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I was looking at the cup today checking out my next opponant and getting ready to set lineups and it started me thinking. Why even bother with the cup? I played the first 4 weeks getting a minor sum of I believe $20g? That barely covers one of my staff. Luckily, Im making enough in my league games to cover my expenses and so it got me to thinking. Whats the point of staying in the cup other than the eventual bragging rights? Of course to do that I would have to probably plow my way through 3-4 NBBA teams, and a multitude of other Lvl II and III teams as well. Making my odds, slim to getting to that ability to brag.

Now for the most part I have faced some bots and a couple lvl 4s that I could throw back ups in and pull out a win against. I had one tough match with a lvl 2 team but when all was said and done, I think he was more concerned about securing a possible advancement to the NBBA and he had some tough league opponants coming up. So I was a bad luck draw for him.

When it comes down to it, sometimes I have to sacrifice game shape to be able to throw starters in and still win league games as well as cup games, and it got me to wondering, with the pay out currently as small as it is, wouldnt it be more worth it to focus on training backups and backups of backups in case I either get an injury, or to possibly sell off a player at the end of the year. I havent attempted to sell many players with the new economy, but if I could train up a player to stats that would get me to a selling point of say $500-$750k wouldnt that make that ability train that player, a better investment than going halfway into the cup tourney?

I dont have any hard numbers this was just thinking to myself at work on lunch. But if I was able to pick up a decent player in the draft, young, good potential and gets training pops fast; I could possibly get more money out of trianing him by bowing out of the cup early than participating in the cup under its current financial scheme.

Basically, if the leagues are generall balanced within themselves, as in league II-3 all contains teams that can play at that position, then those teams should generally have to start, starters in their league games. Meaning the cup rewards who has the best bench? I would assume that would be NBBA teams? Wouldnt they be the ones with the better players on the bench therefore expected to make it the furthest?

I guess, shouldnt the risks of injury during a cup match, loss of game shape from playing starters too much etc shouldnt that be rewarded in the payoff from the match itself? Why the change from half of the home teams gate sales. I remember if I played a very good team at their place I at least had the consoloation of a decent take instead of this here you go heres 1/6th of your weekly salaries.

Just a thought feel free to blast me if you see fit

The way I see it, the only benefit to playing in the cup this year was the ability to TIE in an extra match. I agree with you 100%.

Don't know about you, but I will take my extra 100k for the 5 rounds and the fortunate draw I have had this year so far. Historically, I have had crappy draws and a lot of road games so the fact that other teams make as much as I do keeps the competitive balance in play - in my opinion

Wait until you have to prepare for every game. Then you will see a whole different game and in some cases ignore the spare change hoping your other teams get the crappy cup draw.

Mmmm Im looking at it like this: you get paid for a scrimmage and later in the season you get to decide how important advancing is for you. Teams with no real shot will bow out, getting one last enthusiasm boost before scheduling regular scrimmages for their training minutes. Should there be more of an economic benefit for the cup? Not when you get to paste D IV teams and bots.

Your players are your most important currency in the game, regardless of the amount of cash floating around their ability to kick butt on the court dictates how far you go in any endeavor in the world of BB. With that in mind Id say definetly make the main focus getting training minutes to your target players.

Because of my rosters set up I only get one legitimate game outside of my PL matches that has my "optimal" lineup. I throw in a patchwork team the rest of the week to ensure that all the guys I want to get pops have a chance to and hope for the best. Obviously when you get to tougher cup opponents your going to have to make a choice.

Last season I had a choice to try and beat a team for promotion that I knew I couldnt catch talent wise by playoff time or catch a team off guard with a crunch time that I couldnt beat otherwise in hopes of possibly making the finals. My next opponent after CTing was KDB. SS, this is reality, prepare to meet it lol.

I thought you were sick.

Sure am and feel like crap but as you know up here in Washington we have a ton of nothing going on so I couldn't possibly leave. =(

Last edited by cruzanm423 at 9/22/2008 5:56:32 PM

I agree the money isn't worth it when it kills your game shape and training. But the bigger inconsistency is the randomness of the draw, that's just ridiculous. Some guys in my league have played mostly all bots at home, others (like myself) play NBBA teams in the first few rounds. Makes zero sense to base such a big component of the game on dumb luck.

If you think have a shot at promotion or will be in a fight to avoid relegation, always advise to focus on league games. Lots of managers come over from HT. BB is different in that there's much more reward for promoting/avoiding relegation (yes, even with the economy changes this season).

In your case, 3 games up in the league, you might be able to afford a loss in going for a cup win. But, still want to maintain as high enthusiasm as possible for the playoffs. A CT now could effect your enthusiasm even half a season away unless you can afford to TIE at least one league game a week.

If you think have a shot at promotion or will be in a fight to avoid relegation, always advise to focus on league games. Lots of managers come over from HT. BB is different in that there's much more reward for promoting/avoiding relegation (yes, even with the economy changes this season).

In your case, 3 games up in the league, you might be able to afford a loss in going for a cup win. But, still want to maintain as high enthusiasm as possible for the playoffs. A CT now could effect your enthusiasm even half a season away unless you can afford to TIE at least one league game a week.

I think it's far more important to focus on tournament games. In fact, I would advise you to play your backups in your remaining league game this week to avoid the humiliation of being an NBBA team losing to a IV team in the tournament.

:)

But if you look at about half the responses here...money is a relevant factor. I guess the way I see it, I may get lucky as in bobos case and draw a bunch of lvl 4 teams and MAYBE get one weeks worth of salary paid for at the cost of game shape, possible injuries...or I can scrimmage the scrubs (ie draftee) which saves my starters game shape, if one of them gets injured...so what and I get training pops on them and at the end of the year sell one off for a decent profit. I guess I dont see how the tournament is really beneficial to a manager unless they get lucky draws and pull nothing but lvl V bots for the first 5 rounds which most would treat like a scrimmage game anyways? Im sure NBBA players have no problem with their backups taking on lvl 4 and 3 teams the same way however....