Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) After reading through both @phnompenhandy & @Tikka Mezzala's saves I've decided I want to go back to Scotland where I've had great Shetland & New Elgin saves but this time there's a twist. I can sign players, but I can only sign players born in the Scottish Highlands which is going to be very tough, even if non-Highland born players start at my club or come through the youth system they will be released. I'm using a 13 tier Scotland database but we start in the 10th tier, the Highland Amateur League Division Three. We're going to be managing Tongue Utd, based in Tongue and west of Thurso right up at the top of Scotland. Why Tongue Utd? Well because they're from North, West & Central Sutherland, the region of Scotland with the lowest population density at just 1.23 people per/km and with the entire region of 4,820km2 having a population of just 5,930? Mental. The aim? Honestly? Just see how far we can go, the best teams in the area are Ross County & Inverness Caledonian Thistle so to rival them would be unreal! As a long term side goal I would like to have players come through from every single village, town and city in the Highland & Island region of Scotland, there are 70 in the database. Highland Star Men To get a level of the absolute best in Highland quality, the best paid players from the region are Southamptons' Stuart Armstrong, Bournemouths' Ryan Christie & Kilmarnocks' Liam Polworth, all of which are from Inverness. The next best is Ross Countys' local lad Josh Reid from Dingwall. The best players not from Inverness or Dingwall? Rangers' 19 year old James Graham and Ross Countys' 20 year old Adam Mackinnon both from Stornoway. Edited December 3, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) The Setup: Scotland is the only league loaded as playable. Every other European league is loaded as view-only. Edited December 3, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) Due to the nature of the challenge I think it would be best for Youth Recruitment to stay limited, we don't want players coming from far and wide. As you can see there's quite a lot of the squad which aren't from the Highlands, in fact only three players qualify. Luca Gamble, Barry Ferries & John Moore. I would like my staff to also all be from the Highlands but that might be quite difficult. Next I'll be setting up scout filters to only show players based in the 70 places in the Highlands and then hopefully build a team. Edited December 3, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 OH OH OH OH OH As you knew all along, I am absolutely hooked, obsessed and in love with this thread. The last time I stayed in the Highlands, the week before the first covid lockdown, I stayed in an isolated guest house known as Crask Inn, just a few miles down the road from Tongue. To me, THIS MEANS MORE It will also be fascinating to see how your career compares with my current one with Kirkwall Thorfinn. I used the same database but customised it for my own preferences. I'm in preseason in tier 10 right now, but of course you'll bomb on and leave me for dust! So, best of luck with your save. I hope you'll enjoy playing and writing it up as much as I will reading it! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 14 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: OH OH OH OH OH As you knew all along, I am absolutely hooked, obsessed and in love with this thread. The last time I stayed in the Highlands, the week before the first covid lockdown, I stayed in an isolated guest house known as Crask Inn, just a few miles down the road from Tongue. To me, THIS MEANS MORE It will also be fascinating to see how your career compares with my current one with Kirkwall Thorfinn. I used the same database but customised it for my own preferences. I'm in preseason in tier 10 right now, but of course you'll bomb on and leave me for dust! So, best of luck with your save. I hope you'll enjoy playing and writing it up as much as I will reading it! Thanks Andy! I always enjoy seeing your saves and challenges! Nice! So wee play at Betthill Park which annoyingly is in Bettyhill, 13 miles away and 32 miles away from the Crask Inn! From what I can gather this is the pitch, a bit basic, and no parking! Kirkwall Thorfinn are in the same league as us! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 After setting up the filters there are 676 players willing to sign for us, I think it's safe to release my squad barring the three I've mentioned previously and build anew! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 1 minute ago, Makoto Nakamura said: Thanks Andy! I always enjoy seeing your saves and challenges! Nice! So wee play at Betthill Park which annoyingly is in Bettyhill, 13 miles away and 32 miles away from the Crask Inn! From what I can gather this is the pitch, a bit basic, and no parking! Kirkwall Thorfinn are in the same league as us! I assumed 'Betthill' is a typo, along with the highly irritating "ThorNfinn". Did you see my favourite house, just along the coast from Tongue? I guess you might in time be monitoring youths rejected by Ross County and Caley Thistle, although Highland League Brora and Wick are near enough (the last match I took in was Brora Rangers v Wick Academy). The cancellation of the season cheated uncatchable champions Brora of a shot at the SFL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 13 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: I assumed 'Betthill' is a typo, along with the highly irritating "ThorNfinn". Did you see my favourite house, just along the coast from Tongue? I guess you might in time be monitoring youths rejected by Ross County and Caley Thistle, although Highland League Brora and Wick are near enough (the last match I took in was Brora Rangers v Wick Academy). The cancellation of the season cheated uncatchable champions Brora of a shot at the SFL. Most definitely. You appear to have walled yourself quite a small garden when you have so much space around you! That will be the aim once we reach that level, I've now signed an entire new squad five of which last played for St. Duthus, three for Inverness Athletic and three for Halkirk Utd. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 2023/24 Pre-Season I'll take that! A really good and unbeaten pre-season as we get an entirely fresh team to try to gel. The side of the pitch will be packed. A very even league as you can see. The fresh squad! Key Players: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 Very strong and experienced squad there. You should smash the season. At some point you'll run out of good Highlanders, though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLutterworthFox Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 Looking forward to following along with this! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 3 hours ago, phnompenhandy said: Very strong and experienced squad there. You should smash the season. At some point you'll run out of good Highlanders, though! And that's where we'll have to make the best squad we can out of the mediocre Highlanders that remain! 8 minutes ago, TheLutterworthFox said: Looking forward to following along with this! Thanks LutterworthFox, glad to have you on-board! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 19/8/23 - Amateur Cup Qualifying Round Nairn United vs Tongue United Our first competitive match! Nairn United are in the Aberdeenshire Amateur Division One, on that field. I think we've made out intentions clear. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 26/8/23 - Highland Amateur Cup First Round (Highland Amateur Division Two) CSK Highfield vs Tongue Utd (Highland Amateur Division Three) CSK are the league above us but I can find no information about them. We're clear favourites though. There is a stand, but not for CSK Highfield, the stand is for the Inverness Shinty Club. They have a manager! But no shots on target and we're easily through to the second round. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 Nice start. You're outdoing me not only on the field but in the photography department, too! Keep up the good work! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) 7 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: Nice start. You're outdoing me not only on the field but in the photography department, too! Keep up the good work! Including the two matches we've already played there's five away games to start the season so there'll be a few more pictures yet! I thought I'd try something different taking inspiration from both yourself and @Stuniverse's way of updating! And no instant result! Thank you, I shall try my best! Edited December 3, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 2/9/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday One (7th) Inver AFC - Tongue Utd (12th) Clear favourites but our strikers just had a poor game. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 6/9/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday Two (5th) Kirkwall Thorfinn - Tongue Utd (7th) Well that was just awful, an entire xG more, more possession yet we finish 4-2 losers. @phnompenhandy will be happy. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 3, 2023 Share Posted December 3, 2023 Yaay, I sure am. Did we take our jumpers for goalposts home with us? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 9/9/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 3 (6th) Invergordon Social Club vs Tongue United (10th) That's more like it! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 10 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: Yaay, I sure am. Did we take our jumpers for goalposts home with us? Well they made it into somebody's washing machine, but I'm not sure who. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 16/9/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 4 (4th) Tongue United vs Blackrock Rovers (10th) Our first home game of the season! The easiest 3-0 win you'll ever see, their one shot on target was in the 93rd minute. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 23/9/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 5 (3rd) Tongue United vs Avoch (2nd) Another very easy win but against a team that were above us in the league, not any more! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) 30/9/23 - Amateur Cup First Round (3rd Highland Amateur Division Three) Tongue United vs Halkirk (12th Highland Amateur Division Two) We made it look far harder than it should have been, but we're through to the second round! Edited December 3, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 4/10/23 - Highland Amateur Cup Second Round (1st Highland League Division One) Dingwall FC vs Tongue United (3rd Highland League Division Three) Dingwall FC play right next door to Ross County and for once we aren't favourites! Bloody awful. Stephen didn't make a save until the 80th minute, by which point they'd scored 6 goals from 6 shots on target. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 7/10/23 - Amateur Cup Second Round (3rd Highland Amateur Division Three) Tongue United vs Maryburgh (2nd Highland Amateur Division Two) Jamie Stephen is really playing his way out of the team conceding another three goals from five shots on target. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 (edited) 11/10/23 - Jock Mackay Memorial Cup First Round (4th Highland Amateur Division Three) Tongue United vs Fochabers (4th Highland Amateur League) We kept a clean sheet! Edited December 3, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 14/10/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 6 (4th) Tongue United vs Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union (2nd) First league match in three weeks so it's nice to come away with a win! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 3, 2023 Author Share Posted December 3, 2023 21/10/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 7 (8th) Lochbroom vs Tongue United (5th) There are no pictures that I can see of the pitch. We should've done better, the second half had two incidents but next to no higlights. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) 25/10/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 8 (2nd) Tongue United vs Dornoch (7th) Stephen concedes two from two shots on target. I may have only just noticed that he's a goalkeeper who is 5'9" and our tallest keeper is 5'10". Oops. It's only temporary, but we're top of the league! Edited December 4, 2023 by Makoto Nakamura 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 28/10/23 - Jock Mackay Memorial Cup Second Round (11th Highland Amateur Division One) Embo vs Tongue United (1st Highland Amateur Division Three) We were actually outplayed but we come away with a good 4-1 win! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 1/11/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 9 (1st) Tongue United vs Staxigoe United (10th) We kept a clean sheet and absolutely destroyed Staxigoe! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 We're not giving an inch, either! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 4/11/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 10 (11th) Wick Groats vs Tongue United (1st) We concede a late equaliser to the team with the joint 2nd worst attack and worst defence in the league which pushes us down to 2nd with Kirkwall Thorfinn having a game in hand. I think it's time to take Jamie Stephen out of the team, see if either of the others can do better. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 11 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: We're not giving an inch, either! You're grinding out 1-0's at the moment but a win is a win and you're good at the top of the table! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 11/11/23 - Scottish Amateur Cup 3rd Round (2nd Highland Amateur Division Three) Tongue United vs Calderglen AFC (4th Caledonian Amateur Division One) Sean gets an 8.7 on his debut, a clean sheet and saves a penalty. Welcome to the first team. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 An actual goalkeeper who saves goals - wow, that's a unicorn n my world! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 2 minutes ago, phnompenhandy said: An actual goalkeeper who saves goals - wow, that's a unicorn n my world! It's a change from the norm, but how will he cope when we get back to league fixtures? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 18/11/23 - Jock Mackay Memorial Cup Fourth Round (2nd Highland Amateur Division Three) Tongue United vs North West Skye (1st Highland Amateur League) North West Skye are yet to lose a game this season and are six points clear at the top of their league which we need three promotions to get into although Fochabers are 4th in that league and we managed to beat them. They have players with actual faces! Ah, back to normality, I wouldn't say it was a bad own goal, but it was a strong deflection and then we conceded with there only shot on target. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 25/11/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 11 (4th) Dingwall Victoria United vs Tongue United (2nd) Another poor performance. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 2/12/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 12 (2nd) Tongue United vs Inver (8th) We keep a clean sheet and Kirkwall Thorfinn lose to a late Lochbroom penalty so we reach top of the table! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 9/12/23 - Scottish Amateur Cup Fourth Round (2nd Highland Amateur League) Balloan Football Club vs Tongue United (2nd Highland Amateur Division Three) Real player faces and a real manager! We were doing well until the 86th minute, making the subs in the 68th minute and Sean Milligan was feeling unsure, as you can tell by his performance late in the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 16/12/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 13 (12th) Blackrock Rovers vs Tongue United (2nd) An easy win away at bottom of the table Blackrock Rovers sees us hold on to top spot. And we have our youth preview! I'm praying they're Highlands based. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 23/12/23 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 14 (1st) Tongue United vs Invergordon Social Club (7th) Another big win and now we have the top two for scorers, average rating and assists! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 6/1/24 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 15 (4th) Avoch vs Tongue United (1st) Five shots on target, four goals conceded. Great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 20/1/24 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 16 (2nd) Tongue United vs Kirkwall Thorfinn (1st) Get in! We beat Kirkwall! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 So I've made some changes to the staff now, this was the before. And the after, this is all the staff we were actually allowed but it's nice having an all Highland backroom team now as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 Harry Spence is no big loss, Robbie Scott is a massive, massive loss. I didn't realise that we are Robbie's 3rd club so he won't be able to play for us this season 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeshy Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 Thistle (This'll. No?) be ace 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted December 4, 2023 Author Share Posted December 4, 2023 3/2/24 - Highland Amateur Division Three Matchday 17 (4th) Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union vs Tongue United (1st) We're only okay when the opposition doesn't have a shot on target. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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