When to dump players with niggling injuries?

bradw71 · Post by **bradw71** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 12:37 am

I am playing in my first league with a High Elf team. We are also using the Crush rules (slightly modified, but only in regards to being able to buy other teams players that leave).

I am curious what other people think in regards to when to get rid of a player? I have 2 scenarios which illustrate opposite ends of the spectrum (keeping in mind this is a fairly new team).

1. A Lion Warrior with 24 SPP's and now Catch, Dodge, and Block. He has 1 niggling (through ageing!!!).

2. A Lion Warrior with 2 SPP's and 1 niggling (through an injury).

I now have 4 players on a team of 14 with nigglings. I am ignoring the fact that my luck seems to dictate that a minimum of 2 seem to miss each game, you can't help bad luck

Would you dump none, 1 or both of these players? It is VERY frustrating to have players that contribute to team rating not turn up, in particular when they have skills which would assist...

Darkson · Post by **Darkson** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 12:41 am

I'd dump the Lion with 2 SPP's, especially if you can afford to replace him.

If a player has 1 skill, again I'd dump, especially if I could afford to replace (unless there was a +1 ST involved)

If a player has 2 or more skills I'd have to think carefully about what I use them for, and if losing them permently would have a small or large negative effect on the team.

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 1:01 am

Basically i agree with Darkson, other than the fact we are talking elves. If u have all your position players (that u want to have), i would dump him, otherwise i would wait.

bradw71 · Post by **bradw71** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 1:26 am

Overall I have all positional player slots now filled, and 6 line elves.

Team overview is:
Phoenix Warrior 24SPP
Phoenix Warrior 15SPP
Dragon Warrior 10SPP - Niggling
Dragon Warrior 32SPP
Lion Warrior 17SPP
Lion Warrior 24SPP - Niggling
Lion Warrior 2SPP - Niggling
Lion Warrior 0SPP
Line Elf 6SPP
Line Elf 1SPP
Line Elf 3SPP
Line Elf 2SPP
Line Elf 6SPP
Line Elf 5SPP - Niggling

I am in a league where currently we have 5 games remaining. I am not sure if I should drop the players immediately, or wait until the end of the tournament and 'clean it up' then.

I guess in theory I would be better off dropping them now to reduce my team rating and obtaining handicap rolls and more money?

sean newboy · Post by **sean newboy** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 1:46 am

Drop the 10sp DW now, drop the 5sp lineman once he gets his skill if he doesnt get a +1st. The reason i say drop the lineman if he doesnt get st, is basically because elves get that 1st skill too easily, but if he doesnt get at least a double then he definately isnt worth the niggle on him.

Heiper · Post by **Heiper** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 7:37 am

Well, until you have the money to replace them, they are great "flak" to have on the LOS

I would replace them when I had the chance, starting with those without skills 1st, as you won't notice the loss of the players then, and its easy to have one skill on them for when you have the money to drop the ones with a skill or two. At least thats how I do it with elves, 6 SPPs is only 2 TDs, easy for an Elf player.

Indigo · Post by **Indigo** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 9:21 am

I agree - having nigglers is good as you can put them in rough situations and not care what happens. The opponent often then spends a long time smacking them about to little effect.

If any of mine get experienced, I wait until I have at least one player to replace them, unless they have a stat increase (bar movement) in which case they are more worthwhile.

martynq · Post by **martynq** » Fri Jan 17, 2003 12:50 pm

I think I would get rid of the niggled LW straight away and hope to replace the DW as soon as possible. Your DWs are too important to your high elf team to do without one and this one only has one skill. Remember that by getting rid of these players you are decreasing your TR which will help bring money in.

I've got a high elf team in Galak's MBBL2 and that has two niggled players. One is a PW who ages on his second skill roll (he's got Accurate and Sure Hands). My goal is to sack him as soon as his replacement gets his first skill (unless that is also aged in which case I'll sack the replacement and try again). The other is a LW who aged on his first roll (back when I only had about 12 players, so I kept him). He currently has Magic Helmet, Dodge, and Shadowing. I'll probably keep him until he suffers a second niggle.

Martyn

gallowin · Post by **gallowin** » Sat Jan 18, 2003 3:54 am

First thing I'd do is dump the dice you've been using to roll your Nigglings. Next thing is I'd only dump a player that would either eliminate a handicap against you or if you wanted to replace a positional player.

Fill your roster up and put the Niggled players on the front line. They'll take care of themselves.

bradw71 · Post by **bradw71** » Mon Jan 20, 2003 12:16 am

Actually I had sort of been thinking along those lines also...as Indigo mentioned, putting them into 'rough' situations and not caring about them.

I probably wont drop any of them right now, as the league is 75% of the way through and if I drop them off, I will have less players then comparable opposition.

But when this league finishes and we commence the next tournament, I may do a bit of a clean out (depending on cash and the results of the crush).

And I guess patience in developing replacement players is also important. I will hold off dumping the nigglings until I have a defined replacement in that role. Thanks for all the posts guys