Pre Season 2018/19
Last summer didnt go to plan then this summer so this year i spent much more time bidding for players and offering contracts than risking missing out on players. 8 Youth players are signed up. Some hard cash went to Motherwell for there best youth prospect and another Aussie star from the FFA center of excellence. Looks like we'll be playing a lot of youth players next term having reviewed the squad Garnager at 16 is almost as good as my other left backs and Klein, keeper Ali Msakni, Ross McCailey and Callum Dickinson have been receiving multiple bids off big English & European teams so they will get more playing time.
Coaching Boost
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We got a huge boost in the coaching staff after improving our training facilities we now have 7 dedicated coaches so we can cover every angle of coaching add to that a improved 8 strong scouting team. 3 in Scotland , 1 in France, Spain, Holland, England and Croatia. I Would like to boost my presence in the east. No scouts in Scandinavia as thats my favorite spot so i do that myself.
Manager Changes
Michael Laudrup - SC Bastia
Marcelino - Roma
Manuel Pellegrini - Besiktas
Laurent Blanc - Sevilla
Paul Sheerin - Dunfermline
Ernesto Valverde - Spain
Luciano Spalletti - Italy
World Cup
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The reason for most of these job changes is of course the world cup. The final 8 teams were all European's and the final 2 were England vs Germany in a penalty shoot out and in a reverse of all things natural England won. So we can say we beat the world champions on the road to Russia.
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Ronaldo tied for the Golden boot but lost out due to playing more games. Chances are he wont get another shot as a 37 year old in the 2022 finals
Season Targets
SPL - Title challenge, over 75 points, less than 9 defeats
Scottish Cup - Win if were not in Europa league action
League Cup - Back up players till later stages
Champions League - Group phase
OR
Europa League - Last 32
Pre season friendly's
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With lots of changes to the squad i needed a lot of warm up games to get the team used to our system. We beat Chelsea, Blackburn and Crystal Palace but lost to German side Red Bull.
Pre Season Prices
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Celic are out a tad, were in a tad and Champions Rangers are only 6/1. They bookies likes the look of Hearts then its a big jump to Hibs the only team under 100/1 Falkirk, Inverness & Raith are favorites to go down. Raith especially dont look like there good enough for this level
A year like last year would be great just a few more points in the league and a bit less time in Europe. Thats how much im starting to WANT a league title.
Fixtures
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Like last year it looks like the guys making the fixtures keep there west coast biased making us travel to Parkhead and Ibrox right after a European group phase game. Our other trip to the Old Firm is to Ibrox on the last day before the split
Champions League Qualifing draw
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As a seeded team anyone but CSKA Moscow would be a winable game. Sorry SHOULD BE winnable
Transfers
My Spanish scouts maybe unearthed a gem in Juan Prieto from the Spanish 3rd division and for my hard work Alex Ronningen joins from Valerenga for £1.2m. Much more than the scouts as a hole were trusted with.
Aberdeen Transfers
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So far this summer were almost at £10m in transfer profit, down to £9m with agent fee's and the like. Still a mega summer for us.
In
Ryan Christie AM £800k
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Joined on loan last season. Didnt play much but proved to be a valuable back up which is what he will probably remain.
Alexander Ronningen AT
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This was a major overspending situation on my part. Didnt really need him but with a goal a game in Norway as a 17 year old left me pushing the deal through with very little else going on, not much value for money elsewhere. Over the next two years we will pay over £1m for him so it will be interesting to see how current no1 Rooney, Klein who is ready for the first team and Ronning pushing for time all fit in together and who will be the first to gripe
Adrien Thomasson MC
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Love this name for a Croatian international. Put in a solid season with Nantes in Ligue 2 last season but to me his stats are brilliant. He will be a quicker more attacking player than Poyet but with Poyet leaving Jack will take on the defensive dutys in the middle of the park.
Christopher Jullien DC
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Basically a upgrade on Anthony O'Connor at the back. Will give up playing time to Dickson to aid his development.
Nicolas De Preville ML
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It seems that Niall McGinn is in his 30's and i'm just waiting for a decent bid on him to see him move on, not that i really want to loose him but age is more than a number and his fee will be dropping like a stone after this summer. But this is about the future. A player who once commanded £4.3m. At 27 its time to man up and put in a shift for us. With no clear u20 player in the position he'll get his chances.
Jota AM
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Linked with Rangers in the real world the Spanish player has never put together a great season despite his stats and with the depth we have in attacking midfield he wont get away with poor performances at Pittodrie. This move was done as Kenny McLean was getting offers from down south and i was set to loose him till he rejected Wolves twice.
7 Youth players join. Martin Neil from Motherwell cost £500k, Juan Prieto was almost £50k the rest were free.
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Out
Huge Profit again but its pretty much all on
Diego Poyet moving to Werder Bremen for his £5m buy out clause and former Hearts wing back
Callum Paterson. Had no desire to sell but with more than double my money back in one season i couldnt say no. The rest was center midfielder
Fede Vico. He wanted over £10k a week and that would be tough to justify for a starting player. £2m back from a free signing is good work for 2 years work. Huddersfield is his new home. Squad players
Danny Rogers, Bogdan Mitrea, Danny Rodgers, Franck Ross, Robbie Mutch and Daniel Harvie move on for around £500k and we release 12 players on a free. I tried to sell
Sandro but no cash offers came in and he left on a free while another old player
Petar Zanev youth players Scott Wright (Killie) and Alen Brtan (Partick) are loaned on on the promise of first team football.
World Transfers
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Stand out moves are France buying Italy with sending over £180m to Serie A teams for 3 players including a world record fee (£106) for Paulo Dybala. Scottish Left backs Tierney & Kingsly move for crazy fee's. Graeme Shinnie joined Bournemouth for £7m, Keiran Tierney moved to Man City for £13,75m. July seen The rest of Europe getting involved.
SPL Transfers
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Celtic and Aberdeen make all the big deals.
Squad
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Looks of regression on Rooney & McGinn now in the 30's and down to 3* we'll be looking to get a fee out of them in the next 12 months and push through there replacements.
Youth team
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Far more depth than before. Can see at least 3 of these players breaking into the first team before long.
Starting 11
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Only certain change right away is Thomasson coming in for the departed Poyet. Jullien, Jota, De Preville & Klein will all be getting there chances this season while Granger is going to get his chances as will Dickson & Ali Msakrni and probably others.
