So, I'm almost lost for words, even though there's so much to say. I guess the main thing to say is that we're in the XCL final, yes, you've read that right, if you haven't been following the adventure, firstly, where have you been, and secondly, I am not making this up, I'm in the final of the XCL. Xpert Elevens greatest competition, where greats before me have waved the trophy aloft n celebration. Names such as Nobego, Mottoroger, Blu3red, Grassbandits, SambaSven, the great Duffster, Shadows and many more. I have intentionally left one out of this list.
Quite how this phenomenon has occurred is anyone's guess. Am I a squad building genius? No. Am I a tactical mastermind? No. Do I study opposition like Jurgen Klopp or Jose Mourinho each week? No.I'm just a bloke who logs in for a bit of banter and sets some tactics between all the fun.
Maybe I've had an easy ride to the final? Oh, hang on, two of last season's XCL semi-finalists in the group stage, nah, not that. Maybe the former XCL champions Samba Juniors in the last 16, nope. Maybe the current Ultimate League champions then Cornish Celts, not an easy game at all that. Then there's the semi game against Throbbin, Babswintodaymaybe, the current Master League champions, no chance, they were a strong solid outfit who have reached the semis in the XCL for the last two seasons.
Maybe I've just got lucky, I mean I've only had 5 star tactics a few times throughout if you believe in the system. Is it even the power of the sacred number 7? I couldn't help but notice in the draw I was ranked 7, maybe it's in the stars.
I've often wondered what it was like to play XCL football. Before this seasons debut it always seemed like a closed book, a secret room where someone like me could only ever peer in to once or twice because the big boys were playing. I've not won an Xpert league, I just got lucky in the Pro league cup final, what the hell am I doing playing football on these pitches?
So, there we have it. I'm there. I'm in the XCL final, do I care now, do I really up my game for what will be the biggest game I ever play or do I stick to the formula, a formula that has always worked for me, should I even bug my opponents house and try to stick a virus on his computing device, all questions that need to be answered. Though Sweden is a long way.
Having spoken to my cup final opponent already, he asked me whether I'll be sad if I were to lose the final. That's a tough question, I mean it's just an online computer management game, it's been many years since I put a suit on and blasted champers around after watching us win a league, but the thing is I do care but only certain aspects will make me care. You may be reading this and thinking you'd do anything to be where I am right now, make no mistake about it, I want to win, I'll play to win, winning is what I'm here for, it's just that part of me thinks that to even get to the final, that's achievement in itself, and I've already won. Maybe that's just a defeatist attitude.
Next week's opponent is of course a legend in his own right, a name I omitted from the initial sentence, it's none other than Chrille, Mr XCL himself. A man from Sweden who has had a better rank than me, has produced much better teams than I have ever had, and I think he may have an XCL trophy or two more than me as well. He divides opinion and has caused controversy on the site over the years but overall, I've always got on with him and admired his work. When I was in one of his leagues not that long ago, I started reading the way he planned the Anti Christs side, it was a real eye opener, this guy had planned each and every move, every possible scenario, it was at that moment I saw the dedication he puts in to his teams, such attention to detail will make it an extremely hard game for me next week. But can he read me. That's the important question and one that we will have an answer to very soon. I do know he's a very dangerous man on the tactical board, and has the experience from previous successes so maybe that will be the difference maker when all is said and done.
With the Pro league looking on, a win would mean so much for me and the league itself, see, no Pro league team has ever won the XCL before. I could literally create X11 history with a victory and that fills me equally with both joy and dread. Win or lose I very much doubt there'll be a big style presser about the game from me, just a good old fashioned handshake in Chrilles direction where I will offer my congratulations or commiserations, I just hope it's the latter that I'm offering.
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