We are a dynamic and promising National Team are looking for candidate for the post of Assistant Managers.

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Left, Left, Right, Left.

Right, Right, Left, Right.

Hang on, this is hattrick?

Well, I got this from the former Hattrick Masters winner, of which I can’t recall the name, as he posted in the Global Conference something like “As in masters no one team can afford to lose in midfield and Central Attack, its all like dancing of where we need to guess whether to attack on the left or right.” How enlightening, as it is widely believe that Central Attack contribute approximately 40% of all normal chances while the other two side contribute 25% each and Set Pieces 10%. Therefore it is understandable how Central Attack would be causing great peril for those who ignore it. In order to win or at least be competitive in midfield, therefore requires team to utilize its wingers post or at least one of them to be played as inner midfield or at least playing winger towords middle. Thus only one side attack can be utilize in addition to the upmost important central attack. In response, many team also sacrifice 1 side of their defence, that is, by playing 2 central defender to protect them from central attack.

How does this help? Well, if we match our opponents midfield, taking 10 normal chances, we will get 5 chances, of which most probably 2 to 3 will come from center, 1 to 2 from left and another 1 to 2 from right. Therefore ignoring 1 side defense will risk you of conceding 1 to 2 goals. Make sense? Maybe, if the set-up confidently allows your offence the high chance to score 2 or more goals, of which a great central attack and 1 side attack allows!

Ofcourse, AIM and AOW are supposed to modify the ratio, especially since HT announced that they have fixed the AOW’s bug, but the reduction in Central Defense (AOW) or Side Defence (AIM) make them less attractive.

I must say that I have been amazed (and still wonder) on how our former U20 coach toong managed to get most of his guesses right during his U20 matches, something I have yet able to do in the NT…

So keep them guessing…… Left or Right?

Dear Diary,

Hahaha! I’ve never wrote a diary in my entire life. Hey but this a blog, besides I can’t let Jeff’s ‘Dear HT Diary’ post being in the first post for so long….

Yesterday, was the day of which Kota Damansara’s 7 games of unbeaten streak was broken when we fell down to our knees at DagangFC. It’s a game that one would expect that Damansara would lose, after all, midfield still plays a very important part of the game. So what would you do if you know that you would lose midfield? If you are still thinking (or dreaming) to win then playing Counter Attack appears to be the only alternative. However, if you are trying to get a draw, pressing will be a great alternative. But I really dislike playing for a draw, its like you are giving up all hope, not my style huh?

Realising that in order to train playmaking and still make some decent money, it is obvious that you need to sell your playmaker trainee at a profitable level, usually around the worldclass level, which means that most of the time my middy sucks!! (That might change much later…) Besides, I pity the U20 Malaysia of having to go through its campaign without much middy power over the last season. Patriotic thought huh. Also that my middy at that time has very little secondary, which make them a no competitor in the National Team with the likes of other players trained by PeeJayReds, AirHitam, Kickaball and KJBrite.

While I am not an expert in Counter Attack (unlike goldfries), here is what I gathered over the seasons:

Counter Attack required:

1. Great defense – Therefore your defenders have be better at high level and great goalkeeper too.
2. Defenders with passing – The counter attacking defenders, so that they can pass the ball that they won after defending to your attackers instead of clearing at row Z like English defenders normally did. :p
3. Great attack – Your striker better be good, since counter attacking chances are normally not many, only 1 to 3 per match, you really need to utilize that limited chances.
4. Less than 50% possession, or else you will only lose your middy. So do make sure that you have a high chance of a weaker midfield than your opponent, but don’t give up too much possession as well (45%-50% would be idle) .
5. Extra advantage points : Since competing against the more superior number of normal chances, having a great Set Pieces taker, specialty etc will be helpful, all little things will be needed when playing Counter Attack.
6. AND A LOTS OF LUCK So Good Luck!

Here are some of the things you need:

1. Solid coach or better.
2. Train reasonable amount of stamina. Not too high since that would means that sacrificing the training effect of the primary skills, but not to low as stamina will be needed for all positions now. But since they are young players, and can increase and maintain stamina much easier than old players, 10% to 15% should be sufficient.
3. Play your trainee in trainable position every week. –This means you may need to sacrifice or take higher risk in league game or cup. As for me, this would normally means that I played with a much weaker midfield in many games.
4. Train secondary/primary offseason. No, we don’t train stamina offseason anymore, since consistent weekly small percent stamina (eg 10%) is more effective that once or twice of 100% stamina training during offseason.
5. Check : U20 Schweiz for the age of your potential trainee, so you would know until what stage they can play in U20.
6. Some money, but don’t overspend and get frustrated later, a consistent trainer of U20 will be much preferred than one who train and quit hattrick few seasons later.
7. Check out the National Team Section of the forum, some volounteer scouts may put up potential trainee there and you can also ask on the prospect there.