Debate: Forwards vs Backs

If the forwards' team doesn't have a kicker with a kick rating of at least 9 will the ME see that team kick much regardless of where the slider is set? Bar in the 22.

Forwards team should probably kick even if the highest kicker is only level 6, just keep it low at like 10% always to touch.

Perhaps;
40% PnG
40% Driving
10% Expansive
10% Creative

Something like that maybe?

For me the best way to test this would be to play a team with great forwards and average backs against a team with average forwards and great backs. I think that would give a more accurate picture of who has most influence on a game. (and I wanted to see how my new profile pic looked )

As far as I'm aware the ME doesn't change for junior games, and there are definitely youth teams that don't have a reputable kicker, and they do ok.

Beard.... Picture looks awesome

Ok I've submitted a team. These are the players, by position, with their shirt no. following.

1 Lee Dempsey 3
2 Jason Clack 17 (2)
3 Russ Albert 18 (3)
4 Clarence Wellman 4
5 Vinson Peppercorn 20 (5)
6 Chester Springall 23 (8 )
7 Cameron Cutting 2
8 Gill Tunnah 19 (4)

9 Jon Parman 7
10 Dannon Snider 8
11 Derrick Smale 1
12 Brenton Grundy 22 (7)
13 Dom Bliss 6
14 Dusty Brock 16 (1)
15 Eddie Orpett 5

Yay fer props on the wing.
Not a man under 100 kgs in the starting lineup.

Snider's kicking (he has 4) 10% of the time but I'm letting him try the up and unders too tho only 20% of the time

I've set the tactics as 50/50 PicknGo/Driving just to show Harmsy that you can win that way, unfortunately looking at the team comparison on http://brmanager.go1.cc I've got 10k more average CSR so this won't really be a fair test, should be fun tho.

Oh and you can't set energy on thursdays and coz we're forwards I've set Aggressive, I don't think it'd make much odds what I said the lads have been talking about marmelising those wussy backs all week

http://www.blackoutrugby.com/game/tools.live.scoring.php#fixture=7588226

Is the match for those who want to watch it.

No point in By The Book, with 4 kicking you couldnt make much use of the penalties anyway haha

Looking forward to watching this guys cheers for setting it up, go forwards!!

Well I think that comprehensively sanswered all our questions!

I did try to run it around the park a bit and I have to be honest, I'm pretty surprised at how well my winger did at hooker!!

The result went as a lot of us expected, regardless of the slight CSR advantage - in a strange way I'm pretty happy that the forwards won!

Cheers Mmm for giving it a go!

It's not over yet!

Next week, my backs, your forwards, you host the game.

Then we need to try the same as this week with you hosting and then my backs, your forwards at mine.

After that we could try my backs v your backs and my forwards v your forwards

Up for it?

I'd like to see mmm's backs vs Kearns forwards

I like it, definately up for it!

I'll get the invite issued!

Ok I got my backs team all ready to go, for what it's worth I went

50/50 Expansive/Creative

Man on man

25% kicking, 100% Up'n'Under

By the Book (NB energy is normal as it's Thurs)

http://www.blackoutrugby.com/game/tools.live.scoring.php#fixture=7589246

Is the link for people wanting to follow it

I don't see how 50/50 expansive and creative can work but will see lol

Forwards are all set to go, although I have only got 14 of them so have put my chunkiest back in at hooker (good hand & tech) so it doesn't upset the backs play too much.

Pick and Go:35%
Driving:35%
Expansive:25%
Creative:5%

Playing by the book as agreed last time. Kicking 10% and 80% to touch - just want to maul/ruck it up the pitch!

Well the final score was 27-29 so the backs won but only by 2 points.

From this I think we can conclude 2 things.

1. My team is better than Mr. Kearns :p
2. A team full of forwards is a better prospect for winning a game than a team full of backs for low level teams where average CSR is ~30k

I'd not like to say if this remains to be true with higher CSR players. It's quite possible that at higher CSRs the situation is very different.

I'm still up for carrying on our experiments.

Next week we could either go for my forwards/your backs at yours, so you have the home advantage, or me could have a go at forwards v forwards or backs v backs.

What do you think?

From the two games, I would say it looks to be more beneficial to concentrate on the forwards of your team and perhaps a forwards game as opposed to a backs but then there are so many other contributing factors.

Mmm I think you might be right on those points, although it at least shows how much closer it was when we switched it around!

More than happy to keep playing around on Thursdays but not sure how much more info we'll get with our 2 teams due to the difference in av CSR.

Well, I'm enjoying playing on thurs and who knows what more data may reveal.

So, this week, my forwards, your backs at yours and we can see what difference home advantage makes.

I await your challenge.

Sorry to the Fez and James who have both challenged me this week. I intend to play you both on Monday, in 2 and 3 weeks time as this Mon is already booked. If that suits.

Ok my team's ready, pretty much the same one as last time I played all forward's tho Brighton is fit this week, and there's been a few pops so a few player's have switched positions.

Same tactics as last time tho.

Well, that's a turn up.

50-31 to the backs when they play at home.

I think what this shows is that the ME is horribly biased to a home advantage that probably doesn't exist in reality.

http://watfordthrowin.blogspot.com/2010/08/myth-of-home-advantage.html
http://www.itwire.com/science-news/health/17212-study-shows-home-advantage-a-myth-for-soccer

So next, my backs v your forwards, at mine.

I'll send you a challenge

Gotta bear in mind there's a ton of variables - Weather, Tactical changes, and of course, the Almighty RNG!

I'm going to have to confess here guys... I couldn't get to my computer yesterday and didn't manage to change it from my default team!

Sorry....

On a plues note, at least it gives us some idea about the importance of balance in a squad, or am I just clutching at straws........

Never mind the Almighty RNG... the ever present Human Error rains supreme!

Aha, well that's kinda good to know.

I've challenged you for next week so we should probably play my backs v your forwards so my backs have home advantage. Or you could reject my challenge and then return it so we're playing at yours and we can repeat today's match.

Oh and nae bother (as the Scots would say) about having a life and failing to set the team.