Mr_Grieves
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- Sep 15, 2009
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Aberdeen Back where it all began
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So FM2017 is here and after 3 years since my last run with the Dons its time to give them another run.
As my boss says about Christmas every year "This will be the toughest year yet" and with Scotlands standing in the world game i feel this may be a brash understatement.
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From 1970-1990 Aberdeen had 1 double digit loosing season. In the last 20 years we've had 1. My aim is to never loose that many games
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Fixtures
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Lucky for me i can just fit the key fixtures of our season into one shot. I was at our 1st game against Rangers since 2012 and the atmosphere & stoppage winner made its an amazing afternoon. We have 2 trips to Parkhead so a bit less cash in the coffers and a tougher route to the Championship group but surely since we've been top 6 for ages this would balance out assuming we reach the top 6.
Squad
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For the SPFL the Aberdeen squad is pretty good. Rooney, McGinn & Hayes have led the team since McInnes took charge but seemed to fall flat in the big games, Except Hayes he's a monster. Our defense is better than ever. 6ft6 Joe Lewis has height and championship experience. Shay Logan & Graeme Shinnie will be reliable enough for the SPL i love Shay in this side. The center looks far more solid with newbie Anthony O'Connor joining Mark Reynolds giving me the comfort of having a DCR and a DCL. Once upon a Napoli target and club captain Ryan Jack is all we have to offer in the middle Craig Storie hasnt the talent now or in the future so this will probably be where i need to spend my spake 7k in wages. Jack along with Hayes the only player likely to survive my cull. The youth team is almost empty. Cammy Smith is on loan at Dundee Utd and should be a back up once he returns, same with Danny Rodgers while Daniel Harvie is still in the very early stages of development and the onyl player at the club with any potential future is Christian Antoniazzi a former Celtic youth player.
The reason i say cull is for 2 reasons. Yes this current squad could do a job and be built on to be a title challenging club but plain and simple long term you can not rely on SPFL quality players from start up to go anywhere. If we are to reach Europa Group stages never mind winning a champions league i have a time tested method of buying good young players under 18 and quickly developing them into the first team, not difficult as usually you can hit a good u19 player thats at least as good as the ones currently in a SPL team. We first need some success in Europe and at home to attract these guys so i'll slow down before i get too far ahead. Long story short Everybodys got a price.
Pre Season prices
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Media put us in for a 3rd place finish behind the Old Firm. If i could have got 2,25 for celtic winning the league in real life i'd have bet the farm, or house as it is on Celtic. But this is FM so have hope it can happen!
As the youth team would suggest our future players are not bright. The youth facilities are the worst in the SPFL and will be my top target, usually i rush to build or expand a stadium but not this time. Scouting and coaching improvements are needed to help this happen but do we have the cash?
Jeez there only letting us have 3 coaches! Plenty spots in the u20 coaching team and we have only got 1 scout. The other 5 spots will be filled immediately
To get the side familiar with how we'll play as many friendlys as possible to get used to my style of play. From a few tests saves with Sheff Wed of all teams my tactic from last year still works reasonably well so we'll roll with that again, being flexible for opponents and players certain needs.
Previous Marriages
Last time i played as Aberdeen was in my Scottish journeyman game back in FM2014
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...ager-stories/157879-saving-scottish-game.html
The previous year i had what was undoubtfully my best save ever achieving a life long ambition of winning the Champions League not once but 4 times, the SPL 20 times, Scottish Cup 18 times in a save that lasted over 25 seasons. Along with the trophys I had the base of a solid squad of players based on a back 4 and goalkeeper that combined for 3336 appearances
Beating this is my aim!
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/foot...u-thought-celtic-beating-barca-something.html
Adding to the challenge i'm also having a go at turning around Scotlands fortunes. In my 2012 save i took Scotland to 4 championships in 8 years but went out at the last 16 every time. I refuse to take a 4 Nations trophy as the best we can do!
Records
Aberdeen Top 10 all time appearances
1 Alan Grangier 928
2 Willie Miller 797
3 Matthias Klein 697
4 Alex McLeish 693
5 Bobby Clark 595
6 Stewart McKimmie 559
7 Jose Henrique 554
8 Lee Chalmers 538
9 Jim Leighton 535
10 Ali Msakni 498
Aberdeen Top 10 all time Goal Scorers
1. Matthias Klein 668
2. Ross Douglas 273
3. HARPER, Joe 205
4 Stelios Tsaousakis 241
5 Federico Lopez 185
6 ARMSTRONG, Matt 155
7 HAMILTON, George 153
8 Jose Henrique 150
9 Cosmin Manea 182
10 Matheus Micael 149
Scotland Top 10 all time appearances
1 Jack Connolly 159 - ACTIVE
2 Lee Chalmers 143 - ACTIVE
3 Ben McIlroy 141
4 Callum Dickson 131
5 Alan Granger 131 - ACTIVE
6 Darren Fletcher 120
7 Andrew Robertson 119
8 Martin Neil 117
9 Callum Paterson 114
10 Oliver Burke 108
Scotland Top 10 all time goal scorers
1 Jack Connolly 122 - ACTIVE
2 Leigh Griffiths 63
3 Ross Douglas 56 - ACTIVE
4 Oli Burke 34
5 Denis Law 30
6 Kenny Dalglish 30
7 Adam Frizzell 25
8 Hughie Gallacher 23
9 Laurie Reilly 22
10 Ian McLaughlin 20
-----Aberdeen Running Trophy Count-----
20* SPL
20* Scottish League Cup
18* Scottish Cup
3* Champions League
3* World Club Cup
-----European Efforts-----
Europa League group 3rd - 2016/17
Europa League Q/F - 2017/18
Europa League Last 32 - 2018/19
Champions League S/F - 2019/20
Champions League Group Phase - 2020/21
Champions League Q/F - 2021/22
Champions League Last 16 - 2022/23
Champions League Q/F - 2023/24
Champions League Last 16 - 2024/25
Champions League Q/F - 2025/26
Champions League winner - 2026/27
Champions League Last 16 - 2027/28
Champions League winner - 2028/29
Champions League Last 16 - 2029/30
Champions League Q/F - 2030/31
Champions League winner - 2031/32
Champions League Q/F - 2032/33
Champions League Runner Ups - 2033/34
Champions League Runner Ups - 2034/35
Champions League Q/F - 2035/36
Champions League Q/F - 2036/37
Champions League Runner Ups - 2037/38
-----Scotland History-----
World Cup 2018 2nd Round
Euro 2020 2nd Round
World Cup 2022 - Failed to Qualify
Euro 2024 2nd Round
World Cup 2026 - Semi Finals
Euro 2028 Group Phase
World Cup 2030 - Runner Ups
Euro 2032 - Semi Finals
International League 2033 - Runner Up
World Cup 2034 - Runner Ups
Euro 2036 2nd Round
International League 2037 - Winners
World Cup 2038 - Semi Finals
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