Sorry for posting in the Teams HQ - Didn't really know where else to put it.
Because I have had some spare time on my hands, I got bored fairly quickly. And when I get bored I usually tend to dig into the database and fiddle with some imaginary teams. I have decided to share my three most significant teams, which I find quite fun to dream about creating.
So here you will get a short list of my Obscure Dream Teams, that I have considered (if only for a brief period of time) to reshuffle my team into. Perhaps this can be used as an inspiration for some.
When looking at the teams it is important for me to say, that the figures that are created are (the money in particular) will have to come from the manager getting in stronger riders/talents and selling them each season. This will obviously also have an impact on the teams performance, which should then be better than what I am toying with - But for the sake of the flow, let's say that you sign a bunch of strong talents each year, which doesn't provide all that many points, but are capable of making you sell riders for ~ 2.500.000€ each season and then get 500.000€ each season as a buffer (paid from the division).
Alright, so as these things are all put into context, let's have a look at these:
Away on holiday you see this picture. You have to go there and have a look at the scenarie. On the way to the destination a group of cyclists comes charging down the gravelly roads, laughing while sprinting eachother on.
As you lay there on the beach with the cool drink in your hand, your mind starts drifting off. What if...
Preconditions
Nationalities: Caribbean Sea Teams (No main land countries) Money: ~3.000.000€ available for Training
You have a steady PCT team with some profiles in it, but you feel like your original plan just isn't working. You are not really getting anywhere and promotion seems like a long shot. You don't have the confidence in your historical setup as you once had, and you feel like giving up the game because you can't really get "into it" anymore. You decide to do a complete reshuffle and make-over of your team.
Season '17
You start looking around and only Raúl Granjel Cabrera is "difficult" to obtain, the rest of the team settles in nicely with you only swapping a bit here and there, and paying a limited amount of money for the base:
The team forms at 27 riders (Some might be loaned out). The biggest wage is Raúl Granjel Cabrera who asks 300.000€, while the rest is very cheap. Most on 50K wages.
Total wage expected: 1.750.000€
The remaining wage is used on talents, that can be sold on later...
Stars of the team
***Raúl Granjel Cabrera
**Yasmani Martinez
**Darren Matthews
**Marc De Maar
*Leandro Marcos
*Fulgencio Bru
Expectations
The team is not very strong, and we need to plan carefully to survive the Pro Continental Tour. Planning our stars to the best possible level will be a difficult task. We will aim for the smaller GC races with some changing terrains to get a decent GC from Yasmani Martinez and a good sprinting chance for Raúl Granjel Cabrera. We also need to take a look at our chances in the cobbles, where Matthews, Marcos and De Maar can all do well. Bru and Milan will be given a free role in hilly terrain.
The base have been set, and you survived the first and most difficult challenge. Talents have been sold, and after training your 2018 team looks like this:
Training
Darren Matthews +2 COB = 1.300.000€
Leandro Marcos +2 HI = 950.000€
Shaquille Sinclair +1 SPR = 700.000€
Wages
There are still 27 riders available, while some are away on loan to develop the best possible. Granjel Cabrera asks for slightly less (250.000€) but the training spent on Matthews and Marcos last season can be felt, which means they are now asking 120.000€ and 80.000€ each. Next season will be even worse after you decided to train them again.
Still you have plenty of cap left to sign talents that can be sold later...
Total wage expected: 1.800.000€
The remaining wage is used on talents, that can be sold on later...
The team is still struggling on several positions, however the cobbled setup has been changed towards a pretty strong setup. While Marc de Maar is no longer of much use you have four riders of 75+ COB while the strongest are also decent in backup stats, such as Matthews with 76SPR and Marcos with 75HI.
Raúl Granjel Cabrera is still the team captain, and Yannick Martinez should also still be needed. Sinclair and Major are now decent leadout riders for Cabrera, but planning is still key.
Target: Avoid relegation to CT - Settle in the lower middle
The base is getting significantly stronger with several talents starting to shape up into riders worthy of riding as helpers on a PCT team, while also the training is beginning to shape up. After training this is what we have:
Training
Darren Matthews +2 COB = 1.850.000€
Leandro Marcos +2 HI = 1.300.000€
Wages
All good things must come to an end, and thus Marc de Maar has decided to put his bike in the garage. This leaves us with 26 rider, while a few need to be loaned out to stay under the limit. That is OK for now.
Darren Matthews is asking 200.000€ now while Leandro Marcos wants 135.000€. A few of our domestiques have asked for slightly more also. Still no way near the wage cap and thus riders can be traded in and out to get money.
Darren Matthews are beginning to become on of the strongest cobblers in the division, and with some very strong domestiques to back him up he is constantly around top 5, while also Jay Major starts stacking up points here and there. Leandro Marcos is becoming a strong rider aswell as Chequan Richardson. Granjel Cabrera is still going strong, but is looking to fade after the season.
Also our development riders are now maxed and next season they are ready to be trained.
In order to survive we need to consider the training carefully now, as Granjel Cabrera is starting to fade. He should still be in contention of points if planned well though. This is what we have:
Training
Darren Matthews +2 SPR = 1.550.000€
Erick Herrera +2 HI = 1.300.000€
Wages
More riders are going, and some are starting to fade, such as Granjel Cabrera and Martinez. We don't have the riders to cover at the moment, so we need to look for a rider or two in the FA pool that can secure another season for us. Luckily we have plenty of cash for that, so we buy two riders at around 350.000€ each. These can be sold for ~ 3.000.000€ next season.
Matthews have been trained as a sprinter and is becoming a mini-Bewley. He scores significantly more points now and we still do great in the cobbles. Erick Herrera starts to score a bit and helps Bru and Marcos getting decent hilly results. We have a long list of decent lead out sprinters now, but no top sprinter. They are planned in most races possible and score a bit each.
Our helping riders signed in for the season makes us survive.
Mini Bewley is complete and ready for action. Herrera is also becoming a good rider, while more fill riders leave the team:
Training
Darren Matthews +2 SPR = 2.200.000€
Erick Herrera +1 HI = 850.000€
Wages
As Matthews grow better and better his wage starts to increase aswell. Also Erick Herrera is beginning to feel it, while Granjel Cabrera and Yannick Martinez are now only receiving small amounts of compensation cash for once being strong.
We need atleast one strong point scorer again this season. Probably a GC rider or a top puncheur. We expect to be able to sell him/them for a big sum.
Once more we battle relegation, but Matthews is becoming a great rider who wins both sprints and big cobbled races, so he alone secures us another season while our depth in cobbles, and now hills will help us stay safe in the lower end of the table.
How about it. Two leaders, and a third on his way. This could be the turning point, however we are looking to have a small team now:
Training
Erick Herrera +2 HI = 2.200.000€
Jay Major +1 SPR = 850.000€
Wages
Nothing much to tell. Our two top riders are getting more expensive, the rest is either staying the same, going down or have left the team. We can definately afford to buy talents and maybe a strong GC rider to score points for us. We want to stay in the mid table this season.
Total wage expected: 1.500.000€ + leader and talents
We can stay safe with just one outside coming star, and we can probably fight for the top half if we plan well and get two strong riders... Maybe even for an outside bet of promotion...
This is the final season for us, and we need to target promotion. We have three decent leaders and room for stars to supplement them also. It could be possible:
Training
Jay Major +2 SPR = 2.200.000€
Erick Herrera +1 MO +1 SPR = 600.000€
Chequan Richardson +1 SPR = 100.000€
Wages
We are a small setup by now, but still with some strong leaders. As Jay Major have only recently been trained wages aren't that high, and like last season we can easily afford to target 2-3 top riders in the chase for promotion. We can do it!
Through the steep pointy rocks and mountains of La Paz you come to look at the terrain and wonder why no top cyclists are to come out of this area. Plenty of climbers, even sprinters and timetriallists from Colombia. Sprinters from Argentina and small GC riders from Brazil. Yet nothing seems to come from countries in the west, such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile and Peru.
But what if...
Preconditions
Nationalities: Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay Money: ~3.000.000€ available for Training
Much like last time, you have come to an halt and need to reshuffle the team. You sell and swap your way into a setup based around these nationalities.
Season '17
Maybe this should be built around climbers like Carapaz and Campero. Hmm, those are obtainable if I swap/purchase. The rest looks to be fairly easy to get a hold of, as none are leaders in their teams. We end up with this after some training:
Training
Piter Campero +2 MO = 2.200.000€
Samuel Coronel +2 COB = 850.000€
Wages
The team is perfectly scaled to a start and thus 25 riders have been signed. Som have, however, been loaned out in order to aid their progress, which also leaves room for one leader to help the team stay out of trouble for the first season.
Total wage expected: 1.550.000€ + 1 major leader and talents
Stars of the team
***Richard Antonio Carapaz
***Piter Campero
**Óscar Solis
*Edison Bravo
*Basilio Ramos Ticona
*Samuel Coronel
*Luis Miguel Mansilla
Expectations
Our terrain is obvious. Mountains. We have two strong leaders that should be competitive and share a load of racedays between them. We also have the necessary support for them to perform well at the level, and those should be leading the team.
Mansilla should be able to score a few points here and there, while Bravo and Ramos Ticona are both decent riders. Our expensive leader will keep us well and safe for the first season.
Our team is quickly developing, and our two climbing leaders are both young and capable of doing what is needed, which leaves room for improvement on other areas. A strong cobbler, a strong puncheur and a decent support team for most areas. Sure, not bad:
Training
Samuel Coronel +2 COB = 1.300.000€
Edison Bravo +2 HI = 1.550.000€
Wages
Still no major turns to the worse here. Our climbers are reasonable prized, and as they decide to get better results their wages will start to increase a bit each year probably. Our new leaders are only just trained now, and we can expect them to increase next year.
There's easily room for a couple of talents to sell, and we have decided to sell our strong leader and sign a new one, with a slightly more interesting wage. He will also be sold next year.
Total wage expected: 1.600.000€ + 1 major leader and talents
Stars of the team
***Richard Antonio Carapaz
***Piter Campero
**Edison Bravo
**Samuel Coronel
*Basilio Ramos Ticona
*Luis Miguel Mansilla
*Óscar Solis
*Royner Grover Navarro
Expectations
Nothing have changed much. We are slightly more competitive in the hills and the cobbles, although not THAT strong at this point.
With the help of our leader we will probably be around the mid-table yet again.
Now having two strong climbers, a strong puncheur and a top 10 cobbler with some decent backup riders things are beginning to look comfortable for us:
Training
Edison Bravo +2 HI = 2.200.000€
Samuel Coronel +1 COB = 850.000€
Wages
As we keep training riders that are not all that expensive, instead of making Campero or Carapaz into 82 or 83 MO riders we make steady progress and wages aren't taking overhand.
This time we believe that we can stay safe without any outside leaders to support us, so we bag up talents and make ready for some sales next season...
Total wage expected: 1.700.000€ + talents
Stars of the team
***Richard Antonio Carapaz
***Piter Campero
***Edison Bravo
***Samuel Coronel
*Basilio Ramos Ticona
*Luis Miguel Mansilla
*Óscar Solis
*Royner Grover Navarro
*Jonathan Caicedo
*Sebastian Alejandro Reyes
Expectations
After deciding to go for ourselves we must expect a tougher season, but we are confident that relegation isn't going to be a theme.
Instead of deciding to go for promotion from our leaders we have decided to shape up the team a bit, so that it can survive once we go up. That will come from training some lesser riders into pretty decent PCT subtop leaders:
Training
Jonathan Caicedo +2 MO = 1.300.000€
Sebastian Alejandro Reyes +2 Hi = 1.550.000€
Wages
Wages start to slowly increase as we now have a PCT top puncheur aswell, but we are still making sure that riders such as Campero and Carapaz won't get too expensive, while still racking up decent points. We have lost a few riders like Solis now, which leaves room for a couple of more talents.
A slightly stronger allround setup will make us move from the bottom towards the mid-table yet again. We are certain that we will atleast end in the lower part of the mid-table.
A 3rd strong GC rider/climber have appeared and our hilly department have become significantly stronger to a point where we expect to get strong results each time we race. We still look for decent cobbled points aswell while we stay away from the packed bunch sprints.
Training
Jonathan Caicedo +2 MO = 1.850.000€
Royner Grover Navarro +2 HI = 1.300.000€
Wages
Ever so slowly do we realize that it is time to make a move at the promotion spots if we are to have a chance. We decide to make this the final built before charging for promotion next season. We expect to finish around top 10 and therefor we buy a couple a decent leader, aswell as a couple of talents that can be quickly sold.
Total wage expected: 1.750.000€ + talents and a decent leader
We cover a wide range of races at this point, and scores reasonably well in most. We expect to fight for a top 10 position with our decent leader supporting us where we are not as strong.
It's time. We build up the final pieces, and makes sure we are ready for the charge. Three strong climbers - Check. Three strong puncheurs - Check. A decent cobbler - Check. Some strong support for all riders - Check. Only cobbled help is needed. We'll get that. And then we'll sign that one leader that will help us promote.
Training
Jonathan Caicedo +1 MO = 1.200.000€
Royner Grover Navarro +1 HI = 850.000€
Sebastian Alejandro Reyes +1 HI = 1.000.000€
Wages
We are getting a decent set of wages up, but we have room for a few cheap support riders, mainly for the cobbles and then one big leader - He will help us achieve the promotion spot.
Total wage expected: 1.800.000€ + strong leader and cheap domestiques
After a long run-in we finally get to chase promotion. We expect it to happen as we cover some of the most interesting fields of the PCT well and wide. And now with a strong leader - It's going to happen.
We did it. We have reached the Pro Tour. We have a team that is not strong enough to survive, we have to admit that - But we are going to do what we can, and of course. We now have a strong capital to make new signings. We have decided to strengthen the hilly setup a bit more though.
Training
Sebastian Alejandro Reyes +2 HI = 2.600.000€
Richard Antonio Carapaz +1 MO = 1.400.000€ *We believe promotion means a bit of extra cash, so 4mio is spent.
Wages
In terms of a Pro Tour team our wages are VERY low. This means that we have a lot of cash to buy riders that will keep us safe. We do that of course!
Total wage expected: 1.850.000€ + 2 PT worthy leaders.
We expect that we are capable of staying up. Things will be difficult for sure, but we have seen worse teams staying up, and we are no rookie when it comes to planning. We have this covered.
Target: Avoid relegation
Edited by SotD on 23-11-2016 14:38
SotD, this is freakin amazing. I love that in-depth analysis and how you find and use possible strong points for your training ideas. Fantastic stuff!
I especially love what you did to Darren Matthews, he looks classy at the end of the day!
Though it's a lot of money burnt for "smaller" riders I like what you did there really! Please keep these creative ideas coming - for me it's a pleasure to read these.
Wow, that was a nice fantasy! Although I really doubt it would be possible to keep in PCT for the first years, it's a nice build up. I hope this will drive up the price of Erick Hererra to over a million when I eventually sell him
I guess both El Salvador and Belize is counted as mainland countries and part of central america, but I did love this nonetheless. If you also included Costa-Rica f.ex this would become a decent team after all
Bjartne wrote:
Wow, that was a nice fantasy! Although I really doubt it would be possible to keep in PCT for the first years, it's a nice build up. I hope this will drive up the price of Erick Hererra to over a million when I eventually sell him
I guess both El Salvador and Belize is counted as mainland countries and part of central america, but I did love this nonetheless. If you also included Costa-Rica f.ex this would become a decent team after all
Ahh right. We just train Santa Clara or Jean Junior instead and leave out the Belize helpers, then we get the clean look. Or we could train Marcos better. Initially I thought about making him an 80 HI rider instead, but just for the fun of it I trained a level 1 talent, as I have never seen anyone do that
Bjartne wrote:
Wow, that was a nice fantasy! Although I really doubt it would be possible to keep in PCT for the first years, it's a nice build up. I hope this will drive up the price of Erick Hererra to over a million when I eventually sell him
I guess both El Salvador and Belize is counted as mainland countries and part of central america, but I did love this nonetheless. If you also included Costa-Rica f.ex this would become a decent team after all
Ahh right. We just train Santa Clara or Jean Junior instead and leave out the Belize helpers, then we get the clean look. Or we could train Marcos better. Initially I thought about making him an 80 HI rider instead, but just for the fun of it I trained a level 1 talent, as I have never seen anyone do that
Hahahaha, you're both the first and last to do that.
Alternatively, you could make the transition. You already have one of the stars
Unfortunately I don't have a PCT team or budget.
Most of that team can be created on a CT budget I think
I'd expect you to promote this season and both current standings and projected rankings suggest you will.
When you do, unless Garby's wage shoots up massively, you could probably keep him as a leader and still get most of that as a newly promoted PCT team which would be an interesting transformation to watch.
