Ideas for next season

If you have an idea for a change, please put it on here, with a heading saying what aspect of the game it relates to, and then in detail what the idea is.

Submission of teams:

Teams to be submitted before midnight Wednesday to allow a 24 hour period for game specific tactics to be done.

Tactics;

I know some guys like to do in depth and detailed tactics, but making them more concise and maybe limiting them to bullet points and a paragraph is an option. Works well on the other game. Creates brevity for those writing and reading them, as a team can't do everything - there's no such thing as a perfect team.

Good call Luke!

Academies:

Unrestrict academy players. All youngsters to be available through National League bidding

EQ Limits:

4 Starting. 8 in a squad.

Prediction Bonuses:

Definition needed of a descriptive prediction. At the moment its possible to get full bonuses for one line predictions which are no better then score only predictions.

Released Players:

Released players go into the National leagues rather than back into Foreign transfer market regardless of nationality. Chance for sides to sign good players who gets released without sacrificing a foreign transfer.

Agree with Steve on released players.

Agree with Johhny on EQ players.

Would also suggest no more than 5 SH players in a starting XV. Pretty sure in real life AP there is some sort of rule like that anyway or used to be. Irish could only ever start 2 NZ or Argie players.

Don't agree on the tactics Flux. One thing I find more enjoyable about this league is the tactics. On Poolys league most sides are putting down about 8 lines of tactics at the moment and getting no real game plan across.

Think SJE's point on predos is spot on.

I'd look at giving the teams that finish towards the bottom end of the table with the chance to build up there squads a bit with transfers, whether that is first choice on players from the JWC to boost their academies, getting to pick from a pool of players etc.

Also like the suggestion of teams being put in on a Wednesday, though that could only be an issue during internationals as England don't tend to name their team until Thursday lunchtimes.

Released Players

Same as what Steve has said , think he's hit the nail here.

Teamsheets

Wednesday night teams in for Tactics in for Friday night. Predictions over the weekend.

EQ Starters

Uncapped foreign players can count as EQ players maybe?

dammit_chris wrote:Think SJE's point on predos is spot on.

You would Mr War and Peace!!

Can't agree with 5sh players in any way. I purposely structured my side to come good at end of season by buying Sh so would be hugely disadvantaged also as Steve said Sh players miss loads of games with RC. As far as I am aware there is no ruling on number of foreign players in real life. There used to be but I think kolpak ruling killed that

Prop you should have seen what my tactics were at the start of this game - about 20 sides of A4 paper just detailing my backs moves!

The league is a lot closer this year than it has been for quite a number of years. The main difference in the teams is strength in depth and how to deal with that.

I'm not sure if any of the rules really need to change, but just finding a way where the bottom clubs can strengthen before other teams can in the transfer windows.

There are going to be some good bargains for teams as well with I'd imagine quite a few teams having to release some good players to make room in their main squad for players who come up from their academy - think I have worked out that I am having to release 4 players, all but one an international.

I am potentially having to release some great players also. This year closer than ever been. Best example is London welsh challenging for play off due to good management and shrewd buys and loans

If released players were to go to the National Leagues, perhaps before looking at what else can be done for next season, squads should need to be within the required squad limits for next season earlier in the summer to see how that affects the squads across the league. For all we know all sides could release rubbish and a potentially good tool of evening out squads across the league wouldn't be effective at all.

eg. I would need to include the likes of Gibson, JJ, Chisholm etc in my squad by June 15th rather than by September 1st.

Also if this idea were to be used it might be worth putting restrictions on who can by the players dependent on league position.

eg. if Driver were to release Jared Payne only for me to sign him from the national leagues ahead of Nick because I have more prize money then it wouldn't necessarily correct the balance.

If there was a pool of players that were put together from releases and unsigned players and Pete were to give the bottom 3/4 clubs 'x' number of new signings from that pool then that could be a good way of balancing up the squads.

I know I will most likely be getting rid of Siviatu, Mulipola and a few similar to make way for Vunipola, Launchbury, Wade and Benvenutti.

Bottom clubs won't get stronger by picking up the top clubs released players. Matt fair comment on the sh limits. I literally think it is the EQ that makes the difference.

Teams/Tactics

Home teams to be in by Tuesday night. Away teams by Wednesday, then both teams have all day Thursday to get their tactics in having seen the others team.

I would struggle if it's predictions over the weekend as Friday is much easier for me to get on and get them done.

Agree with that dhl. home advantage so important that might redress balance a little

EQ Players

A thought on the EQ players. Keep 10 in the matchday squad but 4 starting. Another alternative rather than reducing the number in a match day squad.

That decent really make much difference, as I can field about six or seven EQ players but it wouldn't make it an even playing field.

Means the top teams become stronger too, in my eyes.

How does it significantly differ for SJE's idea which Nick agreed with?

Just means those with better EQ have a better bench. Doesn't really help out those sides struggling with EQ

A lot of the issues with EQ is that people have concentrated buying foreigns instead of taking a risk on young English players - at Saints I'm lucky I have a good academy and had Hartley, Lawes, Foden and Ashton.

But have spent a lot on trying to get good young English in, paid big on Ford, Tuilagi and Launchbury and gambled with the Vunipola's when they played for Bristol.

There are a lot of good youngsters out there, could just be a case of not always spending the money on foreigns.

Did like the suggestion someone put forward about limited the number of the academy so that those with good academies can;t stock up on the best players.

Academy limited to 20 I think ? Which is fine.

Gambles on young talent always worth a punt as
Is div 1 players

Pete has done well this year getting kalamafoni Tomkins etc.

Qera was national league and many others. SJE got eastmond etc
Etc

Changing the academy limits wont affect a thing.

The problem with EQ is that I have to play someone like Marcel Garvey or Rob Cook and just get slated for it.

Someone has made the point that limiting the EQ may make the top sides stronger which could happen, which is why I suggested the point of rather than it being EQ, making it UK and Ireland starters and upping it to 8 or something. This would also increase transfer activity as at the moment no-one wants to sell any EQ unless it is for EQ and it makes deals a lot harder. For me, negotiating and doing deals is probably the most fun part of the game so if we can increase that then happy days!

It's a tricky one that nick not sure where I stand to be honest

I've been thinking quite heavily about the EQ issue and how best to address it. I don't want to make things overly complicated and am thinking along the lines of losing the EQ clause altogether and going with a set number of Lions qualified players. Am thinking 12 in the matchday 23 with a minimum 7 in the starting line up.

Need to have a look through squads really to see what effect this would have and whether it would level the playing field or not.

I'd be all for that Pete.

The question I am asking myself really is whether it should be Lions qualified or 6 Nations teams players (so including French and Italian)?

Lions, Six nations is going from one extreme to the next surely?

Fluxy

If with your current squad, you had to have 12 Lions qualified in the 23, with 7 starting, what would your team be? Same question with it being 6 Nations players. Which makes you stronger? (I am asking you as you currently prop up the table so it may be a good barometer)

Luke, if you get a chance, could you give me the answers to the same questions?

London Wasps

Manager – Fluxy

01. Ben Robinson/Ryan Grant	09. Maxime Machenaud
02. Rob Webber	10. Rhys Priestland
03. Logovii Mulipola
04. Bradley Davies	11. Tom Varndell
05. Marco Wentzel(C)	12. Brad Barritt
06. Donnacha Ryan	13. George Pisi
07. Jonathon Poff	14. Topsy Ojo
08. Ben Mowen	15. Mike Brown

16. Sean Cronin 17. Grant/Robinson 18. James Slipper 19. Mouritz Botha 20. Dave Dennis 21. Haydn Thomas 22. Stephen Myler 23. Jamie Elliot

Practically the same it is at the moment; removing injuries. But I imagine that would make it more difficult. I do have a good number of Lions qualified players.

Really difficlut to have 'a best team' - this changes on a weekly basis with form!
Horwill, J.Burger, Jenkins, Mitchell etc could all be in these sides.



EQ as it is:

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dimitri Yachvili
02. Stephen Moore	10. Jonny Wilkinson
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape	11. Isa Nacewa
05. Geoff Parling	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Francois Louw	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tom Youngs 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Cencus Johnston 19. Simon Shaw 20. Thomas Waldrom 21. Frederic Michalak 22. Billy Twelvetrees 23. Ugo Monye

===

Lions as EQ:

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dimitri Yachvili
02. Stephen Moore	10. Jonny Wilkinson
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape	11. Isa Nacewa
05. Geoff Parling	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Francois Louw	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tom Youngs 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Cencus Johnston 19. Nathan Hines 20. Jacques Burger 21. Frederic Michalak 22. Billy Twelvetrees 23. Ugo Monye

===

6N as EQ

Leicester Tigers
Manager – LukeLovesLuka

01. Andrew Sheridan	09. Dimitri Yachvili
02. Stephen Moore	10. Jonny Wilkinson
03. Dan Cole
04. Pascal Pape	11. Isa Nacewa
05. Geoff Parling	12. Maxime Mermoz
06. Sean O'Brien	13. Brian O'Driscoll
07. Francois Louw	14. Vincent Clerc
08. Ernst Joubert	15. Kurtley Beale

16. Tom Youngs 17. Gethin Jenkins 18. Cencus Johnston 19. James Horwill 20. Jacques Burger 21. Frederic Michalak 22. Billy Twelvetrees 23. Drew Mitchell


Basically all that really happens is my bench gets stronger and stronger.

Cheers luke. So your side stays the same pretty much. I guess the question is whether further down the league it makes the other sides stronger.

But then i'd have the potential of a back 5 of:

04. Pascal Pape
05. James Horwill
06. Sean O'Brien
07. Francois Louw
08. Jacques Burger

Which if all were fit and firing may be stronger than what i'd have now.

Not exactly. I only added a few extra guys that are injured or away with internationals. And that wasn't really many.

You're not going to be able to even it out, through limits unless it's biased. The only thing that hurts smaller teams are the uneven squads. And it is a little harsh to pinch players.

falcons lions

Tonga
Best
Franks
Mastrie
Kruger
Robshaw
McCaw
Read

Youngs
Flood
Bowe
JOC
AAC
Cuthbert
Goode

my EQ team

1 Mtawrira
2 Strauss
3 BJ Botha
4 Schofield
5 Wyn-Jones
6 Savage
7 Rennie
8 Beattie
9 Peel
10 Lambie
11 Short
12 Barkley
13 Bastereaud
14 Maitland
15 Armitage

my lions team

1 Mtawrira
2 Strauss
3 BJ Botha
4 Charteris
5 Wyn-Jones
6 Ryan Jones
7 Rennie
8 Beattie
9 Peel
10 Lambie
11 Maitland
12 Godwin
13 Bastereaud
14 Malzieu
15 Armitage

Makes a huge difference for me, my lions team is so much stronger.

EQ
Healy
Mealamu
Kubrashvilli
Kitch
Whitelock
Hask
Pocock
Lobbe
Smith
Hodgson
North
Allen
Davies
Jane
Miller

Lions team
Healy
Mealamu
Kubs
Romano
Whitelock
Hask
Pocock
Lobbe
Smith
Hodgson
North
Allen
Davies
Jane
Hogg

My EQ side (5 EQ)

1. Woodcock
2. Brits
3. Afoa
4. Botha
5. Borthwick
6. Wood
7. Hooper
8. Easter
9. Dickson
10. Burns
11. Morahan
12. Roberts
13. Fritz
14. Huget
15. Kearney

16. Buchanan 17. Marler 18. Franks 19. Kruis 20. Warbs 21. Dickson 22. Cooper 23. Joseph

Lions side (7 Lions) and 7 6N's side.

1. Woodcock
2. Brits
3. Afoa
4. Botha
5. Borthwick
6. Wood
7. Hooper
8. Easter
9. Laidlaw
10. Burns
11. Morahan
12. Roberts
13. Fritz
14. Huget
15. Kearney

16. Rees 17. Marler 18. Franks 19. Kruis 20. Warbs 21. L.Dickson 22. Cooper 23. Joseph.

Basically it hardly impacts upon my strongest side at all. French and Italian players make no difference at all for me but would hugely for likes of Luke, SJE etc

I don't think changing the limits help or hinder lower sides. They help bigger sides. But you look through some of the sides and like Steve for example has Marler, Warbs and Cooper all players that would easily start for someone else.

I think 7 Lions qualified is better than 7 6N qualified.

I am struggling with what is going to be the best way of evening things up to be honest. I don't want to unfairly penalise those who have worked hard to build up good squads, but I do want to assist those with weaker ones to get better.

I think it was Steve that mentioned it earlier in this thread that academy players should have to go up and squad limits be met earlier in the summer and I agree with that. The releases that people will have to make will give us a better idea of where the squads are at, so I am tempted to say this must be in place by June 1st.

i think thats fair enough, think that will make dealing over the summer better as people will know who is in their squad etc and who is released.

you might have to put it to a vote pete, see what everyone says. from my point of view it would massively improve my side and probably would improve most, might make some of the bigger teams stronger but at least gives weaker sides a chance to compete.

If you did that then, but accumulate the list of released players or players that people want to get rid of and allow the bottom four to have a first dibs on them for a week. Almost like a transfer list

Agree with that.

Sounds good.