Looking at my schedule, I may be missing the playoffs. I won't be getting 12 wins like last season. I'm thinking I can squeeze 9 wins out of that list. I've never beaten Phoenix or Tromso in non friendlies, and the Mascots have beaten me the last couple season, and I play those team 4 times times total this season. Alphaville, Ravens and Electric have caused me problems in the past as well. Then the Ducks and Misfits among others could give me tough games too.

Expect to make another supercup playoff run, I just don't want to play the Mascots or Tromso, I can accept most other matchups, even an ASU Ducks rematch would be nice.

Another brutal schedule for me Mascot, Tromso, NC East and a return to my old friend MTS as well.

MTS Predictions for Season 10

After my relatively successful predictions for Season 9, i thought it only fair i repeat it for Season 10 so some teams can see who is in store for a good season - and who not so good.

Will be a more abridged version of my predictions this time around though.

AC CONFERENCE

Divisional Summaries

AC EAST - Winner - Sinna Ladd Tromso

Dont see anyone threatening to knock TombKing off his lofty perch, though i will be surprised if Bengals Udine are as poor again this season as they were last season.

AC NORTH - Winner - High Fives

Close one to call this with three viable prospects - but Stigi is due another good season after a few dormant ones - the Hippogriffs and Sharks will remain fierce competition, but i think the Fives will just prevail.

AC SOUTH - Winner - Derbyshire Electric

Im tipping myself to wrestle the title back from the Jacks - though i fear the record may not one to write home about. If i can return to anything like the form of S8 then i should prevail, despite a naughty schedule - but it could be PD alone that splits the Jacks and myself. Les Blues could well be propping up the division again from an improving Phalanx.

AC WEST - Winner - Free Agent Mascots

A tough Division this but you cant see much past the Mascots to take the Division - the Mad Dogs and Ducks will have a big say in the playoff race, but i think WC berths only available for them, as only 1 or 2 teams in the Admirals League seem to have the Mascots number.

WILDCARD BERTHS

Morgantown Mad Dogs and Constanta Ravens

Hard to call these as several teams will make it a close run thing - but i think the class of the Mad Dogs and the fact the Ravens should put 10/11 wins together tips it in their balance, with all due respect to the Jacks, Ducks, Sharks and Hippogriffs.

NC CONFERENCE

Divisional Summary

NC EAST - Winner - Lucentum Dragons

Perm any one from the 4 here in reality - but Monkey seems to be lackadaisical in his approach, the Donkeys have lost some of their sparkle, whilst the Miners seem to blow hot and cold. So i plump for the Dragons in the hardest Division RZA has to offer.

NC NORTH - Winner - WV Bobcats

At a canter - could well have this Division sewn up by week 10. That is all.

NC SOUTH - Winner - Full Floters

Spuddy again will chase Strepitoso hard but will likely fall a game or two short - Kinaportalen could be a dark horse here - they seem to have vastly improved from a few season ago during their last stint in 1.1

NC WEST - Winner - Phoenix Firebirds

Again a real no brainer - the Firebirds seem to be very hot at the moment and are my idea of preseason favourites to prevail in Season 10 overall. The rest will settle for survival in 1.1 and to be as competitive as possible.

WILDCARD BERTHS

Canopi Miners and Spuds Spartans

Hard to see any other team bar the Spartans and the NC East teams contesting the Playoff race, though a few could survive quite easily and raise a few eyebrows along the way. The Spartans should win enough to pick up another playoff spot whilst the Miners will likely win enough Divisional games to also make the postseason.

SEASON 10 BOWL GAME

Phoenix Firebirds v Free Agent Mascots

Sanco has to break through eventually and i think this should be his season to represent the AC in the Bowl game - he of course will need to get past Tromso at some point, likely the Conference Champs game, and there will be other sides that make his journey a rocky one, but i think the Mascots are primed to finally get to the big dance.

Ranagol on the other hand seems to have found the spark again for his Firebirds and looks destined to reach another Bowl game. The Bobcats seem to maybe be having a transitional year as Mr Scott maybe needs to u p d a t e his roster and - hopefully - his tactics - whilst the other teams in the Playoffs look good, but vulnerable for differing reasons. So i see the Firebirds flying into the Bowl game - not with any ease - but in a quite dominating fashion.

At the Bowl game, though many will be cheering the Mascots on to become yet another name inscribed on the Admirals Bowl, i fear the Firebirds will just have too many answers for the questions that the Mascots pose - and take the Firebirds to win 28-24.

Great post, MTS.

My personnal goal is survival. I expect to struggle more than last season, but if i feel safe early, i think ill do some housecleaning (time to let younger guys play).

Bobcat statement. These next 3 season are likely my prime before the rebuilding process would truly need to start over . If I fall to reach my unsaid win loss mark. I'll start the rebuilding process early if my fear hold true it be much easier and quicker to start selling player and getting rid of some of the coaching staff. With that said good luck to all.

P.S. although I may throw some other formations once in while. I will not go away form using the shotgun as my primary formation in the near future as that what this roster was build for.

are you not concerned then about the in game 'penalties' for repeat use of the same formation in the new engine?

From what I have heard from Pete I don't think that these in game penalties will be harsh enough to prevent most of the teams in the conference losing to the Bobcats. However, in those tight situations where you need a bit of luck that may be the difference between winning and losing. In fact looking at his schedule I can only see Raiders, Sinna Ladd Tromso and Full Floters looking like remotely beating them.

From my divisional point of view it appears that I will be 1 probably 2 games down on my rivals before our schedules allign (Division, AC South and NC East). I think I need to break that curse and finally win at High Fives to get within shouting distance of the divisional title.

I haven't decided yet, what my plans will be for this season.
Before Pete's announcement, I was just going to do enough to keep this team alive, and then see what season 11 brings.
Now, I'm not so sure, what to do.
Stick to the plan?

The window of opportunity is still open for my team before I have to begin the re-building process, so I might just as well try another run at the title.

Decisions, decisions.....

Im not so sure - i played a one formation set on Wednesday in the friendly league against the Misfits, using these as i always do to trial various things - and it was very noticeable to me how in the first half my chosen formation worked very well......then as the game went on im ability to move the ball drastically lessened, and i ended up losing the game.

Now ok, you must take into account :

1) My reserves entering the game over my first teamers (earlier than usual also i must say - as said, i play friendly comps for fun and for trial/error)

2) The Misfits may well have come back and won anyway - but the scoreline irrelevant - it was my inability to move the ball in Qs 3 & 4 when i had been pounding them in 1 & 2

I personally think that the 'tweaks' - whatever inside info Lil Pete Wadders has - will have an effect on the teams that do try a 1 formation set through the game and in those games where its close, it may just prove the difference. Bobcats and Ducks beware!!!!

As for the Divisional chases, i only see 3 being a procession - Tromso, Bobcats and the Firebirds. The rest are very open and competitive - although id be shocked to see the Mascots not win theirs. But the Mad Dogs are very dangerous and the Ducks have to be respected on the back of ever improving seasons.

I hope for a season of great friendly banter - plenty of discussion and teasing - and i REALLY want Admirals to crush the CoC and SuperCup as well....it fricks me off to see such dross gain such success from other Leagues when we have such strength in depth who dont get the recognition we truly deserve because of rank bad luck and shite draws in cup competitions.