National Online League - Season 6 Formats

[KarmaDope]

I really like the idea of the draft, so option 2 would be my choice.

Mainly because that way then Scouse can"t moan about West Mids winning again!

Seriously though, a draft will mean all the teams will be completely different and I think the league needs a freshen up. I would go with an idea where APAT staff produce a "ranking list", but this is only available to the captains and then they have a meeting where they choose who they want.

I"ve actually butchered what I mean so here comes the tl;dr

• Option 2
  
• APAT choose captains
  
• APAT (Tighty prob) produce a draft list with some rankings for captains
  
• Captains get together on Skype/at a live APAT event and actually hold a draft
  
• Not liking the idea where APAT allocate players based on previous form, as not fair on friends.

[Sugar_Free]

My own preference would be option 2 as it makes the team numbers even. However, I"d suggest that the teams are no longer based on the regions (I know if i was put into the Carlisle team for instance and asked to play against Kent, you would lose a player from the league coz I just plain wouldn"t do it).

[AJDUK]

I"d prefer to keep it as it is but split the W Mids team back into Walsall and Birmingham. Birmingham would have won the league this last season on their own which is totally ironic given the amount of mud they kept slinging at (us) Walsall in previous seasons. I guess the Walsall players protected them instead of simply knocking them out I"d love Walsall to be able to put Birmingham back in their place again

But that"s not going to happen.

So in proper response I quite like the sound of option 2. The rules regarding membership need some work but a whole new set of APAT friendships would result. No recruitment though (?) which perhaps is a big negative.

Des, if the choice is to be driven by the membership as you say then we need a voting mechanism. Let"s square off the option 1 vs option 2 thing quickly and then we can concentrate on the nitty gritty of the rules of whichever option is chosen?

[Santino67]

Scotland FTW!  

As King Kenny would say......mibbies aye, mibbies naw?

I"d miss Team Glasgow but sure the balancing over larger areas is probably the best way forwar  

[MintTrav]

Des, if the choice is to be driven by the membership as you say then we need a voting mechanism.

Voting has also been suggested on the cash tour thread. That is fine for some things but, in general, I really don"t think that is the way to get the best decisions. I think the current mechanism whereby the leadership listens to the members" views and takes them into account while making decisions is a more reliable way to get the best outcomes.

[SirPercival]

[Sef]

I would rather it didn"t change but If the teams MUST change then it has to be option 1 for me. Glasgow and other teams worked hard last season and brought new players not only to the league but to APAT. Also from playing league games team Glasgow also had its first live event and an xmas night out and regularly meet around glasgows live scene. We made a good team and good friendshipe were forged. Option 2 would take away the opportunity to add to that good team spirit IMO and also what about new players coming in? Would my given team be able to add to the squad from a new sign up or will they be put in a random team?

Defo option 1 to keep the sense of local/regional identity and friendly territorial rivalry.

[Curlarge]

Whilst I fully understand the preference and need to keep things as balanced as possible numberswise, the thing that makes this works is the "Team" thing.

It"s well documented that Luton have been very active and successful, (the 2 don"t necessairly go hand in hand) in recruiting players and this should not be penalised.

Therefore I suggest the following.

Luton, West Midlands, Liverpool and Solent remain, as they are the largest teams and the smaller teams are asked who they would like to "pair up" with, if indeed they want to at all. I have to say a Stockton/Sunderland team, whilst being a fantastic one to be friends with, would be a hell of a force at the bar, let alone the tables!! Just imagine Craig (Johnny Bong) and Stuart (Fatcatstu) together with Katos, ShortstackAl, PhilTC and the Stockton Rock (mind boggles).

My hunch is that we may well find that most players are fairly happy with the team they are in, but this suggestion allows those that are not, to at least give themselves the opportunity to become part of a larger team, without destroying their own.

[jacklevel06]

From a personal point of view, option 1 for me. I dont live near any of the cities (and have no friends) so havent participated in the on line league this year. Playing as part of scottish team has much more appeal to me.

[Marty719]

Either option is good and really glad this is getting done.  Havent played online league in a few seasons for reasons mentioned b4, but looking forward to getting back into it this yr!

[PantsMan]

Andy O you talk some rubbish , All teams done loads to recruit new players . West mids did very little !

You need to read some of the posts and think lad seriously .

West mids was formed with the champions Walsall and another div 1 team birmingham. We had number cos got a lot of new players to poker etc not established players for apat ! who can play a bit

Sorry Scouse but at no point have I said that teams haven"t done loads to recruit new players. I know Luton and Liverpool certainly did and it made the league much better. I"m always on the lookout for new players and sure Brian has as the captain too. Not sure why you believe West Mids did very little.

As for established players who can play a bit, well, that comes down to the fact that Brian formed the BCPC, got together a bunch of players who could play a bit and also recruited them into the Walsall team. Hardly a bad thing. I for one joined because of Bri and started playing APATs for the same reason and I know of others in the team who"ve done the same.

Nobody in the Walsall team asked to be joined with Birmingham, in fact given all the grief and moaning it"s caused many of us wish we hadn"t been.

[Des]

Ok guys, the posting regarding what"s happened in the past is counter productive to the objective of this thread so let"s just forget the past and concentrate on moving forward.

Thanks.

[Des]

One further variable which may or may not make a difference. 

One of the events being proposed for late in Season 6 is an APAT National League Live, which could potentially bring together the top 8 players in all of the teams, for an end of season community spectacular to be run along the lines of the UK Team Championship (which would be run earlier in the season).

[AJDUK]

[AJDUK]

Ok guys, the posting regarding what"s happened in the past is counter productive to the objective of this thread so let"s just forget the past and concentrate on moving forward.

Thanks.

What has happened in the past should be an important driver to shape the future. How do we learn from our mistakes otherwise?