[FM24] Tulach Bòide [Scotland Tier 13]

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, TIR669 said:

So on that note, I think you should maybe pay more attention (and on time) to key players' contracts, e.g. Porojan has 3yrs left - why not 5+? How's Brownlie looking like anyway? And why he's refusing your offers, is it reputation or?

This is the squad listed by CA. 

You will see that 15 of the top 18 players have been signed to long-term contracts with their initial deal having at least 2 years left and a +3 also being added in 14 out of 15 cases. 

The 3 players who have not got a long contract or a +3 are as follows. 

(53a) Brownlie (Res) 6.0" * won't sign a new contract. He's just too good for us and my plan is to sell him for a big long structured deal with loads of add-ons that will ideally also include a loan back for 1 season. He's basically just too good for us and he and everyone else knows it. Real Madrid, Dortmund, Arsenal, Man Utd & Everton are after him. 

(44h) Lemetti (F.Pro) 6'3" is 29 years old and has 18 months left on his contract. I will probably offer him a new contract towards the end of the season. You can see where he is in the pecking order at the moment by the fact that he only made 14 league appearances last season and 3 of them were from the bench. 

(38a) Arthurs (NIR)(F.Det) * is running on empty and if he was a horse you would put him down. (Poor taste joke). I have to be careful to make sure that he doesn't make 20 appearances in the league after his return to fitness, because I don't want to trigger a +1 on his contract. He's already made 3(4) appearances in the league so 13 more would do it. 

The only player who has a +2 rather than a +3 is (48a) Edwards (F.Det) 5'5" * and that's because I don't expect him to be here at the end of that contract. The +3 was going to cost more and I just didn't think it was worth it. He's 25 years old and has 3.5 years on his contract with a +2 on top of that. I really hope he's not here late in his contract. 

You mentioned (52d) Porojan (ROU)(Spirit) * not having a longer contract, but he's got 2.5 years left on his contract with a +3 on top of that.  That's ok isn't it? The reason I opted not to extend that further is because he was already on the max limit of £10k pw and to extend it was going to cost at least double that and at the time I didn't want to break the budget. In any case, he's being trailed by Arsenal, Villa, Brighton & Chelsea so doesn't want to sign a new contract now. 

There is a balance to be had between tying players down for as long as possible and getting the most out of the player, whether that be in terms of performances or remuneration. Many a time I've kept a player against his wishes only to really struggle with performances after that. I'm completely fine with selling any single player because it funds what we're doing for years after that. 

I've just done a rough calculation and have counted that we have sold players to the tune of approx £212M over the last 14 or so years. Some of the sell-ons we''ve had have been significant, and we've had regular smaller amounts trickling on non-stop over that period too that aren't included in the total. It's the selling of these players that allows this save to continue and which will give me the opportunity to develop the facilities further when the chance arrives. You seem to think that selling players is bad and that keeping them at the club, (or bringing them back no matter what it costs), is the solution to every obstacle. I'm afraid saves like this really don't work like that. 

We've probably spent somewhere in the region of £100M on facilities and wages on top of the £190M we have in the bank. That money has come from player sales and sell-on clauses. For the most part we were playing in a tiny stadium and it was only as recently as 2051 that we moved into a 16k capacity stadium. Before that we were playing in a stadium with a capacity of about 6,200, (or something like that). The only reason we've only spent £100M more than we've brought in via player sales is because I've kept the wage spend so low. Without that a save like this just doesn't work. 

£190M sounds like a lot of money, but actually it's really not in the grand scheme of things. I think we'll loose £30M this season if I don't sell anyone and then next season should be better because we move from a 16k stadium into a 24k stadium, but our sponsorship is still pitiful and our ticket sales are still tiny in comparison to the likes of Celtic and Rangers. 

Together with Celtic, we're 1 of only 2 "Rich" clubs in Scotland, and I've had to work hard for that. It's these "Riches" which will hopefully unlock the next facility upgrades and allow us to progress to the next levels. 

Reputation. A big part of unlocking the next upgrades is us "popping" from National to Continental rep. Unfortunately there isn't a quick solution and it's lots of small steps forward rather than 1 big one. We've got to the stage now, (I think), where assuming we qualify for the Knockout Stages of the Champions League, i should be able to swap the 1st Team to European games (midweek), and the 2nd Team to domestic games (weekend) and still win the league, and this will be the catalyst, (hopefully), towards progressing further in the Champions League, (although I may have screwed that this season with our poor early season form in Europe). First and foremost we have to win the league though. 

7,042 Tullibody. 
6,884 Hibs. 
6,754 Celtic.

[Jimbokav1971]

55 minutes ago, Rikulec said:

I think that 72,670 capacity new stadium they're moving into may have something to do with the financial mess they're in. 

You know I didn't even notice that. 

I think it might actually work out for them in the long run. They were averaging even 50k+ attendances at home when they were in the Championship, (I think the old capacity was 54,536), and they have sold 48,676 season tickets this season. 

an extra 20k tickets at every home game is worth close to £580k extra per game and over the course of a 38 game season, (19 home games), would generate approx £11M in additional income. Well that will make a hell of a dent in the loan repayments they have to make. Maybe things aren't looking as bleak at Rangers as I thought. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2057. 

Scottish Premiership. We only lost 1 game from 7 this month, but we still managed to drop 11 points, (which is a disaster). We're still top of the table and even have a 4 point buffer, but Kilmarnock especially are in good form. 

UEFA Champions League. Just as our form in the league has fallen apart, we've picked up the the Champions league. With 2 tough games still to play, we've still got lots of work to do to qualify, and with our form in the league faltering, it might not be quite so easy to swap the 1st Team round to play in Europe. 

League Cup. Remember, they're just friendlies..... 

Debuts. 

Transfers. 

Records. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 88/110 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

Edited May 30 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan 2058.

UEFA Champions League. I'm not quite sure how, but we have sneaked into the Knockout Playoffs while only winning 3 of our 8 games. Honestly, although we started the season well, this seems like it's been our toughest period of the save, (and that can't be right), but somehow we're still top of the league with 2 games in hand. This feels like an awful season but maybe we've been ok in the league and rubbish in the Cups. 

Scottish Cup. (The Big one). I rotated the squad completely, picked the starting XI based on PA with not a single 1st choice player starting and we paid the price. It's fine to do this when we're in good form. It's not fine to do it when we're struggling.  I screwed up big-time. 

 

Debuts. 

Records. When is a loss not a loss? When it's a loss on pens. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 88/110 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. We've already lost £40M this season now. Obviously some of that will be fees paid for incoming players, (£23.5M)

[Jimbokav1971]

Feb 2058.

Scottish Premiership. In my head we're having an absolute pig of a season, because I've blown it in both domestic Cups and because we've had a tough time in Europe, but actually we're top of the league by 3 points and have 2 games in hand, and actually we're doing really well. We've only lost 4 of 27 games!

UEFA Champions League. We were effectively knocked out in the 1st leg because we should have won by at least a couple of goals, but could only manage a draw. We hit the woodwork at least once and their GK had a blinder. We did ok in the 2nd leg and didn't deserve to lose by 2 goals, but the damage was done in the 1st leg. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 90/112 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[TIR669]

Awesome read, thx for taking the time to write it up.

Fraher indeed looks unreal and might just be off limits realistically, you're right. I'd still bother him with scouting his every match, praising him etc., just in case. Can't hurt.

I like your transfers this season and this was exactly my point honestly, nothing too excessive but still strengthening first XI with some older players that have the CA high enough to help out either domestically, continentally or both, while you chase that first euro trophy.* Antonazi is great, Gourley is rotation material too, and Brass6 is much more "meh" than I expected. Guy from Qatar would be my choice too once he reaches final contract year. Shame about Brownlie.

*Now I'm picky but can you give us an overview of European results per season, that club history - Europe screen or something that lists what stage you got knocked out each year.

Shame about youth facilities, I thought all were maxed out. It must be hardcoded to reputation as you say. To that point likely even winning the Cup year in year out is important. 

[Jimbokav1971]

2 hours ago, TIR669 said:

Awesome read, thx for taking the time to write it up.

Fraher indeed looks unreal and might just be off limits realistically, you're right. I'd still bother him with scouting his every match, praising him etc., just in case. Can't hurt.

I like your transfers this season and this was exactly my point honestly, nothing too excessive but still strengthening first XI with some older players that have the CA high enough to help out either domestically, continentally or both, while you chase that first euro trophy.* Antonazi is great, Gourley is rotation material too, and Brass6 is much more "meh" than I expected. Guy from Qatar would be my choice too once he reaches final contract year. Shame about Brownlie.

No problem.

I will keep you updated on where (52a) Fraher (IRL) (F.Det) * moves, (if he moves). It won't be to Scotland. 

(44c) Antonazi (AUS)(Res)6'1 * is doing ok. He will be a good signing. 

(41b) Gourley (NIR)(F.Sport)* not so much. He's only started 1 game, (the Scottish Cup game we lost against lower league opposition). 

He didn't play well, then he got injured and now I'm finding it hard to get him a game. Seems a waste of money to me. He hasn't strengthened the 1st Team at all and in hindsight I wish I hadn't signed him. 

The "guy from Qatar" is (42b) Potter (F.Pro) *, and while he's done well for us in the past, he's ok now but is only going to decline from here on, and will cost us about £5M a year in wages plus whatever transfer fee or signing bonus we pay him. You seem to have quite a strong desire to sign players who aren't at the club, without knowing who we have in their position already at the club. 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

So above I have listed the 9 players at the club, who I think either are or could be good enough to play for us either now or at some point in the future. They have just been listed in order of CA rather than my order of preference or anything else. 

What I like to do in a save like this is sometimes list them by age, (but with gaps), so that I can see exactly what we've got coming through in any position, where we have a weakness, and significantly when that weakness might occur. My brain works better with visual prompts like this. 

35. (38a) Arthurs (NIR)(F.Det) *
34.
33.
32.
31. (42b) Potter (F.Pro) *
30.
29. (44b) Harvey (Spirit)
28.
27.
26.
25. (48c) McKee (F.Det) *
24. (49d) Sutherland (Merc)
23.
22. (51a) Maley (F.Det) (IRL) * & (52b) Hastings (F.Det) 5'9" *
21.
20.
19.
18. (55d) Gordon (Pro) * PPM
17. (56a) McCluskey (Pro)
16. (57f) Shearer (IRL)(Fick) *

So looking at the above list of MC's, (and remembering that we just play 2 at a time), we can ignore (38a) Arthurs (NIR)(F.Det) * because his legs are gone and he will likely never play for the club again. 

That leaves us with 31 year old (42b) Potter (F.Pro) * as the next oldest at 31 years old. He's only really competing with (44b) Harvey (Spirit), (48c) McKee (F.Det) * & (49d) Sutherland (Merc), because the younger players are still developing so I can't spend lots of money just to bring a player in for a couple of seasons while at the same time stunting their development. It just doesn't make sense. 

In any case, I would argue that (52b) Hastings (F.Det) 5'9" * is already a fair bit better than him, and (51a) Maley (F.Det) (IRL) *, while not better than him, is perhaps better suited to the role we need him to play, (in a 2), and obviously has 2 years more left in his development period, (so will improve further. 

So to my mind that makes him the 5th choice MC at the club, even in terms of CA. I think he's better than 24 year old (49d) Sutherland (Merc), so why don't I just bring him in to replace (49d) Sutherland (Merc)? The reason I don't want to do that is because (49d) Sutherland (Merc) isn't good enough to get a game and I don't think is going to get a game in the future so I'm trying to sell him. He is as good as gone already. All that's to be decided is how much we get for him and when.

So the next player on the list is 18 year old (55d) Gordon (Pro) * and this is where the problem starts. (55d) Gordon (Pro) * isn't as good as (42b) Potter (F.Pro) *, but his PA is 4.5 PA in comparison to the 3.0 CA of (42b) Potter (F.Pro) *. He's not better than him now, but he's going to become much better than him, (I hope). But the only way he's going to develop like I want is if I play him. If I sign (42b) Potter (F.Pro) *, how is (55d) Gordon (Pro) * ever going to get a game? 

What about (56a) McCluskey (Pro) below him at 17 years of age. How is he going to get match experience if I sign ageing players to play ahead of him? The truth is that he isn't, so signing someone like (42b) Potter (F.Pro) * just doesn't make sense in a save like this. It is the direct opposite of what you want to do in a long-term Youth Only save.

I see people complaining the whole time.... "my Youth Intakes are always rubbish and we never produce anyone good!" They're wrong. They are producing good players. They just aren't developing them to the level that they can impact on the 1st Team and then go on to reach their potential. 

It's decision like signing ageing players to play ahead of them that stops them reaching their potential. In a normal save, (especially a short-term save), then I can completely understand the thinking. If the goal was to get the absolute maximum results out of this squad over the next 2 years then (42b) Potter (F.Pro) * would be a smart, sensible signing. That's not the goal though is it. My goal is to see if we can win the Champions League with this club and there are loads of little stepping stones that we need to traverse in order to maybe just maybe get there. 

This is probably the greatest mistake made my players of FM who fail at developing their own youth products. They wait until they are ready before playing them. Unfortunately they are likely never going to be ready unless you play them. 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, TIR669 said:

*Now I'm picky but can you give us an overview of European results per season, that club history - Europe screen or something that lists what stage you got knocked out each year.

With regards to our European campaigns, if you can tell me how to get to the screen then I will more than happily post it, (although I think I've posted the info you're looking for in the last page). 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, TIR669 said:

Shame about youth facilities, I thought all were maxed out. It must be hardcoded to reputation as you say. To that point likely even winning the Cup year in year out is important. 

I'm not positive about the Youth Facilities being hard-coded to anything. I just "think" that's likely to be the case. It's not "just" reputation though. I think there are likely to be a long list of contributing factors. 

If we look at Clubs-Reputation then we get a list of all the Worldwide clubs and then all the Continental clubs and then finally the highest ranked National clubs in Europe. 

We are the Top club ranked by Rep in Scotland, and the 22nd highest European club with a National reputation. Unfortunately some of the clubs below and above us, play in bigger leagues, so even if their Rep us lower than ours, they might have access to better facilities, 

Let's take Bournemouth in the English Premier League as an example. 

They are 5 places below us in the European Rep. rankings

7,301 Celta Vigo. Top ranked European National Rep. club. 
7,299 Wolves. Youth Facilities Level 18.
7,118 Lille. Youth Facilities Level 16.
7,088 Nottm Forest. Youth Facilities Level 19.
7,039 Tullibody. Youth Facilities Level 10. 
6,876 Bournemouth. Youth Facilities Level 16. 

Bournemouth have a lower Rep. than us, but have significantly better Training Facilities. I don't think that they were able to upgrade their Facilities when their Rep was higher and then their Rep fell down to this level after the Facilities were built. I think that they are more easily able to build these facilities because they are in ENgland rather than Scotland. Whether you link this to Youth Rating or Financial Importance or Economic Factor, (it's definitely not Economic Factor alone), I don't know, but something makes it harder to upgrade facilities in smaller Nations than it is in bigger Nations like England, (even when the Rep is similar/the same). 

I'll tell you 100% what really isn't helping us though. And that's me screwing up in not 1 but both of the domestic Cups this season. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Day. Mar 2058. 

[Jimbokav1971]

NxGn 2058.

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2058.

Scottish Premiership. It's been a while since we hit form like this in the league and it's come at just the right time. We're now 12 points clear at the top. 

Internationals. 9 (NINE) players called up for the Senior Scottish squad and 1 more in the squad who is a product of our Academy.

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 92/116 from the spot at 79%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. I suggested that we were going to lose £30M this season, but we're actually up to a £45M loss already.

Edited June 1 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2058. 

Scottish Premiership. We dropped more points, but we've still got a cushion of 12 points. 

Facilities. The corners of the stadium still aren't filled in, but we have 2 tiers now on at least 3 sides I think. 

Records. Our 1st game in the newly improved stadium wasn't quite at capacity, but it was only 342 off. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 92/116 from the spot at 79%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. I had kept a really tight rein on the finances until the last couple of years, but as soon as we started paying more than £10k pw in wages the wage costs have soared.

 

[Jimbokav1971]

May 2058. 

Scottish Premiership. We really limped over the line in the end, despite the fact that we dropped 13 points from our final 7 games, we still won the league with a margin of 7 points, (and a much superior goal difference), over 2nd placed Celtic. For the last month I basically let the Ass Man pick the match squads, except for the Hibs game where I properly picked it by PA on purpose. 

Debuts. 

Internationals. 13 (THIRTEEN) players called up to the Scottish National side is pretty decent, but on the very same day he is called up, (43n) Welsh (M.Pro) 6'4" * gets injured. He's 31 years old and has never been capped and time is surely running out for him. 

With a bigger squad, (presumably for the World Cup or EURO's in the Summer0...... (It's the 2058 World Cup which will be held in Japan), we now have 15 (FITEEN) players from our Academy in the Senior Scottish squad. 

Luckily (43n) Welsh (M.Pro) 6'4" * has still made the cut for the World Cup squad. 

Records. That's us maxed out at capacity in just the 2nd game in the newly improved stadium. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 92/116 from the spot at 79%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. we actually lost £50M over the course of this season, (so our nest egg has fallen by 25% in just 1 season). I hope that shows how precarious our finances still are, (despite our riches), and confirms that we are still very much a selling club. £23.5M of that loss was down to player transfers in, but we still made a loss of £26.5M over and above that. As soon as we broke that £10k pw barrier the writing was on the wall. 

[jrobertgordon13]

Welsh should make it to 100 by the end of next season. Certainly will by the end of his career.

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, jrobertgordon13 said:

Welsh should make it to 100 by the end of next season. Certainly will by the end of his career.

Yep. He's on 92 goals now and as he had just 12 months left on his contract I triggered the +3 so he now has 4 years left. 

In recent seasons he's scored 11, 5, 13, 4, 10, 15, 6, 6, 8, 9, 1, & 4 goals, so I think there is a decent chance that he will score 8 goals next season. On that note I'm not really sure what happened 2 years ago and 4 years ago when he only scored 5 goals and 4 goals respectively, so I will have to keep an eye on that. I can't see any way where he scores less than 10 goals next season. 

Because free-kicks aren't included for me this season, (because I can't be bothered setting them up), 100 GK goals is still a good achievement, but there is no way to reach the ridiculous numbers I've hit in previous versions of the game. 

To give you an idea of the number of goals that we might be missing out, (in terms of free-kicks), Celtic scored the most direct free-kick goals in the Scottish Premiership this season with 4, while we scored 0. 

At the same time we were 1st for goals scored, joint 1st for goals from corners and 1st for goals from indirect free-kicks.

Rhys Bartlett of Celtic was the only players to score more than 1 direct free-kick in the league this season.

Ross County were the only team who had more than 1 players score a direct free-kick in the league this season. 

Maybe I should look at set-pieces next season just for the hell of it..... 

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jun 2058. 

GK. 

1st Team. (43n) Welsh (M.Pro) 6'4" *
2nd Team. 
Loan. (55e) McLean (F.Pro) 5'10" *
Loan. (49h) Broughton (USA)(F.Pro) *
Loan. (53l) King (F.Pro) 6'3" *
Loan. (54k) Weir. (Unamb) 6'0"
U21's.
U21's.
U18's. (56g) Archibald (LDet) 5'11"
U18's. (57d) McLean (Bal) 6'0"
U18's. (58l) Currid (Unamb)
 

WBL. 

1st Team. (51b) Kirkwood (Res) *
2nd Team. (46d) Bentley (AUS)(Pro)
Loan. (49f) Clark (Pro)
Loan. (50f) Knudsen (FRO)(DEN) 5'5
Loan. (56f) Darby (IRL)(ENG) (F.Pro)
Loan. (57k) Hilson (F.Pro)
Loan. (57l) Bradley (L.Det) *
U21's.
U18's. (55g) Kingsley. (Bal)
U18's. (58n) McCart. (Bal)

WBR. 

1st Team. (54b) Reid (Bal) WBR *
2nd Team. (43a) Quinn (M.Pro)
Loan. (55a) Heaver (Res) WBR  *
Loan. (51h) Smith (Sport) WBR PPM *
Loan. (50e) Taylor. (Unamb)
U21's.
U21's.
U18's. (57c) Hogarth (F.Pro) *
U18's. (58i) Hodgkiss. (Bal) PPM
U18's. (56i) O'Hara.(SCO)(IRL)(F.Det)
U18's. (58o) Neill. (L.Det)

DC. 

1st Team DLC. (54a) Hopkin (Real) 5'11" *
1st Team DC. (44c) Antonazi (AUS)(Res)6'0 *
1st Team DRC. (50b) Wilson (Unamb) 6'4" *

2nd Team DLC. (46p) Weir (Res) 6'2"
2nd Team DC. (44h) Lemetti (F.Pro) 6'3"
2nd Team DRC. (53k) Dunne (F.Pro) 6'0"

Loan. (52f) Dorrans. (Pro) 5'11"
Loan. (55n) McBride (F.Pro) 5'11"DC
Loan. (52e) Davidson. (F.Sport)

U18's. (56l) Dow (F.Det) 5'7"
U18's. (56e) McCormack (Bal) 5'9"
U18's. (56c) Ingram (F.Pro) 5'10"
U18's. (58f) Severin (Unamb) 6'5"
U18's. (57h) Balmer. (Res) 6'1"
U18's. (58h) Duncan (Unamb) 6'6"
U18's. (57j) Breslin. (F.Sport) 6'0"

Sell/Release. (53a) Brownlie (Res) 6.0" *
Sell/Release. (44e) Henry (Unamb) 6'0"
Sell/Release. (53e) Rossiter.(Spirit) DC 6'1
Sell/Release. (55m) Adams. (Bal) 6'3"

MC.

1st Team MLC. (51a) Maley (F.Det) (IRL) **
1st Team MRC. (52b) Hastings (F.Det) 5'9" *

2nd Team MLC. (48c) McKee (F.Det) *
2nd Team MRC. (44b) Harvey (Spirit)

U21's. (55d) Gordon (Pro) * PPM
U21's. (55h) Erskine (Bal) * PPM

U18's. (56a) McCluskey (Bal)
U18's. (58a) McIntosh (IRL) (Det)
U18's. (57e) McCormack. (Bal) 6'2"

Sell/Release. (49d) Sutherland (Bal)

SC. 

1st Team SLC. (51c) Mackie (F.Pro) (IRL) *
1st Team SC. (50a) Donald (Bal) 6'1" *
1st Team SRC. (52d) Porojan (ROU)(Spirit) *

2nd Team SLC. (48a) Edwards (Res) 5'5" *
2nd Team SC. (47b) Smith (Res)
2nd Team SRC. (47a) Currie (Bal) 6'1" *

Backup. (41b) Gourley (NIR)(F.Pro)*

Loan. (52i) Glass (F.Det)
Loan. HG Lloyd (Driven) PPM
Loan. (53m) Koloušek. (CZE)(Merc)PPM
Loan. (52o) Stapley. (ENG) (Resil)
Loan. (50j) McMullan (F.Pro) *
Loan. (56h) Connors. (IRL) (L.Heart)

U21's. (56d) Bond. (ENG)(IRL)(F.Pro)
U21's. (54d) Lochhead (Loyal) 5'8" *
U21's. (55p) McCafferty. (F.Pro)

U18's. (57a) Bastos (SCO)(ANG) ***
U18's. (57b) Megaw (NIR) (L.Det)
U18's. (55p) McCafferty. (F.Pro)
U18's. (58b) Lindsay (ENG)(F.Det) 6'0
U18's. (56j) Kazek.(POL)(SCO)(Spirit)
U18's.

Sell/Release. (47d) Warnock (IRL)(FDet) SELL
Sell/Release. 
Sell/Release. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jun 2058. 

Season Tickets. 

TV Rights. 

Transfers. We had to sell (53a) Brownlie (Res) 6.0" * because he was into the last 12 months of his contract and was just not interested in signing a new deal at all. Although it's only £20M up front, I'm happy with the deal because it also included a 25% clause, a friendly and the remaining £40M will be rolling in before too long. 

Reputation.

Internationals. 

European Competition rankings. 

European Club rankings. 

European Nation club coefficients. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jun 2058. 

Season Preview. 

Season Tickets. 

Internationals. 

Transfers.

Job Offers. i'm actually interested in the Scotland job, but just not yet. It's too soon and I have business with the Champions League 1st. 

I'm not interested in the other jobs. 

 

Facilities. I must have missed the message, but out Training Facilities have been downgraded. 

Finances. 

[Thebaker]

Well done on finally overtaking hibs as the highest rep team in Scotland, next is a european trophy?

[Jimbokav1971]

2 minutes ago, Thebaker said:

Well done on finally overtaking hibs as the highest rep team in Scotland, next is a european trophy?

In days gone by we would probably already have a European trophy, (the Europa League or new Conference League), but because we're only ever going to be competing in the Champions League it's a much tougher ask. At the moment I would just be happy regularly getting to the Knockout Rounds and maybe progressing to a Semi. We've never been further than the last 16 before. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Aug 2058. 

Scottish Premiership. 6 wins from 6 with 4 clean sheets is a really good start to the season. 

League Cup. 

UEFA Champions League. 

Season Tickets. 

Transfers. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 4 successful pens in the opening month of the season is a very good start. 

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 96/120 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[jrobertgordon13]

2 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Aug 2058. 

Scottish Premiership. 6 wins from 6 with 4 clean sheets is a really good start to the season. 

League Cup. 

UEFA Champions League. 

Season Tickets. 

Transfers. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 4 successful pens in the opening month of the season is a very good start. 

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 96/120 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

That’s an amazing start! Also how is Falkirk in second? Did they have a takeover or something?

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, jrobertgordon13 said:

That’s an amazing start! Also how is Falkirk in second? Did they have a takeover or something?

I haven't checked, but it's more likely that they have just had decent fixtures with the tougher teams having played mis-week European Qualifiers or something like that. 

Justb checked and they had a "Local Businessman" takeover in 2032 and then 2 board takeovers from within but nothing else. 

After a decent League Cup Group they started the season with a 90+9 min winner against Hibs and then followed it up with a 90+6 winner against Celtic. They also scored a 90+8 consolation against us. 

Hibs have had a really poor start to the season, losing 7 of 13 games. 

Celtic have only lost twice in the league, (from 9 games), and each time by a single goal. 

I would say that Falkirk just did well and this ;partly off a morale boosting League Cup Group, (and then beating Kilmarnock on pens would have given them a further boost). I don't expect them to keep this up, but they have started well. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2058.

Scottish Premiership. We should have beaten Aberdeen, but they were just more clinical and took their chances. They have a striker called Promise Jibrin who seems to have a habit of scoring against us. To be completely fair, he's scored 360 career goals so he has made it a habit of scoring against everyone!  Thankfully he's 33 now and won't be around for much longer.

UEFA Champions League. Not quite as impressive in the Champions League Group stage. 

League Cup. Obviously I would much prefer to play St Johnstone than Celtic. 

Debuts.

Records.

Internationals. 

Transfers. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 4 goals in the opening month and then nothing in the 2nd. 

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 96/120 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances.

[Jimbokav1971]

Scotland National Team selection. Oct 2058. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2058. 

Scottish Premiership. Considering we've been absolutely hammered by injuries to defenders, (and had to give debuts to a GK and a centre-half), I'm delighted to have gone unbeaten in the league this month. 

UEFA Champions League. We're going to need to pull something out of the bag soon if we're going to qualify for the Knockout stages. 

Debuts.

Internationals. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 97/121 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[leobiazzi]

Oof, I remember qualifying for the knockout stage with only 7 points, so it's still doable for you!

 

[Bigshow1]

Who’s your Libero this season?

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, leobiazzi said:

Oof, I remember qualifying for the knockout stage with only 7 points, so it's still doable for you!

 

Yeah, 9 usually does the job now so it means we have to pull something out of the bag against someone decent. Rosenborg will hopefully be 3, Fiorentina seem sort of at our level and might be doable as we're at home. That brings us to 7 points, (because we only drew with Antwerp). It means that we probably need to beat Lyon at home to get 10 points or at the very least get a draw to take us to 8 points. Barca away is unlikely to yield anything positive. 

The 2 French sides aren't amazing, but I will probably need to play the 1st Team in Europe and the 2nd Team in the league to try and squeeze through this. 

[Jimbokav1971]

52 minutes ago, Bigshow1 said:

Who’s your Libero this season?

1st choice Libero is (44c) Antonazi (AUS)(Res)6'0 * (who we re-signed last season in January. He actually wants to be a BPD rather than a L and that's causing a few problems at the moment, but he's still doing well. 

2nd Team Libero was (44h) Lemetti (F.Pro) 6'3", but he's out for up to 5 months so we needed to find someone else. 

(49d) Sutherland (Bal) SELL had been a surplus to requirements midfielder until the opportunity at Libero has just opened up. 

It's actually an area we're really struggling in going forward. 

We've had 2 short DC's come through the intake in recent seasons and they are probably our best option going forward. 

(56l) Dow (F.Det) 5'7" came through at 5'7", (although is now 5'8), and I wrongly assumed that he would have to play in midfield, but now I think he's going to make the grade at Libero now matter how small he is simply because we haven't got anyone else. He's only 3.0 PA, but that still might be good enough to have a big impact for us. 

(56e) McCormack (Bal) 5'9" is another shorty who came through at 5'9". He looks more like a "normal" centre-half if still too small. He does have slightly better PA though. 

The other centre-backs are completely unsuitable for the Libero role, so if I had to pick someone other than those shown above then I think we would be in trouble.

(57f) Shearer (Fick) 6'2" * is probably the best of a bunch of poor options and thinking about it now, it probably makes sense retrain him as a centre-half anyway simply because he's not going to get in the team as a midfielder. Surprised I haven't identified him before now actually. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2058.

Scottish Premiership. We're decimated by injuries again, (especially at the back), and it seems to have become a bit of a thing in recent seasons. No broken legs or ACL's or anything. Just little niggle after little niggle after little niggle. Despite all that, we're 4 points clear with a game in hand and our normal challengers, (Celtic & Hibs), are even further back, (although Celtic do have a game in hand on us). 

UEFA Champions League. Despite me saying that the 1st Team would play against Lyon, I opted not to do that because the we had a League Cup Semi against Celtic 3 days earlier that I chose to prioritise. It worked out ok though as the 2nd Team played really well and moved us only 4 points in the group. 

We're still a long way off making the Playoffs, but we've given ourselves a chance now and a win against Rosenborg will really make things interesting. 

League Cup. Going strong against Celtic in the Semi and weak against Lyon in Europe was a risk, (albeit one that worked). Now we need to finish the job and see off Aberdeen in the Final. 

Records.

Internationals. 

Transfers.

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 98/122 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

Edited June 6 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2058. 

Scottish Premiership. This is really good form. We've been playing really well and the results reflect that. 

We're 9 points ahead of Aberdeen and have 2 games in hand on top of that, (just 1 game in hand on Celtic). 

UEFA Champions League. 3 points against Rosenborg moves us back into the Playoff spots. We probably need at least 2 more points to stay in the Playoff spots and ideally 3 points would be even better to be sure. At least we're in with a shout though. 

League Cup. It's nice to win a competition without conceding a single goal. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 99/123 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan 2059.

UEFA Champions League. The 1-0 loss to Barca, (they deserved to win my more), brought to an end a run of 13 consecutive victories, that saw us smash 8 (EIGHT) past Hearts, 7 (SEVEN) past both Fiorentina & Sterling ALbion, 6 (SIX) past Aberdeen in the League Cup Final, and keep 7 clean sheets. That's the best run we've been on since we've been promoted to the Premiership. We scored 50 goals in these 13 games, conceding just 8. 

Scottish Cup. I love it when we score loads of goals, but I don't love it when we score so many goals that we break the User Interface so that we can't see who has scored all the goals. 

Injuries. As if we don't have enough players out, we lost 2 more in/since the last game. 

Records.

Goal-scoring GK's. 100 career goals for (43n) Welsh (M.Pro) 6'4" *. He's scored 8/8 this season.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 100/124 from the spot at 81%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[jrobertgordon13]

9 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

Jan 2059.

UEFA Champions League. The 1-0 loss to Barca, (they deserved to win my more), brought to an end a run of 13 consecutive victories, that saw us smash 8 (EIGHT) past Hearts, 7 (SEVEN) past both Fiorentina & Sterling ALbion, 6 (SIX) past Aberdeen in the League Cup Final, and keep 7 clean sheets. That's the best run we've been on since we've been promoted to the Premiership. We scored 50 goals in these 13 games, conceding just 8. 

Scottish Cup. I love it when we score loads of goals, but I don't love it when we score so many goals that we break the User Interface so that we can't see who has scored all the goals. 

Injuries. As if we don't have enough players out, we lost 2 more in/since the last game. 

Records.

Goal-scoring GK's. 100 career goals for (43n) Welsh (M.Pro) 6'4" *. He's scored 8/8 this season.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 100/124 from the spot at 81%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

100 for Welsh. Congrats!

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, jrobertgordon13 said:

100 for Welsh. Congrats!

It took a while but good to finally get it done. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Feb 2059.

Scottish Premiership. We're still marching on in the league and every time I look at the league table I become more and more annoyed by our early season loss to Aberdeen. 

We're 12 points clear of Celtic and have a game in hand, and behind them we have a further 2 games in hand on Kilmarnock, (who have actually won their last 5 games on the bounce). 

UEFA Champions League. I didn't think that a scoreless draw in the 1st leg was going to be good enough, but after weathering an early Roman barrage in the 2nd leg, we improved in the 2nd half & punished them as we pressed high as they played out from the back. 

Scottish Cup. 

Debuts. 5 different debuts in 3 different games this month are a perfect illustration of how short we were in various positions this month. 

Records.

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 101/125 from the spot at 81%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[l4nd3r]

Looks like winning the playoff round or going to the round of 16 is obligatory as far as year-to-year finances are concerned?

[Jimbokav1971]

8 minutes ago, l4nd3r said:

Looks like winning the playoff round or going to the round of 16 is obligatory as far as year-to-year finances are concerned?

I have a feeling that this is only the 2nd time we've got to the Last 16 and our usual level is that we get to the Knockout Playoffs, but more often than not lose at that stage. 

Money isn't a huge problem at the moment because although we're well and truly broken the £10k pw barrier, our wages are still pretty well controlled. We haven't sold nearly as many players as I was expecting recently and if/when that changes it should kick us on to the next financial level. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake day. Mar 2059.

[l4nd3r]

oof, you're getting some bad help from RNGesus.

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, l4nd3r said:

oof, you're getting some bad help from RNGesus.

I assume you mean the rubbish intake? 

If so, I'm not sure I agree. I think we're sort of at our max levels for a Scottish club with National Rep with these Facilities.

The reason the PA star ratings are so poor is simply because we've had good players through in the past and they have really developed now, so those coming through just aren't as good and there is no point pretending otherwise. But these star players were very much the exception rather than the norm. 

(51c) Mackie (F.Pro) (IRL) * is the best player at the club and he has 5.0 CA. It's him that other players are being judged against. He's contracted for 3 and a bit more years and I have a +3 option on him. There are no minimum fee release clauses or anything like that. I don't need everyone in the squad to be as good as him. I just need them to be decent. They still need to get to their decent CA levels though and we need to make sure that there is at least some depth in all areas of the squad. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to be as good as him in a save like this. 

Looking at the recent intake, the top 8 players all have at least 2.5 PA and while that doesn't seem like much, actually that could be quite a reasonable level and even make them pretty decent Scottish Premiership players. 

Let me show you what I mean.....

Here are the players at the club who have better that 2.5 CA. (There are only 8 of them). 

But now let's look at the players who have made a senior appearance for us this season, but who's CA is 2.5 CA or lower. 

There are a couple of youngsters below that with 1 appearance each, but you get the gist. 

(44c) Antonazi (AUS)(Res)6'0 * is a good player with 100+ Caps for Australia and he only has 2.5 CA.

(44b) Harvey (Spirit) is a "Good Premiership player", but not even been capped for Scotland, (because they have some top midfielders that came through at English clubs). When you consider that we have 8 of the recent intake with similar PA to his CA, then perhaps the intake doesn't look so bad. 

The way I see it, I can't control the intakes, so I really just go with the flow. I used to really anticipate each intake and hope that I would get this position or that position through with a good PA, but the truth is that by the time they have developed to such a level that you can play them in the Senior Team, it's quite possible that you no longer need a player in that position anyway. 

Perhaps of more concern in the recent intake is the lack of CA on show, meaning that there is more development required before we can get them in the 1st Team, but I'm not even sure I mind that too much. More often than not, when we get a player through who has really good PA, (let's use (59a) Allan (Det) from the recent intake as an example), they are able to develop quite quickly because I just throw them into the mix early and expose them to senior football far earlier than you would expect. I actually REALLY like this bloke the more I see of him. I have a little trick where I look at all the attributes that are currently at 9, and I swap them to 10's and I imagine what the player would look like then. (I've even physically done this with the editor before to show others what I mean, and the difference it can make is enormous. 

Just look at his profile now. 

Marking.
Passing.
Acceleration.
Agility.
Stamina.

They are all at 9 now. Imagine how different the player would look if we could pop them to 10! They're in quite key areas too right? They could be ready to pop next week for all we know, (although that's unlikely). 

Now let's look at the 8's and think the same thing. It's harder to get an 8 to a 10, but it's still going to happen. It just takes a little longer. 

First Touch.
Aggression.
Composure.
Pace. 

Quite good areas again right?

The more I look at this bloke the more I like him. Yeah he's not a cultured playmaker. He's a dog with some weak physical attributes, but he's the perfect example of a player we really need, (and the type of player I want to play in the middle of the park for us). 

I also like his PPM's. 

I think sometimes, (and I've been hugely guilty of this in the past), we get focussed on the CA and PA stars and we can even possibly miss some really quite decent players in the squad who don't have the overall CA/PA stars, but what they do have is just in the areas that mean they can really do a job over and above expectations. Let me see of I can find a couple of examples. 

(46d) Bentley (AUS)(Pro) is a perfect example of that. Just 2.0 CA and PA, and the 2nd of 3 decent WBL's at the club. Yeah he has areas of weakness, (physically there are some issues and I obviously really don't like his workrate, but he;s been brilliant for us and performs really well when he comes in. 

(46p) Weir (Res) 6'2" is perhaps an even better example. Again, he only has 2.0 CA and 2.0 PA, but I really like the way his CA has been used. He's pretty limited on the ball, which isn't ideal in a team that keeps the ball, but he;s a proper defender, cheap as chips and performs really well. If you consider that we might have 8 (EIGHT) players through that last intake which are going to be better than this bloke...... Yeah, that'll do me fine thanks. 

(47b) Smith (Res) is a 3rd example, and because he's a striker he's perhaps the perfect example. He's another how has 2.0 CA and 2.0 PA, and he really isn't great. He has physical limitations, but he's reasonable. Although he's only scored 48 league goals in 189 league appearances, (many of them will have been as a sub), he's actually scored 94 goals in 303 appearances in all competitions. While the 94 goals does seem more impressive, it's actually the 303 appearances that catches my eye. (94 goals in 232(71) appearances looks a much better stat by the way). He's been great for us over the years, (despite his physical inadequacy), and has been an important part of our 2nd Team.

In any save its easy to concentrate on the stars, but I promise you the key to a Youth Only save is to ignore the stars, (because they will sort themselves out in terms of performances & development), and instead concentrate on the fringe players. 

When I look at that last intake, I don't see that almost all of them have rubbish CA, (and their PA isn't great either). I see that half of them might be good enough to play in the 1st Team, (maybe). 

[Edit]

OMG I missed the best example of all. 

(43a) Quinn (M.Pro) has been amazing for us and although he's only 3rd choice WBR now, there was a time when he was 1 of our best players. Again, of course he has limitations and he really doesn't look amazing, but he plays amazing!  If (59b) Baxter (Driven) or (59f) Wright (F.Det) can develop into something like him then I will be a happy happy happy man. 

[Edit2]

I'm going to go 1 more player, but this is perhaps the best one. 

We have some good midfielders at the club and (49d) Sutherland (Bal) SELL has always struggled to get into even the 2nd Team. Before this season he had only ever made 19 appearances for us, (and he's 25 years old). You can see that I had decided to sell him, but then we sold our best Libero and our 2 best Libero's still at the club both got injured. When I first started playing him at centre-half he couldn't play there at all. He had never played there previously, but what an inspired decision. He's really quite limited as a player, and you can understand why he struggled to make appearances, but he has honestly been a revelation at centre-half. So much so that when (44c) Antonazi (AUS)(Res)6'0 * became fit again, he didn't return as our Libero, but instead played at Left centre-half and this bloke continued as our Libero. It just works. Let's be honest, a Libero isn't a centre-half, so why did it feel so strange to play a midfielder in there? It's a much better fit isn't it? He doesn't score goals and he doesn't get many assists. Hell, he doesn't even make many key passes, but what he does do is just keep the ball moving and keep the opposition pressed in. This bloke has really made me rethink how I consider player roles and what's possible. 

He's reasonable in the air, but you can see the difference between his headers won in the Premiership (74%), and in the Champions League, (44%), that he gets found out at the top level. What I like though is the tackle % of 80% and in particular that it's higher in the Champions League than it is in the Premiership, (despite the fact that the coaches say he doesn't like big matches). 

Edited June 8 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

NxGn 2059. 

There are 4 Scots on the list, buty none are products of our Academy I'm afraid. There is also 1 non-Scot at a Sottish club. 

We don't have any players on the NxGn list this season, and although I'm a little peeved about it, I'm actually not sure if we have anyone deserving of being on the list, so let's have a look. 

We actually don't have many 19 year olds at the club.

Of the 19 year olds, (55d) Gordon (Pro) * is the standout contender and can probably consider himself a little unlucky not to make the list. Struggling to get game-time in the middle of the pitch, he's had quite a few outings at WBR and even a few at WBL. 

(55a) Heaver (Res) WBR  * is looking decent, and he probably misses out largely because he's playing in the Championship rather than the Premiership. 

(55e) McLean (F.Pro) 5'10" * is another who has probably missed out because he's playing in the Championship rather than the Premiership. 

We've got more 18 year olds, but nobody really in contention for the list.

(56e) McCormack (Bal) 5'9" might still only be 5'9", (not ideal for a centre-half), and although he's only playing in the Championship, he's actually winning his share of headers. 

(56a) McCluskey (Bal) is developing nicely, but it's really frustrating that I have been caught asleep at the wheel by Celtic, who have agreed to sign him on a free, despite the fact that he has a +3 option available. I may have to try and buy him back. 

(57a) Bastos (SCO)(ANG) *** is a future star and I really need to force myself to play him more. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2059. 

Scottish Premiership. Losing a league game shouldn't feel like it's a big deal when you're still 9 points clear of Celtic with a game in hand, and especially as we had already lost in the league this season so we weren't attempting an unbeaten season or anything like that, (but it does). 

We've rotated the squad probably a little more than usual this month, (in an attempt to really give us the best opportunity in the Champions League), and although it worked in Europe, we've certainly paid a price in the league. Thankfully though, we bounced back to absolutely smash the life out of Celtic who were our nearest, (and only real), challengers. 

UEFA Champions League. It might appear the we won the Round of 16 in the 2nd leg, but I can promise you we won it in the 1st leg as we somehow eked out a 1-1 after having a player sent off after just 16 mins. 

Scottish Cup. Really annoyed at this. 

Records.

Internationals. 

Transfers. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 101/125 from the spot at 81%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances.

[l4nd3r]

Yeah, i meant the rubbish intake. As Scotland can generate better CA players than that on average hence the bad RNGesus mention by me, hopefully you will have better luck next year with more 3,5+ stars CA players.

Also, are you stealing any youth player from smaller clubs? I never understood this system, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, did you get any player from your affiliates ?

Edited June 9 by l4nd3r

[Jimbokav1971]

9 hours ago, l4nd3r said:

Yeah, i meant the rubbish intake. As Scotland can generate better CA players than that on average hence the bad RNGesus mention by me, hopefully you will have better luck next year with more 3,5+ stars CA players.

I've tried to explain that I don't actually think that last intake was that bad. It just looks bad. The other thing is that Day 1 reports are enormously unreliable anyway so realy I tend to not pay too much attention to them. 

[Jimbokav1971]

9 hours ago, l4nd3r said:

Also, are you stealing any youth player from smaller clubs? I never understood this system, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, did you get any player from your affiliates ?

No, we haven't poached a single player from another Academy in this save, (but we have lost a few). 

Most of the one's we lost were not worth worrying about, but there was a bloke who was poached by Aberdeen and who we paid £1.5M to get back. 

The only other poached player who is still in the game is this bloke. 

I personally don't think there is enough poaching in the game, but perhaps that's by design as it would be incredibly frustrating to constantly lose the best players you produce, (but also realistic). 

Considering what our Facilities were and the quality of the players we produced relatively early in the save, I'm surprised that we didn't have more players poached. With that in mind I don't think I can really moan that we aren;'t poaching more now that our Rep is higher. 

We've never had a player from an affiliate, but I will also admit that I was pretty slack for a long time after we were promoted to the Premiership, and it's only in recent years I really got things sorted in that respect, (and have more work to do because we have nothing in Africa, South America, Scandinavia or North America yet). 

 

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2059. 

Scottish Premiership. We've won 4 in a row now, and 5 of the last 6. We've won the title with 4 games still to play. An insurmountable 14 points ahead of our nearest challengers Celtic. 

Although we've scored 100 goals in the league, (with 4 games still to play), we can no longer achieve 100 points even if we win all our remaining games. (96 points is the max we can hit now).  

UEFA Champions League. Got to be happy about our form in Europe in the Knockout stages. We've played some good teams and done really well. We led Spurs 2-1 in the 2nd leg after 68 mins, (so 2-2 on aggregate), but they finished strongly and scored 2 late goals to win 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. We gave it a good go but we're just not good enough yet. This is the 1st time we've got to the Quarter-Final, and just for a minute, (when we were 2-1 up), I thought we were going to do it. 

Internationals. 

Transfers. 

(49h) Broughton (USA)(F.Pro) * has never played a single game for us and I was just loaning him out and loaning him out again and again and was going to sell him with 12 months on his contract. US sides kept bidding £125,000 for him though so I increased hia valuation to £500k just to put them off. They immediately came in with £500k so I upped it to £1M, They immediately came in with £1M so I upped it to £1.5M.  1 still came in so I added in a 25% clause, a friendly and then £2k per appearance for 50 appearances.  Then a couple of more came back in and we got some more add-ons. This was a right result because he was completely surplus to requirements. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 104/129 from the spot at 81%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[jrobertgordon13]

3 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

No, we haven't poached a single player from another Academy in this save, (but we have lost a few). 

Most of the one's we lost were not worth worrying about, but there was a bloke who was poached by Aberdeen and who we paid £1.5M to get back. 

The only other poached player who is still in the game is this bloke. 

I personally don't think there is enough poaching in the game, but perhaps that's by design as it would be incredibly frustrating to constantly lose the best players you produce, (but also realistic). 

Considering what our Facilities were and the quality of the players we produced relatively early in the save, I'm surprised that we didn't have more players poached. With that in mind I don't think I can really moan that we aren;'t poaching more now that our Rep is higher. 

We've never had a player from an affiliate, but I will also admit that I was pretty slack for a long time after we were promoted to the Premiership, and it's only in recent years I really got things sorted in that respect, (and have more work to do because we have nothing in Africa, South America, Scandinavia or North America yet). 

 

Does the game tell you when a player is from An affiliate?

[Jimbokav1971]

35 minutes ago, jrobertgordon13 said:

Does the game tell you when a player is from An affiliate?

It used to yes, (but then again you also used to get a message when a player was poached). 

At the very least there should be something shown in the players history to show the affiliate link in the way it does for poached players. 

(52d) Porojan (ROU)(Spirit) * came through the intake, but it was before we had the Romanian affiliate anyway. 
We had a Portugese player through either this year or last year, but there was nothing linking him to Casa Pia. 
We haven't had a Spanish, Dutch or Japanese player come through recently, but in any case they have literally all been added in the last 2 season.