Saving the Scottish Game

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr_Grieves
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stonecold said:
Gone! Away back to the center today for its final jabs ect before being put up for re-homing. Missing the little dude already. Its just not the same trying to do transfers and watch the world cup is not the same without constant distractions like screens suddenly flipping, turning off or balloon flying across the room
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not forgetting your cushions getting attacked!!!!
 

Season 11 - 2023/24


Targets
SPL - Win
Scottish Cup - Win
Scottish League Cup - Youth Side
Europe - CL last 16


I expect us to retain the League since for once i hung onto my best players. Also aiming to get through to the Champions League last 16 for the 1st time to avoid another Europa League final heartbreak if nothing else




Transfers
View attachment 367763


Only back up and youth players leaving while i add a few freebies to the 1st team and even more depth to the youth side.




In


Michael Riley - AT
View attachment 367762
The Scottish forward started at Hibs before wasting 8 seasons at Tottenham failing to break into the side. He'll fight Love but will probably be my back up.


Alex-Ray Appleton - MC
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A Man Utd youth player which is a good start. Had a reasonable season on loan at Celtic a few years back so we'll see how he's advanced since then.




4 Youths also come in from around Germanyshire
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Out


Back up players Danny De Reuver, Richard Nilsson & Phil Gallagher all leave with replacements and youths coming in to takes there spaces while overpriced offers arrived for each of these players.Gorka Bakero, Martin Gaughan & especially Radu Gheorghe did not live up to expectation and were let go.






Staff
View attachment 367756
David Platt joins my backroom team to help with Shooting coaching while 3 Scouts arrive to enhance my European knowlage






Around the League
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Celtic pick up a few decent players on a free but elsewhere its a aweful effort by the SPL teams to improve there sides.
Dundee Utd sales again lead the way






FM Season preview
View attachment 367754
Still impossible to split the top 2 or the battle for 3rd. Aberdeen and Motherwell both to finish outside the top 6? QOTS big favorites to finish bottom. Will be interesting to see how St Johnstone have regrouped.






Current Starting 11
View attachment 367753
This squad is utterly stacked! We could field 3 teams that would do well in the SPL. Would be to unsure of playing my back up 11 and challenging for the title. Anyway the only major change here is Appleton starting in the midfield.




​
 

August


Perfect 5 star start in the SPL
Celtic join us in the Champions League groups
Tough draw in the Champions League
Rangers, Hearts & St Mirren all fall at the Europa Leauge Group Phase




Fixtures
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SPL
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Our perfect start including beating Celtic who also lost at home to Aberdeen. Pathetic starts from both the Saints and Hearts.




Champions League Draw
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A tricky kind of draw considering were now 2nd seeds. Shaktar were the best team of the 3rd seeds but Steaua's place in the group should secure at least a Europa League spot.




Celtic also get a tough group with Juventus and Bilbao in there way but like ourselves the quality of Standard should secure at least a Europa League spot




Transfer Window
View attachment 367637
No positive action by the SPL sides. We were looking to loan out players rather than take on more.



​
 

September


Barcelona beat Celtic 2-1 in the Euro Super Cup
Dundee Utd fight from behind to beat 2 times European Champions PSG
Saflekos misses over 10 chances as we finally drop points against Rangers




Fixtures
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SPL
View attachment 367469
Aberdeen are still ahead of Celtic in the distant battle for 2nd. St Johnstoe capitulate




Champions League
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Two huge shocks on match day 1 leaves the table looking a bit lost and perhaps upside down.




Player Watch - Goal Keeper
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Antonio Loja. Despite spending years in the 1st team Loja is always happy to sign on for a new contract so he may have a long stay in Dundee.




​
 

October


Big wins in the Champions League to top the group at the half way stage.
SPL domination helped by the frailties of others




Fixtures
View attachment 367347




SPL
View attachment 367346
We've rushed into a 11 point lead after 10 games and have no plans to let teh foot off the gas. We've done well but its the failings of other teams that put us so far clear.




Champions League
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Were also still 100% in the Champions League and win next time out against Steaua will guarrente last 16 football and if we win our next 2 then it will secure top spot.




Player Watch - Defense
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The strength of my defense is in the middle with class act Bundgaard and club captain John Soutter. Piet De Waard was awesome last season securing a second full season as my starting wing back while Mimi is struggling to keep his place i the team due to injury.




​
 

November


Long serving Gary Locke is sacked after loosing 3-1 to us leaving them 7th. Motherwell boss Steve Clarke is his replacement
Victory against Steaua secures a last 16 spot but a 1-0 defeat in Paris will leave us in 2nd spot on away goals as it stands.
Thrash former title Rivals Celtic 4-0 at Parkhead putting one hand on the League title already i'd say.


Fixtures
View attachment 367230



SPL
View attachment 367229
Gap at the top is now 15 points after 15 games. Celtic have to worry about there game in hand as its a Old Firm derby where if Rangers win they will go 2nd. At the bottom St Johnstone are looking for there 1st win and are now 15 points off safety.




Champions League
View attachment 367227
We had a goal disaloud in Paris and i think thats going to cost us top spot.




Player Watch - Midfield
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Our postion with most depth. A World cup winner in Johnson who has never played to his full potential for United. Other Center Midfielder Saflekos would be on another level if his shooting would improve. On the wings Marques has struggle with injurys while Tidman is adding goals to his assists and has been the better of the two wingers this term.



​
 

December


Wins everywhere 7/7 in December
Former striker Paul McGowan is named new Motherwell boss
A win isnt enough to win our Champions League group and the draw for the last 16 is very tough on us.




Fixtures
View attachment 367150




SPL
View attachment 367149
Gap at the top is 14 points as celtic pull clear into 2nd. Bottom two look adrift while 2nd to 10th is anyones game.




Champions League
View attachment 367148
Despite a good win PSG also won so 2nd it is for us.




Last 16 draw
View attachment 367147
We get Real Madrid. However had we won the group it would have been Grasshoppers!




Player Watch - Attack
View attachment 367146View attachment 367145
Jack Love has lead our line for the past few years. Riley was unfortunate to arrive at the club 2nd otherwise he may have been leading the line.



​
 

January


Our plans for a unbeaten season are ended as usual by St Mirren who thrashed us 4-1 in the middle of a 5-0 and 6-0 wins in our favor.
Big win against Celtic open the gap further
I sell two under developing players to cut down some of the competition in the squad as i look to settle the side for the run in.




Fixtures
View attachment 367020




SPL
View attachment 367019
Our gap is now over 20 points and the title is all but ours. Will be using the league to rest key players now with big European and Cup games taking priority over a canter to the title. Things would have been very different had we still been unbeaten. Still plenty of battles from 2nd to 10th. 11th and 12 look doomed. In facts St Johnstone still have no points.




Transfer Window
View attachment 367018
Ourselves and Celtic were guilty of the top 4 transfers as we sold off more players. Celtic however got rid of two overrated young midfielders for £11m and £2m. No transfers in of note. Dundee Utd sell Mimi to Schalke for £6m after a handful of injurys and slow development. 4th choice U19 center back Tasos Dimosthenous joins PSG for £3m. I also loan out youth players Stuart O'Byrne and Steffen Schwartz



​
 

February


For the second year on the trot we loose the League Cup Semi finals on Penaltys. Celtic also go out leaving a great chance for Rangers or Aberdeen to lift a cup. COYR
SPL form was as solid as ever with 3 comfortable wins.
0-0 Draw at Tanadice means were still in the fight against Real Madrid




Fixtures
View attachment 366965




SPL
View attachment 366964
St Mirren overtake Celtic for 2nd. Battle for 4th is anyones game.




Champions League
Dundee Utd 0-0 Real Madrid
View attachment 366963
Tough result. Both sides had chances to win it but still a score draw will put us through






Player Watch - Other Keepers
View attachment 366962
Jesper may be in his last season with me as despite developing into a good youth player there is already £4m bids coming in.



​
 

March


On the 6th of March we officially retain the title
Less than a week later Real Madrid thrash us in the 2nd leg
St Johnstone & Inverness sack there managers on the same day as Inverness are fixed in the bottom half and St Johnstone were relegated. Inverness quickly hire Malkey MacKay while St Johnstone pick up former highland league player and Falkirk boss Darren McConnachie
Youth intake was pathetic


Fixtures
View attachment 366695


SPL
View attachment 366694
We've won the title and are on track for record points. Celtic have got back on track and look good for 2nd. St Johnstone officially go down.




Player Watch - Other Defense
View attachment 366693View attachment 366692View attachment 366691View attachment 366690
Popov is slowly worked his ways into my plans, The hilariously named Packie Salmon is working his way towards being the starting left back, Mark O'Conner is still waiting to either get a 1st team chance or get a good offer to sell while Chris Mosson will have to keep waiting to get his career under way with the starting 11.



​
 

End Of Season

A draw with my mortal enemies St Mirren cost us the chance of breaking the points record and the chance to get over 100+ Goal difference.
Then thrash Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final


Fixtures
View attachment 366666


SPL
View attachment 366665
Top 3 end up as expected. Rangers sneaked into the top 6 while Hearts drop into the bottom 6 for the first time in years.




Scottish Cup Final
Dundee Utd 7-0 Hearts
View attachment 366658
Thats the performance we needed against St Mirren. But no complaints about winning back the Cup



​
 

Season 11 Review


New stadium plans announced Will be 26,722 And will be ready for the 2026/27 season.
Queen of the South survive the play off
After retaining the squad last year the same struggle begins again this summer.


Dundee Utd 2023/24
Season stats




SPL - Winner
Scottish cup - Winner
Scottish League Cup - Semi Finals
Europe - Champions League - Last 16


One of the best League performances by my teams so far and doubled up with the Scottish Cup. Loosing on penaltys again in the League Cup was unacceptable while Real Madrid were far better than us and the Champions League was a no contest.




Key Player
Alex-Ray Appleton
View attachment 366572






SPL Review




Dundee Utd - 8/10 - Our most dominant title win so far. We were 12 points clear after 12 games and the rest never got that close again. Unfortunatly we fell short of 100+ goal difference and a record points which we equalled.




Celtic - 6/10 - No trophys and a huge drop off in the League. Very little possitives from our rivals this season.




St Mirren - 7/10 - Finished in 3rd but until the very late stages of the season they were in the fight for 2nd. Prove our sternest rivals this season.




Hibs - 7/10 - Hibs lost there top players over the past 2 summers but this year they overcame that to return to the top 4.




Aberdeen - 7/10 - Nothing wrong with returning to the top 6. Strikers Andrew Shinnie and Lewis Morgan took them to the top. A league cup final victory cemented a successful season.




Rangers - 5/10 - After showing glipses of moving on further forward Rangers digressed by the end of the season to loose not only a Cup final but a poor 6th place hardly in touch with the higher placed teams.




Hearts - 5/10 - A poor start cost Gary Locke his job which is very unfair after he rebuilt this mess of a club. Made a few brilliant signing during the summer but they were left in the hands of Steve Clarke and a bottom half finish and a cup final mauling bring nothing but shame.




Ross County - 6/10 - Ross County have another season of overachieving. Two reasons for this. Loaning a 30 goal striker from QPR and the bottom two side being abysmal.




Motherwell - 5/10 - Speaking of abysmal Motherwell fall back into the bottom half. Loosing there manager to Hearts was not a good start but they were already in trouble at that stage and new boss Paul McGowan failed to turn it around




Inverness CT - 4/10 - As did Allan McGregor who lost his job after bringing ICT into the relegation zone. Malky Mackay will have to work hard this summer to turn it around.




QOTS - 4/10 - Somehow Craig Levein kept the doonhammers in the top flight. I was certain the Championship side would overcome a team that was pulled apart in the SPL but no such luck and QOTS will live to fight another day


St Johnstone - 2/10 - Never showed up. Suffered the worst SPL season points haul ever!






Champions League Final
Chelsea 1-2 Man Utd - AET
View attachment 366571
What a thrilling ending!





Europa League Final
Spartak 1-1 Everton - (Spartak win 6-5 on pens)
View attachment 366569
My Former Celtic defender Mark O'Hara missed the crucial pen. Celtic went out to Bayern at the last 16






Season Awards




Player of the year
Matt Knight
View attachment 366566
This award is so biased!




Top Scorer
Jack Love - 28
View attachment 366564
For the 3rd time in 4 years Jack Love wins the tops scorer prize.




Young Player of the year
Piet De Waard
View attachment 366563
Finally the best young side win a young player award.




Manager of the Year
Darran Donald
View attachment 366562
My 8th award and first time after 2 seasons of failure or being the runner up, Depends how you look at it.




Team of the Year
View attachment 366561
Thats more like it! 9 Dundee Utd players, 2 from St Mirren NON FROM CELTIC






Continental Standings




National Coefficients
View attachment 366560
Still 11th




Competition Rankings
View attachment 366559
SPL is up to 11th despite a poor showing outside ourselves.


Dundee Utd are now ranked 14th in Europe. Next seasons may see our last big jump as the sides we now trail are the mega teams of European Football.




​
 

Season 12 - 2024/25






England win Euro 2024 in Scotland with two former Celtic player Will Hughes & Martin Abrahams being the top two players of the tournament.
Luis Enrique quits Scotland job and despite my cridentials im beaten to the job by Gary Locke





Targets
SPL - Win
Scottish Cup - Win
Scottish League Cup - Win
Europe - CL last 16




After two years with dodgy cup semi finals this time im expecting a treble






Transfers
View attachment 366445


A new right back and a heep of youth arrive.




In
Austin Matthews - DR
View attachment 366442
I let go of my Dutch wing back to give my youngsters a chance to break through but when i came across Man Citys starting right back from last season on a free i couldnt do anything but buy!

5 Youth players join him.
View attachment 366441View attachment 366440View attachment 366439View attachment 366438View attachment 366437






Out


Once again we had a good summer getting players to sign on to longer contracts. Only two Fabian Balladares & Zakaria Bakkali couldnt agree terms so left for big fee's. Other players leaving were Dario Tappari who lost his place in midfield & Piet De Waard who origionally moved to let youth progress till Matthews came along. Two youths Henry Obinna & Stuart O'Byrne never progressed so i let them go too.






Staff
No Changes






Around the League
View attachment 366443
Hibs and ICT sell there best players while Celtic sell there best u19 player they've had in years.
St Mirren, Celtic, Aberdeen & Hearts all invest strongly in the loan market.


FM Season preview
View attachment 366444
SPL believes Celtic will put up a challenge while they have done there scouting with QOTS




Current Starting 11
View attachment 366436
Squad has a lot less depth than last year. Youth pushing through in the shape of Salmon & Williams with the only new starter being DR Austin Matthews.



​
 
Really enjoyed reading through this. Great to see you dominate instead of Celtic and looking forward to how you progress. Keep it up :)
 

August


Start the season as we mean to go on with a opening game win over Celtic and a 8-0 win at Hibs
We make a perfect star and a 3 points ahead with a game in hand over Celtic. Jack love has started the season on fire!


Fixtures
View attachment 366245


SPL
View attachment 366244

Champions League Draw
View attachment 366243
The gods of the draw was looking down on us. Chelsea may have been runners up last season as well as winning a 3rd Premiership on the trot but Viktoria Plzen & Dinamo will offer no danger




Transfer Window
View attachment 366242
Another young midfielder bites the dust


Cheers for the positive comments throughout guys! Waiting for other sides to make some changes so i can make my next move. Cant wait to build a 3rd Scottish giant

​
 

September


Perfect Month
Start the Champions League with 1 of our expected 4 victorys
Youth side destroy Peterhead.






Fixtures
View attachment 366061




SPL
View attachment 366059
we go 9/9 and are almost double the points of rd place St Mirren. QOTS look in trouble and there is quite the battle ahead of them for 11th




Champions League
View attachment 366057
Top two start as they mean to go on. We face Chelsea. NEXT




Player Watch
Other Midfielders
View attachment 366053View attachment 366055View attachment 366054View attachment 366053View attachment 366049
Seb Rudy is in his last season with the club, been used sparingly in the last 2 seasons as extreme back up and to tutor youth. Antonio Coric worked his way into the 1st team but has never broke through to start. Bastian Schafer is my next big thing. Expect him to be starting sooner if not later. Other winger Adrian Williams has already had his taste of 1st team action. Finally less skilled but he scores the goals Derek Russell.



​
 

October


We drop points at home to Rangers begining a dodgy run of performances to round out the month. We did win all the games however
We reach another League Cup Semi final, the worry over penaltys begins already




Fixtures
View attachment 365977




SPL
View attachment 365975
First quarter of the season is done and were 7 points clear with Celtic settled in 2nd place. Battle from 3rd to 10th is still quite tight.




Champions League
View attachment 365974
Chelsea inflict out 1st defeat of the season but we fought them all the way. Followed that up with a untidy win over Dinamo




​
 

November


Hibs sack Maurice Malpas. I almost give him a job as my assistant but my all time loyal assistant Johan Mjallby is too good to let go even for Dundee Utds most loyal servant. Allan McGregor takes over from Malpas
Our worst result is 3-0 win
Included a Champions League last 16 place. We have to beat Chelsea by 2 goals at Tanadice to secure top spot.






Fixtures
View attachment 365939




SPL
View attachment 365938
United go roaring 9 points clear of Celtic and 18 points clear of the tie for 3rd. QOTS are now in big trouble at the bottom and Dunfermline are starting to be cast adrift.




Champions League
View attachment 365937
We win all our games against the bottom 2 as expected. Only problem is Chelsea stand in our way now.



​
 
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