I would have said Option D, just to find something to call home after all these transfers, stay a while and build something, but it does sound like the team would appreciate all that incoming money. So I agree with Option B, enough security to have a year to arrive and develop, but short enough to get a raise if he breaks through.
sammyt93 wrote:
Random thought, but any chance we can ask for a Loan back to end the season still playing first team football where we are?
Never hurts to ask.
This is a community driven story, so any and all suggestions are always welcomed. I might not reply to the comments a lot, but know I'm obviously reading them and taking everything into consideration when I'm writing the updates.
With COVID-19 slowly down my IRL work schedule, I'm trying to keep my creative juices flowing here with more frequent updates.
New team, new colors, new season. Alex Vogel is having an easier time making friends with everybody than I am. It's hard when you are missing team practices because you are off playing football. The coaches are understanding, but it's hard to build any rapport when you aren't around all the time. I'm a busy guy.
Race Day #1-4 at Sharjah Tour
January 24-27, 2022
Last season was Oceania, this season we start in the Middle East.
Stage 1:
Spoiler
Summary: Bright, sunny, warm day to kickoff the new season for a handful of squads. No better way to get the show on the road and get those team photos out of the way early with a Stage 1 team time trial.
The heavy hitting Pro Tour teams sweep the podium with Team Katusha Alpecin beating the hosts UAE Team Emirates and The Guardian.
Result: 50th, Team 8th - I pulled our team across the line. We finished tied 8th, down 45 seconds to Katusha. Right about where we expected.
1
Team Katusha Alpecin
19'55
2
UAE Team Emirates
+ 18
3
The Guardian
+ 26
4
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
5
WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic
+ 37
Stage 2:
Spoiler
Summary: Welcome to the desert. After playing in the hills for a short while and catching the morning breakaway, it's time for the sprint trains.
Sovac-Natura4Ever is setting up for Dusan Rajovic down the middle of the road. Fighting for space in blue and purple to their right is SEG Racing Academy with Marcus Diamond leading the charge with Dennis Van Winden and Lucy van der Haar waiting in the wings. There are a few Amazon sprinters scattered at the front as well.
It's Sovac-Natura4Ever and SEG going head-to-head. No separation between them. Who pulls off first? Daniel Oss or Marcus Diamond?
Both peeled off about the same time, but the SEG train has about a bike lengths lead over the Sovac crew.
Lucy van der Haar is going to find herself in a prime position here to be the first female under the new UCI rules to win a stage.
But, let's not speak too soon. We haven't even passed the banner yet.
What a sprint! Rajovic and van der Haar are waiting... waiting...
Noooo. They waited too long. Other sprinters come shooting up from behind them. Who timed their sprint to perfection?
Oh my. It's Phil Bauhaus coming through for the win. Narrowly beating out... Coryn Rivera. While we were watching van der Haar, Rivera (a second round Entry Draft pick for Amazon) snuck through up the barrier and nearly stole that first win for the females. Wow.
Rajovic rounded out the podium, ahead of Paolo Simion and van der Haar.
Result: 22nd - Did my part. Too bad Lucy couldn't finish it off. So close.
1
Phil Bauhaus
The Guardian
4h01'09
2
Coryn Rivera
Amazon
s.t.
3
Dusan Rajovic
Sovac - Natura4Ever
s.t.
4
Paolo Simion
UAE Team Emirates
s.t.
5
Lucy van der Haar
SEG Racing Academy
s.t.
Stage 3:
Spoiler
Summary: Hard day on a tricky hilly circuit was always going to give the morning breakaway a chance. They capitalized with eight cyclists surviving to the end. The first four got a 14-second gap to the other four. The depleted peloton arrived 56 seconds later.
Result: 23rd, 16th GC - I wasn't feeling too good today so I mostly looked after Lucy van der Haar, who has been in excellent form to start the season. Despite not being the best climber, Lucy finished in the peloton. I slipped off the back on the climb to the finish and sadly lost an extra minute. Easily could have been more.
But, it's not always about me. I'm trying to be a better teammate.
Summary: The breakaway nearly stays away again, but the peloton goes flying back with 2.3kms to go. No time to set up organized sprint trains. It's a free for all.
Dusan Rajovic leads everyone under the banner. Then, fades hard.
Paolo Simion picks up the pieces. His first win of the season.
Result: 23rd, 16th GC - For having bad form and not feeling 100%, I'll happily leave here with a 16th overall and second in the youth standings. Helping Lucy van de Haar to 11th overall in her first race with the team was a plus as well.
- Each member gets 3.0 points to spread however they like over the 13 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 55.0.
- Stats are bumped up in PCM when they hit that number, ex. 55.9 = 55 in-game, and 61.4 = 61 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 85. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery.
- Comment below to provide stat upgrades
Stat Lock: Marcus Diamond went all-in training on the cobblestones over the offseason. It's going to cost him the long-term growth of another attribute. Any stat (not counting cobblestones) that doesn't receive at least four upgrade points is in danger of being locked.
Not a bad tour, looking forward to the cobbles now
Stat lock I'm thinking SP, TT and PL can go, they're at a solid enough point but not vital to go any higher when he seems to be headed for classics + punchy climber rather than sprinter or stage racer. Maybe DH and REC are lower priority too. Would say fighter but Mre said he uses that in his 3D racing strategy right? So would like to keep that. Interested to hear what others think.
+2 MO
+2 RES
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Seeing as it looks like Marcus is becoming a good classics rider, I feel like Stamina, Resistance, Hills and Acceleration might be the ones to try and focus on avoiding getting locked, maybe baroudeur as well to try and make him the aggressor when it comes to making those final selections.
Therefore I'm going
+3 Stamina to try and protect that one to make sure he can keep improving it to still be strong at the end of the long classics he will be hoping for entry to either this year or in the coming ones.
"Do we have a deal?" I looked at the paper one last time before signing, "Yes sir."
"Great. Can't wait to introduce you to the rest of the team in July. Finish out the season strong and good luck at the World Cup. We will be watching."
And that was that. In a matter of hours, I had found my next home: Feyenoord.
The richest club in the Netherlands (17th in the world) scooped me up for 950,000 pounds and sent Helmond Sport 24-year-old Dutch midfielder Mo el Hankouri.
I was also granted a loan back to Helmond Sport to finish the rest of the season.
I finalized a two-year extension with Feyenoord that ends June 30, 2024. I'll be making 28,000 through the duration of the five-month loan. Then, when I get to Feyenoord, I'll make 30,900 with a 1,800 appearance fee and 1,050 goal bonus.
Plus, there is a five percent yearly salary raise. I know, I hit the jackpot. I don't know what I'm going to do with all this money. On second thought, a new car might be nice. But, yeah, there was no way I could turn down such an offer.
But, I can't get complacent. I still have a job to do here at Helmond Sport.
Match Day #27 vs. FC Eindhoven (11-9-6)
February 4, 2022
In the hunt to win the Third Period with two new faces in the squad.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 2, FC Eindhoven 1
Summary: Just when FC Eindhoven thought they were doing enough to keep Helmond Sport at bay, the home team final broke through for two goals in the 62nd and 78th minute to secure a more than deserved win.
Helmond Sport outshot Eindhoeven 23-5 (5-4 on target) and held 54% possession. The fact it took them until the second half to score was more than surprising.
The debut for Mo el Hankouri on the wing was underwhelming with a 6.8 rating before being subbed off with a minor cramp. New Helmond Sport signing Huseyin Dogan from FC Oss (97,000 fee) also made his debut as a defensive midfielder. Helmond Sport with cash to spend now.
Rating: 7.2 - Made five key passes, so that's something.
Player of Game: Giovanni Hiwat, Helmond Sport (8.4)
Match Day #28 vs. NAC (16-6-5)
February 11, 2022
Third Period standings: NAC (16pts), Helmond (15) and Telstar (13).
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 3, NAC 3
Summary: An instant classic that Helmond Sport spectators are going to have nightmares over. Marcus Diamond played out of his mind, but NAC rescued a draw with three goals in the final 20 minutes.
Diamond was a part of all three Helmond Sport goals.
No. 1 (30th minute): From the center of the pitch, Diamond picks up Giovanni Hiwat cutting in from the wing to get behind NAC's backline. A perfect through ball.
No. 2 (38th minute): A cross in from Hiwat glances off the head of Jordy Thomassen and finds Diamond all alone the box. Easy finish.
No. 3 (77th minute): Diamond whips in a perfect free kick from 30 yards out that Dylan de Braal laces with one-time finish.
That gave Helmond Sport a convincing 3-1 lead, but a horrendous turnover trying to clear the ball and a last-ditch NAC counter attack after an incredible point-blank save from goalie Bledar Hajdini tied the game.
Still, a draw isn't the end of the world. Helmond Sport could still win the Third Period next week on the final game of the period. They would need some help. The standings: NAC (17pts), Helmond (16) and Telstar (16).
Winner of the Third Period secures a spot in the playoffs.
Rating: 9.0 - Big performance. Tough draw.
Player of Game: Marcus Diamond, Helmond Sport (9.0)
Match Day #29 at Jong PSV (11-11-6)
February 18, 2022
Debut for 20-year-old striker Tyro Nimmermeer, signed on a free.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 1, Jong PSV 1
Summary: Helmond Sport got caught scoreboard watching instead of playing its own game. While NAC went down to 10 men in the 8th minute, Helmond Sport went down a goal in 13th minute. That's how the situation remained going into halftime time.
Telstar took itself out of the running by giving up a game-winning goal to Almere City in the 71st minute. Telstar lost 1-0.
Then, Jong Utrecht finally took a 1-0 lead on the short-handed NAC in the 83rd minute. Next, Helmond Sport was gifted an own goal so bad that officials started to question if Jong PSV was trying to fix the match.
In the end, it didn't matter. NAC scored in the 88th minute to pull out a draw and Helmond Sport didn't score again. NAC takes the playoff spot by a single point.
Rating: 6.4 - Nobody on the team rated higher than a 6.8. Poor showing. We didn't deserve a tie or that playoff spot.
Player of Game: Ferdi Kadioglu, Jong PSV (7.2)
Match Day #30 vs. Jong AZ (8-13-8)
February 25, 2022
Prospects for AZ not doing so well. Luckily they can't get relegated.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 1, Jong AZ 0
Summary: Marcus Diamond with eyes on the side of his head finds Mo el Hankouri for his first goal with his new club. It's a big one, a game winner.
Helmond Sport saw Huseyin Dogen red carded off three minutes later due to a poor challenge, but didn't give Jong AZ a shot on target in the match.
Rating: 6.8 - Not sure how I got the ball to Hankouri for that goal. Sometimes it pays to be a little lucky.
Player of Game: Urvin Regales, Jong AZ (7.8)
League Standings (30/38 Games Played)
Five points clear with eight games left in the fight to earn a spot in the promotion playoffs. Although everything can change in hurry given whoever wins the Fourth Period. We are off to a good start by getting a win.
Calendar
Club
I'll miss the Telstar game to play international games with Nigeria.
International
Previously scheduled friendlies against Zimbabwe and Kenya have been replaced with African Nations Cup qualification games. We got an easy group with nobody ranked inside the top 100 in the world rankings.
Evaluation
Training Ground *Community Growth Development*
Spoiler
- Each member gets 5.0 points to spread however they like over the 36 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 1.0.
- Stats are bumped up in FM when they hit that number, ex. 2.9 = 2 in-game, and 13.4 = 13 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 20. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery and is different from the cycling progression scale.
-Locked stats can't be upgraded.
-Comment below to provide stat upgrades.
Stat Lock (Resolved): Stamina has been locked. Sorry jaxika, once another update is posted for the other sport, no more updates will be accepted for that sport.
Stat Lock Lifted: With a 9.0 rating against NAC, whatever stat receives the most votes will be lifted. Also, by performing in a big match, Diamond's hidden attribute for Important Games has increased.
Wow, great month and awesome to sign a great Feyenoord contract (and starting off after it by beating a team from Eindhoven, they must like that ), as Marcus said he hit the jackpot
Really cool to see the team on the rise and fighting for the playoffs
+2 First Touch
+2 Technique
+1 Natural Fitness
Re-unlock Anticipation
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Nice to see he has had an upturn in performance after getting the move, the new contract and the loan back.
Hopefully he can continue the form and put in key performances to help Helmond Sport promote before moving on and maybe do enough to get on the Feyenoord first team radar for when he joins up with them in the summer, even if it means getting plenty of time off the bench instead of going into the reserves or having to impress in training to get his chance.
The cobbles season has arrived. I think have the skill set to challenge for some wins and give some my ageing idols, like Ian Stannard and Peter Sagan, a run for their money. Races aren't decided on paper, however, they're decided on the road.
Race Day #5 at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
February 24, 2022
First major classics race in my young career.
Spoiler
Summary: It's a perfect day. No excuses can be made about the sunny weather. The peloton has a pretty easy day and scoops up the six rider morning breakaway with 25kms to go. How have the favourites saved their energy for the finish?
An outside favourite, Marcus Diamond, is going for it with 17kms to go. The 22-year-old two-sport athlete must feel like he has the legs to do something incredible today. Surely the remaining 22 riders in the peloton aren't going to let this fly.
Yep, Diamond is put in his place and now the big guns have come out to play. Massive attack from Greg Van Avermaet, followed by Oliver Naesen and Mike Teunissen. Others trying to hang on behind.
Teunissen picked out the winning move and grabs a solo win. His first win of the season and he gets revenge after taking second here last season.
Result: 21st - I know. I already hear it from the team. It was a suicide move. Stupid and reckless. I just got excited. We learn and we grow. But, can you imagine if it actually worked.
1
Mike Teunissen
Team Sunweb
4h50'41
2
Peter Sagan
T-Mobile
+ 10
3
Oliver Naesen
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
4
Sep Vanmarcke
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
5
David Per
Bahrain - Merida
+ 22
Race Day #6 at Le Samyn
February 27, 2022
Only the strong men (and, well, females) will survive this one.
Spoiler
Summary: Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day.
Thank you. The water drops turn off with roughly 125kms to go. A six cyclist breakaway is out front. The peloton doesn't seem worried.
Sorry, we spoke too soon. The rain returns and causes a huge crash. Reports have as many as 45 cyclists have gone down. And yet our cameras missed it. A few cyclists have abandoned the race as well, most notably SEG's Grace Garner. We don't have word on the extent of her injuries, but will update when we do.
We pick up the action with 18kms to go, and oh no! Our cameras caught this one. A massive crash that collects nearly the entire field. It started near the front of the peloton and a domino effect ensued. Surely some favourites are tangled up in this mess, but it's hard to read numbers.
Let's see... Claeys, Van Lerberge, Vliegen, Van Den Broek-Blaak, Diamond, Vantomme and Mobach are the major ones I can pick out.
So, who is left? That would be sprinter Amaury Capiot claiming the win ahead of up-and-coming Canadian sprinter Jim Arghittu. Moreno Hofland rounds out the podium.
Result: 30th - I managed to grab onto the barrier and not hit the pavement when everybody started falling in front of me. Rode my... butt off getting back to the front of the race. I only finished 41 seconds behind the winner but, had I avoided that crash, I believe I could have at least got a Top 5. I was feeling good for a bunch sprint.
That said, it could have been a lot worse. Grace Garner fractured her kneecap and will be sidelined for at least six weeks. The team stopped by the hospital after the race to see her. It really put things into perspective that one day that could be me. She didn't deserve that.
- Each member gets 3.0 points to spread however they like over the 13 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 55.0.
- Stats are bumped up in PCM when they hit that number, ex. 55.9 = 55 in-game, and 61.4 = 61 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 85. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery.
- Comment below to provide stat upgrades
Stat Lock (Resolved): Downhill has been locked.
Hospital Return: After sending a few days in the hospital in Belgium, Grace Garner was cleared to rejoin the team. Alex Vogel and Sabrina Stultiens offered to head down there and drive Garner back up to the Team HQ in the Netherlands. A four-hour round trip.
"Marcus, you want to come? You got nothing better to do," Alex said.
"I was actually planning to get an extra training session in right now..."
"Oh, come on. Let's go for a road trip. Have a little fun will you."
A rough couple of days for Marcus in the classics, but more semi-classics to find some form and confidence going into DDV.
+2 RES
+1 STA
This just feels like a trap either way but I'll go for Option B to continue the lovely theme of bonding with the team we've had so far
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Grace got injured whilst Marcus was leading the team. Going with the girls to pick her up would show he cares and would be a chance to try and show that he takes being a team leader seriously, off the bike as well as on it.
Lots of games this month, so let's get right into the action. No wasting any time.
Match Day #31 at Achilles '29 (3-19-8)
March 4, 2022
Achilles is at the bottom of the table after going 13 games without a win.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 3, Achilles '29 0
Summary: Poor first half from Helmond Sport but they turned it around with three goals in the second half to grab a deserved win.
Rating: 6.7 - Man marked the whole match. They weren't going to let the newest Feyenoord signing beat them.
Player of Game: Furhgill Zeldenrust, Helmond Sport (9.0)
Match Day #32 at Fortuna Sittard (12-12-7)
March 7, 2022
Aykut Bolukbasi is in the hunt for the league's Golden Boot.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 1, Fortuna Sittard 0
Summary: What did we just witness? Mark this one down in the book of football oddities. Helmond Sport wins without recording a shot on target. An own goal off Marcel Appiah gifts Helmond Sport the win. Better be lucky than good?
Fortuna Sittard rested its star striker, Bolukbasi, and it cost them.
Rating: 6.1 - I don't want to talk about it.
Player of Game: Mike van Ooijen, Fortuna Sittard (7.6)
Match Day #33 vs. Go Ahead Eagles (12-10-10)
March 11, 2022
Key mid-table clash with the postseason on the horizon.
Spoiler
Go Ahead Eagles 1, Helmond Sport 0
Summary: Go Ahead Eagles defender Xandro Schenk single-handily shutdown Helmond Sport's attack. Nobody from Helmond Sport finished with a rating above 6.8.
Rating: 6.8 - One of the better players on the team today, but that doesn't mean much when everybody doesn't have a good day.
Player of Game: Xandro Schenk, Go Ahead Eagles (8.2)
Match Day #34 vs. De Graafschap (17-11-5)
March 18, 2022
Graafschap already has a playoff spot secured; looking to win the league.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 1, De Graafschap 1
Summary: A free kick whipped in from Marcus Diamond finds the head of Jason Bourdouxhe three minutes in. From there, Helmond Sport did everything possible to try and hold De Graafschap out. It wasn't enough. Frank Olijve cleaned up a rebound for the equalizer with half an hour left.
Rating: 6.8 - Assist No. 10, tied for third-most in the league with teammate Giovanni Hiwat.
Player of Game: Frank Olijve, De Graafschap (8.1)
African Nations Qualifier at Comoros (107th WR)
March 25, 2022
GS#1: The start of a new campaign.
Spoiler
Nigeria 5, Comoros 2
Summary: Local pundits were already starting to turn on newly appointed Nigeria head coach Jay-Jay Ochoa after a fourth-place finish in the CHAN Tournament. When Comoros scored first, you just know they went looking for their metaphorical pitchforks.
But, spurred on by an own goal by Comoros, Nigeria woke up and did what was expected. Arsenal star Alex Iwobi led the way with a goal and three assists. Oghenekaro Etebo also scored twice and got an assist.
Rating: 6.8 - Kind of just a bystander, and was subbed off in the 73rd minute for Victor Osimhen. Stamina also played a role. Back in the Netherlands, Helmond Sport drew 1-1 against Telstar without me.
Player of Game: Alex Iwobi, Nigeria (9.3)
African Nations Qualifier vs. Mauritania (127th WR)
March 29, 2022
GS#2: A win equals 13 straight qualifying round wins, a new record.
Spoiler
Nigeria 3, Mauritania 2
Summary: Another win, but more scrutiny. Mauritania... yes, Mauritania pushes Nigeria to the brink with two counter-attack goals. Despite having a penalty saved, the Flying Eagles escaped with a 3-2 win behind goals from Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Kingsley Ehizibue.
Rating: 6.4 - Started on the bench, but was subbed in right before halftime because Oghenekaro Etebo, who assists two goals earlier in the game, was struggling with a calf strain. I didn't contribute much.
Player of Game: Ismael Diakite, Mauritania (8.8)
League Standings (35/38 Games Played)
At this point, with three games left, it would take a pretty big collapse to lose our spot in the promotion playoffs. We are also one of six teams separated by three points to win the Fourth Period. So, that's another possible avenue to get in.
African Nations Qualifying Standings (2/6 Games Played)
Calendar
Club
International
Evaluation
Training Ground *Community Growth Development*
Spoiler
- Each member gets 5.0 points to spread however they like over the 36 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 1.0.
- Stats are bumped up in FM when they hit that number, ex. 2.9 = 2 in-game, and 13.4 = 13 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 20. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery and is different from the cycling progression scale.
-Locked stats can't be upgraded.
-Comment below to provide stat upgrades.
Stat Lock Lifted (Resolved): Anticipation has been unlocked.
Stat Lock: Marcus Diamond's best rating this month was a 6.8 (three times). So, as a result, two stat locks are ahead. Any attribute that doesn't receive at least two points is at-risk.
I pulled Grace Garner's crutches out of the trunk of the car.
"Hurry up Marcus, stop making us wait so long. We are all hungry," Alex joked while helping lift Grace out of the car. We decided to take a lunch break at some local Italian place near the halfway mark of making it back to the Netherlands.
I handed Grace the crutches. "Took you long enough," she said with a smirk.
We sat down and had dinner. Everything was going well, at least I thought.
[img-r]https://i.imgur.com/yNkFuov.jpg[/img-r]Sabrina and, well, mostly Grace spent the evening asking me questions about my life and how I manage the football side of things. My life story is pretty long-winded, so I had plenty to talk about. And the food was good.
Then, it came time to leave.
"I'm going to use the restroom, I'll meet you guys at the car," Grace said.
As Alex, Sabrina and I walked outside of the restaurant, I was unexpectedly ambushed.
"Sabrina, I think we should just tell him, he is obviously clueless," Alex said.
"Tell me what?" I replied.
They both laughed. Sabrina leaned in and half whispered.
"Tip No. 1, shut up. You talk way too much," she said.
Alex continued: "Tip No. 2, get her to talk about herself."
"What are you guys talking about," I said before the light bulb finally went off. "Wait, are you two talking about Grace?"
They both laughed, again.
"I swear you wouldn't know if a car was hitting on you, unless it actually hit it," Alex said. "She has literally been giving you the eyes and trying to flirt with you this entire trip. To be honest, it's kind of cute and kind of uncomfortable for me."
"No, I'm not buying that," I said. "You guys are just messing with me."
Sabrina chimed in: "OK, sure. You don't think it's weird that she asked us to ask you to come on this trip... Alex, seriously, how did this kid ever manage to hang out with Alycia Debnam-Carey?"
"Well, he didn't initiate much," Alex said. "Alycia did most of the work."
"Hey..." was the only comeback I could muster up.
Before the pair could belittle me anymore, Grace came out of the restaurant and joined us at the car. I took her crutches, put them back in the trunk and we settled in for the rest of the trip. But, now, all I could think about was Grace.
Surely she was just being friendly. Hold on, did she just sneak a glance at me?
After much thought, I decided to break the first awkward silence.
"So, Grace, what was it like growing up in Leicester?"
Race Day #7 at Ronde van Drenthe
March 10, 2022
From a trip south to a trip up north to Drenthe.
Spoiler
Summary: As the peloton hits the final cobbled sector of the day with 68kms to go, the full peloton (minus a couple of withdraws from an early crash) have the six cyclist breakaway down to 2'22".
The morning breakaway is caught with 24kms to go.
Under 5kms to go, those remaining in the peloton are trying to track down late attacker Guillaume van Kerisbulck.
Job well done on that catch. But, right after, another move by Lukas Postlberger. He knows he can't win this in a sprint. On his wheel, Marcus Diamond and Lars Boom — now you know this move is serious.
Boom under the banner. Diamond trying to close.
Huh... Boom just hit a brick wall and the chasers behind him went sprinting past with 800 meters to go. The win goes to Max Walscheid. Not sure what happened to Diamond as well, that was just strange.
Result: 13th - I was so hyper focused on following Boom that when he flat lined, I didn't realize it. Next thing I know, the cyclists behind us went flying by. Alex Vogel even managed a better result than me with a 7th.
She also hasn't stop bragging that she won a race before me this season. Alex won the Dwars door West-Vlaanderen race a week ago.
1
Max Walscheid
Team Sunweb
4h44'55
2
Adrien Petit
Direct Energie
s.t.
3
Dusan Rajovic
Sovac - Natura4Ever
s.t.
4
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
WB Aqua Protect
s.t.
5
Damien Gaudin
Direct Energie
s.t.
Race Day #8 at Danilith Nokere Koerse
March 14, 2022
If we could break this bad run of form recently, that'd be great.
Spoiler
Summary: We pick the action up with 23kms to go. The peloton has just caught the breakaway and 61 cyclists are still up front and in contention to bring home a win today.
All late attack attempts have been pulled back with 5kms to go. Only 32 cyclists are around to challenge for the win now.
Marcus Diamond leads the group around the bend heading toward the banner. He has leading out team sprinter Bram Welten.
Diamond did his job. All he can do now is watch Welten go for the line.
On the line... It goes to Alan Banaszek in the middle over Giacomo Nizzolo. Welten settles for a third place.
Result: 13th - Followed team orders and tried to get Bram a win. Nearly worked, but came a bike length short.
Buckle up, it's another long one-day stroll through Belgium.
Spoiler
Summary: Let's not mess about. Jacopo Guarnieri with a perfect lead-out for Kevin Deltombe going underneath the banner.
Don't count out Marco Haller or Marcus Diamond just yet. Sprinter Bryan Coquard is also coming very fast.
Deltombe holds out for the win. Can't beat a good lead-out.
Result: 3rd - Look what happens you stay out of trouble and don't make and silly attacks. A solid podium result. Just what I needed to build some confidence heading into the Dwars door Vlaanderen.
1
Kevin Deltombe
La Plage Le Club
4h48'19
2
Marco Haller
T-Mobile
s.t.
3
Marcus Diamond
SEG Racing Academy
s.t.
4
Bryan Coquard
Vital Concept Cycling Club
s.t.
5
Amanda Spratt
Team Dimension Data
s.t.
Race Day #10 at Dwars door Vlaanderen
March 28, 2022
Ready or not, the time has arrived for DdV.
Spoiler
Summary: We are down to 125kms to go as the peloton approaches the first cobbled sector. The six cyclist breakaway is two minutes up the road and two minutes behind the peloton is a group of crash victims that includes two pre-race favourites: Edvald Boasson Hagen and Lars Boom. We just got word that Boom has called it quits and got in the team car. Bad luck for him.
Under 100kms to go now, and a handful of attackers have tried their luck in the last 25kms to go. There are now 19, yes 19 cyclists in the lead group. The peloton, led by AG2R, is keeping them in check with only a minute advantage.
The rain is still falling, hasn't stopped since we started a few hours ago, and doesn't look like it is going to stop.
Crashes have been happening everywhere. And here our cameras spot a major one in the peloton. Oh no, that's Marcus Diamond. He was staying out of trouble and now this happens. I can also see EBH (again) going down in this group, as well as Loic Vliegen and Oliver Naesen.
The peloton slows up to allow those favourites to make it back relatively easily. But, that also gave the cyclists up front another minute to work with. The gap is now three minutes and growing with 80kms to go.
The cobbled climb with 32kms to go has strung out the peloton. Looks like Marcus Diamond lifted the pace to high for his competitors to follow. He has got fellow Brit Ian Stannard on his wheel. They can now see the shedding group of leaders, which is now down to 12 cyclists.
With 23kms to go, Diamond has made the catch and brought with a few other strong men as well, including Oliver Naesen and multiple crash victim EBH.
Sonny Colbrelli is going for glory with 16kms left. He was originally a part of the second breakaway group that got away. Looks like he saved some energy for the grand finale.
EBH is the only one who can follow. This move has cracked Diamond.
It turns out to be the winning move for Calbrelli, who eventually shakes off a resilient EBH for an impressive solo win.
Result: 15th - Not too bad. If I didn't crash, then I think I could have been in the mix for a top 5-10 finish. Nevertheless, a long day in the saddle. I need an ice bath and a nap.
- Each member gets 3.0 points to spread however they like over the 13 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 55.0.
- Stats are bumped up in PCM when they hit that number, ex. 55.9 = 55 in-game, and 61.4 = 61 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 85. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery.
- Comment below to provide stat upgrades
Hospital Return (Resolved): After missing what turned out to be an important personal training session to bring Grace Garner back from the hospital, Marcus Diamond received his third cycling stat lock: Mountain.
Sister Confrontation: After a training session at the end of the month, Marcus Diamond was corner by Lucy van der Haar, Grace's older sister.
"I'll get straight to the point, what are your intentions with my sister? She just got out of a long-term relationship with Gabriel Cullaigh. I really don't want her to get hurt all over again, especially not this soon. I don't even think she is over Gabriel yet. This is all moving way too fast."
(Option A) "I complete agree. I'll talk with Grace. I like your sister, but I don't know where this is going. I'd like this to be something more, but so far I've just been along for the ride. I'll be more proactive"
(Option B) "I have no intentions of hurting her. She started this whole thing. If you want me to back away, I will. But that doesn't stop her from approaching me. That's a conversation you need to have with her."
(Option C) "Yeah, I think you might be right. I think she was just looking for a rebound and I happened to be around, and available. I don't think it's going to work out."
(Option D) "We only went on a couple of dates. That's it. I already called it off. I think she must be handling it well if she didn't tell you that."
Damn, I missed out the football stat lock and I helped get mountain locked Hopefully we can undo that sometime this year, but I know flat would be awesome too.
Interesting month, unfortunate in Drenthe, I do that follow the wheel too long thing often (sometimes it doesn't undo it) and it's very annoying Shouldn't be surprised Alex won a race before you, she's a total beast with those stats Good job for Welten in Nokere and a nice race in Handzame. Unlucky crash in DDV but you gave a good account of yourself!
+1 HI
+1 RES
+1 ACC, let's give Brabantse a good go!
Cool that Marcus and Grace seem to be having a nice time Don't mind between A and B responses too much, I guess Option A is probably better.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
I never really look at the crowd before or during a game. I appreciate the support, but it can be really distracting. Yet, here I was looking around and feeling disappointed that the seats I reserved for Grace and Alex weren't filled at kickoff.
Match Day #36 vs. FC Den Bosch (11-16-8)
April 1, 2022
Attendance of 2,458, but two were missing.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 0, FC Den Bosch 0
Summary: Well, that was boring. Although, Helmond Sport will take its point and inch ever closer to a playoff spot with two games left.
Rating: 7.0 - Subbed off with tired legs with 15 minutes left. I took one final glance up to where Grace and Alex should have been: empty.
I checked my phone. Grace had sent me a text, and I was relieved that this wasn't some cruel April Fools joke.
"I'm so sorry. My knee was acting up, and Alex drove me to the doctor's office to get it checked out. More ice, less trying to walk on it and I should be fine. You want to meet for dinner?"
"For sure, Sandroos? You didn't miss much at the game."
Alex third wheeled our pizza date, but it was fine. We all had a good time.
Player of Game: Maikel Verkoelen, Helmond Sport (7.2)
Match Day #37 at RKC (10-14-12)
April 15, 2022
A point secures a spot in the promotion playoffs, or help from elsewhere.
Spoiler
RKC 2, Helmond Sport 1
Summary: Roland Bergkamp lives up to his last name. The nephew of former Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp buries two first-half goals to deflate Helmond Sport. However, Helmond Sport received the news they wanted after the match. Both Go Ahead Eagles and Fortuna Sittard lost, which granted Helmond Sport a playoff spot.
Rating: 6.5 - Nothing to see here.
Player of Game: Roland Bergkamp, RKC (8.8)
Match Day #38 vs. Jong Utrecht (13-23-1)
April 29, 2022
Playing to move up the standings a tad and gain some momentum.
Spoiler
Helmond Sport 3, Jong Utrecht 1
Summary: Under intense pressure, diamonds are made. Marcus Diamond proves why he is Feyenoord's newest signing. Pure class from the Brit on the final day of the Jupiler League regular season. The result helps Helmond Sport jump up to eighth place in the final standings.
Rating: 9.0 - What? I had to put a show on for Grace. It was her first time watching me play. Also, shout out to teammate Arne Naudts for this world class back-heel assist. A classy goal to end the regular season.
Player of Game: Marcus Diamond, Helmond Sport (9.0)
League Standings (38/38 Games Played)
Promotion Playoffs
Before joining the newly crowned Eredivise champions Feyenoord (for the fifth time in the last six seasons), getting Helmond Sport into the top flight of Dutch football for the first time since 1984 will be a challenge. First up is a two-leg showdown with Fortuna Sittard.
Winner will move on to face Eredivise side VVV in another two-leg competition. The third round is two legs as well with the winner of that playing football in the Eredivise next season. Lose out in any round and its back to the Jupiler League.
Calendar
Club
International
Evaluation
Training Ground *Community Growth Development*
Spoiler
- Each member gets 5.0 points to spread however they like over the 36 attributes listed above. One post per member.
- Stats work on a decimal system starting at 1.0.
- Stats are bumped up in FM when they hit that number, ex. 2.9 = 2 in-game, and 13.4 = 13 stat in-game.
- The decimal numbers will remain hidden.
- There is a threshold for each stat when more points are needed to increase that stat. It's start off on a 1-to-1 scale where 1 point equals 1 stat upgrade. However, the scales get exponentially further and further apart the closer that stat gets to the maximum of 20. The increasing scale will also remain a mystery and is different from the cycling progression scale.
-Locked stats can't be upgraded.
-Comment below to provide stat upgrades.
Stat Lock (Resolved): Corners and determination have been locked.
Stat Lock Lifted: Marcus Diamond's best rating this month was a 9.0. So, the one attribute that receives the most votes will be unlocked.
What Pressure?: Showing out in another big game sees Marcus Diamond's hidden attribute for "Important Matches" increased.
Sharjah Tour
I'm thinking SP, TT and PL can go, they're at a solid enough point but not vital to go any higher when he seems to be headed for classics + punchy climber rather than sprinter or stage racer. Maybe DH and REC are lower priority too. Would say fighter but Mre said he uses that in his 3D racing strategy right? So would like to keep that. Interested to hear what others think.
), as Marcus said he hit the jackpot 
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Comoros (107th WR)
Mauritania (127th WR)
Ronde van Drenthe
Hopefully we can undo that sometime this year, but I know flat would be awesome too.
Don't mind between A and B responses too much, I guess Option A is probably better.
