[FM20] When the 'Well runs over...

[metallimuse]

May 2037/38

A stuttering way to end the season as after we won against the Jambos and Celtic beat the Hibees we both drew our last three games and we ended up as champions for the fifth time in a row.

 

[metallimuse]

Season 2037/38 Review:

A poor season by our standards as we went out of both domestic cups early and limped to the title.

We had some great results in Europe in the group stages this year but again we have failed to advance past the first round knockouts.

None of the squad really jumped out this year and had a great season but they all dug deep and got us over the line with the league.

A season to forget really.

Next up we'll have an in-depth look at how the players have improved or not over the past twelve months.

Edited May 17, 2020 by metallimuse

[metallimuse]

Player Analysis 2037/38

A year on and the players have done well over the twelve months with nearly everyone improving! So let’s get down to it.

 

van Ottele has been solid all season and improved by nearly a whole percent. Conor has got better also but he will be off as he wants a new challenge and clearly can’t wait to get out as he’s been missing training.

 

Out on the right and first choice complete wing back Donkor is one of the few who have not got better over the season but he’s put in strong performances all year so I’m not too concerned.

Montemuiño at 26 has seen a big improvement these past twelve months and looks like he’s coming into his prime.

Maguire has shown improvement also and had quite a bit of game time this season but he’s now a covering player for either flank rather than an important player or one for the future.

 

Nathan Aitken and Montemuiño again have shown big improvements but sadly Lee Bell has dropped off a bit this year. All the defence has had good seasons though and I’m not worried about  this part of the team at all.

 

 

My man Montemuiño again with the improvements and this is his biggest jump out on the left as an inverted wing back.

Jiangshan Qin is still improving and is a beast out there.

 

So to the midfield and firstly the regista options.

Song has been brilliant in the role all season popping up with important goals and vital passes.

Campbell has filled in mainly when Song was rested and played some great football but he hasn’t improved over the year. Stevenson dropped in as well on occasions and the others featured could play there but did not get game time in this role this year. It’s good to have options though.

 

Academy graduates Ross and Shields have again had big improvements over the past twelve months although Shields sadly didn’t get as much game time as I would of liked.

Stevenson played in this role for the big games this year and did very well.

 

The creative spark in the midfield pairing has shone bright this season and hopefully in a year’s time Ross will be pushing to break the 70% suitability for the role.

 

 

Out on the right Zoungrana and Núñez are streets ahead of the others but all have done well when called apon.

It might be time for Bircevic to move on though.

 

 

Out on the left and Koopowitz is one of the few to have gone backwards this year. Shocked by it as he’s done well particularly in the early days of the season. Pablo may be the worst on paper but whenever he played he was on fire. I hope he never comes to me wanting a new challenge.

 

And finally up top.

Academy graduates McCulloch and Masson have shot up this season which is great to see. Again, Koopowitz dropped here as well over the past year.

The strike force wasn’t as potent as last year but I have faith in the lads.

 

So over the year it’s great to see the development of the lads. There was only 9 out 42 spots that didn’t improve which is a great return.

I was pleased with all the lads this year and if it was up to me the only player that I think needs to move on this summer is Bircevic who, despite doing well, is surplus to requirements.

Stevenson and Leitch want to leave for new challenges though so a new keeper needs to come in this summer.

Let’s see how the close season plays out…

Edited May 17, 2020 by metallimuse

[metallimuse]

Three Scottish teams in the Champions League now is fantastic.

[metallimuse]

Season 2038/39 Preview:

So the bookies have made Celtic slight favourites for the title this year, probably due to the transfer activity so far (more on that to come in the next post).

This year feels like another year of consolidating and I'll be putting more effort on the domestic campaign rather than Europe and promoting a few of the academy boys to play more and see how they do and take the time to really scout any area's that need strengthening if they aren't up to it.

I'd like to be able to manage a double this year, I'd take that as a good year. 

[metallimuse]

Summer Transfer Window 2038

Some big business this summer as quite a few of the team leave.

As I mentioned previously Leitch and Stevenson wanted to go to pursue new challenges so I didn't stand in their way after many years of great service.

Campbell also came to me after SIPG came sniffing around so we allowed him to go.

Song had his head turned and wanted to leave for his homeland so I didn't stand in his way again, maybe I'm too soft?

Zoungrana was moaning wanting a new contract and he was already on close to £100k a week and despite our finances being strong I thought that was just too much for a Scottish team so I put him up for sale and the Blades came in with a big bid which I accepted.

Lee Bell had his value doubled after batted away three offers so in the end money talks and I agreed to sell.

 

Some huge money coming into the club but my only investment for this window was a back up keeper...

A solid signing who I'm sure will come on leaps and bounds and move on in the future for a nice profit.

 

With all the sales a few of the academy boys have stepped up to the main squad...

[metallimuse]

August 2038/39

A solid start to the season as we kicked off the campaign at home to Killie with a brace from Andy Masson in midfield sending us on our way to a win before we faced Championship leaders Queen of the South in the Betfred Cup and carved out an easy win.

A bit of a stutter as we dropped points away up the road to Aberdeen but we regained our form to beat third place Hibs away over in Edinburgh, another brace this time from Qin getting us the three points.

End of the month and we sit joint top with the Bhoys again.

 

The Champions League group has been drawn and it's a toughie but not insurmountable...but we have sold a lot of players so it's definitely trickier than we would have liked.

[metallimuse]

September 2038/39

Our good start to the season continues as we go the full month 100% domestically and our only slip up all month was a defeat away in the San Siro to Italian big boys AC Milan, no shame in that.

We played some absolutely beautiful football this month and have been clinical with shots created regularly creating double the shots of our opponents.

A hugely important victory at home to Celtic has meant we now sit two points clear at the top of the table at the end of the month.

[metallimuse]

October 2038/39

A strong month overall for the lads but ended in despair as we lost out at the end of the month as we lost in the Betfred Cup Semi Final to the 'Gers.

We did well in the league and we won in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon, the win against the 'Gers in the league being the big one.

In the Betfred Cup we played well and were unlucky to lose on penalties.

Celtic have dropped off but the 'Gers are the ones pushing us this year.

Edited May 19, 2020 by metallimuse

[metallimuse]

November 2038/39

A solid month for the club started with a win over Sporting which guaranteed us Champions League football after Christmas again.

We then had league wins over Killie and St Mirren and stretched our lead over Rangers to five points.

We fielded a very youthful team against Fenerbahçe and did very well and still came away with the three points and the win bonus for the coffers. Liam Ross bossed the game playing in the regista role spraying passes around the park.

We slipped up at home to the Dons, I feel like they are becoming my banana skin this year.

As we head into the festive period we still find ourselves top of the league by three points.

[metallimuse]

Youth Intake 2039 Preview:

This doesn't look like a good crop of newgens.

[metallimuse]

December 2038/39

A decent festive period for the club as we remain top of the league.

Draws against the big guns of the Old Firm were disappointing from the point of view that I wanted to start to open up a lead to be more flexible with team selections but we didn't lose so that's fine. 

We lost the dead rubber against Milan as we played a youthful team again and actually played quite well in terms of the football on the park but the scoreline did not reflect that.

We have extended our league slightly at the top but Rangers do have a game in hand.

I'm mid-Jan about to restart after the winter break and can tell you all that there's been transfer activity 

[metallimuse]

Winter Transfer Window 2039:

A trio of players brought in and one player departs in the window.

After six and a half years of service the ever dependable Zoran Bircevic has left us for the riches of China. Signed for £2m and sold for over £20m his signing was a great piece of business. The time was right for him to move on for pastures new.

 

So let's take a look at the new boys.

Our first Greek signing. This lad was being looked at by Newcastle but after I identified him I stole a march and snapped him up straight away after my scouts told me he enjoyed big matches. I promised him 'star player' status and while that probably won't happen over the next six months it will be the case from next season as Qin will more than likely be on his way.

 

Stole this fella from Bayern by offering £5m. I was looking for a left raumdeuter but saw Enis and thought he'd make a great regista and that's where he'll feature for me.

 

And finally...

Carlos has been handed the number eleven shirt and is my big hope for the left hand raumdeuter role. I've obviously got the next few years in mind with the signing but I've every confidence that he will come good. He's got bags of potential to start with.

[metallimuse]

January 2038/39

A tricky start to 2039 for us as we stuttered to two draws to kick off the year before we found our form and got back to winning ways.

We faced Aberdeen, my banana skin this year, three times this month. We drew in the Scottish Cup before beating them in the league and then again in the cup to keep the dream of a double alive.

Rangers dropped points as well this month with a draw in the new year's Old Firm game and a loss to the Jambo's so we've now actually opened up a nice lead at the top.

 

The Champions League returns at the end of February, the draw has obviously been made and here's what it looks like...

I don't have the Spanish league loaded but a look at the league history shows Valencia must have finished fourth last year, I feel like this is a winnable tie.

[metallimuse]

February 2038/39

Another solid month for the club as we inch closer to six in a row.

The new boys have settled in well with Carlos even getting himself on the scoresheet over the course of the month and Milagres picking up a lot of minutes as van Ottele went down with an injury.

We dropped points against the Bhoys and the Hibees with draws but Rangers have failed to capitalise fully.

We hosted Valencia in the Champions League and played a compact, defensive style which paid dividends as we managed to grab a win.

 

[metallimuse]

Youth Intake 2039:

Here's what the Head of Youth Development has to say...

And here's a generic overview of the boys...

I'm relatively happy with this intake. No worldie's in it but a few that I can work with and bring up to squad player status to help with the Champions League registration.

This young keeper I'm quite high on...

[metallimuse]

March 2038/39

A tough month this month as we started the month getting totally "FM'd" by our local rivals Hamilton. They had four shots all game compared to our thirty seven!

We regained our form and stuck three past Dundee, McCroary getting a brace but his days are numbered as he will be on his way out this summer after failing to live up to his potential.

A two all draw away in Spain has seen us advance to the Quarter Finals of the Champions League but that will probably be as far as our journey goes as we drew Liverpool next.

We rode our luck against the Jambo's and it didn't hold out as they bagged themselves an equalizer with three minutes left to make me sweat the run in.

A loss to Rangers in the final game would really have turned the screw but after being "FM'd" at the start of the month we "FM'd" someone as we picked up the three points despite only managing two shots all game to their nineteen.

 

As we head into the split there's still a four point gap over the Bhoys.

[metallimuse]

April 2038/39

A bleak month of sorts as our league form has been terrible.

We crashed out of the Scottish Cup in the semi's to Rangers thanks to some horrendous scheduling. We had to play the 'Gers twice in 72 hours ahead of our Champions League Quarter Final with Liverpool so we literally played squad players and two under 18's to keep the main team fresh for the Champions League.

The decision paid off though as we went defensive at home to the Scouser's and pulled off a famous victory at the John Hunter Arena.

We went to Anfield in the return leg and managed to get a score draw to send us through to the Semi's! An incredible achievement!

We then lost the next two league games as the top six split began to leave Celtic perilously close to us in the league.

Cash rich City was next up in the Champions League as we took on Thomas Tuchel's side for the chance to get to the final of the Champions League. We played tight and defensively and left the City of Manchester stadium with an away goal and a draw and still very much in this tie.

After all our heroics in Europe we came up short in the league and lost to Celtic and we've now conceded top spot in the league on goal difference with two games to go. The Old Firm still have to meet and Rangers also have a game in hand which could mean that all three of us could be sat equal on points so the title could be going anywhere this season.

As we head into the final month of the season this could either be the greatest season the club has ever seen or go down as a huge "what could have been".

 

[metallimuse]

**SPOILER ALERT**

[metallimuse]

May 2038/39

What an INCREDIBLE way to end the season!

A perfect month with wins in all four games which resulted in us winning the league on helicopter Sunday as Celtic drew with Rangers in the Old Firm game and a tight, narrow win in the Champions League Final thanks to a penalty goal from Qin as Masson got hacked down on a mazy run into the box from midfield.

This is the stuff of dreams and although the point of this thread was to do exactly this I'm still so thoroughly delighted to actually accomplish it.

I've not won a Champions League since FM12 and I've never won it with a Scottish team despite chasing it every year since I started playing.

[metallimuse]

Season 2038/39 Review

WHAT A SEASON!

It's strange to say considering what we accomplished but we didn't actually do all that well this season in my eyes.

We sold a lot of our better players at the start of the season and the football wasn't all that great but somehow we've finished the season as champions of Europe.

As you can see from above only half the squad were on it this year performing well consistently and I expected that as like I said, we'd sold our best players.

This was meant to be a season of blooding the youngsters and scouting out the positions we needed filling to take us to the next level in a few years and have an assault on the Champions League yet somehow we ended up as Champions of Europe.

This will ultimately go down as the clubs greatest ever season and it's a season that on completion I'm incredibly happy with but playing through it I certainly didn't think it would end like this.

 

Interested to see how the in depth player analysis will look in the next post after the things we've accomplished this year.

[Rikulec]

Finally!

[metallimuse]

1 minute ago, Rikulec said:

Finally!

I didn’t think it was ever going to happen!

People on here post about winning the Champions League all the time like it’s easy but I’ve only ever accomplished it three times now, the last time being 8 years ago! 

So happy.

[metallimuse]

So before we get into player specifics for their roles you may remember many pages back that I'd be adopting a club DNA which I wanted to be the ethos of my players and my club.

I wanted players who were comfortable on the ball, could read the game and followed instructions.

Let's have a little look at what that looks for the squad now.

 

It's surprise to see the bulk of the players at the top have been signings and the ones down the bottom products of our youth academy. If there's one thing that I've criminally ignored over my many years of playing it's how to do my own training. I generally leave it to the assistant. This shows that I need to start to learn how to do it myself so I can better sculpt my club around the vision I want.

Edited May 22, 2020 by metallimuse

[metallimuse]

In-depth Player Analysis 2038/39:

 

All players are graded the same as last year so let’s have a look and see if our European run has resulted in any shifts in players abilities.

 

 

My goalies this year have been solid and dependable without really excelling. I don’t think I’ve had a stand out keeper since the days of Sandro Cesar to be honest.

There is a young lad coming through the reserves and under 18’s though who I’m quite high on so van Ottele if an offer comes in my go. Well, either can go if an offer comes in actually.

 

Moses Donkor has been an absolute beast for me this year weighing in with 13 assists and being so dependable to really take the game to the opposition. The fact that he’s still improving at his age of 29 is also brilliant.

Montemuiño has filled in on occasion but Maguire has been the main stand in and he’s sadly gone backwards over the past 12 months.

 

 

Central defence has been sturdy this year and the partnership of Karabasevic and Aitken early in the season was a strong factor in that before injury had me slot in Montemuiño for Aitken. I think that was the key to my Champions League run if I’m being honest.

Aitken and Montemuiño have improved over the twelve months and look at the jump for MacGregor who got 24 games under his belt this year in his first season for us after coming through the academy. 17 years old and a big future ahead for him.

Karabasevic has come to me wanting a hugely inflated contract now we’ve won the Holy Grail so I think he will be moved on this summer to allow more game time for McGregor.

 

Qin is obviously the jewel in the team and my starting inverted wing back on the left. He’s had a great year for the club but he will be gone this summer, hopefully for a record fee as he’s currently valued at £63m and a German international now.

Fitros has already been bought as his replacement and while he won’t hit the heights of Qin he’s a great signing and will do well for us this coming season.

Montemuiño has filled in here a few times when needed but Maguire is the main understudy and again he has decreased over the past 12 months and I’m considering putting him out to pasture and seeing if someone from the rezzies or under 18’s can step up.

 

And on to the midfield…

Karabasevic and Qin can both fill in as regista but are not my preferred choice. I did actually give some games to Qin here after I signed Fitros but he seemed to choke despite his impressive score for the role.

Academy graduate Liam Ross has now made the role his own this season with some lovely, intelligent performances really showing what a cool head he has on his young shoulders.

Shabani sadly spent a big chunk of the past 6 months out with a bad injury which means that he will probably be Ross’s understudy next season despite being brought in to make the role his.

Smith was promoted to the seniors this year to make up some numbers but turns out I’d been sleeping on a very good talent and a player who can definitely hold his own as a young kid coming through. I don’t think he’ll hit the heights of Ross but his stats and performances have really made me question whether Shabani needed to be signed.

 

And so to my midfield destroyer…

Martin Shields has been my go to guy for the role this year after the departures of Song and Campbell last summer. Ross and Smith have also had game time here to get them on the park and I’ve promoted young McLean for the year ahead also.

An area of weakness if I’m being truthful but I’m happy enough to give the academy boys time to play in this position, mainly as it helps with my Champions League registration.

 

Núñez and Masson have been fighting to nail down this role this year but as Bircevic left in January Núñez has been required to go back to the right raumdeuter role. Masson has had another solid season and chipped in with 12 goals mainly from this position rather than the few times he was deployed up top.

Smith, Ross and Stewart all filled in here on occasion and did well.

You may be wondering who Omar Vaca is and the answer to that is he’s my first signing for the new season. Signed him in March and he’s only just arrived at the club. I normally take the data for this June 1^st before any transfers but after the excitement and the whisky from winning the Champions League I forgot and I’ve actually taken the data from the day after the transfer window opened.

So we can have a look at his stats ahead of the season and see his growth next year. He’s got bags of potential and can play here or either wing.

 

Next up my raumdeuters, both flanks.

The only player to improve over the year was Koopowitz. We don’t know if Ramos has improved yet as he only joined in January but he’s had a great six months for a young lad in a new country and I’m looking for great things from him and Vaca in the next 12 months.

Sadly Pablo is stagnating and it might be that, like Maguire, he gets cut this summer. I’ve loved him and he’s been so dependable and versatile since he sprung on the scene but he hasn’t been able to keep up with the strides the club has made and on paper he just isn’t cutting it any more.

Fitros can also play out on the left up top in a pinch so I’ve included him but he won’t get game time there unless I’m struggling.

Stewart also looks like this could be the role he grows into. Núñez is 30 now so I’m undecided as to if I should cash in on him now and push Stewart more and spread game time out with him and Vaca and Ramos.

Maybe, maybe.

 

And finally, up top.

McCulloch has been my regular starter this year but with 15 goals from 43 games it wasn’t the greatest return. He went through a horrible barren run at one point but seemed to come up with important goals at the right times. I’ll be sticking with him next year.

McCroary, like a few others I’ve mentioned before, is going to leave this summer. He’s been a decent squad player but at 23 he needs to go out and get regular football as I want to give a chance to youngster David Adamson who at 18 looks like he’s ready to be McCulloch’s understudy.

Pablo, we’ve already discussed.

 

 

 

So there we have it, a roundup of the movers and shakers from the past twelve months.

We’ve got some solid kids coming through the academy who can go on and be good squad players for us and we’ve got Ross who’s come through and the team will be built around.

We’ve got some older academy graduates who now need to move on to further their careers.

Like Elton said once before, “The circle of life”.

Edited May 22, 2020 by metallimuse

[metallimuse]

We are now ranked in the top ten in Europe but more importantly look at what's happening next season...

FOUR Scottish teams in the Group Stages of the Champions League!

That's HUGE. I can't imagine how that will play out with the money that will bring to who joins us and the Old Firm.

[_Ben_]

23 hours ago, metallimuse said:

I didn’t think it was ever going to happen!

People on here post about winning the Champions League all the time like it’s easy but I’ve only ever accomplished it three times now, the last time being 8 years ago! 

So happy.

Congratulations!

Things are moving forward very nicely and you deserve all of the success!

What are the plans now?

[metallimuse]

11 hours ago, _Ben_ said:

Congratulations!

Things are moving forward very nicely and you deserve all of the success!

What are the plans now?

Thanks pal.

I’ve learnt so much doing this thread and reading yours.

The plan is for one more year documenting this save to round it off to 20 years, compete in the Super Cup and Club World Cup and then I’m going to start a new thread in the Portuguese lower leagues and try to do it all again. I’ve already done the grunt work and set up new excel sheets with differing formulas and modified club DNA and put together a modified tactic also. I’m excited to be bringing it to the boards after this final season.

[metallimuse]

Season 2039/40 Preview:

So, as I've just written in the previous post to @_Ben_ let's have a look at what will probably be my final season with this thread.

The bookies have unsurprisingly tipped us to top the table this year. I think this is probably a safe bet but I will be using kids this year as I'm still going to treat it like I would normally rather than spend all my huge balance in a blaze of glory so maybe I might come unstuck this year who knows?

 

The board, again, expect the league and for us to reach the finals of the domestic cups with us to merely be competitive in the Champions League.

 

For me, I'd like to add the Super Cup to the trophy cabinet, we face Borussia Dortmund for that in a few weeks.

We should be in the Club World Cup also as I'm sure I got a message saying I was entered into it after I won the Champions League but in my 'competitions' section it's not showing. But I'd love to add that to cap off a great twelve months and following that I'd be happy to end with just the league from at home.

If I finish with 'just' the league at the end though I'd still consider it a good season.

Right then, lets get going in this last season then!

[metallimuse]

July 2039/40

Well...I hadn't actually realised I'd be back this quick but if I'm being a stickler to the monthly updates....

Preseason went well. The results maybe not blowing you all away but we basically rotated players around to bring everyone back up to match fitness rather than worry about results.

The Galatasaray score line is actually better than it looks as I played none of my established players really and mainly the academy boys so to walk away and not be beaten I was very happy with.

Just the one competitive game this month and it was the season opener away to the Hibees which was a very exciting game to watch and we got some beautiful goals, especially Masson's first which caught everyone off guard with a bullet of a volley from outside of the box.

One game down and already top of the league 

[metallimuse]

Summer Transfer Window 2039:

A very quiet window for us in terms of signings, as I wrote earlier Vaca was tied up around March time so I haven't actually been actively looking around this summer.

A few lads have left, again quite big players but Karabasevic wanted the earth in a new contract and Donkor had his head turned so they both left.

Pablo's time had come to an end as I wrote previously and he's gone back home with a thick Scottish accent I'd like to think .

An offer came in for Milagres so as we have a young keeper coming through the ranks I decided to allow him to go.

Qin was a nightmare of a transfer window. Valued at £63m and sixteen teams after him but nobody would stump up a suitable offer. I had to turn teams down and he through a paddy so I told him if someone bid £80m I'd let him go. Truth be told the longer it dragged on I'd of accepted £70m but nobody would go above £65m so I allowed him to go on loan to the EPL with the idea that if he does well there then his value may go up further and teams will be bound to put a proper bid in for him right?

 

[metallimuse]

August 2039/40

Aaaaaaaaaaaand the season's away proper now 

I decided to rotate in a few of the young lads for the visit of Thistle hoping that if Kingsley turned up they wouldn't be too frightened .

Next up was the Super Cup, my early goal for the season but sadly it wasn't to be. It was a very even game with neither side imposing their will on the game but they popped up with a goal ten minutes from time to seal the win. I'd like to think that my old player Peng Song who was in the heart of the Dortmund midfield came around the lads telling them to not be too sad about it and they'd done the club proud.

We had Thistle again in the Betfred Cup and we rotated heavily for this but still came through it, a relatively easy tie against Dunfermline awaits us in the next round.

The North Lanarkshire derby was next and we shared the spoils on a hot, sunny, summer's day.

To finish off the month we hosted Killie and a goal from Montemuiño got us the three points to keep us within touching distance of the league summit. 

 

 

The eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted some of our Champions League Group opponents above but here's who we drew...

...get ready...

...it's a toughie...

I mean, if it weren't for the fact that we are the current champions I'd say we had no chance