WCCF: 05-06 Update! -- Commentary (III)

Linkage

Linkages in 05-06 work under a similar system as before.
Group links continue to consist of 5 levels, the best being an "auto white" link.
Special links also continue to exist with minor additions.

However, a big change has occurred with the inter-group relationships!
The following lists the new group-link table for 05-06:

The changes can be summarised as follows:

1. Spider-web thick-white teams have been made impossible.
   (A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D and E-E have all been downgraded to A)
   
2. The 12 link groups have been put into 6 "best-combo" pairs.
   namely: A-F, B-C, D-J, E-H, G-I, K-L
   
3. On the reverse, many poor group-to-group relationships have been upgraded
   The following has been upgraded into an auto-thin-link:
   A-C, D-E, D-I, F-L, G-K, G-L, H-K, J-J, L-L

I see the change as a positive move to reinforce the essence of the game.
Managers should not only have to think which players play well together,
but also think carefully *where* good player combinations should exist with your team's formation / style!

Special Styles

Based on my own impression, it seems special styles have been discussed more and more on the Japanese bulletin boards. When I played my games under various special styles in Japan, I did not feel much of a handicap in favour of special styles. However, one thing to be sure, the effect of special styles on the real-time simulation seems evident. Player movements and combination plays seem much more style-specific.

Let me say that even if special styles aren't effective, they are at least interesting and entertaining. ^_^

WCCF: 05-06 Update! -- Commentary (II)

Simulation

The main difference between 05-06 is the much improved simulation.
Moves are now more visible, and more style-specific.

• Technical players will be able to make more feints/turns.
  
• Tough die-hard forwards will slide and poke at loose balls.
  
• Rock-solid defenders will get to clear aerial attacks more often.

I would also like to emphasize on the increased number of combination plays.
For example, the following is a screenshot of a team I played in Japan under the Q.H. style. The forwards are Adriano on the left, Bergkamp on the right. RMF is Valeron, Right Side-back is Cafu.


And here are 2 of the combination plays I managed to come across during my short stay:

1. Valeron --> Cafu --> Adriano
Valeron, playing as a RMF, receives a breakout pass at about 45 yards out on the right side. Rather than attempting the normal advance towards the right baseline, he keeps possession, dribbles slowly towards the middle, and draws 2 defenders. Valeron turns and gives a diagonal pass towards the right wing ahead of oncoming wingback Cafu, Cafu one-timed a cross and Adriano heads it home.

2. Bergkamp --> Cafu --> Valeron
A similar play to begin with, except Bergkamp was the recipient at the right side with most players forced backfield under pressure. With 2 defenders in front, Bergkamp slows down and dribbles towards the middle, waiting for support. Wingback Cafu was first to arrive, and Bergkamp makes a similar diagonal pass. As Cafu was ready to receive the ball, Valeron had already overlapped Bergkamp into the edge of the area. Cafu made an instant short pass and Valeron one-timed it home.

Team Formation / System

I believe it is safe to say that most WCCF players employ a 4-DF system.
Likewise most CPU teams as well as the real teams they model after do employ a 4-DF system.

However, it may be surprising for many to know that:
3-5-2 used to be the most common system in WCCF 01-02!
Back then, about 50% of the teams in Seria A employed a 3-5-2 system with a pair of wingbacks who are each wholly responsible for one side of the field.
Examples of wingback combos:
Grosso -- Ze Maria (Perugia)
Kozminski -- Schopp (Brescia)
Seric -- Oddo (Verona)
Junior -- Diana (Parma)

So, what is the common formation of teams in WCCF 05-06?
Obviously, 4-DF system are common in football nowadays, and the same applies to WCCF 05-06.
In fact, some might argue that most recent teams tend to have a flavour towards a 4-1-2-3 or 4-2-1-3 Total Football style.
e.g. Arsenal, Barcelona, the Eredivisie (Netherlands) teams, and to a lesser degree Lyon and Chelsea.

However, there are some obvious exceptions:
1. Udinese, who has continued to employ a 3-5-2 system with success!
2. Marseille and Real Betis, who seem to employ a variant of 3-6-1 system.
3. Newcastle, who goes with a very visible Power style (e.g. BOUMSONG + BRAMBLE combo).

Understanding the team formations / styles may help you understand the player cards much much more!

WCCF: 05-06 Update! -- Commentary (I)

I would like to offer fellow WCCF players a more in-depth, opiniated look into the new version of WCCF.

In early-September I visited Japan and managed a few hours of WCCF.
It is to my delight that Sega has managed to significantly improve the gameplay without changing the basic principles of the game.

Unchanged:
-- Communication screens (e.g. captains, jersey numbers) work similarly
-- Player Styles (e.g. stopper/sweeper/libero) are evident under similar settings.
-- Team Styles (e.g. Super Eagles, Total Football) exist under similar hexagon conditions.
-- Linkage continues to work under a 5-level 12-group system.
-- All players (except 2) follow the same link group as before.

Changed:
-- Simulation is much improved, more realistic.
-- The linkage system has been modified such that there are no spider-web teams, and players should be matched up pair-by-pair carefully for the team to be effective. In my opinion, the real essence of the game is reinforced.
(A new linkage table can be found at WCCF-Hurry, I may write more on my Data Site later)

I now go into specific aspects of the game in more detail:

Cards

There seems to be a renewed focus of the new cards on combination and style.

New combinations:
The Devilish Trio (Valencia CF: VILLA, VICENTE, AIMAR)
The Mysterious Trio (FC Barcelona: RONALDINHO, ETO'O, DECO)
The Lionheart Duo (Chelsea: LAMPARD, J.COLE)
The Defensive Trap Duo (AC Milan: MALDINI, NESTA)

Also, some cards also seem to be quite "extreme" and arguably stylish.
e.g.
Physical Defenders: BOUMSONG + BRAMBLE
Goal Poacher: INZAGHI
Technical attackers: PAULETA, RIQUELME, FIGO

It is also worth noting that 2 of new cards have modified link groups..... intentionally or not. :P
BERGKAMP L --> C
FARFAN G --> C

Could it be pure coincidence that I would personally call Bergkamp the most fantastic striker in the game and Farfan the most fantastic regular-card striker in the game? Hm......

WCCF: 05-06 Update! -- Introduction

The new 05-06 updates will be here very soon!

Player cards come from 21 different club teams in 6 top leagues:

• Barclays Premiership (UK):
  Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United
  
• Lique 1 (France):
  Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique de Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain FC
  
• The Bundesliga (Germany):
  FC Bayern Munich
  
• The Eredivisie (Netherlands):
  Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV
  
• Serie A (Italy):
  Inter, Juventus, AC Milan, AS Roma, Udinese
  
• La Liga (Spain):
  FC Barcelona, Real Betis, Valencia CF, Villareal CF

8 sets of 5 special shiny cards

• WGK -- World-Class Goalkeeper
  
• WDF -- World-Class Defender
  
• WMF -- World-Class Midfielder
  
• WWF -- World-Class Wide Forward
  
• WFW -- World-Class Forward
  
• CRA -- Crack
  
• YGS -- Young Star
  
• BAN -- Bandiera

Europe MVP and World MVP Ronaldinho
Plus 10 rare European Club Legends!
For a total of 21x16 + 8x5 + 2 + 10 = 388 new player cards for you to collect, play and trade!

You may take a look at the following Excel file for details of these 388 new cards.
http://puckman.kelvintang.ca/WCCF/WCCF_Team_List_0506.xls

Other improvements of the 05-06 Update include:

• Much-improved game simulation and controls
  
• Addition of new CPU teams including Serie A teams (Livorno, Messina, Treviso, Ascoli), other club teams (Tottenham Hotspurs, Mallorca, Werder Bremen) as well as past Japan Championship winners
  
• Modified linkage system

Example: the above is a previous Japan Championship winner, and is differnt from the CPU French National Team! ^_^
WCCF 05-06, GAME ON!

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