End of Season 15
Scotland June Qualifiers
Last bit of news for the seasons. The stadium will be up to 65k for the start of the 38/39 season
SPL - Winner
Just like last season, we won the league by 25 points but this time Celtic had a far better season and we had to beat several records including a record points haul during unbeaten season, my first in the save. Rangers were the big disappointment of the season falling further back from Celtic. Surprised they have not looked at changing managers. Hibs are back in the top 4 where they belong with Ross County the other solid top 6 team and Dundee Utd got the wildcard spot. At the other end, Motherwell finished bottom as expected but with a record low points haul. and Kilmarnock as usual finished 11th. Getting a bit repetitive here. Their replacements will be Dundee returning after a 3 season run in the championship.
Playoffs
Kilmarnock 1-0 Inverness
Killie survive again but it was close where Inverness just fall short of being a Motherwell level of Yoyo team
Managers
Lee Johnson's 8-year run with St Mirren. Rob Holding did what he could with Killie. Can he get St Mirren back into the top 6?
In Europe
Celtic were unlucky not to play us in the Champions League Quarter-final losing to Milan in the last 16 by the odd goal.
Rangers were having a good run in the Europa League but should be disappointed to have lost to Sparta Prague in the last 16
Hibs also had a great run in the Europa Conference until they lost tragically to AaB in the last 16
Ross County failed to get through the Conference qualifiers
Champions League Final
Aberdeen 3-2 Man Utd
Squad Review
Goalkeeper
How the **** do you choose a no1 from this? Ajayi is now 4*, more of an all-rounder with more clean sheets but Dussart is better at distributing but is only a 3*. Both have 5* potential and have signed long-term extensions so if i get an over-the-top bid i could sell one but the plan is to do the same next season and split the games but use Ajayi as the 1A and Dussart 1B.
Defense
Our new back 4 was quickly settled apart from De Dalco the right back missing a few months with injuries. Munro had a terrible end to the season after being ahead of Gelmark earlier in the season. Baxter proves to be the best back up and Loune has been looking for a move for almost 12 months now gets his wish.
Midfield
A real mash-up of the rest of the squad in our overfilled midfield. Singh is the star of the midfield and needs to stay. Alongside him in the middle Lopez has not met expectations yet but is doing better than homegrown Lowndes who would have no chance of staying if he wasn't a young Scottish player as he was outplayed by new midfielder Vilanueva. Both wings have a great competition going on. Goni far outplayed Tuzakov who got almost as many assists despite making most of his appearances off the bench. On the left Bakardzhiev reacted to my big purchase of Roudaut with both putting in very similar performances and they like the keepers will continue to fight for the starting spot.
Attack
Bavidge was a clear 3rd best forward this season while Petkov & MacIver excelled in less playing time. I have no idea how i will work through this next season unless someone puts in a £200m bid for Petkov who had one of the best individual Scottish seasons ever. As 4th striker GOchev is another talented Bulgarian who must have a decent national team since they had 3 regular players from the Dons. Ewing is in a tough spot to keep his spot in the squad.
Players for life
Bradley Cummings - DC
P334 G18
The wonderkind is now a man leading the defense for club & country and has just signed a long-term extension
Owen Munro - DL
P288 G1
The running joke of Munro not scoring has another strike. Had a brilliant first 3/4 of the season then were a liability despite us winning the quadruple. The position is more than likely safe but in severe danger.
Krasimir Bakardzhiev - ML
P368 G43
The Bulgarian winger responded to the challenge of me spending £60m to replace him with the best season at the club. Will have to keep up the work to see if he can hold of the incumbent
Alfie Bavidge - ATT
P713 G534
The club legend had an awful season. So bad in fact he only has 1 season on record as bad as that. When he was 16 years old in the saves 1st season. Hopefully, it was just a down year.
Rankings
Club Ranking - 2nd
A second European title has us flying up to be the 2nd best team in Europe
National League - 6th
No change in position but we're now right on the tails of a top 4 spot.
National Team ranking - 14th
I think this is as high as our rise can go. 13th is the highest we have ever been so if we can jump higher than that it would be amazing.
Awards
Player of the Year
Andy MacIver
Had to laugh that the award goes to MacIver rather than Petkov who won the golden boot, broke the record for a man of the match after only playing 24 games and winning the golden boot.
Young Player of the Year
Andy MacIver
Andy was robbed of his shot at the golden boot with an injury towards the end of the season. Would be surprised if he doesn't win this again next season
Top Scorer
Dimitar Petkov
More goals than games. Petkov really came of age this season.
Team of the Year