes to keep possession on offense (while

playing the occasional killer ball), while clogging passing lanes and making interceptions on defense. Not great at anything, but good at

everything."

AML - Blue Lightning
Player Model: Lionel Messi
"I'm a bit like Messi but better."

AMR - Richard Rahl
Player Model: Park Ji-Sung
"Not quite as quick as his Limey counterpart, but great at finishing, this man doesn’t mind the workload that comes with the defensive obligations

of his position as he effortlessly manages to get back and defend while still finding the energy time and time again, never taking a play off to

get involved in the attack to help his team."

FC - Feanor
Player Model: Diego Forlan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mario Balotelli
"Flashy. Egotistical. Brilliant. Mercurial. These are just some of the words that have been used in the past to describe this striker. He is

immensely talented but lacks consistency in his play. He's easily capable of producing moments of brilliance during a game with his world class

striking ability but he is just as likely to mail it in after a hard night of partying. He has already started causing drama within the team after

openly criticizing Coach Kuzu's style of play to the media. If the coach can keep him focused Feanor easily can carry this team to the Cup final.

Mortal enemy of bibs."

S1 FB - SanderP
Player Model: Aleksandr Kolarov, Nemanja Vidic
"An offensive, ambidextrous wingback with a strong physical presence and superior technique and crossing, SanderP is a strong offensive defender,

suited to play in more offensive strategies, since his main drawback is that he tends to leave his guard post unattended after a run forward. His

crossing skills make him suited for indirect freekicks too."

S2 AMC/L/R - Batman
Player Model: Andres Iniesta
"The target attacking midfield when he sees the pitch, Batman is a natural finisher although he does well with the ball at his feet to create

plays. The goal with all these mid centers is that they have been taught to be creative and fluid, not regimented into certain ways of play so that

they can counterattack on the fly."

S3 CB/DMC - Tyon
Player Model: Per Mertesacker
"One of the new additions to the team. He calls himself the Berlin Wall but some observers already stated that he is very much of an anti-football

player. Though this doesnt discourage him. He is confident that he can break any opposing players leg and kick the ball forward! The Berlin Wall

will not crumble!"

S4 MC - KuzuRyuSen
Player Model:Bastian Schweinsteiger.
"Calm, cool, and always looking to use his brains to drive his team forward. Distributes the ball well to engineer breakouts, and always well

positioned on the pitch to stifle enemy passing lanes. Marshals and positions the back 4 to respond to opposition adjustments and moves. Not

particularly strong at any physical attribute, but uses his football sense to fight for a place in the first team."

S5 GK - Casey
Player Model: Julio Cesar, Victor Valdes
A great team player who exudes confidence to her defenders and other mates when on the pitch with her command in the back, Casey is the backup

keeper for this Paradoxian side. Natural cat-like reflexes allow her to be a superb shot stopper and her agility allows her to get off her line

quickly and easily to be able to stifle any breakaways that may come her way. Cleanly handling crosses in the air are a bit questionable at times

but generally her hands are soft and active in being a great net-minder. As chafing as it may to be a bench player, the reports of her trying to

remove starting keeper Emperor Rommel are assumed to be highly unlikely to be true.[/spoiler]

[b]Hearts of Midochlorian[/b]
[spoiler]
GK - Moldavi - A giant between the sticks, very difficult to score against as he has great anticipation and reflexes, enabling him to make very

difficult saves. Has the look of a dictator about him.
LD - Varianz - Left footed, very good at stripping the ball from attackers, and blocking attempts at crosses.
CD - Weebland - Strong, solid central defender, not that fast but good anticipation and positioning enable him to keep himself between the

attacker and the goal. Good timing on the tackle.
CD - Youwish959 - Similar to Weebland, though a bit faster and a bit less strong. Looks like a typical Southern guy called Cletus.
RD - KainIIIC - Good speed and positioning make him good at putting pressure on attackers, able to block crosses and make good tackles.
LM - Heggo - Left footed, not great in any one area, but a very good all-round player.
CM - Heft - Captain and anchor of the team, quite slow but very strong and with great ball control, making it very difficult to take possession

from him. Can lay a decent tackle and make a decent pass. Similar in appearance to a hippo.
RM - LintWad - Quick midfielder with a flair for accurate lobs, making him good at supplying the forwards as well as the go-to man for freekicks.
CAM - WorldConqueror - Great ball control and passing, making him quite good at supplying the forwards. Also has a good long shot making him an

excellent choice to backup the strikers. Tall, thin, black hair.
LF - Doppelganger - Left footed striker, quite quick and nimble with good ball control, able to break through defensive lines with ease. Very good

shot placement and accuracy. Ginger hair and beard.
RF - Anthony - Strong and tall target man, dominates the box in corner and free kick situations. Has a flair for headers but quite a good shot

too. Italian, looks like a mafia man.
SGK - Ashok - Solid keeper, not as skilled as Moldavi but a very good second-string.
SCD - Kevin32891 - Very physical defender, tries to intimidate attackers though can sometimes lead to mistakes. Likes the slide tackle and is able

to force strikers off the ball with his strength.
SCM - Rayvon - Defensive-minded midfielder, good at laying tackles and delaying and stopping advances through the middle with his good speed and

positioning.
SCAM - Dilber - Very technically skilled, excellent ball control and tricks galore, coupled with very good speed. Very dangerous player though

recent lack of game time has relegated him to starting on the bench. Has awesome jewfro.
SF - RebelVirginia - Likened to a charging bull, a very physical attacker that likes to try and bundle through the defence with his strength and

good ball control. Good shot power though accuracy can sometimes be a problem. Decent shot with both feet. Looks like he's straight from the Civil

War.[/spoiler]

[b]O'Samurai United[/b]
[spoiler]Team Name: O'Samurai United (Represents Checkmate)
Manager: AirMe
Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond


#1 GK- Elorian - The Estonian Enforcer. She is soccers version of Vladislav Tretiak.

#13 LB- MDHammer - The Flying Scotsman. A player who has become a regular feature in the O'Samurai line up and recognised as a promising player

who has a lot of potential to increase on several solid performances. He is young, but quick and physical with good defensive awareness.

#4 LCB- Nolissar - The director of the defense. Tactically incisive and powerful, he commands the defense with operatic flair.

#15 RCB- Tepes: Tepes, Vidic. Both from the same mold.

#23 RB- Abwehrchef: The German Grinder. Placed on the squad to placate the German contingent in Checkmate. A utility player who has good tactics,

defensive awareness and speed. He also excels at penalty kicks.

#5 DMC- DonBidarian (Spelling change): The Iranian Rocket. Hard to slow down. Negotiates the ball with a finesse rarely seen.

#7 MR- Nitemare - This young player has become a fixture in the midfield. He has taken his speed in a transition to the midfield.. Hard charging

with a good head on his shoulders. After the 2010 World Cup he dedicated himself to improving his penalty kick ability and the accuracy of his

passes. Knows where he needs to be.

#11 ML - Cataduanes - A transfer from Red Star FC. He is a fine addition to the squad adding good pace and amazing defensive awareness to the

midfield. He has also been known to be a clutch performer in high pressure situations including penalty kicks. He will fill the hole and then some

that was left when Empirica departed the squad.

#19 ACM- Victius: The Finnish Flash, anchor of the offense. Sets up goals like a DJ sets up beats.

#3 F - AirMe - Captain of the squad and eldest member. His pace isn't the best but he has a lot of stamina and knows how to set up his teammates.

He may be the hardest working player on the pitch.

#10 ST- HisK - Loves to score. In the game and with the boys. Has worked on his speed since the last league and looks to put some separation

between him and the defenders this time around.

Subs:
#77 D - LAAT501Legion - A Spaniard who is a physical player who isn't afraid to take the body. His passes are always on the mark and is a virtuoso

on penalty kicks. A rising star in the Checkmate. domestic league.

#56 D/M - Aldente - A long time fan of O'samurai United who's career has been plauged by injuries. He has decent pace and makes very good decisions

with the ball. He will hold his ground and it is a rare occasion when an attacking offensive player gets the advantage over him. Has been known to

have laser like accuracy with his passes.

#8 M - The Corrupt Teacher - -Fast and extremely talented, capable of breaking open games with his speed and great footwork but, is extremely

competitive and his hotheaded nature cause him to make crucial mental mistakes at times that can be detrimental to his team.

#43 ST - Darkest Wish - The Average American. He's clearly the slowest player on the team and after watching him kick the ball one often wonders

how he was able to find his shoes this morning, let alone how he's on a professional "soccer" team. Hell, he calls it "soccer" for christ's sake!

No for real... Best known for his initials... M V P... When he was in the State's of course! Two years removed and out of the country, he is

merely a second tier striker outside of the MLS. ...But he can finish with the rest of them. Doesn't have the top tier speed to always be in

position, but when he is, it's a shot on goal.

#30 GK - Chrono - Dedicated and hardworking goalkeep. He has been a corner stone in goal for the club.[/spoiler]


[size="5"][b]Group B[/b][/size]
[b]AFC Tetris[/b]
[spoiler]Team Name: AFC Tetris
Manager: Pollard (Player/Manager)
Logo: http://i.imgur.com/mMXuS.png
Formation: 4-5-1 - http://i.imgur.com/gIHLj.png

GK - USMC123 - Strong and intelligent. Powerful right foot. Agile. Brown Hair. Like a big strong panther. Handling leaves a lot to be desired.

Right Back - Rhaemyr - Pacy full back who likes to get forward. Bald as the day he was born. Like a ninja who sneaks forward when possible. Has red

eyes.

Left Back - BladeX - Stong with great tackling ability. Black Hair. Asian. Stops strikers in their tracks. Agressive but not the fastest player.
Center Back - Ali5541 - Can play across the defense. Very versatile. Often brought on when the team is leading to provide a stronger defense. Never

loses concentration. Hard worker. Never gives up. Has a great understanding with the rest of the team. Is always in the right place at the right

time. Brown hair.

Center Back - Logan - Great at jumping and heading. Gets forwards for corners and free kicks. Brown buzz cut. Getshigh on and off the pitch.

Right Mid - Granat - Blonde afro. Lightning fast pace and built like a rock. Gets forward whenever possible and leaves defenders for dead with his

vast array of tricks. Fantastic dribbler, and not just while he sleeps.

Left Mid - Hereno - Likes to cut inside onto his right foot. Deadly from range. Crossing ability is top notch. Can pick out a perfect ball from 50

yards. Short, brown hair.
Defensive Mid – Troop – Likes to get forward. Excellent passer of the ball. Tackling leaves a lot to be desired but makes up for it with the amount

of work he puts in for the team. Inspirational midfielder. As he runs, his medium brown hair blows in the wind.

Defensive Mid - Anecdotal Rabbit - Defensive. Stays in the hole between the midfield and the defence. Great passer. Not very quick, but never gives

up. Strong. Green hair.

Attacking Mid - Sam Morgan - Likes to play the killer ball through to the front man. Shooting ability isn't that great, but is very quick. Short

black hair and stong, physical build.

Center Forward - Pollard - Finishing ability is top notch. Long shots are decent, but technique is pretty bad. Free Kick taker who can make the

ball curl in any direction. Medium brown hair. White caucasian scouser.

S1 – Archer - Back up Keeper. Not very agile. Has no real strengths.

S2 – Deadwartin - Strong and resilient. Extremely aggressive. Slow and finds it hard to keep up with opponents.

S3 - Xander - Defensive minded mildfielder. Tireless. Has lots of stamina and pace. Likes to get forward when he can, but is also good at getting

back when needed. Can match opposition forwards for pace. Brown hair.

S4 - Robony - Striker. Brought on when the team is losing to provide more attacking options. Has great heading and jumping ability. Acts as a

target man. Is good at slipping the ball through to his striking partner.

S5 - Amos - Winger. Can play on both sides of midfield as well as up front. Not the quickest of players but has perfect crossing ability.[/spoiler]

[b]CSKA Francograd[/b]
[spoiler]Team Name: CSKA Francograd
Manager: Bakamitai
Logo: [img]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8049/nposf.png[/img]
Formation: 4-4-2

GK - Vellocet - As a young boy, Vellocet was abducted by a gypsy moving circus where from a young age he was taught to perform various tricks

involving juggling balls and fetching them shot from cannons. He's experienced in reflexes, catching flying objects in midair. Although an airhead,

he's very flexible and charismatic.

LD - Longworth - Monuments should be be built to the number of enemies, as well as friends, he has either offended or even killed by his uncannily

efficient and disturbingly prolific use of the vuvuzela. Self proclaimed vuvuzela king.
CD - Tasuki - Although not that big, he is strong and can tackle bigger opponents. Marking opponents and applying constant pressure is his game. He

is a good passer and is as accurate as a siege arrow. His stamina could be better, but he shines in the early to mid-game.
CD - Moo-Cows - Big, strong defender, very difficult to get the ball past. Great at tackling and tactical positioning. Able to dominate the box in

defensive corner or freekick situations, due to his size and strength. Not easily tired out, but not the fastest either.
RD - JesseEnd - Ability to apply constant pressure and sharp reflexes make him great at both shutting down crosses and stopping attackers from

ducking inside to shooting range. Good physical strength and stamina make him usually very reliable, though occasionally can get a bit eager with

slide tackles.

LM - brucemna - Dives like a shark, jumps like a kangaroo, fast from one side to the other, kicks the ball 2/3 the field of the ground.
CM - Cortath - Team captain and anchor. Excellent stamina and tackling, good passing and ball control. Great tactical player, and very versatile,

able to both shut down the opposition and take possession in the defensive midfield, as well as move the ball to the forwards very capably.
CM - VektorZero - Not brilliant in any one area, he is a solid and versatile player, able to play either in the centre or on the wings. More

defensively minded than Cortath, he has good timing with his tackles and good stamina to back it up. An excellent choice to bolster the overall

defensiveness of the team.
RM - Henry - Crazy aggressiveness and prone to yellow cards. Ejected from a friendly after taking out an opposing player. Has average speed but

good instincts.

LF - bakamitai - Very technically skilled, nimble, and accurate with his shooting. Stamina and strength can sometimes let him down though. Very

smart, able to pick apart defenses with well-timed runs and fancy footwork. Superstitious, eats lasagna before every match.
RF - DeSouza - Fast, good with dribbles, tactical positioning and penetrating a defensive line with the ball in my foot in general, mostly focused

at assistance (pass, crossing) but with a good accuracy. Also, he's Brazilian. That should count for something, somewhere.

SGK - SirPaul - A maestro in the box, he and his defenders work perfectly in concert to defend the goal. Works well under pressure so its hard to

overwhelm him. Can always be relied on to make the save that keeps them in the game, or maintains the lead. Has excellent timing and positioning

with his saves, though he sometimes tends to punch it away rather than holding the ball more often than he should. Much prefers long downfield

goalkicks to throwing it in.
SCD - Gandroff - Dependable defender, great at marking attackers and applying pressure. Good combination of speed, strength and stamina serves him

well, though very fast strikers can sometimes get the better of him, which can occasionally lead to some reckless tackles. White, but with a big

fluffy afro.
SCAM - Vladimir - This fiery Scot would make a dynamic offensive addition to any team. His great shot power makes him able to blast home goals from

almost anywhere. Also plays the support role well with his sharp tactical short passing game. Has amazingly smooth and sexy legs.
[color=red]SF - hawk_11 - Returning from his loan to Complaints and Grievances, hawk_11 is at home on the CSKA bench. A weapon in the late-game

with powerful, accurate shots and decent passing, but his tackling tendencies leave a lot to be desired.[/color][/spoiler]

[b]MK Dons[/b]
[spoiler]
[center][size=36pt]MK Dons[/size]
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bf/MK_Dons.png/150px-MK_Dons.png[/img][/center]

[center][img]http://pes.neoseeker.com/w/i/pes/1/11/Amazonas.jpg[/img]
[i]Artolia Park[/i][/center]

[size=24pt]Squad[/size]
Manager: James I
Assistant Manager: potato

GK - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png[/img] James I - David James I

suffered through a calamitous start to his career but has come good in his twilight years, spurred on by by his ever changing hairstyles to become

a solid - if unspectacular - presence at the back. :afro: Wears yellow boots (J1s).

DR - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Finland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Finland.svg.png[/img] Gobb - Raids up and down

the right flank all day. He has tremendous stamina, which is a trait that allows the young man to Finnish most matches. Is great on the posts.
DC - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png[/img] potato - Strives to be a

big, burly black man. Has the speed, strength and imperialist african heritage, lacks the "endowment", but is known for his role as a Communicator

as much as centre-back partner is.
DC - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png[/img] AVFC1 - A safe pair of

hands - reasonably solid at the back - but also likes to step forward and play a bit as he is not short on artistry for a centre-back.
DL - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Ireland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png[/img] Denny - Born with a heavy

metal leg, he doesn't have the movement of some, but represents a considerable obstacle for others to get past.

DM - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png[/img]

Anarch - Cuteness and immaturity off the pitch belie the incredible strength of the ex-captain of the greatest team in MK's storied history: the

Weeaboo Wanderers. He now plays as a hard tackling defensive midfielder and possesses excellent passing skills.
MC - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/22px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png[/img] Banksy - A

creative (perhaps even another artistic!) player who can make something out of nothing with the merest flick of his feet.
AMR - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png[/img] Drai - An all-rounder,

Drai's versatility allows him to fill in in many areas; has been the man who's replaced the MagicalTrevors and Teh 1337 Guys of times past. A solid

all-round if not spectacular player.
AMC - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Finland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Finland.svg.png[/img] Mistra - Plays a

Litmanenesque role in the traditional leaden-footed, paceless manner, but there's life in the old boy yet. Very good technically. Didn't stoop so

low as to re-use the Finnish pun here.
AML - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png[/img]

Stalk - Pacy, diminutive winger who refuses to bulk up. Lacking in enthusiasm for the game at times, but a real team player.

ST - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands.svg.png[/img] Jeoh -

The most prolific striker in recent history (if you ignore the CFPL) returns to torment defences for the fifth time. He may have added to his game

over the past year, but his strength still lies in his immense physical presence, rather than his inevitably clumsy control.

S1 - D RLC - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png

[/img] Scorbolt - An experienced though quiet member of the side, he certainly couldn't be referred to as the vanguard of the subs' bench, but

provides solid back-up in a bench otherwise far too replete with attacking players.
S2 - D/MC - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png

[/img] Archon - Often quiet, transparent and tends to be a shrinking violet on the pitch. But three finals in three tournaments and scoring the

winning goal in all three? He knows how to pick his moment, that's for sure. The ultimate impact substitute (if you ignore his lack of pace,

strength and physical prescence).
S3 - AM RL - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png

[/img] DarthLurtz - Years of video game practice has led to a loss of vision, but refined motor skills, giving him an excellent close touch and

pace to burn.
S4 - ST - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_England.svg/22px-Flag_of_England.svg.png[/img] ak47don - Has the

innate ability to shoot others down with his powerful shot. His accuracy suffers though, hence the nickname "Scattergun".
S5 - ST - [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Flag_of_Norway.svg/22px-Flag_of_Norway.svg.png[/img] SpiderJ - A

technically gifted forward, who will Norway shirk his duties. Tends to drift in and out of games, but devastating when on form.[/spoiler]

[b]Partytowne Town[/b]
[spoiler][center][img]http://deinos.partytowne.ca/Smileys/default/trex.gif[/img]

[b]Team Name[/b]: Partytowne Town
[b]Manager:[/b] New Frontier
[b]Formation:[/b] 4-2-1-3

----------------------[/center]

GK - Sandler - Short and stocky, this goalkeeper has very quick reflexes and is strong between the posts with great handling and a math major from

Wake Forest he is good at judging angles, however occasionally he is rash and his inexperience leads to penalties in the box and sometimes being

caught out of position. He has accurate goal kicks and moderate power. He made a name for himself saving 12 penalty kicks in a row in college.

The ultimate athlete, Sandler usually makes up for any errors in judgment with his raw talent.

RB - FrigginDracula - Hell on !@#$@#$ wheels. Easily the biggest !@#$% in the DFL, Steve French plays dirty, trips, dives, smack talks and even

headbutts his opponents Zinedine Zidane style. Huge and bulky, he plays hard but brings little to the table offensively. A great defender, though.

CB - Divine Proportion - an aggressive player in a defensive position. Great at drawing fouls, a strong, accurate player of average height.

CB - Matty - A quick as lightning defender who has been given the nickname "Tortoise". A precise tackler, able to strip the ball from a defender

better than a New Zealand woman strips off her clothes. Average in size, but only in terms of height.

LB - Gloin, a short man obviously, also not the best looking of the bunch... but he's speedy, strong, sturdy and stubborn... and is also not

ashamed to punch his opponent in the balls. Quick on his feet with great endurance.

DMF - Dera - Kicks the piss out of the ball, with a mind based purely on the defensive side of the game, quick like a sexy panther and built like a

brick !@#$ house.

DMF - Amelsh - Known in the Jurassic Premiership as the Dutch Destroyer, Amelsh is a master of the long ball. He can strip the ball from an

attacker and transition the ball up the field with accuracy and ease. Amelsh has strong form, and a tall stature, and has both experience and

talent at corner kicks.

AMF - Jaym (C) - Star Player of the Minas Tirith Hobbit League, and 3 time Golden Foot Hair winner, Jaym has feet that can leave even Chris Angel

in a daze. An intelligent player with a focus on setting up plays and threading the needle against a tight defence, Jaym will rarely decide to put

the ball on goal. As a hobbit, his height gives self confidence to even the keeper.

CF - New Frontier (VC) - An all out offensive player. As quick with the shot as a Mexican over a fence, NF will almost always choose the shot over

the pass, with generally good results thanks to his strong power and accuracy. $%&@ teamwork and $%&@ defence. Also tall.

LWF - Mixester - A balanced forward, willing to both shoot and pass to set up the play. Tall and fit, Mixester is a very athletic soccer player.

RWF - Silver Empress - Defensive minded striker, if that is at all possible. Silver is much more likely to hold the ball and wait for an opening

rather than attempt to dribble down the field like his teammate New Frontier. Though that is not to say he is unable to work well with

SilverEmpress. Because NF is always making a run when Silver has the ball, Silver is likely to be at the top of the league for assists.

[b]Reserves[/b]

GK - Bones Malone - Tall and lanky, Bones has plenty of reach and athleticism in net, as well as a steady hand. His consistency gives the entire

team confidence, as they know that even if their starter fails they'll have a solid, if not spectacular, replacement keeper. He also has a sexy

voice.

RB - Magister Agricolarum - Kept in reserve because of his less-than-average stamina and height, Magister Agricolarum delights being brought in

late in the game to shut down the backfield against exhausted opponents, driving them to angry frustration by letting them wear themselves out with

fancy footwork only to strip and clear the ball with two touches.

CMF - Toynbee is an aggressive player with a broad build which allows him to be a bruiser. Due to his build, he is slower but makes up for it with

his size and strength, as well as a killer long ball that can reach further than hooker's tongue. He has a mop of shaggy brown hair and blue eyes.

CMF - ProdigyNL - A well rounded player, able to transition from offense to defense quickly. While he does not excel in any particular area, he

doesn't fail horribly in any particular area either, unlike Jaym who is absolutely !@#$@#$ terrible at writing descriptions for players.

CF - Satsukage - A lightning fast forward, Satsukage brings a lot to the table offensively even if the rest of his talents are more pedestrian. His

rampant alcoholism has had little effect on his play, despite the rather large effect to Gondor's red-headed stepchild population.[/spoiler]

[kamichi]

[size="6"][b]Miscellaneous[/b][/size]
And finally, thank you for not breaking my opening combination of posts. This post is reserved for miscellaneous bits and pieces which didn't fit elsewhere.

[size="5"][b]Past Tournaments[/b][/size]
(All links except for WC2010 require an account on the Digiterran Football Association forums)
- [url=http://thecastlehall.com/boards/index.php?topic=24117.0]The Mushroom Kingdom Invitational[/url]
- [url=http://thecastlehall.com/boards/index.php?topic=24762.0]World Cup 2009[/url]
- [url=http://thecastlehall.com/boards/index.php?topic=28247.0]Castle Fairgrounds Premier League[/url]
- [url=http://thecastlehall.com/boards/index.php?topic=30774.0]Satellite Five Premier League[/url]
- [url=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArGcjJlwiuQkdDAzek4zbUhXQTJmYWRFOTVZUFFaOXc&authkey=CLiCglo&hl=en_US#gid=0]World Cup 2010[/url]

[size="5"][b]Frequently Asked Questions[/b][/size]
Please do ask any and all relevant questions so I can fill up this relatively pathetic post.

Q. Can I change this or that or the next thing?
A. The only thing I am willing to change at any time apart from tactics are player names as they are purely aesthetic.

Q. Why don't you stream the games?
A. Simply, my connection isn't good enough to stream. My connection isn't even good enough to watch the videos I upload during the evening. I upload the matches overnight, when my connection isn't throttled.

Q. Why don't you use a better method of synchronisation?
A. Because the regular live viewers don't want to.

Edited June 29, 2011 by kamichi

[MD Hammer]

I'M SOOOOOOO EXCITED AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT!

[HisK Owns You]

o/ Ronin

o/ The Cherry Blossom Invitational

Gooooooooooooooooo O'Samurai

[AirMe]

3 days till match day 1. W00T!

[New Frontier]

PARTYTOWNE TOWN WOOOOOOOOOOO

[bakamitai]

Where are the friendlies?

[Cataduanes]

Go O'Samurai!!

[WorldConqueror]

[quote name='bakamitai' timestamp='1307939068' post='2730373']
Where are the friendlies?
[/quote]
kamichi's youtube account.

[Drai]

Gobb, we will dominate the right side once again!

[Elorian]

*waves the updated O'Samurai flag* Good luck to all teams!

[Stefano Palmieri]

C'mon Complaints Albion! Good luck to everyone else (bar Partytowne Town, well, Gloin)

[AirMe]

Caboose City, Maedonian Province (Ronin Capital District) - Match Day 1 is upon us folks in the first annual Cherry Blossom Invitational! This will be the first official soccer action since the World Cup in which O'Samurai United placed 3rd! The host side looks to bring home the cup this time around but it will face stiff competition from the other clubs. O'Samurai showed their usual poise in their friendly against Partytowne Town, outlasting their opponent and striking near the end of the game.

Good luck to all the sides but more so to O'samurai United!

-MNN Staff Writer

[kamichi]

[size="4"][b]Group A - Matchday One[/b][/size]

[b]O'Samurai Utd vs Heart of Midichlorian[/b] - [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyGTeCaMiZo](Youtube)[/url] [url=http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MYU9THVX](Megaupload)[/url]

[b]FC Paradoxia vs Complaints Albion[/b] - [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhVjnr5EzSY](Youtube)[/url] [url=http://www.megaupload.com/?d=R0U1G3J3](Megaupload)[/url]

[Blue Lightning]

It was on a plate, Feanor...
[IMG]http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8124/ultimatefacepalm.png[/IMG]

[AirMe]

[quote name='Blue Lightning' timestamp='1308241066' post='2732469']
It was on a plate, Feanor...
[IMG]http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/8124/ultimatefacepalm.png[/IMG]
[/quote]


That is a hilarious graphic.

[kamichi]

[size="4"][b]Group B - Matchday One[/b][/size]

[b]AFC Tetris vs MK Dons[/b] - [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvI_on828Og](Youtube)[/url]

[b]Partytowne Town vs CSKA Francograd[/b] - [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkAhO2PuR_w](Youtube)[/url]

[AirMe]

Matchday 1 is over with. Hopefully we can see an uptick in scoring. The Deinos/CSKA match was the match of the day for sure.

[New Frontier]

Yeah it was. :smugsy:

[WorldConqueror]

The potential is there, it's just not coming together.

[Cataduanes]

Not too impressed with my namesakes performance but a win for O'Samurai is still great to see!

[Gobb]

Oh Mistra. Well, you'll redeem yourself in the next match, I'm sure of this.