FIFA 06: The Rise of Amiens SC, Issue 1: Season 2, Week 15
May 16 '07 (Updated Jun 08 '07)
The Bottom Line This article is the beginning of a series of articles chronicling the rise of Amiens SC in FIFA 06.
Note: To find out more about FIFA 06 for the PC, please see http://www.epinions.com/content_267262135940.
This may be one of the most self-indulgent works I have written, but one of the things that I have wanted to write about is my adventures with FIFA 06, the outstanding video game simulation of the Beautiful Game – football, or soccer to us Americans.
Ever since I received the game as a Father’s Day gift in 2006, I have worked my way through several seasons with several teams and the four difficulty levels to get to where I am now. I currently play at the highest non-locked difficulty level, World Class, and I am in the middle of a Manager Mode campaign with a French team, Amiens SC. As far as I know, Amiens SC (in real-life) is a Ligue 2 team representing a small town in northern France. I chose Amiens SC randomly; one time, while I was testing a re-installation of FIFA 06 on my computer, I started a Manager Mode campaign with the first team I saw in the region I chose; in this case, it was Amiens SC. (Note: to those who are not familiar, Manager Mode in FIFA 06 allows a gamer to play 15 seasons of football, either with one team or different teams each year, tracking the gamer’s record and cup success)
So as not to dwell on ancillary details, let me explain my prospective approach to this series of articles: I intend to write about my adventures with Amiens SC as if it is a real team and I am its beat writer. Primarily, I will talk about Amiens’ games from a third-person perspective as if the games really happened; however, sometimes, I may add some gameplay insights to the commentary. Ultimately, I am writing this to create something that I have not found in my months of looking for great FIFA 06 tips and strategies: good prose that not only provides advice on how the game is played, but also how a team can progress in the game.
Thus, if you are willing to suspend disbelief and step into something absolutely whimsical, then join me in my account of Amiens SC, starting in the midst of my second season in charge of the club…
The Team
In my first season in charge, Amiens SC was an average Ligue 2 team (rated 2.5 out of 5 stars in FIFA 06). The team featured a roster of workmanlike players with a decent center back in Joel Sami, a serviceable right-sided midfielder in Thibault Scotto Di Porfirio, and a good forward in Lamine Djaballah. Throughout the course of the first season, several new players were scouted out, several were sold, and a couple of players were purchased. By the end of season 1, Amiens SC finished 1st, while clinching the French League Cup, and earning promotion to Ligue 1.
In my second season in charge of Amiens SC, the team is currently in second place in Ligue 1 of the French 1st Division, one point behind Lyon (which, in reality, is France’s top team managed by Gerard Houllier).
The current starting 11 of the team deploys in 3-5-2 (3 in defense, 2 in midfield, and 2 in attack), with three center backs, two defensive midfielders, two wide midfielders, one central attacking midfielder, and two strikers (forwards). Here are the starters:
Goalkeeper:
Merville (overall skill: 68 out of 100)
Merville is my team’s version of Fabien Barthez, as in he is Amiens’ clown prince. Why? I never seen a goalkeeper surrender so many near-post low-dribblers from outside of the penalty box as he has, and he looks terrible trying to save them. Merville bungles rushes toward oncoming strikers, gives up rebounds, and rarely comes out for crosses. To be fair, Merville is mostly controlled by the CPU, which (I feel) dumbs down human keepers. In any case, he is my team’s clown.
Defenders:
Sami (69)
Joel Sami is one of my center backs. He is a rugged defender who defends wingers well (as my right-side center back) and can be spotted dribbling out of defense from time to time.
Pressley (70)
Pressley was a player I scouted in season 1 (Note: “scouted” means that the game found this player after I had deployed a “scout” to look for a certain type of player). He’s a big, bald white guy who loves carrying the ball of defense and (when deployed as a left back in a 4-4-2 formation) bombing down the flanks or even up the middle. I like him because he is so eager to join the attack. However, his aggression sometimes creates hapless moments in defense.
Roche (72)
Roche was scouted near the end of season 1. He is the best of the three center backs and is confident on-the-ball moving forward. He is also good in the air, clearing crosses from the box.
Midfielders:
Johnsen (71)
Chris Johnsen was scouted in season 1. Though he is a natural central midfielder, he is deployed as a central defensive midfielder. He is a brawny specimen who can play box-to-box. Being a central midfielder (not naturally defensive), he tends to play around the center circle, but he lends great support to both Linderoth and Namouchi.
Linderoth (74)
Tobias Linderoth (actually, a midfielder for FC Copenhagen and Sweden) was purchased at the beginning of season 2 during the open season transfer period. He has proven to be great cover as a defensive midfielder. As the season has progressed, he has shown greater willingness to surge forward and run deep into enemy territory. He also has boundless energy, demonstrated by his knack for appearing in defense immediately after running into the opponent’s side of the field.
M. Salgado (75)
Though naturally a right-back, M. Salgado is deployed as a wide right-midfielder in the 3-5-2 formation. He is a capable defender, but he has recently shown great improvement after being sent out as a wide midfielder. He is a tenacious on-ball defender and determined runner with the ball.
F. Salgado (72)
F. Salgado plays as the left wide-midfielder in the 3-5-2 formation. He is a good crosser of the ball that overlaps well when playing in a 4-4-2 formation. However, in 3-5-2, Salgado has had a tendency to disappear. I don’t really know why…
Namouchi (73)
Hamed Namouchi (actually, a midfielder for Lorient and Tunisia) was purchased from Rangers in season 1. He is my central attacking midfielder, playing in the “hole” between midfield and the forwards. His stock-in-trade is passing to the forwards shortly before they spin off defenders and goals from just outside the penalty box. He is this team’s key ballhandler and orchestrates attacks down the wings or up the middle. He has also shown an aptitude for suddenly appearing in defense. (Note: in another Manager Mode campaign, Namouchi was my first-choice attacking midfielder for Motherwell).
Strikers
Miller (73)
Lee Miller (who, in reality, plays for Dundee United) was purchased in the middle of season 1. He plays the left-striker role and has displayed a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He also has a fair amount of pace and can spring offside traps well, though he also gets quite a few offside calls. Until recently, Miller did not partner well with Popovic, but, after the most recent Lyon game, he now seems to have a better understanding of Popovic’s play.
Popovic (77)
Popovic was scouted at the beginning of season 2 and has immediately fitted in well with the team as the right-sided striker. He is a natural right winger (in a 4-3-3), but he has played well. He is a skilled target man who has great heading ability. Improbably enough, Popovic is a Brazilian with a decidedly Eastern European name!
***
Besides the starting 11, there are key reserves that appear in games:
Goalkeepers
Mullen (67)
Mullen was recently scouted and is slated to be clown Merville’s replacement. He had a few keys saves during Week 15’s clash with Lyon (particularly, a great one-on-one save against Lyon’s Fred with stoppage time looming in the second half), despite surrendering two goals after rebounds.
Daguet (57)
Daguet has appears twice in two seasons. He is a third-choice keeper, at best.
Defenders:
Ochs (65)
Ochs was purchased in season 1. He is an Austrian right-back that sometimes starts in the place of any defender who is experiencing a dip in form.
Duruz (64)
Duruz was Amiens’ starting left back in season 1, when the team was deployed in 4-1-2-1-2 formation. He has since yielded his starting spot to more gifted, scouted players.
Midfielders:
De Freitas (65)
David De Freitas is one of the original Amiens SC players remaining (and, currently, on the team in reality) from the beginning of season 1. He is a right-sided midfielder. Despite his relatively low skill rating, De Freitas has shown determination, fighting spirit, and the ability to win balls in key positions and deliver killer crosses. I am hoping that he improves substantially enough to make him a starter, since I am a fan of his play.
Kinkela Fuanda (67)
Christian Kinkela is also one of the original Amiens SC players. He is a right wide-midfielder who plays well spelling F. Salgado on the right or M. Salgado on the left, though his lack of pace and poor ball-winning qualities do not make him a favored substitute.
Scotto Di Porfirio (70)
Thibault Scotto Di Porfirio, like the previous two players, is an original Amiens SC player (who now plays for Nice in the real world). He is a good ball winner who can deliver a great cross from time to time. However, he tends to turn in anonymous performances. He is now deployed with some success as a defensive midfielder to spell either Linderoth or Johnsen.
Buron (64)
Antoine Buron is an original Amiens SC player. He started as my central attacking midfielder for most of season 1 until Namouchi was purchased. He is non-descript, though he acquitted himself well in his role until he became a reserve.
Colleau (62)
Colleau is a hardy defensive midfielder who played will in that role before Johnsen was scouted. He is now a reserve.
Strikers:
Djaballah (66)
Lamine Djaballah was Amiens’ number 9 (center forward) during season 1 and performed very well until he was stricken with injury. He came back at the end of season 1, after having lost his starting berth to both Miller and Popovic. He starts occasionally, if any Miller or Popovic have a dip in form. He partners with Miller well (inexplicably)…
Dia (67)
Before Miller arrived and during Djaballah’s injury stretch in season 1, Dia was a great source of goals in Division 2 play. In season 2, he appeared twice and scored five goals in those two games! Dia is a prospect that I am watching, not only because he is young (19 years old), but also because he has a “natural” ability to finish. If he improves even more, he may have a shot at starting. He also seems to share a strange kinship with Popovic – both players seem to play better together.
Balde (64)
Balde was an important reserve in season 1, partnering with Dia to propel Amiens’ push for promotion. He now serves as the team’s fifth striker, despite his earlier contributions.
Season 2, Up to Week 15
Up until Week 10, Amiens SC went from 8th to 1st, and then to 3rd place in Ligue 1; their record was 6-3-1 (6 wins, 3 draws, 1 defeat), with 21 points from 10 games. They moved past the 2nd round in the French Cup, but have only one point from two games in UEFA Cup group place (a 0-0 tie against Athletico Madrid, but a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa). For a Ligue 2 team recently promoted, Amiens was doing well, but recent form (including the loss and draw in the UEFA Cup) pointed at a loss of form.
However, during Week 11, the team’s formation was changed from 4-1-2-1-2 to 3-5-2 to accommodate Johnsen. From Week 11, Amiens was 4-0 with a 5-2 win against one team and a 3-0 win against another, as well as two other convincing wins.
At Week 15, Amiens SC was 10-3-1 and in 2nd place, behind Lyon, the best team in Ligue 1…
Week 15: The Showdown
Week 15 marked the so-called “colossal showdown” between upstart Amiens SC and mainstay Lyon. Lyon deploys its team in a 4-1-2-2-1 formation (a modified 4-5-1), with such stars as Tiago, Fred, and Sylvain Wiltord among the starters. Out of five stars, Lyon rates as a 4.5, with Amiens at a 3.5. Overmatched?
The game began in fits and starts, with Amiens stringing together several good passes before losing possession in Lyon’s half on two consecutive occasions. Then, it came: in the 8th minute, Amiens’ Pressley pressed Lyon’s Fred, who then side-stepped him and rushed the Amiens goal. Mullen stopped Fred’s shot, but the rebound was cleaned-up by an on-rushing Tiago for Lyon’s first goal. 1-0 at minute 8…
Then, at minute 21, Lyon again penetrated Amiens’ three-center-back defense. This time, Mullen rushed out to stop Fred’s shot. But, before Pressley could clear the rolling rebound into touch, another Lyon player outran him and slotted past a sprawled-out Mullen. 2-0 at minute 21 and a rout seemed to be on…
However, at minute 42, after having won a corner, Amiens’ Namouchi swung his kick in front of Lyon’s near post. F. Salgado (I think) headed the ball goalward. The ball ricocheted off Lyon’s keeper, Rame, and into the path of Miller’s head, which steered the ball into the net. 2-1 before the break – is there hope?
The second half of the game started brightly for Amiens, who were feeding off the momentum of the Miller goal in the first half. At around minute 52, Popovic started a diagonal run just in front of Lyon’s penalty box, and then loosed a shot angled at Lyon’s keeper’s far post. The keeper stopped the shot, which then bounded away from the goal. Miller, again in a predatory moment of inspiration, slid at the ball and angled the ball past the desperate Lyon keeper into the net. 2-2!
Then, in the 70th minute, after dominating possession with players overloading Lyon’s box, M. Salgado found himself in Lyon’s right corner, near the corner flag. His lofted cross found Popovic in the midst of five Lyon players, who then scissor-kicked the ball, rocketing the ball past the hapless Rame.
The final 20 minutes were tense, with Lyon pressuring Amiens in desperation. (Though I was tempted to reorganize Amiens into a defensive 4-4-2, I persisted with 3-5-2). At the 90th minute, Lyon’s Fred found himself past the defense and one-on-one with Mullen. With surprising reflexes for a rookie goalkeeper, Mullen palmed away Fred’s angled shot, which was then headed out by Pressley for a Lyon corner.
Fred’s shot would prove to be Lyon’s last threat as Amiens escaped with a 3-2 victory over Ligue 1’s top team. Though Amiens’ three-man defense was shaky to start, the defenders played off the attackers in the second half to counter Lyon’s speed. Roche was outstanding at denying crosses on the left, and Pressley made a few key tackles. Likewise, Linderoth and Johnsen were pivotal, stopping ballhandlers in front of the defense and moving the ball out of Amiens’ half.
Man of the Match: Linderoth
Linderoth was everywhere, either double-teaming attackers on the wing or carrying the ball out of defense. Though Miller was at his predatory best, and Popovic scored the winning goal, Linderoth was the engine of Amiens’ success.
Unsung Hero: Pressley
Though Pressley was beaten by Fred to allow Lyon’s first goal, Pressley persevered, and even headed away the key rebound after Fred’s 90th minute shot.
Biggest Pain in the Butt: Fred
If I had more funds (and were more prestigious), I would buy Fred.
”Where was he?” Award: Namouchi
Normally a pivotal provider and orchestrating member of the team, Namouchi was somewhat anonymous. Since switching to 3-5-2 (and after his 6-week layoff because of a foot fracture), Namouchi has had trouble adapting to the crowded midfield.
Village Idiot: Pressley
He was both a hero and a goat this game. His being turned by Fred was embarrassing. (Note: I felt like a rookie again after my clown defending!)
Noted Areas Needing Improvement:
Besides my buffoonish defending with three defenders, Amiens needs to improve its wing play. I often rely on play up the middle, but my strikers have trouble bypassing defenses that play deep. Good wing play will extend the defense outward, as it did when Popovic scored the third goal.
***
Now, after Week 15, Amiens is one point behind Lyon for first place in Ligue 1, at 11-3-1. Mullen had a promising debut and will continue as the starting goalkeeper, though M. Salgado will give way to Scotto Di Porfirio on the right; and, in turn, Sami will give way to M. Salgado as one of the three center backs.
Let’s support Amiens SC in its push to not only win Ligue 1, but also to make the Champions League!
Note: To read Issue 2, go to http://www.epinions.com/content_5019377796.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
kedsand1
|
|
Location: Circle City, USA
Reviews written: 124
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
Even if you're homeless, you can still write Epinions at the local library.
|
|
|
© 1999-2010 Shopping.com, Inc.