I like U2 because it keeps me humble. I scheme, plan, copy, innovate, develop, buy, and otherwise try most every which way to win. And the end result is often the same.  We're a solid Div 2 team that occasionally comes up to the top league to help pad other squads' goal differentials.  The path to victory cannot merely be copied and pasted from season to season.  Or if it can, I'm clearly copying from the wrong playbook.

It's also nice to have a very diverse group of personalities that play well against each other.  Rarely dull on the blog and match comments.

I hate it because it hates me.

But I love it when I beat it :)

The rankings hate us too

I like the fact I've got the team I support in real life even though I'm far more successful in the other league.

I like that putting together the weekly lineup involves both strategy and luck.

I don't really understand the rankings.

Hate. Always being near the bottom and rebuilding.

Love. No pressure of even having any success. (Until this season of course)

actually i don;t like MSWL. I love it! I have enjoyed playing it from the start and trying to achieve glory for Halifax (oddly enough Halifax were also the first team I managed using football manager and after many years i did finally get Halifax from the non conference to the premier league!). I'm pleased we have had some cup success during my managerial reign, but we need to do better in the league before we hit the standards of the MSWL top guns.

I gave a humorous response in U-1 so I'll give a more serious note here. I love the comraderie among managers in the game. Especially Ian. I love that it is a competitive fantasy sports outlet that I actually have input in as a team builder. I love that it's fun even though I have to get pre-season coaching help from Kevin every single season. I love that I sometimes win more than I lose. I love the longevity of this game.

I love the 20+ year virtual friendships I've build up. Who would have thought that I'd start playing a game in 2001, and 21 years later, I'd still be playing the same game (albeit slightly different MSWL vs United), with most of the same people. It's amazing. 

I like the experience of learning how MSWL works and how to be successful. 

I hate that I know it will take me several seasons, at least, to have success, because I'm generally not a patient person. 

i like mswl because ian

i hate mswl because al sellers

Thanks for all the comments!

What I did not know was that Mr. Blazel and Ian are such good friends!  :-)

Yet Rob Peterson has never taken me bowling. TALK IS CHEAP, Robert!!!!

Pfft. Joke's on you, Al. Have you ever seen Ian and John Blazel, Esq.Esq., in the sane room at the same time? Think hard...

The last time I saw John Blazel was in St Louis in 1999. He kicked a ball in my face and claimed it was an accident.

Uhh...that was Madison, Wisconsin I-Man...

LIke others have said, I love the camaraderie (often in the form of hilarious insults) and that I know and have fun with a whole bunch of people I never would have known (many from around the world). I also love that there's always something to play for. Cups and titiles are obvious, but even in seasons without those in the mix for us, there's still avoiding relegation, rebuilding and not caring about losing in those years, etc. I have not done any other fantasy thing which has so many different ways to have fun, win or lose.

I've started most seasons recently with the specific target of avoiding relegation. If you don't believe me look at my T11 and T16 stats. Literally, the only enjoyment I got from last season was thrashing AFC Fylde by 10-1 - but to be fair that was more than enough.

I have no recollection of kicking a ball into Ian's face.  But my lack of skills make that entirely possible.  And it would have been an accident.  Unless it was Al.

Mr Blazel is of course better known as a manager than a player. Given his many MSWL Olmec titles in the 90s, won't be long before Swindon are up there.