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Finally one manager came out, very good:)

To Question 1:
I guess to answer this in total numbers is kind of impossible. Of course there is a trend that older players loose more skills than younger players. From my experience it is possible that a 33y old player came through the season without any declining skill. On the other side, I had player in the club who had a double-drop in the first Training-Update after he went 33y. Related to the NT, it is risky to put player above 34y in the NT. You never know where they drop. And if they drop in a key skill (e.g. ID for a C), his roster spot is lost. Til 34y. i would nominate an outstanding player, which is a keyplayer for the team. If I have younger players close to him i wouldn´t nominate the old one. But again, usually I don´t nominate 34y old players, except he is really outstanding, and i know his history.

To Qustion 2: I start normally with 12 player for one tactic and nominate the following games according to new tactics. To answer your question precisely: I would have 6 spots open.

To Question 3: In Germany and Saudi Arabia I had (and have) an huge file with all possible players older than 22. And I ask the managers to update me it a skill pops. I also write messages to the manager to coordinate the training to see what they want and what is possible in the training. I won´t say you HAVE to train this or that. I give suggestions and if a manager has a question i am eager to help with the development of player. With the manager I try to identify a possible target in skills, how the player should looks like (including the ideas of the managers ideas) and if this is fix I try to figure out how the manager can organize the training to reach the goals on the shortest way. And how to know what player to add. Therefore I scout all possible target players via a nomination to get his skills and put all the skill in a loooong list. And then I contact the managers about the training. And if I don´t get updates, I am not shy to drop a message But usually the cooperation works really good. At least with managers who are interested in training their players into the NT. And so I keep the list updated and I can easily pick from that list. In the season break between the first and the second season I repeat the scouting of all player to see the development - and ... keep the list updated.

Puuuhhhh .. that was more than I want to say, but okay. I hope you are not bored by the long text.

Last edited by Coach MK at 5/27/2016 5:32:09 PM

I think the Answer 3 in my post above can give you an idea how I would run the NT. But of course, there is no guarantee that all players will be trained or clubs survive over the time. Especially in a time, with decreasing user numbers.

Not too long at all. As BB-Ryan pointed out, taking the time to write it shows effort. And I'm not going to ask a question I'm not going to bother reading.

In response to your answer for question 3, as a foreign manager, you don't have such a file. How will you make one starting from scratch? How will you ask managers for pop updates if you don't know what managers to ask?

Your answers for questions 1 and 2 were what I was looking for. Thanks!

edit: if you didn't know, I'm Canada U21 coach, so I have an high interest in this election to find someone a) I can communicate with about the trainee pipeline, and b) that will take this NT manager position seriously

Last edited by U21 CAN Cletus at 5/27/2016 5:51:16 PM

Yes I have to beginn from scratch. But to make it "easier" for me. It exists a tool named NT Scout, there you can search after players form a specific nationality and with specific Potentials. This is a really useful tool an shorten the way for all Managers using this. And with the players name and numbers and links in BB I will nominate them, write done the skills, age and potential and throw them out again. in this way my lis ist growing and growing. If i have scouted all players i decide about the final nominations. This will be time consuming, because this is just in the first two week possible , before the enthusiasm gets it´s final reset before the season really starts.

Answer this your question ? If not completely, just ask more

Thank you, yes, that is also what I was looking for.

Well we all have lives, writing speeches is not a priority, it's just saying things that seem reasonable and logical for the position (hence why everybody say the same things).
I didn't write a speech at first because for a very long time I was the only one running, and when Coach signed up I was busy shaping my team for the next season, figuring out the priorities, what I would change, what strategies I would use, what players I would use, what I was looking for in new ones, how I would make it work economically... well basically doing all the data gathering and analysis probably a lot of us do to play this game.

Last edited by Fwinns at 5/27/2016 8:42:49 PM

Alright now Cletus' questions:

1) Canada is a small country, we can't succeed without our old players. From my personal experience at 33 with a career extension, 2-3 drops in the most prominent skills is not uncommon (often a double drop), sometimes 1-2 drop in secondary skills. 34yo maybe 5-6, but it can go down very quick, and so on. I also noticed that skills with really high ratings tend to drop faster, like an "inverse" elastic effect.
So yes it's risky to put 34yo+ players on the team, but when there's no other player like him sometimes it's a necessity. They can also be important in crucial moments (high experience + FT for example)

2) Depends on the number of old players. no 32yo+ -> I would probably call 12 players. with older players I would probably call one or 2 less, in order to save a few spots for younger players. First games are against weaker teams, it helps

3) Gathering was done 2 seasons ago, so we already have all the 27+ yo players. All these players need updating of course, but I still have the Excel chart I made for bb-canada. The younger players, I would need your scouting list from 3-4 seasons back ;)

Last edited by Fwinns at 5/27/2016 8:10:11 PM

Haha, which I have. Thanks for your answers.

A question for all those running, what would your recommendation be on what to turn a player like this into for the NT?

Age: 19
Height: 6'8" / 203 cm
Potential: MVP

Jump Shot: mediocre Jump Range: strong
Outside Def.: strong Handling: average
Driving: mediocre Passing: mediocre
Inside Shot: average Inside Def.: respectable
Rebounding: inept Shot Blocking: awful
Stamina: mediocre Free Throw: mediocre

Experience: atrocious TSP: 57 (37 + 20)

He's tall so he would probably be better as a big, but inept in rebounding and awful in blocking are quite low...
I would say guard training for the first 2 seasons (Pa/Ha/Dr/JS), then switch to inside training, ID at first then Rb/IS/Sb with emphasis on rebounding (like 3 weeks Rb / 2 weeks IS / 1 week SB). In the end he should be a good PF/Inside SF depending on how fast he gains outside skills, but it will take time. With that kind of plan he won't make it to U21 for sure, but could make it to the NT when he reaches 29-30yo (sooner or later depending on the other players).

PS: training outside skills first to take advantage of the youth training speed, then inside to take advantage of his height favoring inside skills training. Keeping Rebounding low at first also helps with the elastic effect, I wouldn't be surprised if he had 1/2 pops in Rb while training outside skills.

PS2: also switch to FT/Stamina from time to time (weird weeks without 48min) when he reaches 25-26yo could also help, it helps quite a bit in close games!

Last edited by Fwinns at 5/28/2016 11:58:24 AM