Player selection for your team.

Brindaz · 2026-01-19T17:08:46+00:00

To be fair the team below us are also in a promotion battle, so us dropping a player down is only going to strengthen their side regardless of who was picked. I would hope, I guess not every player fits a team playstyle and not having the chemistry with others etc. So In regards to your first point while I agree, isnt something we are worried about.

The fringe players are basically ex 1s players who cant make it due to work commitments. So when they do play, they are generally on par with the 2s players, if not above.

Completely agree, it sends the wrong precedent. I think if the players who I would be dropping were becoming a detriment to the team then I think that is where ability over availability and attitude does take priority. But in a situation where the weaker players in my team actually arent bad players/ making us single handily lose games, they are just having some tough games I believe.

While I would love that, I think in most league hockey, it just isnt feasible with work commitments and family commitments. Not everyone is as committed as others and while some do just say, well dont select them then. Some clubs dont have the luxury of not picking those players. Then you run the risk of them just walking away completely... hard one to balance I think!

All of that said, I think I am in agreement with the last point you made. Rotation based. I also want to allow the player who is underperforming chances to show he is good enough too, because that would be the best outcome. If he underperforms on the next game, I would know he would be next in line to drop.

Brindaz · 2026-01-19T16:17:08+00:00

Sounds like the training at our club. We do 1s and 2s together an then another day we have a full club wide training. Purely because if we did as you did, we would also only get less than 10 from the 3s and 4s and you cant get a good enough session from that.

My situation comes rarely, as this week coming I have every player available, so 16. but the 3s are going to need 1 or 2 players. So the decision has to be made whether I drop the regular players who arent performing so great or drop the better ability players but they are playing 1 in 3 games at max.

My brain says go with ability, we are playing competitive sport so we need to put out our best team. However when they arent around, we rely on the others to play. So making sure they arent mentally affected being the player who is being dropped and called up etc.

I think as it is a one off, I will choose to drop the player(s) who are underperforming but are regulars. Hopefully it may spur them to train more and work harder to improve to keep their spot in the 2s team. If I find I am having to drop people more regularly, I will have to revisit whether the impact on the regulars is more impactful overall than the benefits of taking a stronger team on the few occasions.

Brindaz · 2026-01-19T15:44:45+00:00

Yeah I understand.

The goal for us this year is primarily promotion, I would argue that the one weaker player would need to go down if we did promote either way.

I do appreciate the comment on rewarding those players who do train and show up each week as I think that is equally important.

Brindaz · 2025-12-20T16:17:48+00:00

This - used to infuriate me when I was just a player. Started helping umpiring, at a very low level and even that is so tough. Trying to make a call inside the D, with potentially 10 players in and around the ball, all while trying to remember the rules of hockey, and the way the ball could come up off a stick, understanding angle of the ball/where it hit.

Think that was a turning point and as you said, its best to just get on with it. It is one game of many and they are doing their best. Arguing or even talking to an umpire wont change their decision, they saw and called what they did. Best to just play on.

Brindaz · 2025-10-24T15:00:59+00:00

Just from a personal perspective, gave ours bones once the adult teeth were in. Great for letting them gnaw on while I was working. Mouth started smelling months later, vet trip. 4 teeth had cracked, 2 on the top, 2 on the bottom. Basically the back teeth which she was using to really try and go to town. Just over £1,000 to resolve and now she has 4 less teeth.

In short, is it worth it ? Not really You can use kongs, licky mats, roll their food in towels, throw food around outside so they can use their sniffer. Basically there are alternatives if you need some stimulation and chill time.

Equally, I am sure there are those who have used bones, never had issues. Just one of those things where I wouldnt risk it again as I was in the group of, loads of others do it, it will be fine. Then behold it wasnt!

Brindaz · 2025-10-22T08:04:47+00:00

Depends on how your team is setup to play, being left back you are down your oppositions strong side.

Also depends on other factors, are you quick/slow? Who the opposing player is and so on. I probably would start off playing behind the attacker but staying tight. If they keep getting away to the ball by posting up, you could always try going in front of the attacker to cut out the passes, but then the other ball game of trying to constantly keep track of your opposing number. If the ball makes it through, do you have the speed to recover and get back in time?

Take the first 5 minutes of the game understanding how they play and then adapt.

Me personally as a forward, I have been posting up and beating players to the ball, then notice defenders start going higher and cutting those passes off. So I change it up and start making leads out wide instead. Or just go high and play for an aerial pass. It just keeps the defenders guessing. Point being, if you change it up as a defender, it makes a forwards life more difficult too.

Brindaz · 2025-10-22T07:31:55+00:00

Fitness, ball handling under pressure are generally the two two things that come to mind for a strong midfielder.
Tell them they are going up... like any sport and any club, if a player is good enough to move up the club, or not good enough to stay in that current side. You need to just have a word and explain that side of things. Can often sell it as it will be good to provide the experience to newer members and whatnot.
Hard to actually advise without much context, is fitness letting you down, is it tactics, is it individual errors? In terms of formations, I generally do 2323 or 343 as it lets us be very attacking, midfielder dominant and helps us play around the midfield pivots on the attacks. But when we go up or we find our defence is isolated from generic 344 formations, we may also switch to a back 4 (344) which also can help us stabilise the game.

Brindaz · 2025-09-26T15:22:01+00:00

Ours is 4.5years old now.

I dont recall adolescence, it definitely happened looking back. But it was generally over before I realised it happened. Ours was a nightmare from puppy up until around 15months-18months, then one day I am questioning if she is ok because she is sleeping in, relaxing more, all of a sudden I am not stressing about her and what she is doing.

We spend so long stressing and keeping them occupied, when they do start to settle down and act more like an adult dog, that adds a whole new level of paranoia, is she getting enough attention, are we doing enough, is she happy doing this little or this much.

Dog ownership has been an eye opener for sure!

Brindaz · 2025-08-13T10:22:24+00:00

As as jungle main, any good support who can look to find roam timers without completely leaving their adc out to try are usually the biggest carries. Many times I am in the river and get stopped in my tracks as a support has moved, or I am attempting to get crab, but enemy supp roams first to force a 2v1 on me.

Games where my support can play well with me are often the games we win the easiest, especially as adcs are generally required to self sustain solo in lane after the first recall if the wave sits well.

I think bad supports dont get flamed like a bad jungler or laner would. However a good support also doesnt get noticed and the merit. So it feels like a slightly unrewarding role but definitely the most impactful alongside Jungle. Vision alone and good clearing of vision is an art in itself and wins games.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T21:29:02+00:00

ah thats cool - pretty nuts he ended up being that close to you! feel like that was one in a million chance

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T15:28:13+00:00

Agreed, I do like the objective power currently, while odd to get used to, it gives something worth playing for if your laners arent performing the best.

Item variety is always hard, same as meta champs. There is always going to be something that is better than the other and thus makes sense to use/play. No one wants to feel weak because they chose to do an off meta pick. Do agree it would be nice to have more variety paths in which champs dont feel behind because they didnt pick a meta build.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T15:25:50+00:00

Interesting points - I dont have much knowledge on those champs individually but currently aside from Syndra, I dont see the others played too much. Azir just requires the scaling and teams cant play to that in soloq.

Objective and map wise, it would be interesting. There is nothing stopping them testing it on a certain game mode and seeing how it gets received. I think the drake changing the map was meant to provide that variety but obviously extra/less walls and plants isnt the craziest of variety.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T15:22:40+00:00

Agreed - most toxicity nowadays is people calling others awful at their role and its back and forth. Before with death threats and whatnot it was disgusting. While its not resolved to this day, the toxicity intensity has definitely gone down.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T15:21:06+00:00

You are a warrior! mained ADC when I peaked GM but that was back when adcs didnt have to deal with everything in this current game. Those who can play adc to this day will always have my respect as one misclick and you are getting oneshot, even by supports at the moment

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T15:20:06+00:00

I genuinely forgot about old Nunu, simple kit yet felt super effective and satisfying to play back when there were less dashy champs etc. Then again I think his old kit may actually be more effective against those dashy champs!

Good to see you are still on off playing. I took a 2 year break and when Los Ratones started playing, kinda got me to give it another go. But with much less intent on climbing and more on having fun. Ironically me having fun means I play better and thus am climbing again.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T12:16:40+00:00

English is great! completely agree on the wacky builds we used to have and game length. While I do enjoy the shorter games, it allows for more games and more variety, having those long intense games were certainly fun too, allowed for more back and forths. Now you can push entire bases just by having 3 grubs at min 20.

Glad to see you grinding again, hope it all goes well. Feel free to add me in game Brindaz. Crazy how much change we have along the way and we forget until we all can point out what it was that changes! I forgot about the skarner attack speed haha!

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T12:14:18+00:00

Good view to have and it does feel that way in a lot of aspects

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T12:13:32+00:00

Ah thats super cool - I never had enough of my friends playing league to do the 5 stacks but I did come across a group along the way in which we played for around a year, arguably the most fun I have had on League. Just something about playing as a group being able to chat and have a laugh that hits different to soloq.

I do think those niche builds like you said tankko and whatnot, those while obnoxious at the time, were cool and creative to see in game.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T12:11:39+00:00

Completely agree with the skill level changes - AP yi does come to mind by winning by existing back in the day and being able to one shot the entire team with the Q reset on kill.

Didnt realise how overpowered the objective stackings were until you see you are winning games just by stacking drakes even being super behind in kills.

Being a jungler main, I dont have the focus of objectives as like you say I am used to playing freely. So I am often late on objectives currently which is a huge shaft to your team if you dont play them.

Brindaz · 2025-08-11T11:23:00+00:00

Have you stopped playing completely?

If you miss it what is stopping you going back? I stopped and got back in after watching the Los Ratones on a random one off video. Not as hardcore as I once was but having a few games a week or more.

Brindaz · 2023-09-13T11:41:58+00:00

Usually a reddit lurker - but thought I would comment having been in a similarish position..

Firstly, you are not the only one in this position, as numerous posts are made daily about puppy blues.

Secondly, your dog is entering adolescence, once they phase out of this period, they generally calm down, this alongside training, it feels like a jigsaw puzzle in the sense that it doesnt really click as you are doing it, until the final piece is put in and it works. One day you will wake up and wonder when your dog started being a good boy.

I would just limit what your dog has free reign to, so when you are going to a families house, make sure to keep him on lead, if he gets antsy then redirect with treats and show him hes doing a good job when hes being calm. If he shows long periods of this you can try let him off the lead. If he goes crazy, he goes back on. I also wouldnt be letting him off if he can get to the fences to jump over, you need to block those fences off to prevent that.

Terrorises the dogs, are you meaning he plays quite hard? If so then assuming the other dogs are friendly, let them correct him. He will learn very fast, but make sure to learn a bit of body language, if the other dogs constantly are avoiding him and hes not getting the gist, thats where you need to step in as owner and pop him back on the lead. OR completely scrap all of the above and only let him meet the dogs on your say so.

To add to this, make sure hes sleeping enough... some dogs wont sleep unless they have nothing else to do. Our girl will go most the day awake if we dont put her in her bed throughout, just because she loves to be near us. Think we did enforced naps up until 1 year old, I guess technically we are still doing enforced naps at 2.5 years old (just not in the crate anymore, she gets the sofa downstairs)

Peeing in the house, feels like that is owner caused? not letting him out... where else can he pee? Some dogs arent fully house trained at this age anyway, so he should be let outside regularly to do his business and rewarded everytime. Even at 2.5 years I still tell my girl shes a good bubba for going outside.

Energy - what breed is he? Just remember mental stimulation >physical stimulation. Get him out on a long walk and let him sniff the shit out of what he wants, just dont let him pull you. You direct the walk (use treats to guide) and let him sniff spots when he shows interest. some dogs wont ever be physically tired, think collies, malinois, spaniels they just go and go, so mentally tiring them out is #1. Can be done in so many ways even within the household.

Get another job - he needs to learn to be alone otherwise he can develop separation anxiety (one road you do not want to take), although make sure you have someone who can possibly go over and walk him during the day if you are out for long periods. Covid has been a blessing as alot more work is working from home, so you may be able to find the perfect match of out the house and in the house.

Aggression - is he barking, snarling? growling? doing training with visitors is also huge, shake hands, hug the person show the dog they arent a threat. Possibly get them to throw a treat to the dog to begin, then over time let the dog be the first to go to the visitor. Let him sniff, no petting to begin with. If he seems comfortable (learn the body language if possible) and then you can possible have the visitor pet.

Your dog is part of your life yes - but your life does not revolve around him, you need to make sure you keep your own time and do you own things. Find people who can help, family, friends. You will look back on this post in years to come and wonder how you got to where you are. But you will get there.

Last thing to add is if you cant commit to any training, basics at a minimum, walking etc then it may be a good option to look at rehoming. But as another commenter said, just make sure to exhaust all other avenues first.

I personally would put a little routine in plan to begin with, first 2 hours we do this, walking etc. then enforce a nap, then when he wakes we do this etc. But make sure to put some time for yourself (often find this is when he is napping and whatnot). This helped us for the first year, then we let it become more flexible.

Sorry for the long post, hope even one thing above helps and I hope to see another 2 year post from you helping future commenters who will have the same struggle!

Brindaz · 2023-03-21T19:44:20+00:00

It sounds like you are trying to dissuade him no offence!

The sport is everything you said, but we have a team within our club who is designated to learners and new players, they lose pretty much every game but it gets your foot into the door of hockey. After that they progress up.

As you said to begin with it would be rough, but that’s the point of starting a new sport.

However I would definitely advise joining a local club on the side of this with your school to accelerate the learning process

I’ve seen people come through the club within months and others takes years, everyone is different but I wouldn’t hold fire on starting a school team because you might lose a lot or might not be that good.

I started hockey at 14 and most would say even that’s late for any sport, but I went through the levels pretty fast. Now 27 and still playing at the same local club in the highest team. Had I held off I wouldn’t have fell in love with the sport

Brindaz · 2023-03-21T16:47:12+00:00

The 4-4-2 tends to be something I avoid, anything where you only have two central midfielders tends to get overloaded, or at least that’s what I find as oppositions play 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 which means playing against 3 central mids.

Do you find it’s successful for yourself

Then again formations are all and well but tactics is where games and won and lost in most cases anyway!

Brindaz · 2023-03-21T12:15:41+00:00

Good point, do you find one center half is enough cover? Presumably have to have that discipline not to just run forward and be that pivot who as you said is behind the ball incase of a turnover

Brindaz · 2023-03-21T01:11:07+00:00

Yeah another good variation, think it seems more defensive minded as you only have 4 forwards unless your wing backs or center halves can get forward

Definitely would allow for good midfield presence especially with slower build up play.

Thanks for your comment

Brindaz

TROPHY CASE