Enjoyed as always.

Nice read guys.

A probably very stupid question, but: what the &*(^% is TOG?

The Other Game - a synonym for a different Football sim which did inspire Peter to make this one and which is still running.

That game is way worse than this one here and further development did not happen since 1 year Prior RZA started, as far as I know.

Many TOG Managers did start a Team at RZA once Peter went live with it.

Well I am probably one of those former TOG players. Actually, I am still a TOG player that refused to abandon the game until it really dies...

So, then any innovations, lately?

As Jack6 has posted here i can use it as an excuse to plug his RZA guide
I urge anyone who hasn't read it to have a look, it's an absolutely fantastic resource
Jack's guide

Pretty much the same. But now the running game engine is way much better than the passing game.

The V3 Somehow arrived about 1 year ago IIRC

withdrawal symptoms! lol

Jonny: Drum roll please! Blowing Smoke is back
Our good friend Monster has a lot going on outside the game right now, whispers on the street speak of a hooded Frenchman travelling the world solving supernatural mysteries, but that's all hearsay. In his wake a lion... roars?... rises?... Downs a pint, looks at his computer and thinks "what have I got myself into?!"
Welcome Noodle
Another solid season from those Lions, how're you feeling about your team right now?

Noodle: Thanks for the welcome Jonny. I'm happy to step into Monsters shoes temporarily and hope I can entertain half as well as he does.

Thanks, the Lions have done well, better than I could have hoped being entirely honest. I have been trying to slim down my squad and the wage bill for the past two seasons so being the #1 seed in the AC is a surprise. but very welcome.

Another great season for all of Dragons 1 and while most divisions have had stand out winners, there are definitely a lot of teams in the hunt for the wildcard spots.

Jonny: That's true, going into the last game the AC has three 9-6 teams for two Wildcard spots and the NC has one 9-6 and three 8-7 teams fighting for just one spot! It's great to see France 2018** (they'll always be The Hurricane to me ) back in the hunt as well as some fairly new teams, like Challengers and Sydney Salmons, making some waves.
Who do you see making it to the Wildcard at this point Noodle?

Noodle: When I look at the conference standings in my own AC there is no obvious choice of which of the three will fall at the last hurdle as they all have the same record. British Blu have the best points difference of the three, but are on a 2 game losing streak. Werewolves struggled at the start of the season but have come back solid and have the best TD difference. And France 2018, having a slim margin of both points difference and TD difference, have a winning record at home and on the road, which isn't easy to do and still not book a place in the play offs! So it’s really hard to see who will come out on top, but by a slim margin I’ll back Werewolves due to them playing against Quack Attack who are on a four game losing streak going into week 17.

What about you Jonny? Does any one team stand out for you? Do you foresee any upsets on the last day of the season?

Jonny: My head says Werewolves for the playoffs, they've been to Elite, know what it takes and in theory have an easier last game (especially taking the SC games two days before into account)… But my heart says go Blu! Tough SC game and will have need to win their last league game by either the same amount or more (give or take 3 points) than Werewolves, but it’s British Blu for me, gotta love an underdog!

Stand out team for me is the Salmons, first season in D1, very low costs on wages and coaches, a 21 year old QB throwing over 10000 yards in all competitions, what's not to love?! I'll admit I’m not going for them to make it to the playoffs on the last day though, only because their record came from a strong start to the season and the losses have racked up a bit more after the half way point.
Seahawks appear to be the safe bet, but they look tired so my money’s on the Saints, for some reason I always seem to pick them at some point in the season!

What do you make of the NC? That's one dog fight for that last wildcard spot!

Noodle: Yes! Four teams all fighting for the last wildcard spot which, if possible, makes it even closer than the AC battle.

On face value it’s the Seahawks or the Saints for me, but you make a valid point about how tired the Seahawks look. I was going to talk about how the Seahawks wonderfully named Cyril Spann will lead them to the wildcard round, but he will need his O-Line to keep up with him, which now I don't think they can. So onto the Challengers. I think they fall just short. They have to beat the NC South champions, Lonestar Armadillos, and then hope that MH City Seahawks lose at home to their NC West rivals Fighters de Paris. For me this is too much for them to achieve.

So who do I think will actually do it? Your pick Sydney Salmons or my former Dragons 2 rivals Trnava Saints. The Salmons, first season in Dragons 1, a good young QB but, and this is a big but for me, the Southshore Shocks have already comprehensively beaten the Salmons this season, which included two pick 6's! The Salmons seems prone to throwing interceptions.

Jonny: True, an aerial, spread attack can be devastating, and they’re playing it really well, but comes with that high risk of game changing picks!

Noodle: So that leaves my old Dragons 3 rivals, the Saints. These are my pick for the play offs as I do think my pals over at the Seahawks are too tired to pull this off. The Saints are playing an under-performing outfit in my opinion in the PIT Steelers who will fold against the Saints on the last day. The Saints have already beaten the Steelers this season and the Steelers have won only two of their last nine!

So my picks to make the playoffs are Werewolves and of course there are two spots, so British Blu will get the second spot in the AC.

Jonny: Good point, I didn't need to pick between the two of them

Noodle: And in the NC, with four teams all fighting to snatch the last wildcard spot, Trnava Saints will come out on top.

Jonny: Sounds good to me
So to end your first 'Smoke Noodle, give us a sign off

Noodle: Thanks Jonny, and thanks to the readers too. This ran more smoothly than I imagined.

So let us know what you think and we will see you again after Saturdays week 17 games.