Such an awesome, great story and at the same time sad that it's coming to an end
I can't ever imagine stepping into your boots as a Slovenian/Balkan team. Your style, team building and performances are in a league of their own. They may never be topped. Also your team is now arguably the best model in all of MG.
Such a great job and I expect that your team will continue having a massive impact in the game!
Spoiler
From a purely selfish POV I am very disappointed that in the year of the Slovenian project ending, I could not acquire a single rider mentioned above
I am sorry to see the story coming to an end, but I am happy it is rather a dot and comma than full fat end point. I'll follow with interest how the project will further unfold.
Thank you for the very nice and warm words. I was pretty emotional writing this to be honest.
@knockout: I can't be more honored than from probably the best manager in the game. It still was a crazy one to win it with that team, especially against your squad, and I hope we can compete with you also on our new path in the future. Our transfer-season talks are still the best, when we figure out that we again target all the same riders in offseason and plan similar ideas for the future. Guess this year you have the edge and we'll have more of a transition year, especially as our PTHC selection did not anticipate such change, but we'll do everything we can to make life hard for you to follow us as next PT winner. I can only echo: May our fights continue for a long time!
@redordead: Well it's not coming to an end, it's more scaling down the national influence even if you can spot the Slovenian badge on our kit since this year to show our pride to be Slovenian. I think you're ready for it though, together with TinxiaS. You got the keys to the kingdom with Tadej on your squad, and you're identifying admirably with your squad.
Also I'm sorry that it did not work out with us this year in transfers, would've loved to see one of the guys joining you. But I guess this intense offseason didn't allow it for both of us
@DarkWolf: Thank you for your nice assessment. As you bring up a strong regional project (and a flashy jersey design) I follow you with the same interest and hope that you can take Costa Rica to a powerhouse status in the Man-Game.
@Ollfardh: You don't need to be, I can imagine that Novak does really well in PCT and brings a lot of joy to Slovenian fans on a rather free attacking role. He can happily come back to PT later, maybe even as a trained man!?
I still remember selling Novak to you all those years ago, looks like it was in 2018! Although I saw his huge potential, it was one of those transfers that just felt right as he was coming to a team where he fit in better and your team was very much on the upwards path.
Really happy to see he supported you in the Title quest last season and sad to see him go.
However, I’m personally very happy you’ve stuck around as you bring a lot to the game and I look forward to seeing what your team can do this season
You won the PT with a national focus intact. There's basically nowhere left to go from there, so I don't blame you for just switching i up and trying something new. But this project in that incarnation will always be a part of MG lore for what it accomplished. So congratulations and good luck with the new direction!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
@LLS: Yeah I was so excited about that, and I still am. Novak was key to our success, and thus an awesome one in our regional title push. Same sadness here, as you can guess I'm probably even a bit more sad. But yeah, a new direction, and I'm as curious as your are about what this squad can achieve.
@bbl: Thank you for the nice words. It also was part of my intention to close that chapter as exactly that point, as I'll always remember that as the peak of my Slovenian project. So I'm glad others enjoyed that project too.
While I fully understand the need to switch focus I do find it very sad. For me the team have moved away from being at the very top of nationalistic respectfulnes to a team that basically lost it's soul. Harsh words, but I hope you understand what I mean. The team is still led by one of my favorite managers, but the undertaking of a eminently built PT winning team to another PT title contender but without it's base isn't a good path. For me that is.
If I could read out of the database what the plan is - except for title challenge - then I would have bought in on the transition, but in all honesty I don't see any transition, rather than "wanting to change something for the sake of something". I appreciate that you kept on with the game - I really do (as you know), but I must admit I had hoped to see an Isostar setup even more focused on Slovenia or at the very least an Isostar setup focused on a clear plan.
Phinney, Gaviria, Lutsenko, Per, Bardet, Inkelaar, Pedrero, Rikunov, Bester, Villella, Rickaert are all good indications of what I'm trying to get at. All over the place in terms of "focus" - and with shitloads of cash (I'd assume) for training Gaviria I have a hard time placing Isostar in my heart, where as Isostar in the build (and win) had a very very high star in my rating - Maybe because I'm nostalgic like that I don't like the changes - but I DO fully understand the competitive nature of wanting to win. I have had that myself, and also heavily compromised my setup in the past to win. I do, however hope, that you'll find some way of motivating yourself into a "real" rebuild next season in whichever direction you feel is fun and interesting.
And I'm sorry for coming out harsh like this - It is more of a "Oh damn, not a great setup lost", rather than a ditch of your approach - Don't know how to phrase it, but hope you don't take it as banter - it isn't meant like that.
Leaders: Fernando Gaviria signed as a leader for us from Lierse. We had to pay 1.5mio + Domen Novak to get him. A huge sum, but we believe in Gavirias long-term stardom. That's why we also collected training money for him. Now he should be a star-level sprinter, even if we couldn't get a perfectly fitting calendar for him due to the unexpected possibility of signing him.
He'll be joined as a leader by Alexey Lutsenko. We got him for Roglic and Mohoric. Of course this is a controversial move, but in Lutsenko we see something special that we wanted to try in our system. He worked very well at King Power, and despite we expect him to possibly suffer under the training of riders like MA Lopez we still expect him to be a Top3 puncheur and hope to fight vor classics wins with him.
The signings of Gaviria and Lutsenko were also targeting a new goal: After winning a GT with Spilak, we now look at the monuments. With the names of Alexey Lutsenko, David Per and Fernando Gaviria we feel like we can aim for winning all five monuments in the future. Looking at the long torm, Gaviria and Lutsenko seem to be excellent choices for the long run and the "time after Phinney".
Domestiques: Shaun Nick Bester joined us in a swap deal for fellow South African Johann van Zyl. The main motivation was the clearance of 5k wage, as that allowed us to sign another rider. At the end of the day Bester fits our project equally well as van Zyl and will be the key lieutenant for David Per, so at the same age, nationality and strength it was a fair deal to us.
The other 8 new riders joined us in Free Agency on minimum Deals. As a leadout we signed Tom Scully, who fits perfectly as a last man for Gaviria being -4 in Sprint and Acceleration to him. Pavel Bernas will be almost equally important in the sprint preperation, as he's a powehouse on the flats and on the hills. He'll try to prod Gavirias opponents on the hills and punish them in echolons to best possibly prepare a sprint. Oh, and he also is a damn decent attacker.
For Lutsenko we signed two very nice puncheurs. Davide Villella matches him well with his punch and blistering acceleration. He'll also be a fantastic Grand Tour-attacker, trying to fill the gap of Davide Gabburo last year. Carl Fredrik Hagen will fill a similar role, even more focused on breakaways. We signed him also because of his sprint stat, to finish off breakaways of uphill-riders with his speed advantage.
For a similar job we signed Antonio Pedrero. The spanish climber does have an underrated finishing kick that will make him similarly interesting for breakaways. Joining him in the mountains will be Romain Bardet and Gavin Mannion. Mannion is the perfect high-Resistance domestique for Taylor Phinney in the mountains and will try to be his last man. Romain Bardet will receive more of a free role to use his perfect attacking combination of mountain, hills and acceleration.
Loan-Ins
Loanees: This time our loan-ins will have an attacking role, but they are also meant to serve vital support duties. Alex Riabushenko will be key in the leadout of Fernando Gaviria and should be a fantastic asset to our team, either as 2nd of 3rd man in the leadout. Stef Krul will get his opportunities in ITT and TTTs, while also being an engine ot use in sprint races.
The other three riders will be parts of our attacking squad. Kevin Inkelaar will actually be our leader in at least two Grand Tours, hunting the white jerseys and stage victories. Petr Rikunov has a role in our team for Phinney and complements him well going by stats. Jonas Gregaard might have a little more attacking freedom, but we see him as a key rider for Phinney as well.
We want to thank the teams of Philips - Force India, Carlsberg - Danske Bank, Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff and Eurosport x GCN for trusting us with their development. Hopefully we can proove our reputation of giving them valuable opportunities to support world class leaders and try their chances themselves on attacking stages.
While I fully understand the need to switch focus I do find it very sad. For me the team have moved away from being at the very top of nationalistic respectfulnes to a team that basically lost it's soul. Harsh words, but I hope you understand what I mean. The team is still led by one of my favorite managers, but the undertaking of a eminently built PT winning team to another PT title contender but without it's base isn't a good path. For me that is.
If I could read out of the database what the plan is - except for title challenge - then I would have bought in on the transition, but in all honesty I don't see any transition, rather than "wanting to change something for the sake of something". I appreciate that you kept on with the game - I really do (as you know), but I must admit I had hoped to see an Isostar setup even more focused on Slovenia or at the very least an Isostar setup focused on a clear plan.
Phinney, Gaviria, Lutsenko, Per, Bardet, Inkelaar, Pedrero, Rikunov, Bester, Villella, Rickaert are all good indications of what I'm trying to get at. All over the place in terms of "focus" - and with shitloads of cash (I'd assume) for training Gaviria I have a hard time placing Isostar in my heart, where as Isostar in the build (and win) had a very very high star in my rating - Maybe because I'm nostalgic like that I don't like the changes - but I DO fully understand the competitive nature of wanting to win. I have had that myself, and also heavily compromised my setup in the past to win. I do, however hope, that you'll find some way of motivating yourself into a "real" rebuild next season in whichever direction you feel is fun and interesting.
And I'm sorry for coming out harsh like this - It is more of a "Oh damn, not a great setup lost", rather than a ditch of your approach - Don't know how to phrase it, but hope you don't take it as banter - it isn't meant like that.
I don't agree with you. One of the reasons I was willing to let Lutsenko go, was because I really liked Croatia's plans. Having the best puncheur according to last season's ranking ride in one team with the arguably best stage racer and best sprinter is something I did not think was possible in MG. Croatia did it and with David Per there is even a 4th star on the team. Of course the rest of the team will suffer because of the cap restrictions but Croatia did well to sign the best that was available for 50k contracts.
While I fully understand the need to switch focus I do find it very sad. For me the team have moved away from being at the very top of nationalistic respectfulnes to a team that basically lost it's soul. Harsh words, but I hope you understand what I mean. The team is still led by one of my favorite managers, but the undertaking of a eminently built PT winning team to another PT title contender but without it's base isn't a good path. For me that is.
If I could read out of the database what the plan is - except for title challenge - then I would have bought in on the transition, but in all honesty I don't see any transition, rather than "wanting to change something for the sake of something". I appreciate that you kept on with the game - I really do (as you know), but I must admit I had hoped to see an Isostar setup even more focused on Slovenia or at the very least an Isostar setup focused on a clear plan.
Phinney, Gaviria, Lutsenko, Per, Bardet, Inkelaar, Pedrero, Rikunov, Bester, Villella, Rickaert are all good indications of what I'm trying to get at. All over the place in terms of "focus" - and with shitloads of cash (I'd assume) for training Gaviria I have a hard time placing Isostar in my heart, where as Isostar in the build (and win) had a very very high star in my rating - Maybe because I'm nostalgic like that I don't like the changes - but I DO fully understand the competitive nature of wanting to win. I have had that myself, and also heavily compromised my setup in the past to win. I do, however hope, that you'll find some way of motivating yourself into a "real" rebuild next season in whichever direction you feel is fun and interesting.
And I'm sorry for coming out harsh like this - It is more of a "Oh damn, not a great setup lost", rather than a ditch of your approach - Don't know how to phrase it, but hope you don't take it as banter - it isn't meant like that.
I don't agree with you. One of the reasons I was willing to let Lutsenko go, was because I really liked Croatia's plans. Having the best puncheur according to last season's ranking ride in one team with the arguably best stage racer and best sprinter is something I did not think was possible in MG. Croatia did it and with David Per there is even a 4th star on the team. Of course the rest of the team will suffer because of the cap restrictions but Croatia did well to sign the best that was available for 50k contracts.
So which part are you disagreeing on? The plan is to create the best possible team to win the division. I fully aknowledge that as mentioned in the quoted post. But in terms of the roleplay asset that Isostar definately used to be, it has become a "Win for the sake of winning" team where it was "Win if possible by still being true to the team" before. And I guess that's the direction I don't fancy - But like I also say it's fully understandable, and I would be blunt to say I wouldn't have done the same in the past - because I have. I guess it's just a different way of phrasing the sadness in the downprioritizing of what has been built, that croatia himself also expresses.
EDIT:
Also, I'm sorry if it comes out harsher than it's meant, and I'll stop posting the same thing over and over again. I'm still rooting for Isostar to do well, and I'm sure they will!
Edited by SotD on 22-09-2021 15:27
While I fully understand the need to switch focus I do find it very sad. For me the team have moved away from being at the very top of nationalistic respectfulnes to a team that basically lost it's soul. Harsh words, but I hope you understand what I mean. The team is still led by one of my favorite managers, but the undertaking of a eminently built PT winning team to another PT title contender but without it's base isn't a good path. For me that is.
If I could read out of the database what the plan is - except for title challenge - then I would have bought in on the transition, but in all honesty I don't see any transition, rather than "wanting to change something for the sake of something". I appreciate that you kept on with the game - I really do (as you know), but I must admit I had hoped to see an Isostar setup even more focused on Slovenia or at the very least an Isostar setup focused on a clear plan.
Phinney, Gaviria, Lutsenko, Per, Bardet, Inkelaar, Pedrero, Rikunov, Bester, Villella, Rickaert are all good indications of what I'm trying to get at. All over the place in terms of "focus" - and with shitloads of cash (I'd assume) for training Gaviria I have a hard time placing Isostar in my heart, where as Isostar in the build (and win) had a very very high star in my rating - Maybe because I'm nostalgic like that I don't like the changes - but I DO fully understand the competitive nature of wanting to win. I have had that myself, and also heavily compromised my setup in the past to win. I do, however hope, that you'll find some way of motivating yourself into a "real" rebuild next season in whichever direction you feel is fun and interesting.
And I'm sorry for coming out harsh like this - It is more of a "Oh damn, not a great setup lost", rather than a ditch of your approach - Don't know how to phrase it, but hope you don't take it as banter - it isn't meant like that.
I don't agree with you. One of the reasons I was willing to let Lutsenko go, was because I really liked Croatia's plans. Having the best puncheur according to last season's ranking ride in one team with the arguably best stage racer and best sprinter is something I did not think was possible in MG. Croatia did it and with David Per there is even a 4th star on the team. Of course the rest of the team will suffer because of the cap restrictions but Croatia did well to sign the best that was available for 50k contracts.
So which part are you disagreeing on? The plan is to create the best possible team to win the division. I fully aknowledge that as mentioned in the quoted post. But in terms of the roleplay asset that Isostar definately used to be, it has become a "Win for the sake of winning" team where it was "Win if possible by still being true to the team" before. And I guess that's the direction I don't fancy - But like I also say it's fully understandable, and I would be blunt to say I wouldn't have done the same in the past - because I have. I guess it's just a different way of phrasing the sadness in the downprioritizing of what has been built, that croatia himself also expresses.
EDIT:
Also, I'm sorry if it comes out harsher than it's meant, and I'll stop posting the same thing over and over again. I'm still rooting for Isostar to do well, and I'm sure they will!
I'm disagreeing to your dislike of Croatia's new approach. He has reached the top with his old one and the new direction is something I think is really cool. Combining 3 of the very very best riders into one team is something I've not seen in the MG before. It's something more than just creating the best team. It's something more glamourous.
Also I think you overromanticize the Isostar team of last season. Besides the 5 Slovenian top scorers there was no other Slovenian on the team, it was also a team built to win.
Thank you for the nice words and fruitful discussions. To reply to the Gaviria-hype: He is a great rider for sure, but I think we'll only really see him shining when we plan PTHC for sprinters races and not to avoid sprinters races. He'll sadly also take quite some points of Per away as he used to attack in such races instead. But I think especially with the next year in mind he is a fantastic asset indeed. MSR may not be the race though as it's the one most dependent on Stamina.
@Abhi and hoyle: I'm very happy to have your riders to bring them onto the next level.
On another note: I'm very happy to proudly present the US-RR and WC-ITT shirts that Taylor Phinney will wear next season. He is our only rider to wear special shirts though.
USA NC RR: Taylor Phinney
World Champion ITT: Taylor Phinney
and just as a reminder:
Isostar - Specialized 2021
Thanks to awesome the_hoyle for creating all graphics for the team!
