Season 22 Review
Managers
We went through this in March so no need to talk about Ross County hiring career fired man Russell Dingwall
New Stadium
New stadium coming our way too, I didn't even ask. Better be a good capacity
Dundee Squad
Alan Christie may be finished as our No1. At 30 his price took a hit and I plan to play either Fernandez or the South African keeper if he finally gets a work permit. Otherwise, he's going too but after playing in the African Nations he has to get a permit.
My centerbacks are great. How i keep Bugge with his £19m buy out clause is maybe a pipe dream. Gabor's buy out is only £15m but he's not had any interest yet. Perez & Foucher will be more than suitable backups with Foucher more a long term option who i think will get in the 1st team quicker if one of my starting CBs is taken away from me. Zawislan played lots of games but will be up for sale with Almeida & Kuhl fighting over the start. Ferreirinha did the job but somehow his value has not moved and i have 3 youngsters coming back from loans or the u19s rendering him unwanted at 22 and not coming close to a 7.
Ubiria & Le Garrec spent another season together and I'll be entertaining offers for both with neither showing signs of being good enough for us to reach the top of this league. Logan & Miller to don't show enough to be more than their current spot at backup or DM in the 3 man midfield.
Wingers I'll get to Ferry later so on the right-wing Melkemichel joined and was not as advertised but won't get a chance to be that bad again next season with Garcia back from injury & Daivez back from loan looking ready to contribute. Behind Ferry, i can't choose between Arason & Villar as the backup but will carry both next seasons with all 3 being good enough in their backup positions to fill holes.
Upfront Barron really cooled off in the 2nd half of the season and Beith did not take over games as i hoped he would by now. As usual, ATT is my deepest spot so plenty could happen here once i buy 3 strikers as usual.
My Player of the Season
Lee Ferry
He didn't start the year as our starting ML but by the end of the season, he was the clear cut no1. Still improving as an ML as he was by nature an AML. All that said for the right money he may get moved on this year.
Final SPL Table
Dundee Utd walked to the title. One of the most dominant seasons I've not been in charge of. However, they don't get to play in Europe after they failed Financial fair play. A disaster for our coefficient. Great for Hearts, Celtic & Aberdeen who all reach the Champions League. We also benefit from moving up to the Europa League while Hibs stay in the Europa 2 with St Mirren who jumped Rangers for 7th. AHHHAHA Sadder day for Airdrie who deservedly go down.
Play-Off
Ross County 3-2 Raith
County just survive over Raith who was not content with losing the championship by 12 goals now missed out on the promotion by a goal.
Europe
Rangers on the back of one of their worst ever domestic seasons almost ended the year with a conference league win but were beat soundly by Bilbao in the final.
Dundee Utd somehow after destroying Scottish football they couldn't beat out Leganes and finished bottom of their champions league group
Hibs also had a embarrassing champions league run finishing bottom with no wins, although they were in the group of death.
Dundee has marched into the Quarter Finals of the Europa League. I can't imagine us being better than Arsenal next year.
Like ourselves, Aberdeen were conquered by Arsenal a round earlier
Hearts reached the Conference Q/F so not a bad run losing to Bilbao
Club Euro Rankings
6th = 69,500
No real change win a 1,500 point rise thanks to Rangers run to the final. Scotland is miles clear in 6th place but lacks the firepower to pass France for 5th and fall further and further off Italy for the magic 4th spot.